Study Program

We are delighted that you are interested in studying theater and dance studies at the University of Bern!

At the Institute for Theater Studies, you can study theater studies at the bachelor's and master's levels and dance studies at the master's level, with dance studies courses also being offered at the bachelor's level.

Bachelor

The bachelor program builds knowledge of European and global theatre and dance history as well as contemporary theatre and dance. Students are introduced to a range of theories of theatre, dance, and aesthetics. Students develop methods to analyse theatrical and performative phenomena and discourses and can thus critically situate them within the wider field of cultural studies. Knowledge and practice of dramaturgy is also an important aspect of the bachelor program.

 

 

 

Theaterszene: Person sitzt vor einer geöffneten Truhe und hält zwei gekreuzte Krücken über dem Kopf.
Claire Cunningham, Thank You Very Much (Foto: Hugo-Glendinning)

Master

In the master's program in theater studies or dance studies, you will deepen the fundamental knowledge of European theater and dance history acquired in the bachelor's program and learn to critically discuss methodological approaches. The program offers insights into potential career fields along the three focal points of science, practice, and criticism and promotes an application-oriented approach to theater and dance theories and discourses. In the Science module, you will deepen your knowledge of scientific methods and procedures. In doing so, you will not only acquire skills for your own scientific work within the framework of the Master's program, but also strategies for future professional practice in academia and administration. In the Practices module, you will deepen your basic dramaturgical knowledge in seminars and exercises and apply it in practice during an internship at a cultural institution and in your own project work. In the process, you will learn to analyze and document artistic processes and works and to reflect on them critically. In the Criticism module, you will expand your knowledge of theater, dance, and cultural studies theories and analytical methods and transfer this knowledge to possible fields of work such as journalism or publishing.

 

Doctorate

As part of the doctoral program, you will pursue independent academic work in the field of theater or dance studies. You can do this either as part of a structured doctoral program (Graduate School) or as an independent doctorate. At the Institute for Theater Studies, you will regularly attend the research colloquium, where you will discuss your current research status with other doctoral students, postdocs, and professors.

Further information on doctoral studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Bern: https://www.unibe.ch/studies/programs/doctorate/doctoral_degree/index_eng.html