Theater Major
At Wesleyan, theater majors learn to become inventive, collaborative theater makers — not just performers in a single discipline. Rooted in the liberal arts, the major combines acting, directing, design, playwriting, performance studies, technical theater, and critical inquiry with hands-on production experience.
Theater Major at a Glance
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Duration
Full Time
Number of Credits
32
Format
On Campus
Encouraging artistic innovation, we embrace a broad definition of theater. Productions range from classical texts to devised and site-specific performances staged across campus. There’s no one set pathway to enter into a theater major and no audition is required. What we look for are students with a strong passion for expressing themselves or communicating about meaningful human issues through the artistic process.
Working closely with faculty who are active artists and scholars, students develop their own creative voice by pursuing interdisciplinary, exploratory work. Through collaboration, embodied learning, and artistic risk-taking, theater majors learn to think holistically about performance and to engage deeply with the world through storytelling.
Why Major in Theater?
Guided by faculty mentors, you will graduate not only as a performer or designer, but as an independent theater maker with a distinct creative voice. Graduates acquire many valuable and transferable career skills such as public speaking and presentation, teamwork, creative problem-solving, adaptability, emotional intelligence, time and project management, and attention to detail. They also leave Wesleyan with strong technical skills — lighting design, stage design. Because they are so well trained, many land jobs in theater right away.
Capstones and Honors
In the senior year, theater majors complete either a senior capstone (one semester) or Honors project (two semesters) that can be critical or creative. Working closely with faculty advisors and collaborators, students design an ambitious written thesis or creative project that reflects their coursework, research and interests.
Awards and Prizes
The department recognizes significant contributions to theater at Wesleyan and to the community and supports student theater productions through prizes such the Rachel Henderson Theater Prize, the Outreach and Community Service Prize, and the J.Peter Adler ‘90 Memorial Fund.
