The Doctor of Philosophy degree is given for scholarship in theatre and dance history, theory, or criticism, performance studies, and practice as research. The PhD degree is not conferred for the acquisition of academic credits. It is granted only to candidates who demonstrate outstanding ability to do imaginative and original research and who present the results in a cogent dissertation. The PhD in Theatre and Dance is offered in three concentrations: Asian Performance, Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance, and Performance Studies. All PhD students take 3 credits of THEA 692 /DNCE 692 .
A candidate for the degree is required to successfully complete three semesters of full-time residence, required courses (detailed below), other courses as deemed necessary by the student’s doctoral committee, examination in at least one non-English language, a written and oral comprehensive examination, and an oral defense of the student’s dissertation. The minimum residency requirement is three semesters of full time work or the equivalent in credits at UH Mānoa. At the end of the second semester in residence, the graduate faculty will provide the candidate with an assessment of his or her progress to date
Proficiency in teaching, whether lecturing before large classes or teaching smaller classes and leading discussions, is considered part of the training of all PhD candidates, who should demonstrate this proficiency by giving several such lectures and by serving as teaching assistants. A high level of accomplishment in the foreign language or languages appropriate to the proposed area of research (as determined by the advisor) is also required, and language competency will be determined by examination.
Written comprehensive examinations and two and a half hours of oral comprehensive examinations are required of all candidates before embarking on the dissertation. These are given after a student has completed the language requirement. Written comprehensive exams shall consist of five questions on topics to be determined by the student’s doctoral committee. Further guidelines are available from the graduate advisor. The doctoral committee consists of at least five graduate faculty, of whom a majority are from the Department of Theatre and Dance regular and cooperating graduate faculty; one member must be from another graduate program and serve as the university representative. There is a seven-year time limit for PhD students to complete all requirements. For unusual circumstances, one extension may be granted. Upon satisfactory completion of the written and oral parts of the comprehensive examination the student will enroll in 1 credit of THEA 800 in every term until graduation.
For specific requirements of each concentration, see PhD Theatre and Dance program sheet.
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