The Department of Drama emerged prior to the start of the 1970-1971 academic year to replace the Department of Drama and Speech which had ceased to exist following the end of the 1969-1970 academic year. The Department of Drama remained in existence through the 1982-1983 academic year. After the end of the 1982-1983 academic year, the Department of Drama absorbed the Dance Program and became known as the Department of Drama and Dance.The Department of Drama offered graduate programs leading to a Master of Arts as well as a Doctor of Philosophy.

History of Department of Drama

The Department of Drama emerged prior to the start of the 1970-1971 academic year to replace the Department of Drama and Speech which had ceased to exist following the end of the 1969-1970 academic year. The Department of Drama remained in existence through the 1982-1983 academic year. After the end of the 1982-1983 academic year, the Department of Drama absorbed the Dance Program and became known as the Department of Drama and Dance.

The Department of Drama articulated its goals and mission in the Bulletin of Tufts University Undergraduate Colleges 1970-1971 as follows, "Through the study of drama and theater arts, the student can cultivate an understanding of one of Western society's main civilizing forces; develop his powers of intellect, imagination, emotion, and vocal and bodily expressiveness, as well as standards of good taste and workmanship; and gain a sound foundation for later pursuit of interests in this field. The major in drama balances the literary, historical critical, and creative study of drama and of its chief medium, the living theater, with the stage arts of acting, directing, designing, and producing plays through curricular and extracurricular performances in a year-round theater program."

The Department of Drama offered graduate programs leading to a Master of Arts as well as a Doctor of Philosophy.