The Master of Arts (MA) Program in Theater and Performance Studies at Washington University in St. Louis is one of the strongest programs of its kind. We offer students rigorous scholarly training, opportunities to meet and work with visiting scholars and artists, and support in developing their own independent research projects—all within a collegial, supportive environment that prizes critical thinking and creative practice.
Our students enroll in small, intensive seminars in theater history and performance theory. Although the primary focus of the program is scholarly, students have the opportunity to take studio courses in directing, playwriting, and theatre for social change. There are ample opportunities for interdisciplinary study, and we have strong relationships with affiliate faculty in allied departments, including Film and Media Studies, English, Music, Comparative Literature, African and African American Studies, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Our faculty has been recognized with numerous accolades for their scholarly work as well as their artistic practice, and the small size of each admitted class allows for individual attention and one-on-one mentorship. We routinely place our graduates in top Ph.D. programs in the field, including Brown, Stanford, Northwestern, University of California, San Diego, and University of Minnesota. Other graduates have pursued careers in the arts, social justice work, and education. Whether you studied theater and performance as an undergraduate or are making a new turn in your scholarship, we invite you to learn more about our program by reading our Admissions FAQ.
