BA in Theatre

About this program

The Department of Theatre & Dance at UC San Diego offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre that emphasizes thoughtful integration of liberal arts foundations with performance-based training. The program serves both students pursuing a broad-based academic approach and those preparing for graduate-level theatre study. Students enroll in lower-division courses in acting, directing, design, playwriting, and theatre history before progressing to advanced studio classes. The program's ethos combines creative experimentation with critical thinking, with students regularly developing and presenting studio projects through lab-based work alongside seminars in dramaturgy, media theory, and performance analysis. Located in the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theatre District, shared with the Tony Award–winning La Jolla Playhouse, the program provides access to professional-scale performance facilities including the Mandell Weiss Theatre, the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, and purpose-built rehearsal and design studios. Faculty include nationally recognized artists and scholars, ensuring mentorship at the cutting edge of performance education. Graduates emerge with both performance portfolios and analytical insight, prepared for careers in performance, design, playwriting, or arts management—or to pursue highly regarded graduate programs in theatre.

Audition & application overview

• Requires a prescreen video
• Requires a dance audition

Virtual