Theater Major
The Theater major prepares students to become creative, collaborative theater makers through performance, design, directing, playwriting, production, and scholarship. Rooted in the liberal arts, the major encourages students to create original work, explore meaningful questions, and develop their artistic voice through hands-on learning and close faculty mentorship.
Theater Major at a Glance
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Duration
Full Time
Number of Credits
32
Format
On Campus
Why Study Theater?
Theater at Wesleyan is for students who want to create, collaborate, and think critically about performance. Whether you're drawn to acting, directing, design, playwriting, production, or theater history, you'll learn alongside faculty who are active artists and scholars while developing your own creative practice.
Because theater makers work across disciplines, you'll graduate with experience leading projects, solving creative problems, communicating ideas, and collaborating with others—skills that prepare graduates for careers in the performing arts and many other fields.
Opportunities and Experiences
The Student Experience
The Theater major extends beyond the classroom through productions, performance practice, creative collaboration, and independent projects. Students gain experience across all aspects of theater making, from acting and directing to design, playwriting, technical production, and scholarship, while working closely with faculty, guest artists, and fellow students. Whether rehearsing for a mainstage production or developing an original work, you'll build confidence, deepen your creative practice, and discover your own artistic voice.
Study Abroad
The Theater Department encourages students to expand their artistic and cultural perspectives through study abroad. Students may spend a semester at one of Wesleyan's approved international programs or petition to attend programs in countries of their choice. Theater-focused opportunities include programs in London, Buenos Aires, and Chile, where students engage with performance traditions, theater history, and contemporary global practice while immersing themselves in new cultures.
Awards and Prizes
The department recognizes outstanding artistic achievement, community engagement, and student leadership through awards including the Rachel Henderson Theater Prize, the Outreach and Community Service Prize, and the J. Peter Adler '90 Memorial Fund, which supports student-led theater productions. Learn more about Awards and Prizes on the Current Students page.
Capstone and Honors
Every theater major culminates their academic experience with either a one-semester senior capstone or two-semester Honors project . Working closely with faculty mentors and collaborators, students create an ambitious written thesis or project that reflects their coursework, interests, and growth as theater makers.
Life After Wesleyan
A Theater major at Wesleyan prepares you to create, collaborate, communicate, and lead. Through coursework, productions, and independent creative projects, you'll develop skills in storytelling, creative problem-solving, project management, public speaking, collaboration, and critical thinking that are valuable in the performing arts and beyond.
Ready to Declare?
The Theater major welcomes students with a wide range of interests and experiences. There is no audition required. Instead, students begin by completing Gateway Coursesthat introduce the creative, critical, and technical foundations of theater through Theater Arts, Theater Methods, and Technical Theater coursework.
Students should complete or be enrolled in these Gateway Courses by the end of their fourth semester before being approved as Theater majors. From there, you'll work closely with a faculty advisor to plan your coursework, develop your artistic interests, and build a path that reflects your goals as a theater maker.
