The Ph.D. in Fine Arts (Theatre Major) at Texas Tech University is a multidisciplinary program which allows for a broad range of options and an individualized curriculum. Students choose two specializations out of a possible five, with playwriting as one available option. Students must take a minimum of four courses in each chosen track. Sixty hours of graduate work beyond the master's degree, a comprehensive examination and a dissertation are required. The program's emphasis combines scholarly and practical work.
Texas Tech University
Department of Theatre and Dance
Box 42061
Lubbock, TX 79409-2601
806-742-3601
ttu.edu
If you're interested in multicultural theatre, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa's graduate program is recognized internationally for its unique offerings. The program is scholarly in focus and Ph.D. emphases are available in Asian Theatre, Western Theatre and Asian/Western Comparative Theatre. Areas of study in the Asian Theatre program include the regional theatres of Japan, China, South and Southeast Asia.
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Department of Theatre and Dance
Kennedy Theatre
1770 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
808-956-7677
hawaii.edu
Together the Departments of Theatre and Speech Communication of Southern Illinois University Carbondale offer an interdisciplinary Ph.D. with a broad range of courses to choose from. There are numerous opportunities for production of student work and for networking with Chicago theatre professionals. This program stands out because students are allowed to complete a creative dissertation that includes an essay exploring scholarly/critical issues. The Ph.D. in Playwriting requires the completion of three full-length dramatic works connected by a shared theme, problem or issue. Students must complete 51 credit hours of coursework and 24 hours of dissertation for the degree.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Department of Theatre
Carbondale, IL 62901-6899
618-453-2121
siuc.edu
For playwrights interested in expanding their career into the education field, NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development offers a doctoral program in Educational Theatre. This is a scholarship and research focused program requiring 54 to 60 points beyond the master's. According to the program, "in order to achieve candidacy in educational theatre, students need to complete four projects: Educational Theatre Portfolio, Research Framework, Arts Dialogue, and Performance Review." A proposal and dissertation are required for the Ph.D.
NYU Steinhardt School
Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
35 W. 4th Street, Suite 777
New York, NY 10012
212-998-5424
steinhardt.nyu.edu