We understand performance as both an object of inquiry and as a lens through which to view the world.
About
The Ph.D. in Performance Studies (PFS) is an interdisciplinary degree combining academic work that is theoretically and critically engaged with performance practice as research. The graduate group is highly supportive of Ph.D. students, who are encouraged to build personal research areas with active mentoring and within a strong graduate culture. Students coming into the program work with outstanding faculty whose areas of expertise cover a wide range of historical periods, media and approaches to performance studies.
Practice as Research
The Ph.D. offers a mainstream focus on criticism, history and theory, as well as the option to focus on practice as research. ‘Practice as research’ (PAR) is the term used to describe challenging graduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral research and critical reflection into various areas of performance practice and media. Candidates who would like to emphasize the practice as research strand must have at least ten to fifteen years of experience in professional performance fields or with professional media experience.
Criticism, History and Theory
The strand of the Ph.D. that focuses on criticism, history and theory has long roots in the faculty and university campus at Davis. It continues to be a popular option and can be complemented in exciting and novel ways by a PAR project.
Support
The PFS graduate group is highly supportive of Ph.D. students, who are encouraged to build personal research areas with active mentoring and within a strong graduate culture. Students coming into the program work with outstanding faculty whose areas of expertise cover a wide range of historical periods, media and approaches to performance studies.