PhD in Theatre

The PhD in Theatre at LSU is a scholarly degree consisting of two or more years of in-person coursework in theatre and performance history, theory, criticism, and practice. This coursework then leads to the student proposing, researching, writing, and defending a substantial intervention into a critical subfield of theatre and performance studies (i.e., the dissertation). The PhD in Theatre is the terminal degree for academic studies of theatre and performance (as opposed to the MFA, the terminal degree for training in acting, playwriting, directing, or design). We welcome dedicated researchers as well as practitioners who seek to complement their production skills with a rigorous engagement with theatre history, theory, and criticism. 

The PhD faculty are committed to providing students with the necessary tools to compete in a rapidly diversifying job market. We focus on honing students’ skills in writing rigorous scholarship, teaching a broad range of theatre classes, and enhancing production experience, especially in the areas of dramaturgy and directing. Our students become nimble and adaptive teachers and scholars, able to occupy an array of positions in professional and/or academic theatre.

Our program’s curriculum provides students with a broad knowledge of theatre historiography, theory, literature, and criticism. In addition, students pursue a minor area of study in a field outside theatre, such as Women’s and Gender Studies, Performance Studies, History, Comparative Literature, Anthropology, or English. Our faculty balances our program’s generalist foundation with expertise in gender and queer studies, critical race theory, African and African diasporic studies, political performance, and sports history. We mentor students as teaching assistants and instructors for undergraduate classes including Introduction to Theatre, Theatre History, Script Analysis, Acting, and Directing.  Students also have the opportunity to design and propose Special Topics courses in their third or fourth year. Since most academic positions for PhD Theatre graduates require production work, we strongly encourage PhD students to participate in LSU productions as actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and/or dramaturgs.

Our program is tailored to suit the needs and goals of each student within a structured curriculum. Once students choose a major advisor at the end of coursework( usually in their third year), they work with that faculty member to ensure they spend the remainder of their time acquiring the necessary experience to prepare them for the position they seek whether inside or outside academia. Our students’ dissertations are similarly crafted towards the audience that student hopes to to work with whether academic, professional, or both. Our students go on to become professors at research one and liberal arts institutions, professors at community colleges, teachers in public and private high schools, and dramaturgs and literary managers at professional theatres. 

Recent dissertation topics include abolitionist approaches to performances at Angola State Penitentiary; roleplaying games as performance texts; asexual readings of canonical plays; cryptid tourism as performance; an organizational history and analysis of the Orlando Fringe Festival;  theatre for children in Christian mega-churches; and Nigerian standup comedy.

For more information about the PhD in Theatre, contact Dr. John Fletcher, Head of the PhD Program at jfletch@lsu.edu.

What's Needed To Apply

  • Online application and $50 application fee
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
  • A statement of interest in LSU's PhD program
  • A CV or resume
  • A sample of scholarly research, such as a thesis chapter, conference paper, or article
  • Three letters of recommendation

Admission Requirements (see Graduate Catalog for full details)

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. Institution or the equivalent from a foreign institution: a master's degree is also strongly recommended
  • A GPA of at least 3.00 (A=4.00) on all undergraduate work (or at least half-degree requirement) and a 3.00 GPA or better on any graduate work already completed; international applicants must have at least a 3.00 GPA, or equivalent, on all college-level work previously attempted

We offer a graduate teaching assistant stipend of $23,000 per academic year (a 9-month appointment), with a waiver of tuition fees, the non-resident fee, and the Student Excellence fee. Some other fees, totaling $2000 per year, are still assessed, though we hope they will be removed for fall 2024. Gold-standard health insurance is available for $700 per year (obligatory for international students). Graduate Assistants work 20 hours a week, usually in some combination of teaching and administrative service to the School of Theatre. Graduate assistantships are guaranteed for five years, provided the student remains in good standing, which entails maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA and making satisfactory progress toward the completion of the PhD. 

Core Curriculum
 
History and Literature (12 credits)
 
At least one of these:

  • THTR 7901 Premodern Theatre and Performance (3)  
  • THTR 7902 Early Modern Theatre and Performance (3)  
  • THTR 7905 Special Topics in Theatre and Performance History (3) (may be repeated)

At least one of these:

  • THTR 7903 Theatre and Performance of Modernity (3)   
  • THTR 7906 Special Topics in Contemporary Theatre and Performance (3)  (may be repeated)

At least one of these:

  • THTR 7920 Seminar in Drama of the African Diaspora (3)
  • THTR 7926 Seminar in African Drama and Theatre (3)
  • THTR 7907 Special Topics in Culturally Specific Theatre and Performance (3)  (may be repeated)
  • Any graduate course on African, Asian/Australasian, Central/South American, Migrant, and/or Indigenous theatre or performance (credits fulfilling this requirement cannot also count toward the minor)

Theory and Methods (9 credits)
 
Everyone takes: 

  • THTR 7900 Research and Writing for Theatre Studies (3)
  • THTR 7924 Historical Theories of Theatre and Performance (3)

At least one of these: 

  • THTR 7915 Special Topics in Theatre and Performance Theory (3) (may be repeated)
  • THTR 7922 Seminar: Performance Theories and Criticism (3)  

Pedagogy and Production Practice (6 credits)
 
Two graduate courses in any of the following: 

  • THTR 7008 Drama Writing (3-6)
  • THTR 7130 Script Analysis and Dramaturgy (3)
  • THTR 7908 Special Topics in Theatre Pedagogy (3) (may be repeated)
  • THTR 7909 Special Topics in Theatre Production (3) (may be repeated)
  • THTR 7916 Special Topics in Arts Administration (3) (may be repeated)
  • Any 4000-level or above THTR courses in practical theatrical production skills such as design, acting, playwriting, dramaturgy, or directing.
  • Any 4000-level or above THTR courses about the teaching of theatre or performance 
  • Any graduate courses about arts administration, nonprofit administration, and/or higher ed administration (credits fulfilling this requirement may not also count toward the minor)
  • No more than 3 credits of the core curriculum may be replaced by THTR 7929 Independent Research: Theatre

Minor (at least 9 credits beyond the courses listed above in a single non-THTR program)
 
36 hours total (4 semesters) in the core
 
Additional (27 hours)

  • THTR 7911 Shaping the Dissertation (3)
  • THTR 9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.) (at least 24 credits)

Total: 63 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree.


All courses should be taken on the 7000 level. On occasion, exceptions can be made by graduate advisor. Should you take a 4000-level course, the instructor must have graduate faculty status.

Annual Reviews
During orientation week every fall, all in-residence PhD students are required to meet with the PhD faculty to review the milestones from the previous academic year, and set goals for the upcoming academic year in order to ensure timely progression of all students toward their degree.

Committee Selection
By the conclusion of the student’s required coursework, students should select a major advisor and minor professor in order to begin preparing for the general exam process.

QUALIFYING EXAMS
 
The transition from PhD student to PhD Candidate takes place in the context of THTR 7911 Shaping the Dissertation , which students will normally take in their fifth semester of study, after all other course requirements for the core and minor have been satisfied. The exam process consists of two steps: the Subfield Exams and the Prospectus/General Exam. 
Subfield Exam Process
 
The subfield exam will be administered as a component of THTR 7911.

Prospectus and General Exam
 
After passing the Subfield Exam, students work with their advisors and with the THTR 7911 instructor to create a dissertation prospectus and to gather a dissertation committee (at minimum: the advisor/chair, one other graduate Theatre faculty member, the minor professor, and the dean’s representative assigned by the Graduate School). Once the dissertation prospectus has been finalized, the student files a request for General Exam with the Graduate School. The Graduate School assigns the student a dean’s representative. The prospectus document and the student’s defense of it before their dissertation committee together constitute General Exam for the PhD in Theatre. Passing the General Exam officially transitions the PhD student to candidacy (i.e., ABD status).

Additional details on the general exam process, courses offered, and other details about the program can be found in the School of Theatre’s Graduate Student Handbook.

For more information on the PhD Program Dr. John Fletcher.

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Questions? Contact Us!

School of Theatre & Film Office
105 Music & Dramatic Arts Building
Attn. Dr. John Fletcher
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2504
Email: jfletch@lsu.edu