Objectives
The course aims to: -produce students capable of independently evaluating and engaging creatively and critically with performance and, as appropriate, capable of developing technical and artistic skills, critical analysis and argument for themselves (DDP Benchmark p.7); -provide students with a knowledge and understanding and some experience of drama and performance as cultural process and artistic discourse, through the study of theatre and media history, text, dramatic theory and performance practice; -offer substantial opportunities to pursue, in parallel, the study of English Literature from the Medieval to the Modern period; -approach the two subjects as discrete but complementary areas of study; facilitate and support the development of students' learning skills, critical perception and dramatic imagination; -provide students with coherent programmes that reflect the diversity of expertise within, and available to, the subject areas of Drama and English and American Studies;to foster independent learning, evaluation and research; -foster a knowledge, understanding and, where appropriate, experience through outreach activities, of the contribution drama can make to the local community; -equip students with the necessary critical tools and relevant practice to begin to make a worthwhile contribution to contemporary theatre, film, television or related fields.
Course description
Course description
Students who wish to continue the study of literary forms other than Drama might consider this joint course, where they can have a choice of studying the two subjects together in a variety of flexible permutations. Students may therefore take Drama as their 'major' subject (up to 80 credits in any one year) with English as their 'minor' subject (40 credits), or vice versa; or they may study the two subjects equally (60/60 credits). However, students taking Drama and English in the 40/80 combination with a minor in Drama do not have access to practical course units in any year. It should also be noted that, should you wish to do a PGCE secondary course in English and Drama after your degree, you may experience difficulty if you have done a 80/40 degree with Drama as the major subject. This is because some institutions (but by no means all) will only take students who have completed 50% of their studies in English.
Special features
Year abroad opportunities in America, Canada and Australia.
Course content for year 1
Please note that the following list is intended to be a guide only - course content or availability may change slightly as we aim to improve and update our courses yearly.
Students must in each year take a minimum of 40 credits in Drama and a minimum of 40 credits in English Literature. The remaining credits may be taken from either of the two subjects. Students must, in Years 2 and 3 combined, take at least one practice-based project course, with a maximum of one project course in any one year.
Compulsory
DRAM10011 Introduction to Drama Studies
ENGL10021 Reading Literature English and American Literature course unit (specified from year to year by English and American Studies)
DRAM10111 Project A OR DRAM10122 Project B
Optional (Choice of three)
DRAM10031 The Art of Film
DRAM10052 History and Histrionics
ENGL10032 Contexts of Writing
ENGL10051 Mapping the Medieval
ENGL10042 Textual Communities
Course content for year 2
Please note that the following list is intended to be a guide only - course content or availability may change slightly as we aim to improve and update our courses yearly.
Students must in each year take a minimum of 40 credits in Drama and a minimum of 40 credits in English Literature. The remaining credits may be taken from either of the two subjects. Students must, in Years 2 and 3 combined, take at least one practice-based project course, with a maximum of one project course in any one year.
Choice: 40, 60 or 80 credits in Drama selected from courses specified by Drama
Choice: 40, 60 or 80 credits in English selected from courses specified by English and American Studies
Course content for year 3
Please note that the following list is intended to be a guide only - course content or availability may change slightly as we aim to improve and update our courses yearly.
Students must in each year take a minimum of 40 credits in Drama and a minimum of 40 credits in English Literature. The remaining credits may be taken from either of the two subjects. Students must, in Years 2 and 3 combined, take at least one practice-based project course, with a maximum of one project course in any one year.
Choice: 40, 60 or 80 credits in Drama selected from courses specified by Drama
Choice: 40, 60 or 80 credits in English selected from courses specified by English and American Studies
Note. Students are expected to do EITHER DRAM30990: Drama dissertation OR ENGL30002: Long Essay.
Career opportunities
Drama graduates have made successful careers in a wide variety of occupations: in theatre, film and television as directors, producers, actors, writers, etc: in applied theatre, theatre and education, theatre in prisons and probation etc: in journalism and publishing, teaching and research (following postgraduate training or research degrees): in community arts and arts administration, law and business management.
What our students say
The best thing about studying Drama are the other great people on your degree programme. (Benji Sperring, BA Drama with English)
