theatre arts student performers on stage

Theatre Arts Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Explore your passion for theatre and study everything from acting and dance to stage makeup and directing.

Theatre offers a world of creative opportunities, from costuming and choreography to acting and writing. With a B.A. in Theatre Arts from UND, you’ll have tools to engage in any aspect of a theatrical production.

Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit hours:
120 (major)

Why earn a theatre arts degree?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

If you have a passion for theatre, UND's B.A. in Theatre Arts is for you. From lighting design to acting, you'll explore every area of theatre production and prepare for a career on — or behind­ — the stage.

As a B.A. student, you'll choose a curriculum track from:

  • Acting
  • Design and Tech
  • Generalist

Based on your specific interests, you can specialize even further with concentrations in:

  • Directing
  • Set design
  • Lighting design
  • Sound design
  • Costume design
  • Technical theatre
  • Costume construction
  • Dance
  • Playwriting
  • Dramatic literature

Beyond the classroom, you'll have plenty of opportunities to get involved on stage or behind the scenes in UND Theatre productions and in student-directed shows. You'll also develop your analytical and communication skills through a core of liberal arts courses.

Theatre Arts Degree at UND

  • The Department of Theatre Arts is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). 

  • Apply to direct a show in UND's lab theatre.

  • Join the student-run Society of Dionysus and help promote the theatre department.

  • Get involved in theatre productions as early as freshman year in one of the four shows the department produces each year.

  • Let our team of academic advisors help you plan your major. You'll also have access to personalized Degree Map software to keep you on track to graduate in four years.

  • Raise your grades by getting free academic support at UND. We offer individual tutoring sessions, along with specialized writing and math support programs.

What can I do with a theatre arts degree?

76K

Median salary for producers and directors

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

64K

Average advertised salary for job postings requiring a theatre degree, 2020

Labor Insight

A B.A. in theatre arts from UND provides the creative and technical skills you need to succeed on Broadway, in Hollywood or beyond.

Program graduates have gone on to some of the finest graduate programs around the world, including M.F.A. studies in directing and stage management. Others are:

  • Performing or working behind the scenes with community and professional companies
  • Touring with Broadway shows
  • Working in the arts management industry

Whatever career you pursue, you'll have the skills you need to succeed — such as speaking in public, being organized and timely, collaborating with others, staying within a budget and more.

A Theatre Arts degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Musical Theatre
  • Costume Design
  • Event Planning
  • Production Management

Theatre Degree Courses

THEA 300. Play Direction I. 3 Credits.

Principles and techniques of directing for the theatre. Student laboratory directing experiences. Prerequisites: THEA 161 and THEA 230. F, odd years.

THEA 161. Acting I. 3 Credits.

Basic principles of acting with emphasis on movement; basic character development through improvisation and script. F,S.

THEA 201. Theatre Practicum. 1 Credit.

Participation in theatre pre-performance and performance capacities, both technical and acting, under faculty direction. Repeatable to 12.00 credits. F,S.

THEA 260. Costume Craft. 3 Credits.

An introduction to the basic principles, theory, and techniques of costume construction. This hands-on class will reach from basic to advanced skills. S, odd years.

THEA 270. Stagecraft. 3 Credits.

This course is intended to teach the basic functions, aesthetics, history, methods and materials of scenery, properties, lighting and sound. Practical experience, shop procedures are tied to hands-on experience in departmental productions. F.

THEA 424. History of the Theatre: Seventeenth Century to the Present. 3 Credits.

A continuation of topics covered in THEA 423 beginning with the Seventeenth Century and continuing to the present. Prerequisite: THEA 423 or instructor consent. S, odd years.

UND Theatre Arts Program

The UND Theatre Arts program allows students a personalized experience and endless opportunities.

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