Educational Theatre
Advanced Certificate, MA
Graduate, Graduate Certificate
Ruth S. Ammon College of Education & Health Sciences
Educational Theatre Navigation
Licensure & Certification
Prepare for a rewarding career in theatre arts education by choosing one of these highly-ranked performing arts programs.
Why Choose a Career in Educational Theatre?
A degree in educational theatre will enable you to introduce and enhance the use of theatre in schools, cultural institutions, theatre companies and nonprofit organizations. For students with a background in the performing arts, the world of theatre education will open opportunities to become a teaching artist, theatre educator, artistic director or arts education coordinator.
As part of Adelphi's Distance Graduate Programs in Education Group, the educational theatre program has partnered with graduate art education, educational technology, English education, and social studies education to provide accessible and meaningful online and blended learning.
Why Earn Your MA in Educational Theatre at Adelphi?
Explore your creativity in our lively, meaningful and deeply personal online learning communities, freed from the constraints of traditional settings and supported by a university that has a long history of championing the arts as part of a rich and deeply human education.
Benefit from our multi-arts approach that integrates creative writing, storytelling, movement, performance and visual arts and views traditional educational subjects such as literacy, special education, foundations, and psychology through an arts-based lens.
Deepen your artistic work in our core course informed by the Michael Chekhov system of mind-body awareness.
Join a program ranked among the Best Colleges in Education by the Colleges of Distinction.
94%* * based on Adelphi University Career Outcomes Survey: Class of 2020
of our graduate students say that Adelphi University increased their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of professionals in their field
based on Adelphi University Career Outcomes Survey: Class of 2020
Outcomes Report
I absolutely loved my time in the Educational Theatre program at Adelphi! There was such a beautiful focus on the importance of arts in schools that empowered me even more as an educator. The professors are incredible and so helpful and supportive. I feel that this program and the professors really set me up for success and I would do it all over again!
Aly Larizza '11, MA '19 MA in Educational Theatre
Degree & Certification Options
We offer three MA programs and one advanced certificate program:
MA in Educational Theatre P-12 Certification Track
This 33-credit program is designed for performers interested in earning teaching certification online.
MA in Educational Theatre, Storytelling and the Arts Non-Certification Track
Designed for educators without a theatre major interested in integrating dramatic play into their coursework; online. This 33 credit program offers a rich array of multi-disciplinary courses in arts education, with a focus on creative dramatics and storytelling. The non-certification program is open to all interested graduate candidates, regardless of prior study, and can meet the needs of already-certified English teachers seeking a master's degree in a related area.
Advanced Certificate in Educational Theatre Certification Track
This fully online program is designed for individuals who already have a master's degree and wish to attain a New York State teaching certification in theatre P-12. The program of study requires 12 credits (four courses). If the applicant has no prior NYS teaching certification, there is an additional 6-credit student teaching course required. All applicants must have the prerequisite 30 credits in theatre (undergraduate and/or graduate) to earn NYS certification in theatre.
In addition to these specializations, we also offer a dual certification track with a specific focus for prospective English teachers with a background in theater arts. Learn more about the MA in English and Educational Theater.
Students in the programs leading to certification may need to make up undergraduate deficiencies in liberal arts courses required for teacher certification in New York state. Additionally, students in programs leading to NYS teacher certification in theatre must take and pass the required New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE), including the Educating All Students (EAS) test, Content Specialty Test (CST) in Theatre and the edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment).
Exceptional Hands-On Learning
At Adelphi, we believe in the power of hands-on experience to prepare graduates for careers in the classroom. The MA in Educational Theatre program culminates with a semester of student-teaching experience. Our students have also gained valuable experience in internships at many schools and organizations, including:
Take A Bow Playhouse
Long Beach High School
Fordham High School for the Arts
The Young Women's Leadership School of Astoria
Philippa Schuyler Middle School for the Gifted and Talented
The Chapin School
Calhoun High School
Plan of Study for the MA in Educational Theatre P-12
Plan of Study for the MA in Educational Theatre, Storytelling & the Arts
Plan of Study for the MA in English and Theatre
Plan of Study for the Advanced Certificate in Educational Theatre
Applicants for the online programs must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and should submit the following:
Graduate application and $60 fee
A letter of recommendation
Official transcripts from all prior institutions and proof of bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution
Applicants for the MA in Educational Theatre, P-12 leading to certification must have an undergraduate degree in theatre or the equivalent 30 credits.
Applicants for the Advanced Certificate in Educational Theatre must already hold a master's degree (in any subject area as long as they have at least 30 credits in theatre).
These applicants should also submit:
General Education coursework in the liberal arts and 30 credits in theatre, which will be evaluated upon admission*
*Some deficiencies can be made up concurrently with the graduate program, upon advisement, for the Advanced Certificate in Educational Theatre.
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Diane Caracciolo (She/Her)
The School of Education, Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences
caraccio@adelphi.edu
Alumnae Hall 226