BA in Theatre
California State University-San Marcos — San Marcos, CA
About this program
California State University, San Marcos offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre through the Theatre Arts Department within the School of Arts. The program is designed to provide a broad perspective on the literature, history, creative practices, and the professional field of the performing arts. Built on the belief that intellectual rigor and creative practice nurture and inform each other, the Theatre program affords students many opportunities to take leadership roles in the production of performing arts on campus and in the community. A distinctive feature of CSUSM Theatre is its intentional elevation and amplification of the practices and knowledges of artists of color throughout history. The curriculum includes courses in physical theatre, on-camera acting, playwriting, design, LatinX theatre, African American theatre, and theatre for social change, offering a stimulating blend of cultural diversity, critical analysis, and hands-on experience. The program provides coursework in acting at multiple levels, voice for actors, movement, script analysis, global theatre histories, directing, design, stage management, dramaturgy, and dramatic literature. All students complete a common lower-division preparation core — Introduction to Acting, Voice for Actors and Public Speakers, Movement for Actors, Script Analysis for Theatre and Design, and Global Theatre Histories I and II — before advancing to upper-division coursework. Upper-division core courses include Acting I (TA 301), Theatre Criticism: Text and Performance (TA 302), Design for Live Performance (TA 305), Career Skills in Theatre (TA 403), Production and Performance (TA 489B, repeated for 4 total units), and Independent Practicum (TA 498). Upper-division electives allow students to specialize in acting, directing, playwriting, stage management, on-camera work, design, Latino/Chicano theatre, African American theatre, theatre for social change, Spanish-language performance, and more. All Theatre majors must also satisfy a second-language proficiency requirement (200-level course or demonstrated proficiency in a language other than English), a breadth requirement (3 units of upper-division arts and humanities outside the major), and an Interdisciplinary Social Science (IDSS) requirement from departments such as American Indian Studies, Anthropology, Border Studies, Ethnic Studies, or Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Each course counted toward the major must be completed with a grade of C or better. The department produces multiple productions each academic year in the Arts 101 Black Box Theatre and Arts 111 Performance Hall. Production and Performance (TA 489B) involves direct participation in departmental productions. Students are also encouraged to pursue internships with local award-winning theatre companies through TA 495. The Theatre Club provides additional student-run performance and social opportunities. CSUSM Theatre participates in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). Internships with local theatres are actively supported. Graduates are prepared for careers in acting, design, directing, teaching, stage management, and arts leadership, as well as graduate school in theatre and related fields. The program also provides preparation for entering credential programs in education.
Audition & application overview
- Requires a live or recorded audition
None for admission; in-department production casting auditions occur after enrollment and are open to all students
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