PhD Drama and Theatre at University of California, Irvine

Programme overview

This is a joint program offered by the UCI Department of Drama and the UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance. This program has the largest dedicated doctoral faculty of any Drama program in the nation and one of the lowest teacher-student ratios. The program is designed to encourage students to develop a unique body of research working closely with a small group of faculty at both UC Irvine and UC San Diego.

Faculty: Claire Trevor School of the Arts | Study mode: full-time | Location: Irvine, CA, United States

What you will study

Complete: DRAMA 290 Dramatic Literature and Theatre History Prior to 1900 (two seminars/8 units) DRAMA 291 Dramatic Literature and Theatre History, 1900 to Present (two seminars/8 units) DRAMA 292 Cultural and Critical Theory (four seminars/16 units) Two additional seminars (8 units) are required and are determined in conversation with the head of the Ph.

Career pathways

The program's goal is to prepare students for a successful career at either a research university or a major liberal arts institution, in a variety of possible disciplines ranging from Drama and Theatre, English, and Performance Studies, to Cultural, Gender, and Ethnic Studies.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students with a B.A. (minimum GPA of 3.5), M.A., or M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre are eligible for admission to the doctoral program. Students with training in literature (or another area in the humanities) will also be considered, provided they can demonstrate a background in drama or theatre. Experience in one of the creative activities of theatre (acting, directing, playwriting, design, dramaturgy) enhances a student’s chances of admission. All applicants are required to submit samples of their critical writing and two letters of recommendation. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required. While not required for admission, a working knowledge of a second language is highly desirable (see Language Requirement ).

Domestic applicants: USD 13,722 a year (2026-27). Graduate tuition (resident rate) from the standard Graduate/Credential Student Fees schedule for state-supported graduate degree programmes; the page does not list programmes by name, so this is the standard graduate band. Tuition line only; excludes Stud Source

Graduate applications are submitted online through the UCI graduate application portal; the non-refundable application fee is $135 for U.S. citizens and lawful U.S. permanent residents and $155 for all other applicants. Deadlines are set by each programme. GRE is required by some programmes only; TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency is required of graduate applicants unless waived.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/

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