PhD in Critical Studies in Improvisation

About this programme

As a mode of being in the world, improvisation shows us that there are other ways of doing things, that social change is possible, that another world is possible. — Fischlin, Heble, & Lipsitz ( The Fierce Urgency of Now, pg. 243) This interdisciplinary graduate program in the field of Critical Studies in Improvisation (IMPR) offers PhD Degrees incorporating foundations in critical inquiry , multidisciplinary improvisatory practices , performative agency , and community engagement , built on years of award-winning, arts-based research and training by the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI) . Through study and experiential learning opportunities, students will gain broadly applicable practical skills in research and project development, management and implementation, leadership, and collaboration. We strongly encourage prospective candidates to reach out to potential faculty mentors to discuss the program and their research interests. Primary Area (Critical Studies in Improvisation): Involves an intensive literature review, preliminary thesis research focus development, and presentation at the Graduate colloquium. Secondary Area (SA): An opportunity to develop disciplinary expertise (particularly useful for those who seek academic employment), breadth, and pedagogical design experience. Students extend the particular vocabulary and research focus of Critical Studies in Improvisation in relation to other disciplinary engagements. Outcomes include the development and design of teaching materials in the Secondary Area.