The success of SPS programs is in large part a result of its partnerships with organizations both within and outside of CUNY. Building on the achievements of its partnership with the Creative Arts Team, the CUNY School of Professional Studies is pleased to offer the M.A. in Applied Theatre.

The M.A. in Applied Theatre, the first of its kind in the United States, is a sequential, ensemble-based program for students interested in the use of theatre to address social and educational issues in a wide range of settings. The program stresses the unity of theory and practice and is linked to the professional applied theatre work of the renowned Creative Arts Team.

Applied theatre is a specialized field that uses theatre as a medium for education and social development. It involves the use of theatre and drama in a wide variety of non-traditional contexts and venues - in teaching, the justice system, healthcare, the political arena, community development, museums, social-service agencies, and business and industry.

Program Goal
The goal of the program is to educate scholar-practitioners to become future leaders in the field of applied theatre. Students explore key theories in the fields of theatre, education, youth development, and community building, and acquire the skills and strategies necessary for creating and implementing the work.

Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Applied Theatre is a 36-credit program, which may be taken full-time or part-time. Students admitted to the program will be introduced to the history of the theatre movements and practices from which the field of applied theatre has developed. They will explore key theories in theatre, human development, learning theory, and community development, all of which help to define and support Applied Theatre practices. Students will be taught the skills and strategies necessary for creating and implementing the work, and they will be asked to think critically about the goals of the work in relation to different audiences, needs and community contexts.

Apprenticeship opportunities are offered with CAT's professional outreach programs or appropriate programs elsewhere. All students culminate their studies with a Project Thesis in which they research, create, implement, document, and evaluate an original applied theatre model.

Career Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for careers and work opportunities such as

• Teaching artists with theatres, museums, hospitals, and other community-based organizations.
• Education directors for cultural organizations
• Facilitators of a wide variety of youth programs including after school, youth theatres, and specialist centers (e.g. juvenile detention centers, homeless shelters)
• HIV/AIDS prevention program specialists
• Team-building, conflict resolution, and management trainers
• Activities specialists with national and international development programs, aid agencies, and refugee support and trauma-relief programs.

Students wishing to obtain New York State Teacher Certification may take additional classes with our sister program, the MS ED in Educational Theatre at the CUNY City College of New York.

Faculty
The faculty includes distinguished CUNY faculty members and visiting international leaders in the field of applied theatre, such as Daniel Banks, Dale Byam, Cohen-Cruz, Tony Goode, Amy Green, Gwendolen Hardwick, Lynn Howell, Chris Vine, and Helen White.

For more information, please contact the M.A. in Applied Theatre advisors at 212-652-2820 or email at appliedtheatre@sps.cuny.edu.