Recent New York State and New York City Department of Education efforts to develop curricula and standards in the arts stress the importance of integrating arts education from kindergarten through 12th grade across the curriculum. The delivery of such curricula requires the participation and leadership of artists in classroom activities; however, few graduate education opportunities exist for professional theatre artists who wish to study pedagogy in order to maximize their effectiveness as educators.

This graduate-level certificate program is designed both for those who wish to teach about theatre in formal classroom settings and individuals interested in providing instruction in non-formal community settings. Teachers and professionals from related arts or education fields will also benefit from these courses.

Through the introductory course, students examine arts-based pedagogy and the wide range of employment opportunities available in the arts-in-education field. Students are also required to take Theatre of the Oppressed: An Introduction to the Work of Augusto Boal, which builds their skills in teaching through theatre and introduces them to the methodology of Augusto Boal. Finally, students gain practical experience through two of three available elective courses. The entire program is rooted in a constructivist educational perspective that incorporates the pedagogy of Paulo Freire.

This certificate is offered in association with the Paul A. Kaplan Center for Educational Drama of the CUNY Creative Arts Team.