Funding

PhD Program Funding

All students accepted into the program are supported by a combination of fellowships and employment as teaching or research assistants. These five-year funding packages cover tuition and health benefits, and a living stipend for the 9-month academic year.

Teaching Assistantships

We pride ourselves on graduating excellent, innovative, and committed teachers with a broad range of experience.

Students are trained in undergraduate pedagogy through workshops associated with teaching assistant assignments, through a seminar in pedagogy and professionalization, and through ongoing mentoring by faculty.  Teaching assistant roles include supporting faculty lecturers in History of Theatre, Dramatic Literature, Introduction to Dance, and Dance History classes, closely supported independent instruction in our Introduction to Theatre course, and the opportunity to propose, design, develop, and teach a course in your own area of research expertise at senior level.

We also encourage students to seek teaching assistantships outside the program to build their interdisciplinary expertise and ability to reach diverse student constituencies.

Other Funding Opportunities

  • We encourage our students to present papers at regional, national, and international conferences and offer funding to support them. We also have funding available to support research travel expenses.
  • There is summer funding available through the Graduate Research Partnership Program and Research Assistantships with faculty members.
  • Every year the department offers awards and scholarships for exemplary students.
  • Our students are successful in winning competitive fellowships and awards both within the University and from prestigious national and international foundations. We work closely with students to coach them through the application process.

MFA in Design & Technology Funding

All students accepted into the program are supported with 3-year assistantship packages that include a tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend for production based teaching assistance. In keeping with the MFA program’s emphasis on communication, collaboration, and craft, these assistantships offer sustained practical experience that prepares students to work in professional theatre, as well as to teach and mentor others.

Other Funding Opportunities

  • Every year the department offers awards and scholarships for exemplary students.
  • Funds are available to support students presenting research at national and international conferences, or participating in specialized training events in their design area.
  • Design/technology graduate students are also in constant demand by the large Twin Cities professional theatre and arts community where internships and many overhire opportunities are frequently available

Other Resources