Drama Therapy

Discover and employ the therapeutic benefits of Drama.

Overview

Masters of Arts, Drama Therapy Programme Code: ACA00

Drama for Life’s (DFL) Drama Therapy Programme, founded on principles of relational humanism and liberation pedagogies, is an Integrated Approach to Drama Therapy within the context of Africa. Drama Therapy consists of introductory, intermediate and advanced modules that focus on the contemporary body of Drama Therapy theories, methods of clinical, community and education-based practice and assessment within a practice-based research framework. The course aim is to work towards an integrative human rights and social justice-based model of Drama Therapy in Africa.

For more information go to Master of Arts in the field of Drama Therapy webpage

Curriculum

The Drama Therapy Master’s programme is comprised of 180 credits in total. The research component makes up 90 of these credits, with the remaining 90 credits encompassing Drama Therapy Theory and Practice.

The credits and notional hours within the Master’s Drama Therapy programme are divided as follows:

Research Workshops and Research Report (90 credits / 900 notional hours)

  • 80 hours of research workshops, presentations, panel evaluations
  • 10 hours of ethics workshops
  • 10 hours of ethics exam
  • 50 hours of research proposal, ethics proposal, and corrections
  • 750 hours of research report

Drama Research (18 credits/ 100 notional hours)

  • 42 hours minimum lectures, workshops, seminars, laboratories
  • 42 hours reading, practice, creative research
  • 16 hours examination and evaluation process

Drama Therapy Theory and Practice (72 credits / 800 notional hours)

  • Drama Therapy Theory and Practice Module – Lectures and /or seminars and/or laboratory, research essay pertaining to an Integrated (112 hours)
  • Theories of Personality and Drama Therapy Approaches Module – Lectures, presentations and workshops, reading, preparation for assignments (112 hours)
  • Abnormal psychology and Arts Therapies Approaches Module - Lectures, presentations and workshops, reading and preparation for one assignment (112 hours)
  • Critical Reflexive Praxis in Drama Therapy – Lectures, seminars, workshops in identity, gender, race, culture, activism and mindfulness studies; field work, written assignments and practical and oral exams (140 hours)
  • Clinical Placement – Assessment, evaluations, reporting, practice, individual and group supervision (300 hours)
  • Ethics – Lectures, reading, integrated into all modules (24 hours)

Entry Requirements

  • Four year Honours Degree in the Field of Applied Drama and Theatre, Dramatic Art or any related field of study
  • An outstanding Performers, Theatre-Makers, Performing Arts Managers, Arts Educators, Community-Based Theatre Practitioners or demonstrate excellent teaching skills in drama and theatre
  • Demonstrate excellent teaching skills in drama and theatre
  • Work experience in Capacity Development, HIV/AIDS, Civic Society, Health Education, Arts Therapies, Universities and Arts & Culture
  • Experience in at least one of the following fields is recommended:
  • HIV/Aids Education, activism and therapy,
    * Human Rights and Social Justice,
    * Peace Building, Transformation and Diversity Management, and
    * Environmental Sustainability would be an asset

For more information go to Master of Arts in the field of Drama Therapy webpage

Additional requirements may apply.

University Application Process

  • Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
  • Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.