The mission of the Department of Theater is founded on three principles:
- Theater is a multidisciplinary form in which all of the arts and humanities intersect.
- The study of theater cultivates life skills in collaborative, creative, and critical thinking.
- The theory and practice of theater are inseparable and mutually beneficial.
Our course of study prepares the serious theater student for graduate study and/or a professional career. Our goal is to instill in students a deep and lifelong appreciation for the theater, as theater professionals and audience members. Our outstanding faculty has a depth of experience spanning both the academic and professional theatrical worlds, providing our students with close mentorship and individual attention.
Theater Majors take a minimum of ten courses divided between theater practice (acting, directing, design, dance, stage management, technical production, and playwriting) and theater studies (the history, criticism, and theory of theater and performance). They are also required to fulfill four production requirements that reflect a variety of theatrical activity, demonstrating an active and sustained participation in theatrical production. One production credit must be fulfilled by serving as a stage manager or assistant stage manager for a mainstage production.
Students interested in majoring should familiarize themselves with course and production requirements as well as the department's course offerings and descriptions. To help you with your planning, you may also wish to use our Theater Major Course Planner worksheet. Upon declaring as a theater major, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who will work with you to determine how to best maximize your opportunities at Dartmouth and achieve your artistic and career goals.
Students may also be double majors. In addition to theater, past students have majored in English, Neuroscience, Physics, Environmental Studies, or Linguistics. Although a double major calls for careful organization and planning, your advisor will serve as a helpful resource in this process.
