DRAMA FOR LIFE,
Academic Programme
BA Honours and Masters in the Field of Drama Therapy
COURSE CONTENT AND STRUCTURES:
Undergraduate Courses and Degrees:
1. BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS (BAPVA), BACHELOR OF ARTS
IN DRAMATIC ARTS (BADA)
Students wanted to specialize or take an Applied Drama course as a selected major:
1. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 3A: Process Drama
2. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 3B: Theatre in Education
2. BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS (BAPVA), BACHELOR OF ARTS
IN DRAMATIC ARTS (BADA), students from Faculty of Humanities and other Faculties
Students who have permission to participate in the International Human Rights
Education Programme:
1. Theatre for Human Rights
Postgraduate Courses and Degrees:
3. BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS (BAPVA – 4th Year/Honours
Equivalent)
Students who would like to specialize in Applied Drama will need to take the following
courses at 4th Year.
1. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4A: Theatre of the Oppressed and Contemporary
Interventions
2. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4B: Theatre for Social Change
3. Reflective Praxis in Drama Applied Drama 4A
4. Reflective Praxis in Drama Applied Drama 4B
5. Introduction to Drama Therapy
6. Research Essay in Drama Applied Drama
4. BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS (BAPVA – 4th Year/Honours
Equivalent)
Students who would like to specialize in Drama Therapy will need to take the following
courses at 4th Year.
7. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4A: Theatre of the Oppressed and Contemporary
Interventions
8. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4B: Theatre for Social Change
9. Reflective Praxis in Drama Applied Drama 4A
10. Reflective Praxis in Drama Applied Drama 4B
11. Drama Therapy: Theory and Practice 4A
12. Drama Therapy: Theory and Practice 4B
13. Research Essay in Drama Applied Drama
5. ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN ARTS WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN APPLIED DRAMA
1. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4A: Theatre of the Oppressed and Contemporary
Interventions ( see Honours Course Description below)
2. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4B: Theatre for Social Change (see Honours
Course Description below)
3. Reflective Praxis in Applied Drama 4A ( see Honours Course Description below)
4. Reflective Praxis in Applied Drama 4B (see Honours Description below)
6. BACHELOR OF ARTS WITH HONOURS IN THE FIELD OF APPLIED DRAMA: THEATRE IN
EDUCATION, COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL CONTEXTS
1. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4A: Theatre of the Oppressed and Contemporary
Interventions
2. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4B: Theatre for Social Change
3. Reflective Praxis in Drama Applied Drama 4A
4. Reflective Praxis in Drama Applied Drama 4B
5. Introduction to Drama Therapy
6. Research Essay in Drama Applied Drama
7. MA IN APPLIED DRAMA: THEATRE IN EDUCATION, COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL
CONTEXTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Theatre Studies and Performance Theory (Core Course in Practice-based Research)
Drama in Education, or Performance Laboratory
Theatre as Activism, Education and Therapy
Critical Reflexive Praxis in Applied Drama A
Critical Reflexive Praxis in Applied Drama B
Research Report in Applied Drama
8. BACHELOR OF ARTS WITH HONOURS IN THE FIELD OF DRAMA THERAPY
1. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4A: Theatre of the Oppressed and
Contemporary Interventions
2. Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4B: Theatre for Social Change
3. Reflexive Practice in Applied Drama and Theatre A
4. Reflexive Practice in Applied Drama and Theatre B
5. Drama Therapy Theory and Practice 4A
6. Drama Therapy: Theory and Practice B
7. Drama Therapy Research Essay
9. MASTER OF ARTS IN THE FIELD OF DRAMA THERAPY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Theatre Studies and Performance Theory (Core Course in Practice-based Research)
Advanced Drama Therapy Theory & Practice A
Advanced Drama Therapy Theory & Practice B
Critical Reflexive Pedagogy A (Masters)
Critical Reflexive Pedagogy B (Masters)
Research Report In Drama Therapy
Course Outline
Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4A: Theatre of the Oppressed and
Contemporary Interventions
This course is designed to follow on from Applied Drama and Theatre Studies IIIA and IIIB.
It is a workshop-based course that develops the practical implementation of applied drama
and theatre processes learned in the previous courses, and introduces students to Augusto
Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed theory and practices as well as other related Contemporary
Interventions. Theatre of the Oppressed is inclusive of Image Theatre, Forum Theatre,
Invisible Theatre, Legislature Theatre and Rainbow of Desire. Students will be required to
identify a setting in which they would like to work, and motivate their choice. After
identifying the need/s of their specific population choice, they will be required to plan a
workshop intervention based on aspects of Theatre of the Oppressed. Students will be
required to make contact with the setting during the planning stage, before beginning a series
of Theatre of the Oppressed workshops with the selected group. The focus of this course will
be on the supervision of the students who are learning to use sophisticated theatre methods, as
well as negotiate the roles of drama/theatre teacher, facilitator and or caregiver. Students will
learn to facilitate their own groups, and they will learn to apply ethical practice.
Applied Drama and Theatre Studies 4B: Theatre for Social Change
This is a workshop-based course focusing on Applied Drama and Theatre within community
settings. The course aims to introduce students to ways in which drama and theatre processes
can be used in groups with specific goals in mind. The course will include both experiential
and theoretical input about Narrative, Collaborative and Community-Based Theatre-Making
processes. The role of improvisation in theatre-making processes and devised theatre will be
explored with communities in formal and non-formal sectors. In addition, students will learn
to understand and analyse the role of the drama and theatre facilitator, the role of the group,
and the role dynamics within the group.
Reflexive Practice in Applied Drama and Theatre A (Honours)
This course aims to encourage the growth of self reflective rigorous Applied Drama and
Theatre facilitators; to critically engage with the notion of the Drama Facilitator and how this
may differ from other ways and means of facilitating group processes; to find points of
intersection between HIV and AIDS content / themes and Applied Drama and Theatre
practice; to give individuals the tools to transform the self for community or social
transformation and to introduce students to multiple HIV and AIDS models of treatment,
intervention and care from varying disciplines through collaboration across the University.
The course aims to achieve its objectives through interactive seminars and workshops
presented by the course leader, CCDU and guest lecturers who are specialists in their field.
Reflexive Practice in Applied Drama and Theatre B (Honours)
This course builds on the first Semester maintaining the aims of encouraging the growth of
self reflective rigorous Applied Drama and Theatre facilitators who critically engage with the
notion of the Drama Facilitator and how this may differ from other ways and means of
facilitating group processes; finding points of intersection between HIV and AIDS content /
themes, human rights and Applied Drama and Theatre practice; whilst empowering
individuals with the tools to transform the self for community or social transformation.
Students will engage in intensive supervision processes and variety of workshops / seminars
which bring focus to arts management principals to be applied to future Applied Drama and
Theatre projects.
Applied Drama Research Essay (4th year)
Students registering for the Research Essay in the field of Applied Drama must attend a series
of workshops, and submit a one-page expression of interest to the Research Essay
Coordinator early in the first semester. The Research Essay must be based on research in an
area related to one or more of the courses offered in the field of Applied Drama and is to be
considered independent research, although conducted under close supervision. NB: The
ONLY outcome of a Research Essay is a theoretically-informed academic paper.
Introduction to Drama Therapy
This course is for Drama for Life Scholars, and Research Project and Honours Students in
general. This course is aimed at students who are wishing to further their understanding of the
working methods of Drama Therapy. It explores the use of dramatic art forms to achieve the
therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional, cognitive and physical integration, and
personal growth. This course cannot and does not aim/ intend to train students as Drama
Therapists – practical explorations will support theoretical investigations.
Drama Therapy Theory and Practice A (4th year)
This course is aimed at students who are wishing to further their understanding of the
working methods of Drama Therapy and who wish to apply and / or enter the MA in the field
of Drama Therapy. The completion of this course is a pre-requisite for students wanting to
apply for the MA in the field of Drama Therapy. It explores the use of dramatic art forms to
achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional, cognitive and physical
integration, and personal growth through theoretical seminars and experiential classroom
processes. Students will be introduced to core Drama Therapy theory, case studies of Drama
Therapy practice and Drama Therapy research. Students will not engage in clinical practice
themselves. Students who complete this course will not be entitled to practice as a Drama
Therapist. Students will be able to practice as Reflexive Applied Drama and Theatre
Practitioners
Drama Therapy: Theory and Practice B (4th year)
This course is aimed at students who are wishing to further their understanding of the
working methods of Drama Therapy and who wish to apply and / or enter the MA in the field
of Drama Therapy. The completion of this course is a pre-requisite for students wanting to
apply for the MA in the field of Drama Therapy. The Drama Therapy Theory and Practice B
course will continue to engage students in the exploration of the use of dramatic art forms to
achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional, cognitive and physical
integration, and personal growth through theoretical seminars and experiential classroom
processes. Students will be introduced to core Drama Therapy theory, case studies of Drama
Therapy practice and Drama Therapy research. Students will not engage in clinical practice
themselves. Students who complete this course will not be entitled to practice as Drama
Therapist.
Drama Therapy Research Essay (4th Year)
Students registering for the Research Essay in the field of Drama Therapy must attend a
series of workshops, and submit a one-page expression of interest to the Research Essay
Coordinator early in the first semester. The Research Essay must be based on research in an
area related to one or more of the courses offered in the field of Drama Therapy, and is to be
considered independent research, although conducted under close supervision.
NB: The ONLY outcome of a Research Essay is a theoretically-informed academic paper.