Theater Major

Learn to fulfill your creative potential and develop a strong foundation from which to launch an artistic career by earning the Bachelor of Arts in Theater in Temple’s School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. This 124-credit-hour undergraduate degree program is meant to impart the cognitive and creative skills necessary to cultivate the next generation of theater actors, designers, directors and teachers. 

Three concentrations offered within the program are

  • Acting,
  • Design and Production, and
  • Directing.

Developed within an interdisciplinary artistic environment in the bustling heart of Philadelphia, the Theater BA program at Temple allows students to also enjoy a vast array of opportunities for learning outside of the classroom.

You can also explore information about the Musical Theater Major and the Technical Production and Management Major.

Theater Studies Sequence

The Theater Studies Sequence, an alternative to choosing one of the more specialized concentrations, is ideal for theater students who are interested in a more well-rounded curriculum. A broad foundation of theater classes gives way to opportunities for more tailored advanced courses, guided by the student’s goals and faculty input.

This program affords maximum flexibility and the chance to pursue a variety of coursework, as well as a minor or double major. Though the focus will always remain on the theater, general Theater majors develop lifelong skills that extend well beyond the stage, such as leadership, creativity and effective communication. Graduates are prepared for careers both within the world of theater and outside of it.

Two female students apply makeup backstage before a show.

Concentrations

You can focus on Theater or you can take one of the following concentrations.

  • Acting

    Prepare to enter a graduate acting program or pursue a career in film, theater and TV. This program provides high-caliber training in the context of a liberal arts education, so you can thrive either in a graduate conservatory program or professionally. This concentration is available to students in their junior year. Specific curriculum is recommended for acting-focused students to build up to their audition which occurs at the end of sophomore year.

    View Concentration Details
  • Design and Production

    Prepare to enter a graduate design or production program or pursue a career in film, theater and TV. This program provides high-caliber training in the context of a liberal arts education, so you can thrive either in a graduate conservatory program or professionally. Read more about the Design and Production concentration in the Bachelor of Arts in Theater program.

    View Concentration Details
  • Directing

    Uncover who you are as a theater artist and discover what it means to be a storyteller in mind, spirit and imagination. Develop the skills of a well-rounded theater artist under the philosophical foundation of the collaborative process, preparing for the next level of training in theater, television and film. Receive high-caliber instruction and prepare to thrive either in a graduate conservatory program or in the real-world of directing. Intensive and varied craft-oriented classes, combined with experiential work in minimalist to full-scale productions, allow students to develop the skills needed for creative communication and artistic leadership.

    View Concentration Details

Classes & Curriculum

The Theater BA program is designed to combine liberal arts classes with intensive theater studies, leading to a comprehensive overview of the world of theater. Over the course of the program, students will work toward either a Theater Studies Sequence or one of three other concentrations. As such, students are encouraged to choose courses which best fit their desired area of focus.

Students who pursue the Design and Production concentration have the option to take a Theater internship as one of their required courses, in addition to the foundation courses.

Learn more about Theater Major courses.

Theater Education 4+1 Program 

The Theater Education 4+1 Program allows students to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Theater with a focus on theater education, a Master of Education, a minor in English and a certificate to teach in secondary schools in Pennsylvania. Students in the 4+1 Program begin taking graduate-level courses in their junior and senior year, which leaves only 19 credit hours of graduate work to be completed after earning the BA in Theater.

Learn more about the Theater Education 4+1 Program.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $19,728.00 per year
Out-of-state: $34,176.00 per year

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