Theater Studies is right for you if…

… you enjoy discussing theater and performance experiences and your impressions of them.

… you enjoy reflecting on cultural and aesthetic phenomena from an interdisciplinary perspective.

… you are willing to engage with linguistically and theoretically complex texts.

… you have excellent written and oral communication skills.

For this program of study, you must be able to read and understand specialist literature in English. However, you will not be required to provide separate proof of your language skills.

The Theater Studies M.A. program is non-selective. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in Theater Studies or a subject related to culture, arts, media, literature, or theater studies.

Good to know: Knowledge of theater history and performance analysis can be obtained during the first academic year through additional coursework and examinations if not proven through the completion of a bachelor’s degree.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for the selection, admission, and enrollment process can be referenced in section 2 of the examination regulations.

In this master’s degree program, you will engage in an intensive, interdisciplinary exploration of theater. Courses explore theater from multiple perspectives, including:

• History of plays and theater
• Contemporary theater aesthetics/performance analysis
• Dramaturgy in theater, other arts, and media
• Performance/media/culture in theater and society
• Theory and aesthetics

Specialization:

You can pursue your research interests not only through course papers, but also by choosing from a wide variety of courses in social sciences, the arts, or media studies. You determine the thematic direction of your studies.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

In addition to studying the history, theory, and aesthetics of theater in depth, you will also further develop your existing skills throughout the program. These include writing and research skills, experience in communicating knowledge and scientific findings, media skills, and the ability to organize and coordinate projects. As a master’s graduate, you will be able to analyze problems and develop solutions and apply your theoretical knowledge to complex practical situations. You will be well-versed in interdisciplinary work, including in international contexts. These skills make you an attractive candidate to employers in diverse professional fields, providing access in particular to the following areas:

• Careers in theater (dramaturgy, directing, press and public relations, theater education)
• Cultural management and cultural mediation, curatorial work (e.g., in theaters, museums, exhibitions, educational institutions, libraries, archives, documentation centers, and foundations)
• Film, television, and radio editorial departments (esp. dramaturgy, screenplay, editorial work)
• Print media (cultural journalism, theater criticism)
• Tourism, leisure, and event management
• Science and science management (research and teaching, e.g., at universities, higher education institutions, research institutions or in research projects)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.