Honors in Dramatic Lit, History, and Theory

 

The Honors in Dramatic Literature, History, and Theory Program is designed to challenge superior students beyond the scholarly requirements of the Drama major. It provides them with the opportunity to advance their knowledge of dramatic literature, history, and theory and to further develop their writing, analytical, and research skills. An additional purpose of the program is to better prepare students for graduate study not only in dramatic literature, history, and theory, but in fields ranging from the humanities to the social sciences and law.

Eligibility requirements for entry into the Honors Program are:

  1. Completion of Drama 40A, B, C and two upper-division courses selected from Drama 103-129 (for upper division writing credit with the W designation), or approved equivalents to these courses from other institutions
  2. Maintenance of an overall GPA of at least 3.2, with a GPA of 3.4 or higher in all dramatic literature, history, and theory courses
  3. Completion of the application form (download the form)
  4. Approval by the Honors Program

Admission to the Honors in Dramatic Literature, History, Criticism and Theory Program is competitive and very selective. Students must apply to the Program prior to the spring quarter of their junior year. Upon completion of the eligibility requirements, applicants must submit at least two critical essays, most likely written previously for courses, totaling no more than 30 pages. These essays will be used by the Honors Committee (comprised of the Head of Dramatic Literature, History, and Theory and two additional members of the Drama faculty) to determine admission.

Following admission to the program, and in addition to fulfilling the regular requirements of the Drama major, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE the Honors Program, students must also take three upper-division courses in dramatic literature, history and/or theory, one of which must be focused on theory. Course numbers that fulfill this requirement are: 103, 105, 109, 110, 112, 116, 118, 121, 122, 123, 126, 129, and 180. By approval, upper-division courses in other departments may be used to fulfill these requirements.

The Thesis

Honors students must also write an Honors Thesis, a 30-40 page research paper written under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic chosen by the student. The faculty adviser for this project is selected before the end of the fall quarter of the student's senior year. Students develop their projects until the spring quarter when they enter the writing phase. It is only during the spring quarter that students achieve full course credit for their work on the thesis, in the form of an independent study course with their advisor. This independent study is the final course of the program.

Successful graduating seniors will receive the "Honors in Dramatic Literature, History, and Theory" notation on their official transcript.

For more information, refer to the Drama section of the UCIrvine General Catalogue or contact Professor Daphne Lei, Head of Honors Program / Doctoral Studies in Drama, at dlei@uci.edu.