MA Sociology/Theatre Studies

About this course

Sociology and theatre studies is a combination that connects two disciplines with a shared interest in how human beings perform social life and make meaning together. Sociology provides the theoretical and methodological tools for understanding how social structures, institutions, and inequalities shape individual experience, how norms are produced and reproduced, and how societies change. Theatre studies examines performance as both an art form and a social practice, asking how plays are made and interpreted, how theatre functions as a cultural institution, and what happens in the encounter between performer and audience. Together they offer an unusually rich perspective on the social dimensions of culture and the cultural dimensions of society. At Glasgow, this part-time programme benefits from the university's close connections with the theatre industry, providing opportunities to engage with practitioners of national and international standing and to understand how theatre operates as a professional world. You will study sociological theory and research methods alongside theatre history, performance analysis, and the politics of representation, developing the analytical tools to think about both how societies work and what theatre can do within them. A year abroad is built into the programme, providing the opportunity to experience different theatrical traditions and social contexts in another country. Graduates from this combination go on to work in theatre administration, community and applied theatre, arts education, cultural policy, social research, journalism, and a range of roles in the cultural and voluntary sectors. The sociological grounding adds analytical depth to theatre careers, while the theatrical perspective enriches sociological understanding of culture and communication. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in sociology, theatre, cultural studies, or education, and some pursue careers in performance or directing.

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