Degree Requirements
Ph.D. students must complete 70 units receiving grades of 'B' or better for each course.
- For students who received an M.A. from the Department of Performance Studies, the 34 units will be applied towards your Ph.D. degree.
- Ph.D. students who received a Master's degree from another university may transfer a maximum of 34 units from that degree to apply toward the Ph.D. All applications for credit transfers must be made during the student's first semester in the department, are evaluated on an individual basis, and require approval by the Department Chair and the TSOA Director of Graduate Admissions.
Required courses for all Ph.D. students:
- Advanced Readings in Performance Studies (PERF-GT 2201.001)
- Methods in Performance Studies (PERF-GT 2616.001)
- Dissertation Proposal Advising (PERF-GT 2301.001)
Advising
During their first year in the program the department chair or Director of Graduate Studies will advise Ph.D. students. They will work together in planning their coursework plan and finding a suitable faculty advisor to guide their dissertation project during their time in the program.
Registration
Students are permitted to take 3 courses outside the department, and the course must be an academic course approved by your advisor. The Inter-University Doctoral Consortium is a good resource to find classes offered outside of the university. Students can begin taking Inter-University courses during their second semester in the Ph.D. program. All incoming PhD. students are not permitted to take an outside course during their first semester of coursework. An outside course is defined as any course that is not designated by the prefix PERF-GT.
The only practical course that counts toward the Ph.D. degree is Performance Composition (PERF-GT 2730.001) Ph.D. students are permitted to take two Performance Composition courses during their course of studies in the department.
Comprehensive Area Exams
Exams are taken during the spring semester of the student's second year of study. During this semester, students must also register to maintain matriculation.
Dissertation Proposal
During the fall semester of the third year, all Ph.D. students will be automatically registered for the Dissertation Proposal course by the department. The instructor for the course will designate the meeting dates and times for the semester. The Dissertation Proposal Colloquium will take place during the first week in December, time and location TBA.
A passing grade is recorded for Dissertation Proposal course when the student’s dissertation advisor and two core readers approve the proposal. Students will then have approximately one month to turn in any proposal that needs revisions.
Maintaining Matriculation
Beginning the spring semester of the 2nd year, Ph.D. students must register to Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GA 4747.003) on Albert and complete the department matriculation approval form. The charges associated with matriculation are covered by your fellowship including all registration fees and health insurance.
Maintaining Matriculation entitles students to continue to utilize NYU facilities and services. NYU will not permit a student to graduate if the student has any outstanding matriculation fees. Faculty advisor approval is required to Maintain Matriculation. Faculty advisor approval must also indicate Equivalency Status. Full-time status requires the student be engaged in degree work, i.e. the dissertation, full-time, a minimum of 40 hours of work per week.
When a student fails to enroll and matriculate for two consecutive semesters, they are automatically withdrawn from the program and will have to re-apply for admission.
Foreign Language Requirement
The department requires that all candidates for the doctorate demonstrate proficiency in at least one foreign language integral to their academic research. Proficiency in the department is only fulfilled in one of the following ways:
- Language proficiency may be demonstrated by passing the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination administered by GSAS; or
- Completing, or having completed not more than two years before matriculation at TSOA, with a transcript grade of B or better, an intermediate level course in the foreign language for which proficiency is requested. School of Continuing Education courses do not fulfill this requirement. Students generally choose to register for a course at CUNY Language Program.
- Students who have met the language requirement in another graduatedegree program not more than two years prior to matriculation in TSOA maypetition the department to request the Associate Dean's acceptance of suchcredentials.
- If English is not your native language, you can submit a request to the department requesting that your native language be considered as fulfillment of the foreign language proficiency requirement. A formal request will be made on your behalf to TSOA Dean of Student affairs for approval. Provide a short paragraph as to why you should be exempt and provide documentation of a degree earned where instruction was given in the language being applied for. (Ex. transcript, diploma or certification)
ABD Status Application
A student can apply for ADB status by sending an e-mail to the Administrative Director once they have an approved dissertation proposal and they have completed all the necessary requirements, below:
- Course Work-earned 70 points with an average of B or better average.
- Language Requirement- passed a GSAS language exam, or earned a grade of B or better in a credit-granting course, by native language waiver.
- Area Exams- Passed all areas
- Dissertation Proposal- must be approved by all committee members and revised.
Time to Degree Policy
The time limit for Ph.D. students who entered Performance Studies with a Master's from another university is 7 years. For students who continued into the Ph.D. from NYU Performance Studies M.A. program, the time limit is 10 years from their entrance into the M.A. program. Students beyond their time limit may not register until they apply for a time to degree. Please contact the Administrative Director of Performance Studies for more information and instructions on this process.