Istanbul University Faculty of Literature, Department of Theater Criticism and Dramaturgy started its activities in 1992 with a master's degree program to train theater researchers, dramaturg and theater critic in order to fill the gap in the intellectual, theoretical and literary fields of theater art in our country. In addition to dramaturgy education, the department also has an important place in terms of providing an application area in its program for studies on theater criticism, which will give an important impetus to the art of theater with its discussion dimension and which is included in an academic education for the first time in our country. Since 2008, two new sections have been opened within the Department of Theater Criticism and Dramaturgy, namely “Theater Criticism and Theory Department” and “Dramaturgy and Dramatic Writing Art Department”, and the activities of the department have expanded.

​

Dramaturgy and theater criticism education should not be thought of as merely transferring theoretical knowledge and techniques. The main goal of dramaturgy and theater criticism education is to teach versatile and critical thinking. In this respect, all the information given should be assimilated at an intellectual level and a creative education that provides active participation of the student is required. The education system of the department is student-oriented, based on research, discussion and continuous conversion of these into articles and theses. This system allows the emergence of original works. The department shapes the education program on topics such as text analysis and research, removing the polysemy of literary texts, developing writing skills, teaching scientific research methods, developing oral expression, catching the current, awakening historical awareness, giving place to interdisciplinary studies and researching intercultural interaction. Also, "Theatre in Education" project studies, which have been trying to develop theater as an alternative education model since the establishment of the department, can be considered as an alternative contribution to the education system and social development. In addition, exchange programs and a series of seminars and symposiums were held in cooperation with the German Cultural Association. Collaborations were made with organizations such as the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, the International Union of Theater Critics, Istanbul State Theatres, Theater Magazine and the 2010 Istanbul European Capital of Culture Agency.

Goals and Objectives

1. The students obtain the theoretical and practical knowledge at advanced level supported by contemporary text books, practical equipments and other resources in the field theatre. 

2.The students obtain the knowledge of fundamental concepts and theories related to various disciplines that contribute to their knowledge in the field of theatre. 

3. The students obtain and internalize the knowledge of fundamental concepts and theories related to the field of theatre and to obtain this knowledge at the level to discuss, to question and to apply in the field. 

4.The students obtain the knowledge of artistic and scientific ethics and methods of artistic criticism in the field of theatre. 

5.The students obtain the skill to carry on a dramaturgical work, to write a theatre criticism, to report the datas that they produce and obtain in the field of theatre and to present all these. 

6. The students follow the scientific and academical discussions in the field of theatre and improve discussions by scientific questioning in this framework. 

7. The students obtain the skill to determine the problems and propose reasonable solutions by using the knowledge and skills that they gain in the field of theatre. 

8. The students obtain the skill to work individually and to take responsibility as a member of a team in order to solve complicated problems encountered and not anticipated related to the field of theatre. 

9. The students learn to share their knowledge and experience with the qualified people of the related field and defend their contrary views. 

10. The students learn to evaluate critically their knowledge and skills that they gain in the field of theatre. 

11.The students learn to respect the ethical values, to be self-confident, to have society, social justice and environmental conscious, to be open-minded and intellectual individuals.

Job Opportunities

It is envisaged that the students who graduate from the department will mainly work in the field of theater as theorists or practitioners. It is possible for graduates to work as a dramaturg, copywriter, director, critic, reporter, editor, screenwriter. In addition, since one of the most important fields of study of the department is "Theatre in Education", it is possible for our graduates to work on drama in education in various schools, and to become a teacher if they complete their education formation.