Fall Semester (17 Credits Total)
- Introduction to Performance Studies: 5 credits
- Three 4-credit electives
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Exciting Program Update: Introducing the NEW MA in Performance Studies
We are thrilled to announce a significant and beneficial change to the Master of Arts in Performance Studies program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
New Format: Two Semesters, 34 Credits, Accelerated Completion
The MA program is moving from a three-semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) format to a more streamlined and highly beneficial two-semester structure. Students will begin their studies in the Fall and conclude all degree requirements at the end of the Spring semester, all while maintaining the rich and rigorous 34-credit curriculum.
The New Curriculum Structure:
Students will complete their 34 credits over the Fall and Spring semesters:
- Fall Semester (17 credits): Introduction to Performance Studies (5 credits) + 3 (4 credit) elective courses.
- Spring Semester (17 credits): Projects in Performance Studies (5 credits) + 3 (4 credit) elective courses.
Key Benefits of the New Accelerated MA:
This exciting new format is designed to enhance your academic experience and accelerate your professional timeline:
Accelerated Career Entry: The degree is now conferred in May (instead of late August). This allows our graduates to enter the job market alongside their May-graduating peers.
Stronger PhD Preparation: By completing more intensive coursework with PS faculty early in the Fall, students gain a stronger academic foundation and transcript, providing a competitive edge when applying to doctoral/graduate programs the following cycle.
Reduced Overall Cost: Eliminating the required summer session reduces overall indirect expenses associated with a longer program, making your degree more cost-effective.
We believe this new format will provide an unparalleled experience and better prepare our students for their next steps in academia or professional life. For any questions about the new program structure, please contact us at performance.studies@nyu.edu.
More about the MA Program:
The Masters in Performance Studies offers students the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in this concentrated program and earn their degree in two semesters. Students whose long-range plans include doctoral-level training will receive excellent foundational preparation for not only theater, performance studies, and dance Ph.D. programs, but also for advanced academic research in gender/queer studies, critical race studies, literary studies, visual/communication studies, American studies, etc.
The program targets not only those students aimed at advanced (doctoral) studies in performance or related fields, but those individuals engaged in, or headed towards, careers in art practice as well: choreographers, performance artists, directors, designers, etc. who seek to supplement their technical training with a deep engagement in performance theory will have an opportunity to consider their practice-based knowledge in relation to theories of performance. Graduates of the M.A. program may pursue careers in arts management/administration, education, grant-writing, and other arts-related media and policy work.
The M.A. and Ph.D. Programs in Performance Studies are administered by the Tisch School of the Arts and degrees are conferred by the Graduate School of Arts and Science at NYU.
"What I particularly like is the way in which Performance Studies is interested in how...the body is so crucial to the making of meaning – not just the conferral of meaning, but producing new meanings."
—Ann Pellegrini, Department Chair & Professor
MA Program Structure
For students entering Fall 2026 and later:
Spring Semester (17 credits total)
- Three 4-credit electives
- Final Projects in Performance Studies: 5 credits