Theatre Arts Programs

Discover the history of theatre and develop a strong foundation in acting, writing, design, and entertainment technologies when you pursue a major in Theatre Arts. These programs offer the opportunity for students to participate in dynamic workshops, live theatre productions at the Hammer Theatre, collaborate with film majors, and more.

• Theatre Arts Major

  • Theatre Arts, BA Graduation Requirements

    Theatre has been a dynamic force on SJSU's campus since the earliest days of the University. The official Department of Theatre was established in 1928 with an emphasis on "dramatic study and stage craft . . . a field that stretches far and wide and is rich with possibilities." Today, we emphasize the contemporary role of theatre education: to prepare our students to be active, inventive and disciplined performers working with a team in creative enterprise.

    The Theatre Arts Major emphasizes a strong foundation in acting, directing, writing, design, and entertainment technologies. Theatre Arts students study the history and practices of theatre with a particular emphasis on the interrelationship between theatre and contemporary performance cultures.

    Theatre Arts' production program gives students a wide range of performance opportunities from professionally-oriented mainstage productions, to experimental and new-play production workshops, to feature-length film, broadcasting, and virtual and site-specific performances.

    The distinguished faculty and alumni of SJSU Theatre Arts play significant roles in the cultural life of the Bay Area, as well as the broader entertainment industry, as performers, designers, directors, writers, and administrators. In this way, SJSU Theatre's network connects our students directly to the professional world and to a wide range of career opportunities.

• Theatre Arts Major: Acting and Directing Emphasis

  • The Theatre Arts Major with a focus on acting and directing provides students with the craft and techniques necessary to build a general foundation for the actor/director in training. Our curriculum is designed to introduce performance students to an acting lexicon, basic acting techniques, and a comprehensive method of script analysis. Production opportunities at our Hal Todd black box theatre and at the Hammer Theatre (with both its mainstage and black box theatres), enable a practical application for these techniques. This "acting language" and method of working become the actor’s tool-box for performance problem solving and establishes the foundation of acting and directing for stage, film, television, and radio.

     Our film acting and directing classes provide hands-on camera acting experiences, teaching our students intermediate and advanced film performance grammar and techniques.

    Throughout the year, we provide a wide spectrum of showcase opportunities and incorporate industry representatives to share up-to-date resources, career options, and graduate school opportunities. A performance background can serve graduates not only as actors and directors, but as producers, casting directors, agents, publicists, and many other industry professions.

    Our major is committed to a cohesive and extensive approach to performance education. Upon graduation, students will have developed a literacy from these many performance arenas and possess the comprehensive tools needed to work effectively and creatively in their industry.

    See our Program Pathways for a list of courses in support of the Acting and Directing emphasis.

• Theatre Arts Major: Production Design and Technology Emphasis

  • The B.A. in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Production Design and Technology allows students to study broadly in all areas of design and production or specialize in design of scenery, costumes, fighting, and sound. Technology specialization includes technical direction, costume technology, scenic art, props technology (artisanship), and stage management.

    The emphasis in Production Design and Technology focuses on training young designers and craftspeople for the entertainment industry. Our goal is to graduate critically engaged and technologically sophisticated students in the fields of scenery, costumes, lighting, sound and stage management. The pathway begins with a core group of classes that emphasize the fundamentals of all design disciplines, and provides a foundation for a career, not only in theatre, but in related fields such as film, television, amusement park design, and concert tours.

     Theatre productions are supported with large well-equipped shop spaces. The scenery shop includes a steel working area, large assembly space, and dedicated paint shop with movable paint frame. The costume shop has lots of natural light, industrial & domestic sewing machines & sergers, cutting tables, a laundry room, and extensive costume research library and four vast costume store rooms.

    We have state of the art fighting and sound equipment including LED fixtures, moving lights and a Constellation sound system. Students also have the ability to learn AutoCAD for Performing Arts on new high-performance laptops, and create models and craft projects in a brand-new shared maker space with a laser cutter, 3-D printer, drawing and drafting tables, spray booth and work sinks.

    See our Program Pathways for a list of courses in support of the Design and Technical Theatre Emphasis.

• Theatre Arts Minor

  • Theatre Arts, Minor Graduation Requirements

    To be awarded a minor, at least 12 units of coursework must be completely distinct and separate from the coursework in the major, and coursework for the minor must include a minimum of six (6) upper-division units (University Policy S16-4). Minor preparation or support courses do not count toward the 12 distinct units. Of the coursework for the minor, at least 6 units must be completed in residence at SJSU. The minimum aggregate GPA for all coursework required for the minor must be at least 2.0.

• Musical Theatre Minor

  • Theatre Arts, Musical Theatre Minor Graduation Requirements

    The Musical Theatre minor is designed to give students an understanding of the function of the various elements of musical theatre production. Demanding, rigorous training is offered, with a focus on performance.

     Students will learn the fundamentals of voice, music and dance techniques, as well as the history of the musical. From training to class projects and production opportunities—students acquire the technical skills necessary to pursue a career in musical theatre. Each year the department, in collaboration with the School of Music and Dance, produces a large scale musical at the Hammer Theatre Center.