Drama Program: Graduate Program

Graduate Handbook

This booklet provides an outline of procedures, requirements, and suggestions for completing both the Ph.D. and M.A. degree in Drama at Tufts University. Students should refer to this book for information about departmental policy concerning the following:

• Coursework (M.A. | Ph.D.)
• Advisors (M.A. | Ph.D.)
• Foreign Language Requirements (M.A. | Ph.D.)
• Format and Style for Writing
• Thesis or Dissertation Proposals and Defenses
• Comprehensive Exams
• Assistantships and Financial Aid
• Leaves of Absence
• Professional Development
:
• Graduate Dramaturg Opportunities
• Transfer of Credit for Ph.D. Students
• PhD Protocol (pdf)

Suggestions for preparing for the comprehensive exams, fulfilling language requirements, and approaching research papers are also included in this material. These suggestions are based on the past experiences of graduate students in the Department, and are recommendations merely, not policy.

It is important to remember that while this booklet encompasses a great deal of information, it cannot answer every question. Students are encouraged to approach either their graduate mentor or advisor with more specific inquiries. Additionally, students are expected to familiarize themselves with the contents of the Graduate Handbook issued by the Graduate School. The Department assumes that each student will be responsible for overseeing his or her own progress through the program, and for ensuring that requirements are met in a timely fashion.

Master of Arts Degree

Coursework
A minimum of eight courses at graduate level work in residence is required for the degree. The entering student is expected to have an understanding of the basic principles and practices of design and technical theatre, or the principal theories and methods of acting, and of theatre history. The student may be required to take a course in Design or Technical Theatre and/or Beginning Acting without credit, and/or Drama 137-138 (Theater History Survey-Grade of B or above) with credit during the first semesters of residence. The student must complete at least two graduate seminars from the following: Drama 220, 235, 236, 237, 238, 261, 262, 291, 292.

With prior consent of his or her advisor, certain advanced courses outside the department may be credited towards the M.A. (not more than one course per semester). Related courses in other departments such as History, English, Classics, Romance Languages, German, Russian, and Asian Languages, Art History, Philosophy, and Anthropology, or by special arrangement (with no extra cost) at Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis, Northeastern, Radcliffe Women's Studies Consortium, and the Tufts University Summer School are among the options available to the student for extra-departmental study. The student is encouraged to explore educational opportunities offered in these other academic programs, particularly those that are related to his or her specific areas of research interest.

Independent Study
Students who wish to explore a topic not in the curriculum (but related to their research) may find an instructor to guide an independent study. The student should define as clearly as possible the area of interest and should approach faculty whose interests and expertise seem closest to the topic.

Advisors
Initially, all M.A. students should consult with the Department's Director of Graduate Studies concerning their programs and for general counseling and advising. M.A. students should eventually seek out an appropriate member of the faculty to discuss their objectives in fields of specialization and thesis ideas.

Foreign Language
A reading knowledge of one foreign language is required for the degree. This requirement must be satisfied in one of four ways: by passing a Department written exam, by passing an exam offered by a foreign language department at Tufts or another accredited school, or by passing (with a B- or better) a graduate-level foreign language reading course at Tufts. In certain cases, an outside tutor may be hired (with partial support from the Department) and may administer a test of his or her own design, pending departmental approval. The Director of Graduate Studies should be consulted regarding these individuals and the requirements of qualification. A student whose undergraduate record indicates successful performance in a language course at the advanced level may be exempted. This requirement must be satisfied before work on the thesis commences.

Thesis Proposal
The Master's candidate should review thesis proposal plans with a prospective departmental advisor, prior to submitting the proposal to the Graduate Faculty for approval. Master's thesis proposals shall be submitted in as full a form as possible to the Graduate Faculty no later than mid-point of the semester prior to writing the thesis and two weeks prior to the next Graduate Faculty meeting. It should include a thesis statement, a statement of rationale, a sample bibliography, calendar, and organizational mode. Sample copies of proposals are available. Guidelines for writing the thesis proposal are offered later in this booklet.

Thesis Defense
Following submission of the completed thesis, the student is required to defend it before a committee consisting of two members of the Graduate Faculty and one scholar from an outside department or institution. Students should be advised that organizing a defense committee requires time and careful planning. Final substantial revisions on the thesis should be completed six weeks prior to the intended defense date. The thesis must then be circulated to the faculty committee, with the understanding that any calls for further revision be submitted to the student within two weeks after the material is received. Visiting specialists receive a modest honorarium, but should be local.

Time Limit
Students intending to pursue the Ph.D. are strongly encouraged to complete the M.A. by September after their second year of study. For others, all credits to be counted towards a Master's degree must be earned within five calendar years immediately prior to the granting of the degree. Petitions for extension of time require approval of the Executive Committee of the Graduate School.

Moving to the Ph.D.
A student who has successfully completed an M.A. may petition to be accepted into the Ph.D. program. In certain extraordinary cases, where a student has demonstrated exceptional ability, he or she may be invited to enter the Ph.D. program without completing an M.A. however, a student admitted for an M.A. s hound not take it for granted that admission to the Ph.D. program is automatic. It depends entirely on the quality of the work done toward the M.A. and the student's promise as scholar.

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Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Coursework
Coursework extending three academic years beyond the BA degree, normally 18 courses, is required (including two courses for dissertation research). Ten classes beyond those taken in partial completion of the M.A. are required; twelve courses if the student's Master's degree was awarded at an institution other than Tufts. Part-time study or less than full-time residence in the Ph.D. program is discouraged. Eight seminars within the department are required of all Ph.D. students, including two seminars in dramatic or critical theory and Drama 220: Introduction to Research Methods and Materials. The entering student is expected to have an understanding of the basic principles and practices of design and technical theatre, or the principal theories and methods of acting, and of theatre history. The student may be required to take a course in Design or Technical Theatre and/or Beginning Acting without credit, and/or Drama 137-138 (Theater History Survey-Grade of B or above) with credit during the first semesters of residence.

With prior consent of his or her advisor, certain advanced courses outside the department may be credited towards the Ph.D. (not more than one course per semester). Related courses in other departments such as History, English, Classics, Romance Languages, German, Russian, and Asian Languages, Art History, Philosophy, and Anthropology, or by special arrangement (with no extra cost) at Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis, Northeastern, Radcliffe Women's Studies Consortium, and the Tufts University Summer School are among the options available to the student for extra-departmental study. The student is encouraged to explore educational opportunities offered in these other academic programs, particularly those that are related to his or her specific areas of research interest.

Independent Study
Students who wish to explore a topic not in the curriculum (but related to their research) may find an instructor to guide an independent study. The student should define as clearly as possible the area of interest and should approach faculty whose interests and expertise seem closest to the topic.

Transfer of Credit
Up to six courses (the equivalent of a year's worth of study at Tufts) of graduate work done at another institution may be transferred (such as courses from a completed M.A. or M.F.A. program), but only by petition to the Graduate Faculty after the student has completed one semester of graduate study at Tufts.

Advisors
Initially, all Ph.D. Students should consult with the Department's Director of Graduate Studies concerning their programs and for general counseling and advising. Ph.D. students should eventually seek an appropriate member of the faculty to discuss their objectives in fields of specialization and dissertation ideas.

Foreign Languages
A reading knowledge of two foreign languages (including at least one language that will be useful for the dissertation) is required for the degree. One language requirement must be satisfied by the end of the first year in residence, the second by the semester before the Comprehensive Exams are taken. This requirement may be satisfied in one of four ways: by passing a Department written exam, by passing an exam offered by a foreign language department at Tufts or another accredited school, or by passing (with a B- or better) a graduate-level foreign language reading course at Tufts. In certain cases, a private tutor may be hired (with partial support from the Department) and may administer an exam of his or her own design. The Director of Graduate Studies should be consulted regarding these individuals and the requirements of qualification. A student whose undergraduate record indicates successful performance in a foreign language course at the advanced level may be exempted.

Suggestion: In the past, some students have arranged intensive, four-week summer language courses with a member of the Tufts faculty. If there are several students who are interested in gaining a graduate-level reading knowledge of a particular language, they are encouraged to approach a member of the language faculty to arrange a class. At the end of the class, an examination is administered by the instructor. Successful completion of the course and the exam may act in fulfillment of the language requirement. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for such a course, though the Graduate Director may be able to suggest names of faculty members who have taught similar courses in the past.

A fund exists to provide assistance to students taking summer language courses (an expense which is not covered by the annual tuition), but students should be advised that the fund will not cover all attendant expenses, and the funding should be requested well in advance (usually in the semester prior to the intended course). See "Collins Fund" below.

Comprehensive Exams
After completion of coursework, the student will be eligible to take the Comprehensive Examinations, the successful completion of which will enable her/him to finish graduate study with the writing of a doctoral dissertation. Generally, the Comprehensive Exam (CE) is offered only in September. Students intending to take the CE shall make a declaration of intent in writing during the Spring semester of the academic year prior to that in which they mean to take it. This declaration will be considered a contract and cannot be abrogated. If after stating an intent the student then decides against taking the CE, she or he will have forfeited one of the two opportunities to take the exam. The student may complete her/his coursework in spring, then take the exam in the fall. If a student has decided to pursue a Ph.D. after having enrolled for the Master's program, he or she must have completed the Master's thesis before taking the CE.

The exam is administered in three parts. The first part of the exam is to be written and completed on the premises during two three-hour sessions on one day. It consists of a series of essay questions (always with a choice between two). Immediately thereafter, the second part is administered: a take-home examination, requiring the student to write a full paper on a given subject over a three-day period.

For both of these parts, the questions will be drawn from a range of material covering theater history, dramatic literature, and theory and criticism, from the earliest times to the present day. Although a good deal of material will have been covered in the coursework, the candidate should not assume that questions will be limited to such material. Outside reading is expected. With this in mind, we urge your attention to the bibliography with which all Ph.D. candidates are provided on entrance into the program. It should be understood that this is only a minimal list. A file of past examinations is available in the Department Office.

It is presumed as well that answers will transcend the merely factual. Although a large body of factual material may have been absorbed, candidates should be prepared to use these facts as a basis for logical, coherent and imaginative arguments, offering a synthesis of various bodies of knowledge and cutting across time and place to demonstrate general principles. Questions are carefully composed to allow candidates to demonstrate both specific and general knowledge. We look for evidence of a critical mind at work, not merely a recital of names and dates. We look also for evidence of mastery in the mechanics of scholarship. Although administered and completed within an abbreviated time allotment, the written CE should resemble, as much as possible within these constraints, an academic essay, evidencing a critical comprehension of the historical, theoretical, and literary material. Original, independent thought supported by the factual and/or textual evidence and/or theory should be exhibited.

The written CE is read and evaluated by all the members of the Drama Graduate Faculty. If a student does not pass (either by failing to pass the exam or by failing to fulfill a declared intent to take the exam) on the first attempt, he or she will be allowed to take the comprehensive examinations only once again the following year.

Suggestion: While every student has different study habits and preferences, some may find the following of assistance in preparing for the written CE:

• Study Groups: Often, some students have formed summertime study groups, in which each member of the group assumes responsibility for a certain amount of material (a particular period or literary genre, for example), preparing lectures for the rest of the group. While all the students in the group cover the basic materials in each area of history, literature, and theory, this method ensures that each student will have several specific areas in which he or she has done additional reading, and has prepared a thoughtful and cogent discussion of the material.
• Lecture Preparation: For those students whose schedule or preference precludes group study, the creation of a lecture series, designed to encompass the fundamentals of history and theory, with a special emphasis given to certain topics/authors, can help organize information.
• Practice Exams: Many students have found that practicing writing answers, in addition to simply reading the material, has helped them to organize and synthesize their ideas, and to prepare more fully for the test-taking experience. Students are encouraged to view past examinations, on file in the Department Office, and to create their own sample questions which encompass a wide range of literature, history, and theory.
• Consultation with ABD (All But Dissertation) Students: The best means of preparing for the written CE is to avail oneself of the experience of those students who have already taken the CE and get information on their study techniques/strategies.

Part three of the CE is an oral examination. As soon as the student has passed the written portion of the examination, she or he will declare two areas of specialization to the Director of Graduate Studies. One of these areas will be focused on theatre history and practice; the second on dramatic literature and theory. After the topics have been approved by the Graduate Faculty, the student will, within six weeks after passing the written exam, sit for an oral examination in those fields of specialization. Usually a student has informally discussed these topics well in advance of the CE. It is desirable that the areas of specialization be as distinct as possible in time and subject matter, with at least one hundred years separating the two periods in question. One of these topics ideally should be related to a proposed dissertation topic. Examinations last two hours (one hour per topic), before a committee of three members of the Graduate Faculty (or an external examiner as necessary). Any candidate who fails will be asked to repeat one or both topics at a time to be decided. A second failure entails withdrawal from the program.

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Dissertation Proposal

A formal proposal for a dissertation should be submitted for the endorsement of the Graduate Faculty after the student has passed the oral examinations. The proposal will be reviewed by the Graduate Faculty, and, if approved, a dissertation director will be assigned (usually a faculty member who has advised the development of the proposal). Students are advised that a responsible review of a dissertation proposal takes about one month. It is therefore strongly urged that the student submit a complete proposal one month after the oral exams. In this way, students will have time to submit any required rewriting or supplements and still commence work in a timely fashion. Preliminary research for the dissertation can occur before and during the comprehensive and oral examination period. (Sample proposals are on file in the Department office and guidelines for completing the proposal are offered in the next section of this booklet.)

Dissertation Defense
Following submission of the completed dissertation, the student is required to defend it before a committee consisting of three members of the Graduate Faculty and one scholar from an outside department or institution. Students should be advised that organizing a defense committee requires time and careful planning. Final substantial revisions on the dissertation should be completed six weeks prior to the intended defense date. The dissertation must then be circulated to the faculty committee, with the understanding that any calls for further revision be submitted to the student within two weeks after the material is received. Visiting specialists receive a modest honorarium, as well as travel expenses for their services. Students should note that the Department can fund visits only from faculty within a certain geographic radius (no further away than New York City, for example).

Time Limit
There is a time limit for the completion of the dissertation of seven years from the date of registration in the doctoral program. Typically, the completion of courses takes at least two academic years, followed immediately by preparation and successful completion of comprehensive and oral exams, followed by the writing of a dissertation. Depending on how quickly the dissertation is finished, one can expect a minimum commitment of three and one-half years.

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Requirements for Written Work

For the format and style in term papers, theses, dissertations, and proposals, the authority for such matters as punctuation, quotations, and documentation (references, notes, and bibliographies) is The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition (University of Chicago Press).

The style of citation to be used is NOT the Author-Date System (15.4-35), preferred by scientists, but rather the Endnotes and Footnotes Systems (15.54-64), standard in the humanities.

The Department does not use the MLA Stylesheet as a guide in these matters. However, in submitting an article to a scholarly journal, one should follow its prescriptions for format.

Suggestion: If students have specific questions about the use of primary source material, they are encouraged to consult Professor Thomas Connolly, who teaches the Research Methods and Materials course. If they have questions concerning an individual paper or presentation, they are encouraged to consult either their graduate mentor or their instructor. In the past, some students have met with several faculty members to discuss preliminary bibliographies for projects, and those faculty members have provided valuable additions and suggestions to guide the students' research. While this is not a feasible strategy for every project or paper, entering students may wish to approach faculty members if they are having difficulty locating materials. It is assumed that students will only do so after they have conducted a thorough search on their own. It is not the task of the faculty to assemble student research materials, but rather to assist in locating particularly obscure sources.

Guidelines for Thesis or Dissertation Proposal
The following outline may be useful for students preparing thesis or dissertation proposals. Though a proposal need not be submitted in this form, it should give evidence that the student has addressed him/herself to the main categories. Students are also encouraged to view sample copies of thesis and dissertation proposals on file in the Department Office and to discuss the proposal well in advance of submission with their intended advisor.

A thorough proposal should include the following:

1. A section which isolates and defines the research problem or project.
2. An explanation of the student's working hypothesis or theoretical solution. The research, of course, will challenge, validate, negate, or modify this hypothesis.
3. An explanation of the possible significance or application of the projected findings; or otherwise indication why the project should be carried out.
4. A description of the intended research procedures and the possible sources or locations of information.
5. A tentative outline of thesis or dissertation chapters.
6. A calendar for research and writing.
7. A working bibliography, which encompasses the previous research and scholarship related to the problem. While the bibliography should be as comprehensive as possible, it is understood that the student will append additional material during the actual research and writing process.

The methodology will vary depending on the nature of the project. A historical subject will rely on primary documentation and other extant evidence. A more contemporary topic will involve first-hand research. A work that will examine a body of dramatic literature will rely more on the plays themselves, as well as criticism of the plays and the appropriate works of dramatic and literary theory. The parameters of the thesis or dissertation will dictate these methodological strategies.

Note: Research in current fields of inquiry may rely on direct interview with living human subjects. The Graduate School Department of Research requires all such research to be authorized by the interviewed subject with a Release of Information consent form. An example of such a form is on file in the Department Office; with little modification, this should suffice for virtually any project that relies on first-hand interview subjects.

Copies of thesis and dissertation proposals should be submitted to each member of the Graduate Faculty AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE NEXT GRADUATE FACULTY MEETING. As noted above, all written work should conform to The Chicago Manual of Style.

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Opportunities for Additional Credit/Professional Development

Graduate Dramaturgs for Major Productions
One (and in a few cases, two) graduate student(s) will be sought by each director of a major production (there are three per academic year). The director will select someone based upon a brief interview and/or past knowledge of the individual(s). The recruitment and selection of dramaturgs will occur in the spring semester, just after the upcoming season of plays is determined. Dramaturgical responsibilities, of course, begin long before rehearsals (and will start during the previous semester or the summer).

Each graduate dramaturg for a major production may register for 1/2 credit of "Special Topics" (DR 293 or 294), to be supervised and graded by the faculty director of the play. If desired, another 1/2 credit can be obtained by expanding the dramaturgical research for the production into a full-length research paper under the guidance of the same faculty member.

Responsibilities of the graduate dramaturg(s) will be determined in consultation with the faculty director, but in most cases they will include:

1. Historical, biographical, literary and/or theoretical research related to the play that will assist the director and designers in preparing the production.
2. An article and/or graphics for the third page on the dramaturgical and historical backgrounds for audiences (at the discretion of the director and the editor of Prologue, the mailer and program for the productions). If a faculty member does not want to write the essay for the front page, the dramaturg may be given that opportunity (again, at the discretion of the editor and the faculty director).
3. Assistance at some rehearsals, sharing research with actors and/or aiding actors with their character research.

Each graduate student is encouraged to be a dramaturg once during her/his period of course work.

Graduate Lectures
In order to provide graduate students with some experience in front of a class and to compel them to create organized oral presentations, each graduate student is strongly urged to present at least one formal lecture to an undergraduate class. The classes in which such opportunities are available are Drama 1, Drama 4, Drama 137, and Drama 138, as well as others as the occasion arises. Students should contact the instructors of those courses to arrange specific dates and topics for lectures.

Graduate Colloquium Series
The Department augments education in the classroom by a graduate symposium series, held in the Fall and/or Spring semesters. In their second year, the graduate students (M.A. and Ph.D. students alike) are required to organize a symposium on a topic of their own choosing relevant to theatre studies. The students, under the guidance of the Director of Graduate Studies, collaborate on selecting topics, choosing and enlisting guest speakers (and making travel arrangements if necessary), securing a space for the symposium, advertising the event, and catering the affair. Depending on the size of the class, either all second-year graduate students organize ONE event, or else a portion of the class arranges one symposium in the Fall and the remainder arrange a completely separate symposium in the Spring. Students interested in presenting at the symposium should approach the coordinators as early as possible and submit materials for consideration.

These meetings provide students and faculty with the opportunity to present work and to receive comments and suggestions, and to hear invited experts speak on the subject. The symposium also allows students to discuss various items of interest or concern, such as structuring syllabi, drafting grant proposals, writing effective curriculum vita and cover letters, or preparing work for presentation and/or publication. Recent symposia have included speakers on the problems of dissertation research and writing, theatre in times of crisis, the body in performance, and nineteenth-century drama.

Student Representation
A graduate student representative attends Department meetings. Though graduate students are not able to vote on faculty decisions, the representative may serve on committees, and is encouraged to consult with the faculty about the wishes and needs of the graduate students in the Department.

A graduate student representative also serves in the Tufts University Graduate Student Council. This is not necessarily the same individual as the Department representative. This Council addresses issues of funding and student life. Representatives are elected by the graduate students in each department at the beginning of the academic year. Information concerning elections/openings is forwarded to the Department from the GSC. The department representative is an important advocate for the graduate student body.

Job Opportunities
Because of the large number of undergraduate institutions in the Boston area, Tufts students have been particularly successful at finding adjunct or lecturer positions at neighboring universities. In the past, students have worked with Boston College, U-Mass Boston, Pine Manor College, Boston University, Suffolk University, Regis College, Emerson College, and Emmanuel College. Students who have completed their comprehensive exams, and who are remaining in the area to pursue their dissertation research, are encouraged to contact these and other universities with a letter of interest and CV. Over the years, the Tufts graduate program has forged strong and positive relationships with many of these departments, and in many cases Tufts faculty members can offer personal recommendations.

Students are encouraged to inform themselves of an institution's needs and educational mission prior to application. Information concerning area performing arts programs is available in the Department Office in the Directory of Theatre Training Programs. This guide offers contact names, student enrollment figures, courses offered, program facilities, etc. Students may wish to copy pertinent information for their own personal files. This guide cannot, however, be removed from the Office.

Students are also encouraged to consult the Department's copies of ARTSearch, Theatre JOBLIST, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and the New England Theatre Conference Newsletter, which offer listings of job opportunities in the New England area and across the country. These may be used in the Department Office only.

Students may also consider applying to the Tufts Experimental College, a center at Tufts that offers a selected range of courses intended to broaden and enrich the traditional curriculum of undergraduate education. Graduate students who are interested in teaching in the Experimental College program may submit proposals for courses to the Ex-College staff. For more information, call the Experimental College at 617-627-3384 or visit their website.

Among the options for furthering professional contacts are various associations that sponsor conferences, job seminars, and offer guides to publication in the field. Students may wish to consider joining one or more of these organizations (many of which offer substantial benefits, such as complimentary subscriptions and discounted student membership rates). Information on organizations such as the American Society for Theatre Research, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, and the New England Theatre Conference can be found in the Department Office or at their websites.

Presentation and Publication
Performing arts organizations and academic journals regularly circulate requests for conference papers and written articles or reviews. Students are encouraged to develop aspects of their research for presentation, which helps build both professional contacts and resume credits. ATHE publishes a guide to journals (which also includes submission requirements), and calls for papers are regularly posted on the graduate bulletin board. Students may wish to discuss submissions with faculty members in the department, who are always ready to advise and comment on material.

Graduate School Regulations
All graduate students are expected to be familiar with the contents of the Graduate Handbook issued by the Graduate School, and the guidelines listed in the Tufts Bulletin.

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Continuation Status and Leaves of Absence

1. Graduate students in residence are expected to be taking courses or conducting research or writing on a thesis or dissertation. Graduate students in absentia are expected to be making progress towards a degree by actively conducting research or writing in a thesis or dissertation.
2. Graduate students, whether in residence or in absentia, are expected to register with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School by the beginning of each semester of the academic years, unless they have applied for and have been granted a leave of absence. It is the responsibility of each graduate student to carry out the registration procedure, whether in residence or in absentia, even though registration is for thesis or dissertation work only, that is, continuation status.
3. If a student does not register or request a leave of absence for a given semester of the academic year, the Drama faculty will assume that the student has withdrawn from the degree program.
4. Graduate students sometimes find it necessary to interrupt progress towards their degrees, either before or after finishing the residency requirements. A request for a leave of absence should be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies. The request should specify the inclusive dates of the requested leave and the reason. All requests for leaves of absence are reviewed by the Drama Graduate Faculty, which recommends action to the Graduate School Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Graduate School makes the final determination, and the Dean informs the student.
5. When the student is ready to resume study or research subsequent to an approved leave of absence, he or she should write a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean indicating that intention.
6. The Executive Committee will not grant a leave of absence for more than one year. See the Graduate School's Handbook for details.

It should be realized that these guidelines place a special responsibility on the student in absentia to register and to keep the Director of Graduate Studies and a thesis/dissertation advisor up-to-date on the research and writing process. In the past, the Director of Graduate Studies has completed the registration paperwork for students in absentia who are still in continuation status. He will continue to do so, but only after receiving a progress report and a request from the student in absentia by the beginning of each semester. It should also be noted that a graduate degree cannot be awarded to an unregistered student.

These guidelines are not intended to be punitive. They are offered in hopes of providing each student with an understanding of the leave of absence policy. At the same time, the procedure should provide an opportunity for students and faculty to keep in touch and should, we hope, provide some stimulus to the student's continuing progress toward the completion of the degree.

Faculty Regulations Concerning Incomplete Grades
Any graduate student with more than one incomplete grade at the end of a term's study will receive warning that his or her status in the program is in jeopardy. Any student on financial aid, assistantships, etc., who has more than one incomplete grade at the end of a term's study will have his or her appointment withdrawn.

All incomplete grades must be completed by the sixth week of the academic term following that in which the incomplete is taken, or the student will be required to withdraw from the program. The above stipulations may only be waived by petition of the student, duly supported, and the voting consent of the Graduate Faculty.

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Financial Aid Available to Graduate Students in Drama

Prerequisites
All types of assistance from the Department and/or Graduate School require the maintenance of at least a "B" average in courses at Tufts, no more than one incomplete, and no incomplete carried through a semester. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the loss of the assistantship or fellowship. When applying for any available assistance please be specific, explicit and honest in explaining your qualifications.

Please note that any student receiving departmental funding is expected to take the bulk of his or her courses within the department. If a student plans to take three courses in a semester, at least two of them must be within the department. If a student plans to take two courses in a semester, at least one of them must be within the department. Obviously, there are often salient reasons to take courses in other departments on campus, or at other institutions. This particularly applies when a student requires special instruction towards a thesis or dissertation. In those cases, the student may petition the Graduate Faculty to enroll in more than one outside course. However, the decision cannot be made unilaterally by the student's advisor.

Fellowship Funds
There is a limited number of one-year fellowships awarded to incoming students. A stipend and full tuition remission are offered for the first year of study. These fellowships are not renewable.

Tuition Remission
Tuition scholarships consist of remission of part or all of a student's tuition fees. Awards are based on evidence of scholarly competence and financial need.

Summer School Tuition
Students taking summer school courses may do so without additional tuition costs, providing that the course is counted toward the degree (e.g., excludes language instruction). The Graduate School will pay the summer tuition for full-time students. All graduate students must pay the $40 registration fee. Only courses numbered above 100 may be considered and approval must be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies.

Teaching Assistantships
Students may be awarded teaching assistantships their second year in the program. These may involve grading large lecture classes, teaching beginning acting, or serving as an assistant in discussion-based and/or writing-intensive courses. Duties are to entail approximately 20 hours of work per week, or about 300 hours a semester. To serve these ends, two course assignments will usually be given to each student. Starting in the academic year 2003-04, all Teaching will carry a stipend of $12,600 per annum, payable over the nine-month period from September through May. In addition to a stipend, graduate assistantships automatically carry remission of tuition. Please note that no student may be awarded an assistantship for more than two years.

Because funding for assistantships is limited, they will not be given out automatically. Ph.D. candidates will be the first recipients, and only if money is available will M.A. candidates be considered. In both cases, an award of an assistantship will depend on classroom performance in one's first year, and the faculty's evaluation of a student's future potential.

Teaching Assistants normally instruct a section of Beginning Acting (Drama 10), and/or read for professors in Drama 1, 4, 33, 55, 137, 138, or another course. Of the applicants for teaching assistantships, preference is given to Ph.D. students with previous teaching experience in drama or related fields and with high academic records, and who have already spent a year in the Graduate Program. For Drama 10, the assistant must have significant acting and/or directing experience and a reference to that effect; also if the assistant has not previously taught acting, he or she must observe several sections of the Drama 10 class before teaching. There is a University-wide required workshop for all first-time Teaching Assistants held in the beginning of the Fall semester.

Assistance Funds
There are three primary sources from which students may seek funding to cover the cost of research trips and conferences.

• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS): Students may apply to the GSAS for up to $200 to cover the cost of research or conference travel. Awards are given on a first-come/first-served basis, and each student may receive only one award per academic year. Students must complete a travel reimbursement request form, which is available from the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, on the first floor of Ballou Hall. Students should note that all awards are made as reimbursements-no travel advances are available.
• Graduate Student Council (GSC): Students should refer to the above guidelines for making application to the GSC travel fund. The GSC awards up to $100 to cover the costs of research or conference travel. Again, awards are given on a first-come/first-served basis, so early application is encouraged.
• The Sherwood Collins Graduate Endowment Fund: A Department fund established to assist graduate students in expenses for conferences, language study, and/or research. Students may request up to $750 per year in assistance from the Collins Fund. In past years, grants from this fund have been used for partial support to cover expenses incurred while researching dissertation, tuition costs for students preparing for their foreign language examinations (at one-half the cost of Tufts Summer Session language courses), expenses incurred by students traveling to deliver a paper at a scholarly conference, or other extraordinary expenses. Students may apply for funding from the Collins Fund at any time during the year. They are encouraged to do so well in advance of the event, travel date, or language course. Students should submit a letter of intent, detailing the nature of the project/event to the Chair of the Department and the Director of Graduate Studies. Students traveling to make presentations at conferences or to complete research are reminded to retain all receipts to submit for reimbursement.

Letters of Recommendation
In the course of a student's career at Tufts, the need for letters of recommendation for grants, awards and employment will arise. The most efficient way to fulfill this need is to have a professor write a general letter and file it with the Career Placement Office in Dowling Hall. If necessary, two such letters may be filed: one specifically addressed to employment and the other addressed to research awards. The student then need only ask the Career Placement Office to direct the letter to the given institution when occasion arises.

Professors should be asked to update such letters only when a major change in a student's status has occurred (completion of the dissertation, for instance. Although certain institutions have their own forms, it is unreasonable to ask a professor to revise the letter of recommendation to fit the niceties of each particular job or grant.

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