Theatre / Drama
The craft of live performance, acting, directing, and production.
Theatre programs train students in acting, directing, or technical production (lighting, sound, set design), or a general survey of all three. Coursework mixes performance-based studio classes with theatre history and dramatic literature.
Production work is central: most programs require participation in actual staged productions, on stage or backstage, which is where classroom technique becomes practiced craft under real performance conditions.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Acting Fundamentals
- ✓Voice & Movement for the Stage
- ✓Directing
- ✓Stagecraft & Technical Theatre
- ✓Dramatic Literature
- ✓Theatre History
- ✓Playwriting (often elective)
- ✓Production Practicum (every semester)
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Acting Fundamentals
- +General education requirement
- ✓Voice & Movement for the Stage
- +General education requirement
- ✓Directing
- +General education requirement
- ✓Stagecraft & Technical Theatre
- +Free elective
- ✓Dramatic Literature
- +Free elective
- ✓Theatre History
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Playwriting (often elective)
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Production Practicum (every semester)
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Drawn to live performance and storytelling
- ★Comfortable with vulnerability and public performance
- ★Enjoys collaborative, deadline-driven creative work
- ★Interested in either performing or technical/production theatre
Common minors & double-major pairings
Communication Studies · English Literature · Film Studies
Frequently asked questions
What is a Theatre / Drama major?
The craft of live performance, acting, directing, and production.
What courses do Theatre / Drama majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Acting Fundamentals, Voice & Movement for the Stage, Directing, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Theatre / Drama program?
Theatre / Drama coursework typically builds skills like Performance and stage presence, Collaborative creative process, Technical production skills (lighting, sound, set), Script analysis and interpretation.
Is Theatre / Drama a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Drawn to live performance and storytelling" or "Comfortable with vulnerability and public performance" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What other majors pair well with Theatre / Drama?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Communication Studies, English Literature, Film Studies.
How is Theatre / Drama different from Dance?
They're related but distinct. Theatre / Drama: The craft of live performance, acting, directing, and production. Dance: Technical training and choreographic study across dance forms. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Theatre / Drama degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/theatre-drama