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Theatre

Create original theatrical works in a program designed to help you build broad expertise in the skills necessary to collaboratively develop and mount theatrical productions.

At Texas A&M, you can do it all — you don’t have to specialize in acting or design. We offer a program that allows you to combine courses in performance, production and arts administration, with built-in flexibility that allows you to satisfy your curiosity and diversify your skills.

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About the Theatre Program

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at Texas A&M prepares you for careers onstage, backstage and offstage through collective creation and collaborative production, rooted in an ethic of care. The program is centered in a practice-based approach to the many facets of theatre-making, including performance, design and production.

Through this program you will become a flexible and innovative creator who can communicate across cultures and media, and who thrives in a highly varied and ever-changing job market. You will be prepared to embark on careers in a variety of settings, both in theatre and beyond.

Areas of Emphasis

Pillars of the B.F.A. in Theatre

Creating With Care

The B.F.A. in Theatre at Texas A&M centers its approach on creating art grounded in principles of consent, care and sensitive representation. Our foundational course, Creating With Care, draws on the burgeoning field of intimacy coordination, directing and choreography to ensure that our students embark on their careers as theatre artists with a commitment to making their workplaces safe and equitable. Foregrounding the place of consent and care in the theatre-making process will prepare our students for an industry that is constantly transforming, and to be transformative agents within their future careers.

Innovation

The B.F.A. in Theatre emphasizes the development of new and original works through methods of collective creation. Students learn to discover, organize, interpret and adapt primary sources to develop original work. Onto this foundation, student teams build new works ready for public performance, guided by skilled artists.

Flexibility

The B.F.A. in Theatre takes a holistic approach to develop well-rounded professionals who have strong performance and production skills, but remain flexible, able to adapt to different aesthetic working environments. Students will develop skills as devisers for the stage, who can work across multiple production roles even as they focus on particular sets of skills. For example, actors will gain business skills and be able to identify a variety of markets for their craft. They will also understand the other theatre professions that they will be interacting with, such as stage management, design and administration.

Curriculum

The B.F.A. in Theatre will train students in the range of skills necessary to stage new and original theatrical works and to be creative and independent agents. The program will prepare students to manage the planning, design, preparation and production of theatrical works. This degree will include instruction in performance and directing; design and production; arts administration and entrepreneurship; and civic dramaturgy and community engagement. Theatre-makers at Texas A&M will develop global, cultural and social competencies to work with diverse populations and communities, leveraging their artistic skills to address the challenges facing our society. Our students will hone their empathy, active listening skills and critical inquiry abilities through collaborative performance-making.

The four-year theatre undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Degree Plan | 2024–2025 Catalog

Theatre (THEA) Catalog Course Descriptions

University Core Curriculum

Sample Sequence of Courses

Year 1 30 credit hours

Fall Semester — 15 credit hours

PERF 103 Introduction to Devised Theatre 3
Overview of approaches to devising performance and collective creation in the U.S. and around the world; fundamentals of theatrical production.
PVFA 111 Creating With Care 3
Foundations of care and respect in art making and creative practices; strategies for fostering inclusive and equitable performance works and workspaces; safety and consent in staging intimacy and combat on stage and screen.
Any Creative Arts University Core Course 3
Any Life and Physical Sciences University Core Course 3
General Elective 3

Spring Semester — 15 credit hours

THEA 110 Acting I 3
Acting I: Fundamentals. A Stanislavsky-based approach to the fundamentals of acting, which may include sensory exercises, relaxation, concentration, imagination, improvisation, character analysis and scene work.
THEA 112 Introduction to Stagecraft 3
Foundations of theatrical production and collaboration; introduction to theatre technology including scenic construction, drafting, carpentry, lighting and rigging; scene shop and stage safety; use of equipment including hand tools and power tools.
THEA 245 Introduction to Theatrical Design 3
Elements and principles of design for the theatre; role of the designer within the production team; theoretical and practical applications in the visual interpretation of plays.
ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric 3
Focus on referential and persuasive researched essays through the development of analytical reading ability, critical thinking and library research skills.
Any Mathematics University Core Course 3
Year 2 30 credit hours

Fall Semester — 15 credit hours

THEA 220 Decentering the Text 3
Modes of authorship in theatre; introduction to script analysis techniques; approaches to collective creation, verbatim theatre and postdramatic theatre-making.
Performance Elective 3
Select from THEA 210; MUSC 235; DCED 240; DCED 242; DCED 306; PVFA 310; THEA 310; THEA 320; PERF 333; MUSC 335; MUSC 345; THEA 379; ENGL 385; THEA 390; DCED 400; DCED 402; PERF/FILM 402; PERF 407; THEA 410; PVFA 483
Design and Production Elective 3
Select from MUSC 203; THEA 250; THEA 255; THEA 307; THEA 345; THEA 355; THEA 360; THEA 392; THEA 435; PERF 446
Any Communication University Core Course 3
Any American History University Core Course 3

Spring Semester — 15 credit hours

THEA 300 Dramaturgy 3
Exploration of literary, production and theoretical dramaturgy in a classroom setting; script analysis; theatre criticism; theories of theatre, research techniques and dramaturgy in the production process; advancing thought about the art form in all its complexity; research methods for theatre.
Performance History 3
Select from PERF 310; PERF 311; PERF 312
Design and Production Elective 3
Select from MUSC 203; THEA 250; THEA 255; THEA 307; THEA 345; THEA 355; THEA 360; THEA 392; THEA 435; PERF 446
Any Mathematics University Core Course 3
General Elective 3
Year 3 30 credit hours

Fall Semester — 15 credit hours

PERF 303 Creating Performance 3
Live and mediated performance; techniques and skills for performance; practical experience; discussion and critical analysis of performance; strategies for devising performance.
Performance Studies Seminar 3
Select from PERF 450; PERF 451; PERF 452; PERF 453; PERF 454; PERF/WGST 455; PERF 456; PERF 457; PERF 460; PERF 461
Any Life and Physical Sciences University Core Course 3
Design and Production Elective 3
Select from MUSC 203; THEA 250; THEA 255; THEA 307; THEA 345; THEA 355; THEA 360; THEA 392; THEA 435; PERF 446
General Elective 3

Spring Semester — 15 credit hours

THEA 304 Devised Theatre Studio 3
Advanced theory and practice of conceiving, developing, rehearsing and staging live and mediated devised theatrical performance; investigation of structures for collaborative creation; advanced techniques and skills for devising theatre; discussion and critical analysis of devised theatre. May be repeated two times for credit. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in PERF 303.
Performance Elective 3
Select from THEA 210; MUSC 235; DCED 240; DCED 242; DCED 306; PVFA 310; THEA 310; THEA 320; PERF 333; MUSC 335; MUSC 345; THEA 379; ENGL 385; THEA 390; DCED 400; DCED 402; PERF/FILM 402; PERF 407; THEA 410; PVFA 483
Arts Administration and Community Engagement Elective 3
Select from DCED 216; INST 222; PERF 223; PVFA 240; DCED 304; PERF 308; PERF 338; THEA 342; THEA 370; THEA 401; DCED 411; THEA 482
Any Language, Philosophy and Culture University Core Course 3
POLS 206 American National Government 3
Year 4 30 credit hours

Fall Semester — 15 credit hours

Arts Administration and Community Engagement Elective 3
Select from DCED 216; INST 222; PERF 223; PVFA 240; DCED 304; PERF 308; PERF 338; THEA 342; THEA 370; THEA 401; DCED 411; THEA 482
Performance Elective 3
Select from THEA 210; MUSC 235; DCED 240; DCED 242; DCED 306; PVFA 310; THEA 310; THEA 320; PERF 333; MUSC 335; MUSC 345; THEA 379; ENGL 385; THEA 390; DCED 400; DCED 402; PERF/FILM 402; PERF 407; THEA 410; PVFA 483
POLS 207 State and Local Government 3
Any American History University Core Course 3
General Elective 3

Spring Semester — 15 credit hours

THEA 441 Capstone 3
Capstone senior project on an individually chosen research topic, presentation of a performance or interdisciplinary project; major writing and oral communication components. Prerequisites: Theatre major; completion of all Theatre coursework or taken concurrently with this course; approval of instructor, advisor and program director.
Any Social and Behavioral Sciences University Core Course 3
Any Life and Physical Sciences University Core Course 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3

Customize Your Degree

Students enrolled in the B.F.A. in Theatre have 18 hours of general electives to tailor the degree toward artistic interests and ultimate career goals. Students might choose to use the electives towards a minor, such as:

FAQ About the Program

How much does it cost to attend?

The cost to attend varies depending on a variety of factors, including semester of admission, student type, how many hours you take per semester, and rate type. Use the Texas A&M Tuition Calculator to get the best estimate of your tuition cost per semester.

Additional costs to consider include course materials, housing, meal plans, parking and fees.

What financial aid and scholarships are available to students?

Numerous scholarships and financial aid are available through Texas A&M University and the School of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts. Incoming freshmen applicants are considered for university scholarships through the ApplyTexas Application or the Coalition Application. Continuing students can apply for additional scholarships through the University Scholarship Application for Continuing Students. For more information about university scholarships, visit scholarships.tamu.edu.

Who can I go to with questions?

For more information about the B.F.A. in Theatre, please contact Professor Rayna Dexter at rdexter@tamu.edu.

How do I declare a major in Theatre?

To declare a major in Theatre, please contact your academic advisor.

How will the program prepare me for a career?

A Theatre degree prepares you to become a skilled professional and entrepreneur who can work across different areas of theatrical production, as well as for multiple career paths in a changing and dynamic world.

There are many resources available to you at Texas A&M that can help you identify and prepare for your future career. The best resource is the TAMU Career Center, which houses mentors experienced with Theatre majors.

Careers

A Theatre degree prepares you to become a skilled professional and entrepreneur who can work across different areas of theatrical production, as well as for multiple career paths in a changing and dynamic world.

Potential Career Paths in Theatre

Careers in Allied Fields

Faculty

Faculty Expertise

Our faculty bring to the program their expertise in:

Program Admission Requirements

All applicants will submit an Artist Statement to be reviewed by the Theatre program faculty. Please be sure to include your first name, last name and UIN. The Artist Statement should illustrate:

Freshman Admission

Transfer Admission