The two-year MA Theatre Studies program offers students the opportunity to pursue theatre studies through coursework, comprehensive examinations and an MA thesis project.
Program Overview
The master’s program in theatre studies is designed to have students develop research expertise in an area of their choice while training in the broader theoretical, critical and historical contexts of the field.
Masters students will enjoy strong mentoring relationships with faculty members as they progress through their degree and research. Our faculty are specialized in research on a variety of topics including: alternative theatre and cinema, theatre and health, disability theatre, dramaturgy, the reception of cult cinema and performance, 20th century Chinese and Japanese theatre, intercultural performance, and Asian North-American theatre, as well as Canadian, American and modern British theatre.
Degree Requirements
Students pursuing a master’s degree in theatre studies must follow these requirements:
- Enrolled in either full-time or part-time studies
- Full-time students must be in residence at UBC for at least one year
- Complete their program within five years of initial registration
- All students are required to register in successive years of their candidacy, failure to do so will result in the student forfeiting their candidacy
Those in the MA theatre studies program must complete 30 credits following these guidelines:
- 12-credit thesis
- 12 credits of graduate seminars related to drama, theatre or performance topics
- THTR 500: Research Methods and Bibliography (3 credits)
- THTR 562: Studies in Dramatic Theory and Criticism (3 credits)
- A maximum of 6 credits may be taken at the 300 and 400 level
- Any credits offered outside the Department of Theatre and Film must be approved by the graduate advisor
Admissions
Application deadline: The application process is now open and will close on January 15, 2023
The theatre master’s program only selects a handful of students each year. For those interested, please follow these application instructions:
- Submit your UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies application
- A copy of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended and are currently enrolled in. If your transcripts are in a language other than English you must also provide a certified translation
- A statement of purpose (500 words) that details:
- Your proposed area of study and its potential contribution to the wider field in which it is situated
- Your academic preparation for the MA program
- How UBC’s MA Theatre Studies program fits your needs and interests
- A recent writing sample that demonstrates the quality of your thinking and writing
- Three letters of recommendation via UBC’s eReference system
- A resume of your academic training
Do not send paper documents or hard copy media to the Department of Theatre and Film. All application material should be sent in with your UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies application.