When you choose a major in the Theatre Department, you are prepared to be a theatre artist of character and competence who will engage the culture and change the world through thoughtful and faithful use of your creative gifts — whether you are interested in performing, producing, or teaching theatre.
Individual majors also choose from one of our four areas of emphasis: Performance, Production and Design, Theatre Studies, and P–12 Teaching.
Theatre Major
SPU Theatre Department offers a BA in Theatre with an area of emphasis. The degree core integrates foundational knowledge in theatre along with essential skills in performance, design, and production for all students. Majoring in Theatre will expose you to a sizable body of culturally diverse dramatic literature, theory, and historical study. The educational experience will challenge you to think critically, create imaginatively, and work collaboratively. And it will allow you the space to explore and develop yourself both as an individual and as an artist.
Areas of Emphasis
Theatre Majors select one of the following areas of emphasis:
Note: It is possible to pursue two areas as a double major.
Benefits
Career opportunities for Theatre majors extend beyond acting into other specialties — including scenic, lighting, and costume design, stage management, dramaturgy, theatre management, playwriting, and directing. The Theatre major is designed to lay the foundation to pursue the path you choose.
Additionally, the skills you will hone through the major — self-knowledge, communicative social interaction, presentation of self, personal discipline, risk-taking, problem-solving, collaboration, team-building, empathy with others — are important to many career applications beyond those connected specifically with theatre, especially careers that involve working with the public.
Career Opportunities
- Actor
- Acting Coach
- Artistic Director
- Box Office Manager
- Choreographer
- College Professor
- Costume Designer
- Director
- Dramaturg
- General Manager
- Grip/Stagehand
- Lighting Designer
- Makeup Artist
- Playwright
- Props Designer
- Scenic Designer
- Secondary School Teacher
- Sound Designer
- Stage Manager
- Teaching Artist
- Technical Director
- Theatre Critic
- Wardrobe Supervisor
- Wig/Hair Stylist