The Honors Program in Theatre Studies

Please provide the following information in the body of an email 

1. Name / email address / student ID number / local telephone number / number of credits completed.
2. A 150-word well-written statement of your interest in the specific Seminar and the kind of research paper who might like to write.
3. Attach to the email your best essay written for another theatre studies course. 
4. To apply for a second Honors Seminar, include the title of the Seminar you have taken, the name of the instructor, and your grade.
5. Send your application to the instructor of the Seminar with a copy to Rachel Johnson - racheljohnson@nyu.edu.

Selection Process
Instructors select students based on stated interest in the subject matter, the writing sample, and interest in research.
Notification
You will receive a reply to your application by the end of the semester. Because individual registration dates occur before seminar acceptance dates, students are advised to register for an alternative 4-credit course that can be dropped once the student is admitted to a Seminar.
Questions about the Honors Program can be addressed to the Director of the Honors Program, Professor Carol Martin - cm7@nyu.edu.

Honors Thesis
Honors Thesis is a 4-credit course spanning one semester in which students write a 35–40-page original thesis, not including citations. Weekly meetings with a Faculty Advisor serve to guide students to research sources and help shape and focus the thesis. Honors Certificates are awarded during the Drama Department’s annual Awards Ceremony each spring. You can apply to Honors Thesis after completing two or more Honors Seminars with grades of B+ or better. Deadlines for submitting a completed Honors Thesis are December 10 in the fall semester and April 25 in the spring semester.

Honors Thesis is ideal for students who:

• Have a clear, original research topic

• Are motivated to read long-form academic articles (not internet media)

• Are eager to build expert-level reading and analytical skills

• Want individualized mentorship through weekly meetings with a Faculty Advisor

How to Apply
Start by asking a full-time faculty member in the Department of Drama whose expertise aligns with your topic if they are willing to serve as your Faculty Advisor. 

Include the Following in Your Application:

• Your name

• Your expected graduation date

• Titles, instructors, and grades of completed Honors Seminars

• A 200-word research proposal with four key citations

If your thesis proposal is approved, please contact racheljohnson@nyu.edu to enroll. Your Faculty Advisor will assign a theatre studies designation to your Honors Thesis Seminar—Geography, Histories, Topics, or Praxis. The Advisor may consult with the Director of Theatre Studies, lauren.whitehead@nyu.edu about the designation.

Important Notices
Per university policy, work completed for one course cannot be submitted for credit in another.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in the research and writing. To ensure transparency and compliance with NYU’s plagiarism policy, students must fully describe any use of AI in writing and researching their theses. This includes:  

• A full description of the generation of images within the manuscript stated in image captions; 

• Identify AI generated text within the manuscript including references and citations;  

• Any AI analysis or insights generated from data or other materials; 

• Acknowledgement of ideas, words, data, or produced by AI and other third parties.

Questions?
Contact Carol Martin, Director of the Honors Program: carol.martin@nyu.edu.