Doctoral students are expected to enter the program with training and experience in the artistic and production areas of theatre. Members of the student's comprehensive examination committee write the questions. Area questions are designed to interrogate both literary and performance issues. The examinations are based on course work and reading lists. All students are responsible for a core reading list of approximately 15-20 books and articles.
Students have two opportunities to pass the comprehensive examinations.
All students must have demonstrated reading knowledge of a foreign language. The student's dissertation topic may require additional research languages. At least three committee members must be regular members of the University of Maryland Graduate Faculty. Each committee must have a chairperson who is a regular member of the graduate faculty. Dissertations must follow the guidelines established by the University.