P–12 Teaching Emphasis

Teaching Endorsement

Are you interested in studying theatre education to develop your gifts and talents for a future in teaching theatre arts? Our BA in Theatre with an emphasis in P–12 Teaching offers you a rigorous education and a rich foundation to prepare you for teaching theatre arts at the primary or secondary level, or working as a Teaching Artist in a variety of arts or educational organizations.

Benefits

With one of the strongest education schools in the state and a top-notch Theatre Department, we offer you an outstanding program to prepare you as a theatre teacher. A Theatre degree with an emphasis in P–12 Education will help you hone your theatrical gifts while preparing you to share them by teaching others. The Theatre degree also provides you with advanced study in theatre performance, production, history, and more.

By choosing a Theatre emphasis in P–12 Education, you can prepare for a solid career with certification for teaching theatre to P–12 students, whether you choose to teach in public or private schools, as a youth minister, or in other education or ministry contexts.

Theatre education classes include a sequential program with observation and experience in local schools, along with study of materials and methods that builds toward internships and careers in theatre education. Theatre coursework prepares you to take the state-required teaching tests for endorsements in theatre.

Major Courses and Degree Requirements

In addition to your core Theatre major courses, with a P–12 Teaching emphasis you may choose to take courses that provide you with a focused and integrative approach to teaching theatre and lead to completion requirements for a P–12 teaching endorsement. 

The P–12 Teaching emphasis requires a minimum of 80 Theatre credits. Certification through the School of Education requires an additional 56 credits. Theatre Education majors pursuing certification may choose a second endorsement area; often Secondary Language Arts or Social Science. A full four-year plan will be made in collaboration with your Theatre major advisor and School of Education advisor. 

View the major courses and degree requirements

Entering the Major

You may enter this major during your first quarter at SPU. Entrance after your first quarter requires only good academic standing (2.0 or higher SPU cumulative GPA). Consult the undergraduate catalog for complete information on how and when to enter and what you must do to complete the program.   

Career Opportunities

  • P–12 Teacher
  • Acting Coach
  • Artistic Director
  • Box Office Manager
  • Camp Director
  • Casting Agent
  • Choreographer
  • College Professor
  • Costume Designer
  • Director
  • Drama Teacher
  • Lighting Designer
  • Makeup Artist
  • Playwright
  • Scenic Designer
  • Secondary School Teacher
  • Sound Designer
  • Stage Manager
  • Teaching Artist
  • Technical Director
  • Theatre Critic
  • Theatre Professor

Faculty Contact

Andrew Ryder

Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Professor of Theatre Education
PhD, Bowling Green State University

Email: aryder@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2238
Office: Marston Hall 331

Andrew Ryder - Why I Teach

Why I Teach at SPU

Andrew Ryder, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Professor of Theatre Education.

“I teach at SPU because I believe strongly in the importance of Christian liberal arts education. Studying the arts in such an environment allowed me to wrestle with important questions, because I trusted my professors and their perspectives. I work hard to develop and maintain with my students the same trust and openness to questions.”

Scholarships

Theatre Scholarships

The Theatre Department awards 10 or more Theatre scholarships each year ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. You do not need to major in Theatre to receive these scholarships.