The PhD program in Theater and Performance Studies is a joint degree program. Students cannot receive a stand-alone PhD in TAPS. Students wishing to begin graduate studies in Autumn 2025 or after should apply to a partnering department and indicate their interest in the TAPS joint program. Students presently enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Chicago who are interested in petitioning to apply to the joint PhD in TAPS should visit Affiliating with TAPS.
Overview
The PhD program in TAPS at the University of Chicago is dialogical, experimental, and highly individualized. Students develop a program of study that reflects their particular training and interests (including coursework, teaching, and performance-based research) and complement their training in TAPS with a joint doctorate in a cooperating field.
Current partnering departments: Art History, Cinema and Media Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, English Language and Literature, Germanic Studies, Music, Romance Languages and Literatures
Time to degree: 6-8 years
Courses per quarter: 2-3 during the first two years
Browse current and recent courses by selecting Graduate as the course level on the Courses page.
Size of Cohort: 2-5 students per year; 19 total students in the program
Degree Requirements: 12 courses, one oral exam, one September term practicum (SLIPAR), relevant dissertation. See PHD Program Requirements for more detail.
Teaching Requirement: 2 TAPS-related teaching experiences. See the Teaching section of Graduate Studies.
Positions held by recent graduates:
- Ari Gass, Assistant Professor in the Department of Digital Media at Drexel University (2023)
- Eva Pensis, Oral History Project Postdoctoral Fellow in Trans Studies at the University of Pennsylvania (2023)
- Marissa Fenley, Harper Schmidt Fellow, Assistant Professor in the Humanities Collegiate Division, UChicago (2022)
- Sharvari Sastry, Harper Schmidt Fellow, Assistant Professor in the Humanities Collegiate Division, UChicago (2022)
Application process
Applicants submit a single application to the partnering department, and apply to the joint degree in TAPS by checking the box on the Application Information page that says: “Please check here if you are interested in being considered for the Joint Ph.D. Program in Theater and Performance Studies.” After this selection has been made, the application will generate two new tabs, TAPS Supplement and Portfolio, allowing applicants to submit the required additional materials.
All applicants are asked to submit the following materials:
- A 400-600 word statement that specifically addresses the student’s interest in the joint PhD program. The committee wants to learn, among other things, why the questions or projects you hope to pursue require the joint degree. This statement should be submitted on the TAPS Supplement page of the online application, and is separate from the Candidate Statement for the partner department. The TAPS admissions committee will have access to both statements.
- At least one (and ideally two) letters of recommendation that speak directly to the student’s experience with theater and/or performance studies. These letters may be among the required letters submitted to the partner department, if those letters are relevant, or you may submit up to two additional letters to satisfy this goal. In either case, the TAPS Supplement page of the online application will ask for the names of two of your recommenders whose letters are most relevant to the TAPS committee. (The TAPS admissions committee will have access to your entire dossier of letters.) Use the Recommendations page of the online application to submit all letters.
- A TAPS-related critical or scholarly writing sample (up to 15 pages) and, optionally, a sample of creative work. If the writing sample submitted to the partnering department meets this requirement, the applicant can choose to submit the same sample in both the Writing Sample page and the TAPS Supplement page. Use the Portfolio tab to upload media files, if any.
The Office of the Dean of Students administers the applications and admissions process for TAPS as well as all other departments in the Humanities Division. All application materials are to be submitted electronically through the online application system. Please note that we will not accept additional materials sent separately. [For general information about the application, including test requirements and answers to common questions, please visit the Division's resources for prospective students and application instructions. If have additional questions related to admissions, please contact Humanities Admissions Staff (773-702-5809), or Vicki Walden, Academic Administrator for TAPS.]
Note: You do not need to contact faculty before you apply.
Funding
All admitted PhD students are guaranteed to have full funding support from the University and external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program. Applicants do not need to apply separately for funding. See Financial Aid for Prospective Students.
Additional Resources for Prospective Students
Frequently Asked Questions
For questions about the Humanities Division graduate application process, see Frequently Asked Questions- Humanities Division.
What is the application deadline?
Application materials are due in December but the exact date varies year to year. Prospective students should check the deadlines on the Humanities Division admissions website. The Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH) accepts applications twice a year. The deadlines are generally in early January and late April/May. Again, refer to the Humanities Division site for specific dates.
What is the admissions process for TAPS?
TAPS applications are subject to two rounds of review by two different admissions committees. Admission is contingent on being accepted by both the partnering (or entry) department and the TAPS program.
How many recommenders should I list?
At least two TAPS-related recommenders are required.
Once I've submitted my application, how can I check that my materials were received?
You may log in to the submission site to track the receipt of your application. Your application checklist will be updated as the admissions office receives your materials.
When are admissions decisions announced?
Decisions are announced in early February and are made available to individual applicants through the online application system. You will be notified by email from the Office of the Dean of Students when a decision is available. To protect applicants' privacy, no official admissions decisions will be provided directly in an email or by telephone; all applicants must log in to the application site to view their decision.
Does TAPS offer a master's degree?
No. We recommend that students interested in master's-level work consider applying to the TAPS option in the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH).