Drama and Theatre Education (MA) (2022 Entry)
About this taught graduate course
Course overview
This MA programme offers students an in-depth insight into the ways drama and theatre education can enhance teaching and learning in primary, secondary and tertiary education as well as in applied and community settings. We introduce you to a range of hybrid pedagogic strategies that are underpinned by rigor and that aspire to make learning accessible, playful, creative and engaging.
We celebrate drama and theatre as subjects in their own right whilst also recognising the substantive body of evidence-based research into the ways drama and theatre can be used as pedagogical tools across the curriculum and for community purposes. This MA is aimed at practitioners, or aspiring practitioners, working in schools and colleges, and community and educational theatre settings.
The course of study provides a planned and structured programme, which is sufficiently flexible to respond to the needs of a wide range of pedagogic and cultural contexts. Practical activities are at the heart of our course structure, so there will be a number of opportunities to work with your peers, collaborating, debating, and researching practical solutions. Your interdisciplinary skill set will be developed throughout the MA, enabling you to pursue a diverse array of career pathways.
Skills from this degree
- Pedagogic, management and artistic skills you need to be an effective teacher and practitioner in drama
- Complete a small scale research project into an aspect of professional work
- Understand the place of drama in the current National Curriculum Orders. Be able to devise policies and strategies for the implementation of drama
- Be able to draw on contemporary theory, practice and criticism in the field of theatre and evaluate its relevance to drama education
- Understand the theoretical and practical relationships between drama in education and other genres of theatre; particularly community theatre and Theatre in Education
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
2:ii undergraduate degree (or equivalent).
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirements. This course requires the following:
- Band B
- IELTS score to 7 overall, two at 6.0/6.5 & rest 7.0+
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Core modules
Drama and Theatre Studies in Theory and Practice
The new revised MA in Drama and Theatre Education offers teachers in both primary and secondary phases of education a rigorous and relevant course of training and academic study in the theory and practice of drama and theatre education. The course is flexibly designed to respond to and develop the professional needs of both home and overseas students. The course is built upon the research and teaching strengths of the course team who have a national and international reputation for their publications and teaching in the field of drama and theatre education.
Drama and Theatre Studies in Theory and Practice is an introductory module which focuses on drama and theatre as means of artistic communication. How does drama/theatre communicate its meanings? How do we read a wide range of performance genres? What are the alternative historical and avant-garde connections between communicating in theatre and in drama education? The module explores, through study and practice, the use of signs and symbols in theatre and drama and semiotic and anthropological approaches to drama as a cultural system.
Drama and Literacy
The Drama and Literacy module is responsive to the stress placed internationally on the development of literacy in both primary and secondary schools in recent years. Following on from Drama and Theatre Studies in Theory and Practice, it looks specifically at theories of literacy that emphasise the importance of cultural semiotics and social context. It considers the close historical relationship between drama and English in schools and explores the specific contribution drama can make to children’s language development in general and the development of reading and writing in particular.
The Role of Story in Drama and Theatre Education
The new revised MA in Drama and Theatre Education offers teachers in both primary and secondary phases of education a rigorous and relevant course of training and academic study in the theory and practice of drama and theatre education. The course is flexibly designed to respond to and develop the professional needs of both home and overseas students. The course is built upon the research and teaching strengths of the course team who have a national and international reputation for their publications and teaching in the field of drama and theatre education.
This module, The Role of Story in Drama and Theatre Education, connects closely with the module Drama and Theatre Studies in Theory and Practice. Due to its emphasis on practical theatre making, it requires the students to put into practice the theories on culture and semiotics covered in this module and to consider closely how meanings are made and communicated through drama. It connects, too, with the Drama and Literacy module with its stress on stories as conveyors of cultural and moral values.
Foundation Research Methods in Education
This module encourages students in understanding, designing and implementing research in the field of education. It will introduce you to a range of established research strategies and techniques, including data collection and analysis. These skills will enable you to design and carry out a dissertation research project, as well as to disseminate its findings. As part of this module, you will present your research design and have the opportunity to receive feedback ahead of completing your dissertation.
You can choose either Dissertation by Reflective Practitioner Route (Drama Education) or one of the standard Dissertation modules.
The dissertation is an opportunity to explore, in depth, an area of academic and/or professional interest related to your degree. Building on the knowledge and skills developed during the Foundation Research Methods module, and your other modules, you will conduct an independent research project, developing a deeper understanding of your chosen topic. From your research project you will produce a dissertation, with guidance from a supervisor who will be allocated to you. Through the dissertation you will demonstrate the ability to analyse and synthesise relevant literature, produce coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence and logical discussion, and acknowledge sources of ideas and information.
Optional modules
Theatre-making with/for/by young people is strongly recommended.
This programme has a number of optional modules to choose from. Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date.
Find the most up-to-date optional module list on the Education Studies website.
Teaching
This course provides practical experience of a wide range of drama and theatre practices. The weekly practical workshops are run by Module Leaders, invited guests, and students themselves.
These workshops give you hands-on experience of drama as well as methods and ideas for using drama and theatre in your workplace. The core modules on this course are assessed through a combination of essays and performances.
You will also complete a dissertation based on an individual research project, with support from a member of academic staff. You will have teaching core contact time in Autumn and Spring Term plus rehearsal time and regular trips to local schools and theatres and guest lectures and performances throughout the year.
Typical contact hours
You will have teaching core contact time in Autumn and Spring Term plus rehearsal time and regular trips to local schools and theatres and guest lectures and performances throughout the year.
Assessment
You will also complete a dissertation based on an individual research project, with support from a member of academic staff.
Additional course costs
You may wish to undertake some research with children or young people that may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or a Certificate of Good Conduct for students from outside of the UK. A DBS check costs around £70 and a Certificate of Good Conduct can vary in price. There may be some theatre trips or visits to schools that will incur a small cost but these are not compulsory.
Find out more about our additional course costs.
Reading lists
Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web page.
Your timetable
Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.
Your career
Many of our alumni have gone go on to:
- Study teacher training courses to become teachers of drama/theatre and/or English language
- Enhance their profile as classroom drama/theatre and English teachers, many securing promotion
- Successfully complete Doctoral study, becoming academics in the field of drama and theatre education
- Work as theatre education and outreach officers for leading arts organisations
- Develop their portfolio as freelance practitioners/facilitators in the field of drama and theatre in education
Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
- Careers in Education
- Careers with Children and Young People
- Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
Education Studies at Warwick
Education has the power to change lives
Education changes lives through teaching, coaching, training, and through work in local and global communities. What do you understand about that power? Bring your fascination for the way we communicate and learn to Warwick.
Find out more about us on our website
Our Postgraduate Taught courses
- Childhood in Society (MA)
- Drama and Theatre Education (MA)
- Drama Education and English Language Teaching (MA)
- Education (MA)
- Educational Innovation (MA)
- Educational Leadership and Management (MA)
- Foundation Research Methods in Education (PGA)
- Global Education and International Development (MA)
- Islamic Education (PGA)
- Islamic Education: Theory and Practice (MA)
- Leading Educational Change and Improvement (PGA)
- Psychology and Education (MA)
Our Postgraduate Research courses
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.
Taught course fees Research course fees
Fee Status Guidance
The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.
If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information, however we are awaiting guidance from the UK government regarding fee status for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members living in the UK for academic year 2021/22 onwards. We are not able to confirm the fee status for these students until the relevant eligibility criteria have been confirmed. Once we have received further information from the UK government, we will provide you with an update on your fee status and let you know if any additional information is required. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website.
Additional course costs
Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:
- Core text books
- Printer credits
- Dissertation binding
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
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