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Theatre ,BA

Theatre, BA


Actor, Costume Designer, Dramaturgy, Education, Lighting Designer, Performer, Playwright, Screenwriting, Set Designer, Stage Manager, Technical Director, Theatre Design, acting, director, stage

Remember the excitement of your first experience on a stage? Join our community of theatre artists and expand your ability to create your own story. Challenge yourself to explore creativity, and build your skills for your future career as an actor, educator, director, designer, technician, playwright or dramaturg.

Program description

The BA program in theatre provides students with a hands-on theatre education within a broad range of academic opportunities. Every student is encouraged to develop their own creative skills through collaboration and to pursue a variety of theatre and performance areas.

The program offers specialty coursework in the following areas:

  • acting and directing
  • community engagement
  • design and production
  • dramatic literature and dramaturgy
  • educational certification and teaching artistry
  • intimacy coordination
  • new work development and playwriting
  • theatre history
  • theatre for youth
  • voice and movement

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: No
  • First required math course: Any math course that meets the MATH designation.
  • Math intensity: Generalprogram math intensity general

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Accelerated program options
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Transfer admission requirements:

Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards.

Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the college must complete a minimum of 15 hours of resident credit in the major as approved by the faculty.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Change of Major requirements

An ASU student who would like to change majors to one offered by the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Program learning outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

  • Execute the stages of long-range creative projects.
  • Explain how theatre shapes the cultural and political landscapes of societies.
  • Apply key creative and artistic processes relevant to their area of focus in theatre (design processes, historical research for production, development of performer skills with an eye toward production, etc.).
Global opportunities
Global experience

Students studying theatre can find inspiration and deepen their understanding of theater through a study abroad program. Study abroad provides an opportunity for students to explore their creative side through an intercultural lens. Not only do the programs encourage students to build communication skills, but they also challenge them, as artists, to think differently.

With over 300 options available, Global Education programs give students a breadth of knowledge in arts and culture uniquely different from their own. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students are challenged to adapt and persevere and to look inside themselves in a way they haven't done before, growing their self-confidence along the way.

Vital qualities in the field of theater, such as leadership, teamwork and communication, can be developed and honed abroad. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses while staying on track for graduation, and they may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs.

Career opportunities

The bachelor's degree program in theatre provides an excellent foundation for work in the arts and entertainment and prepares students for further training at graduate schools or conservatories.

The program's broad range of academic opportunities prepares graduates for a variety of occupations in the entertainment industry. Opportunities may include work with:

  • arts entrepreneurship
  • concert venues
  • corporate events
  • literary agencies
  • schools and training programs
  • theatre and arts festivals
  • theme parks

Career example titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience, geographical location, and required advanced degrees or certifications may affect pay scales.


Career *Growth *Median salary
3.2%
Not available
3.2%
$77,280
8.2%
Not available
6.7%
$85,320
4.2%
$98,100
-11.4%
$41,750
5.9%
$129,430
6.7%
$85,320
6.7%
$85,320
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Bright OutlookBright Outlook

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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