Drama in Education (8203T007)

master's programme qualification

Specific admission requirements:

Prospective students need to have successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree in Drama Education at DAMU, Drama and Education at Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno (JAMU), or another degree in education or theatre, under the condition that they also receive a course certificate from the Department of Art Education at DAMU, which provides additional background required for the Master’s programme.

During the admission process, prospective students are evaluated based on their knowledge of relevant literature and issues in the field and based on their ability to use a given excerpt from a play to develop a creative concept and use it as a tool in the classroom.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning:

The procedure for recognition at AMU is governed by Articles 89 and 90 of the Act on Higher Education Institutions No. 111/1998 Coll., as amended, and by the AMU Attendance and Examination Regulations (Articles 8, 14, 18).

Qualification requirements and regulations

A completed university education in the Bachelor`s programme in the field of Drama Education at DAMU or in the field of Theatre and Education at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, or in fields focused on education or dramatic arts and receipt of a certificate for successful completion of an accredited lifelong education course organised by the Department of Art Education at DAMU.

Regulations: The Czech education system is governed by the Act on Higher Education Institutions, as amended (Act No. 111/1998 Coll.), and by the internal regulations of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

Field of study characterization

The Master’s programme in Drama Education deepens students’ knowledge gained at the Bachelor’s level. It introduces additional educational methods and focuses on further developing teaching skills relevant for drama education. The course includes modules on the theory, history, and evaluation of drama education and children’s performance. It introduces specific fields of drama: drama or other interactive instruments in education, performance for children, and drama education for adult participants. Students are encouraged to examine practical issues of working with groups of children and adolescents. Practical work culminates in an independent creative project in which students work with a group of children or adults.

Key learning outcomes:

He/she knows the current state of the field, and can characterise with deep understanding the specifics of the work and the methodologies of several contemporary personalities in the field, drawing inspiration from them and comparing them to his/her own methodology.

He/she has deep knowledge of the history and theory of the field, and understands the development of drama education in connection with the development of the conception of the child and education.

In addition to deep knowledge of the theory, history and didactics of drama education and children`s theatre, he/she possesses knowledge in particular in the area of theatrology, aesthetic education, pedagogy and psychology, and is able to find information concerning these areas; he/she is able to consider the significance of a given phenomenon for education and its transformability into a drama education enterprise.

A graduate of the programme is capable of independently planning, realising and evaluating the art education process. With respect to the psychological pedagogy component, he/she is capable of understanding and realising education as an internally structured system which at the same time is part of a network of other societal systems; he/she is capable of viewing the student or active participant as the central element of this system; he/she is capable of reflecting on himself/herself as a teacher and of reflecting on the functioning of the process of education and upbringing.

He/she is capable of independently planning, leading and evaluating an extensive drama education or staging project, especially with children, youth, and even with adult participants.

He/she is capable of defining a research problem in the field, applying appropriate research methods to the problem and solution, and independently realising and evaluating the research. He/she brings to the field new original information supported by scholarly reflected practice and research.

He/she is capable of employing arguments to defend drama education`s place in contemporary education, and is prepared to create conceptual materials at the institutional level (e.g. a conception for introducing the subject of Drama Education at a specific primary school, or the field of Drama at a particular secondary school) for the school's curriculum and to assume responsibility for their realisation.

The profile of a Master`s programme graduate encompasses the levels of expert knowledge, skills and general competencies obtained through previous studies, mainly at the level of the Bachelor`s programme.

Occupational profiles of graduates with examples:

The course aims to develop students’ knowledge, skills, personalities, and talent well enough to be able to work independently and confidently with their pupils towards a dramatic performance and to be able to engage with children at various educational stages as well as at leisure centres and with adult participants.

Graduates of this course can work at pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools, primary art schools, free-time centres, youth houses, and other educational institutions. They are equipped to contribute to the primary curriculum of a given institution, as teachers of drama or literary-drama subjects. Graduates can also run educational programmes at museums, galleries, libraries, drama centres, and similar institutions.

Access to further studies:

Doctoral programme in the field of Theory and Practice of Theatrical Creation.

Examination regulations, assessment and grading:

Studies are assessed by credits and examinations stipulated by study plans.

The student is entitled to a second and third attempt to pass an examination. If neither of these attempts proves successful, the Dean may in exceptional cases permit a fourth attempt, known as a Dean`s Examination. A Dean`s Examination is administered by a commission with the participation of the Dean or a Vice-Dean appointed by the Dean. It is not permitted to repeat an examination for the main subjects or to repeat written examinations.

The credit is an ungraded form of assessment of studies. It is allocated upon fulfilment of requirements stipulated for individual subjects and is recorded in the information system with the word „Credited“ (Z). An examination is a graded form of assessment of studies, which tests knowledge and level of creativity in the relevant subject. It may be practical, written, oral or a combination of these methods.

Examinations are graded on the scale „A, B, C, D, E, F“.

Graduation requirements:

The student fulfils the requirements corresponding to the study plan.

The student passes the final state examination.

The State Master`s Examination in the field of Drama Education consists of these parts:

1. the diploma thesis and its defence;

2. didactics of drama education (including the defence of an independent creative project);

3. theory and history of dramatic arts (in addition to the general and Czech history of theatre, the questions concern all aspects of theatrical art relating to drama education, e.g. theatricality and dramaticality, dramatic situations, improvisation and interpretation, issues of children`s playership and acting, etc.);

4. theory and history of drama education, pedagogy and psychology (the questions are focused on all areas of drama education and aspects of its investigation, in particular on the relationships between the theatre, psychology and pedagogy, especially the issue of the play and the acted role, on the personality of the drama education teacher and on the character of the drama education process and its various types, objectives and methods).

A condition for advancement to the Master`s examinations is in particular the realisation of an independent creative project, the defence of which is part of the state examination (as a component of the examination in didactics and drama education).

Mode of study:

full-time / part-time

Qualification director or equivalent:

Radek MARUŠÁK

Field of study is part of study programme:

• Dramatic Arts – (N8203)
• Dramatic Arts – (N8215)

Qualification study plans

• Drama in Education - part-time 2 years (M.A.)