About
PhD program in Critical Studies in Improvisation (PHD.IMPR)
The University of Guelph’s new interdisciplinary graduate program in the field of Critical Studies in Improvisation (IMPR) offers PhD Degrees incorporating foundations in critical inquiry, multidisciplinary improvisatory practices, performative agency, and community engagement, built on years of award-winning, arts-based research and training by the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation. Through study and experiential learning opportunities, students will gain broadly applicable practical skills in research and project development, management and implementation, leadership, and collaboration. The program is in its 5th year.
IMPR PhD students and graduates with faculty and staff, 2025
The program features four core courses.
IMPR*6010: Core Concepts in Critical Studies in Improvisation
IMPR*6020: Arts-Based Community-Making
IMPR*6030: Research Practices
IMPR*6410: Pedagogy Lab
The high standard of scholarship fostered by the IMPR program is exemplified through student awards and academic contributions, from PhD Candidate and SSHRC Storytellers finalist Lucy Bilson’s “Improvising Design” video to student authored chapters in the highly-praised collection The Improviser’s Classroom, by Daniel Fischlin and Mark Lomanno (2025), for example. IICSI’s peer-reviewed journal, Critical Studies in Improvisation / Études critiques en improvisation, also provides opportunities for students to share cutting-edge work alongside leading researchers in this field of study.
Funding opportunities include research and teaching assistantship packages, and in some select cases, internships with community organizations. The PHD.IMPR provides opportunities for students to learn, grow, and develop their practice in their field in a rigorous, energetic, and creative environment. PhD students will also complete a qualifying exam and have multiple opportunities to develop independent projects.
More details about the program and application requirements can be found on the University of Guelph website improv portal www.uoguelph.ca/arts/improv
