Theatre BA

The B.A. Theatre program is designed to prepare students for the multitude of careers in theatre and entertainment that support the work that takes place on the stage. The program offers flexibility for students to purse the career path of their choice and provides the foundation for continuing study at the graduate level.

What career can I work toward with a B.A. Theatre Studies degree?

Students are required to select a specialization (Applied Performance, Administration & Directing, Technical Production, Education, or Theatre Studies/Dramaturgy) and combine their Theatre training with an aligned secondary area of study (a minor or second major). See the list below for a few of the many possible career paths and secondary areas of study students can pursue:
 
Administration & Directing

• Arts Administrator | Non-Profit Management, Marketing, Business
• Producer | Finance, Business, Marketing
• Entertainment Lawyer | Pre-Law
• Director | Leadership, Mass Culture and Collective Behavior
• Box Office Manager | Accounting, Business, Marketing

 
Technical Production

• Lighting or Projections Technician | Digital Media
• Corporate Events Technician | Event Management, Hospitality Management
• Freelance Entertainment Technician | Entrepreneurship, Business
• Production Manager | Technical Communication

 
Education

• Theatre Educator | Education
• Teaching Artist | Early Childhood Development, Career and Technical Education

 
Theatre Studies/Dramaturgy

• Playwright or Dramaturg | Creative Writing
• Theatre Historian or Dramaturg | History
• Arts Reporter or Critic | Journalism

 
Applied Performance

• Teaching Artist | Creative Writing, Education
• Studio Owner | Education, Exceptional Student Education, Entrepreneurship, Business
• Non-Profit Sector | Criminal Justice, Diversity and Social Inequality, Environmental Studies

What opportunities do B.A. Theatre students have?

B.A. Theatre students take the same core classes as all theatre majors to provide a thorough foundation. The remainder of credits are fulfilled by specialization specific theatre credits. B.A. Theatre students are welcome to audition for Theatre UCF shows and to work with technical faculty and staff to participate in backstage areas of our productions. Many also become involved with theatre-producing student groups and take part in independent study courses in cooperation with Central Florida Community Arts, The Renaissance Theatre, Orlando Family Stage, and Orlando Shakes.

Application Requirements

Students must apply and be accepted through UCF Undergraduate Admissions.

Prior to officially applying to the BA Theatre program, students must officially declare Theatre Pending as their major in MyUCF and fill out our “New Student Info” form. This will make sure students can be assigned to a Theatre Advisor and register for the classes they need as they prepare to apply to the program.

To give students adequate time to decide on the right specialization for them, students are required to complete a list of prerequisite courses (with a grade of C (2.0) or higher) prior to applying to become a BA Theatre major.

Before applying, students must complete all the core prerequisite courses and one course selected from the list provided appropriate to the specialization they choose.

Students must also select and declare a minor from the list of approved minors (list found in the Theatre Undergraduate Student Handbook) or a second major, must have and maintain a 3.0 or better Theatre GPA, and must have completed the foreign language proficiency requirements or have selected the language they will study to meet this requirement.

If you have decided to be a Theatre Major and have not already filled out our Student Information Form, please contact theatre@ucf.edu for the link to the current New Student Info form.

Before you Apply:

Prior to applying to the BA Theatre Program students must:

1. Successfully complete (“C” 2.0 or better) the core prerequisite courses for the program:

• THE 2000 – Theatre Survey (GEP)
• THE 2081C – Introduction to UCF Theatre
• ARH 2051 – History of Western Art 2 (GEP)
• THE 2305 – Script Analysis for Theatre
• TPP 2110C – Acting 1 (or any introductory Acting Class)
• TPA 2200 & TPA 2200L – Introduction to Technical Theatre and Lab (or any introductory Stagecraft Class)
• THE 3311 – Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I
• TPA 2290L – Backstage Theatre Participation

2. Successfully complete (“C” 2.0 or better) at least one prerequisite course for desired specialization.

• For Theatre Studies and Dramaturgy: complete at least 1 of the following prior to application:
• THE 4481 – Dramaturgy
• THE 4230 – Cultural Diversity in Theatre

• For Technical Production: complete at least 1 of the following prior to application:
• TPA4250 or TPA 4252 – CADD or Advanced CADD For Theatre
• TPA2232C – Costume Constructions
• TPA2600C – Stage Management: Introduction

• For Administration and Directing: complete at least 1 of the following prior to application:
• TPA2600C – Stage Management: Introduction OR
• TPA4400 – Theatre Management OR
• TPP3310 – The Theatre Director’s Role (or any Introductory Theatre Directing Course

• For Theatre Education: complete at least 1 of the following prior to application:
• THE3053 – TYA and Communities
• THE3753 – Theatre Studies in Creative Drama
• THE3760 – Teaching Theatre

• For Applied Performance: complete at least 1 of the following prior to application:
• THE4543 – Theatre for Social Change
• TPP3406 – Devising Theatre
• TPP4244 – The Art of Storytelling

3. Declare a specialization approved minor (or a second major) – List of specialization approved minors can be found in the Theatre Student Handbook. A second major in any area can also satisfy this requirement.
 
4. Have completed or selected language for the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement Important Notes:

• Once you apply for and are accepted into a specialization, it is unlikely that a specialization change will be approved. This is part of why you have prerequisites to take to prepare you for making this decision.
• Students in this major must earn a “C” (2.0) or better or an “S” in each theatre course and maintain a 3.0 GPA for all theatre courses and any non-theatre courses required in the major.
• Students must follow the most recent department and school student handbooks which are available on the department website.

Ready to Apply?

If you have completed the prerequisite steps above, you can formally apply to the BA Theatre program. The link to the application can be found in the department webcourse “Theatre Info and Updates” and your chosen Specialization by filling out this form.

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