PhD in Performance Studies - Studies in Performance and Practice in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The Performance Studies Ph.D. program spans four to five years. During the initial two years, students gain foundational knowledge by selecting from diverse course offerings to establish their research focus. Four core courses must be completed from nine available options, including PFS 200 and three selections from PFS 265 A, B, C, or D. Additional PFS 265 courses offered each quarter can also fulfill these requirements. The curriculum requires four core performance studies courses from five options, plus one colloquium. Students then tailor their program through seminars, practice-based research courses, and independent or collaborative studies, focusing on one or more of the program's key areas: Comparative Medias, Embodiments, Cultures/Ecologies, and History/Text. Courses are available across HArCS departments, with Designated Emphases in areas like Performance & Practice, African American & African Studies, Critical Theory, and more. A minimum of 60 units must be completed before the qualifying exam, with no more than 12 undergraduate units allowed without advisor approval.

The Designated Emphasis in Performance and Practice offers an interdisciplinary framework for analyzing communication practices across various domains, from traditional media to everyday interactions. This emphasis fosters collaborative, critical engagement with emerging communication technologies and theoretical approaches.