B.A. Theatre
Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Programs
Key Information
Campus location
Fort Lauderdale, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 33,510
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
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Introduction
Make the World Your Stage. Prepare for a Standing Ovation
Grab hold of your dreams and turn them into reality with the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre degree from Nova Southeastern University. Whether you choose to concentrate on acting for stage and screen, musical theatre, or design and technical production, you’ll be ready to excel as a professional theatre artist.
NSU’s B.A. in Theatre covers everything in the ensemble-based program. You’ll learn how to produce theatre while applying professional practices. With a broad knowledge of historical periods and styles, you’ll create theatre that is culturally conscious, innovative, and dynamic. You can explore the entrepreneurial aspects of theatre as a part of the student production company, Stage 2 Productions.
The theatre program offers you opportunities to engage with an entire community of directors, designers, choreographers, artistic directors, and performers as you create productions that attract audiences from across the university and the local community. When you complete the program, you’ll be set to collaborate with professionals as a performer or theatre technicians/designers. You’ll also be ready for a graduate program of your choosing.
Why Should You Major in Theatre at NSU?
- Network professionally in one of the nation’s largest art markets.
- Work with local professionals in productions.
- Develop as a leader in Stage 2 Productions (student production company).
- Perform, design, and stage management experience working with NSU Theatre.
- NSU is home to incredible rehearsal spaces, classrooms, and performance venues including the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center.
- Exclusive internship and scholarship opportunities for NSU Theatre students.
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Curriculum
Theatre offers students the opportunity to cover all areas of a theatre degree, including acting for stage and screen, directing, design, dramaturgy, and technical theatre. As a Theatre major, you’ll learn how to communicate effectively, identify historical periods and styles, and demonstrate skill in technical theatres, such as costuming, lighting, set design, and construction. In the theatre program at NSU, you’ll engage with a diverse community of performers and behind-the-scenes technicians as you create productions that attract audiences from across the university and the local community. Whether you choose a concentration in Acting for Stage and Screen, Musical Theatre, or Design and Technical Production, our on-campus costume and scenery shops, dance studios, music labs, and design studios let you connect your stage work with technical experience.
Core Courses (35 credits)
- Introduction to Arts Administration
- Acting I
- Play Analysis
- Technical Theatre
- Theatre Laboratory I
- Theatre Laboratory II
- Theatre Laboratory III
- Theatre Laboratory IV
- American Musical Theatre
- Costume and Makeup
- Theatre History I
- Theatre History II
- Production and Stage Management
- Directing for the Stage
- Senior Seminar
Acting for Stage and Screen Concentration
Required 9 credits
- Voice and Movement
- Acting II
- Lighting Design or Scene Design
Select 9 credits from the following courses:
- The Theatre Arts
- Comedy and Improvisation
- Performance for Film and Television
- Audition Techniques
- Special Topics in Theatre
Design and Technical Production Concentration
Required 12 credits
- The Theatre Arts
- Lighting Design
- Scene Design
- Sound Design
- Methods and Materials
Select 6 credits from the following courses:
- Introduction to Drawing
- Graphic Design I
- Music Production I
- Special Topics in Theatre
- Internship in Theatre
Musical Theatre Concentration
Required 18 credits
- Dance Lab
- Choose any DANC course
- Voice and Movement
- Singing Technique
- Singing Musicianship
- Acting II
- Singing Artistry
- Advanced Singing
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires at least 24 credits of coursework from the following disciplines: ARTS, DANC, FILM, HIST, HUMN, LITR, MUSC, PHIL, and THEA, as well as an intermediate degree of competency in a foreign language (generally, a minimum of 6 credits or another demonstration of competency).
Experiential Learning/Internships
During your undergraduate studies, you’ll gain real-world experience. Being a part of the NSU Theatre ensemble, you’ll have opportunities to create high-caliber dramatic works, while masterclasses and visiting professionals inspire you to explore new styles of performance and production. You’ll also be able to connect your stage work with experience in our costume and scenery shops, dance studios, music labs, and design studios.
Additionally, NSU students enjoy exclusive internships. Some companies and organizations that students have interned at in the past include Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami’s City Theatre, Thinking Cap Theatre, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and many more.
Career Opportunities
Explore Acting for Stage and Screen, Directing, Design, Dramaturgy, and More
NSU’s Theatre program prepares you for graduate school; jobs in the arts and entertainment industry; and a variety of careers that employ experienced critical thinkers, communicators, and innovative collaborators. Some of the professional positions you can pursue as a graduate include arts administrator, arts council-manager, audience relations specialist, casting director, drama therapist, entertainment agent/manager, event planner, literary manager, motivational speaker, producer, stage and screen actor, stage and screen designer and more.
Average Starting Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for actors in 2019 was $20.43. Other roles that theatre graduates may pursue reported the following annual salaries in 2019:
- Producers and Directors – $74,420
- Art Directors – $94,220
- Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators - $59,810
Shark Destinations
Alumni of NSU’s Theatre program have gone on to graduate study or have worked professionally at the following institutions:
- Broward Center for the Performing Arts
- Broward Stage Door
- Burger King (national commercial)
- Caldwell Theatre
- City Theatre
- Coral Springs Center for the Arts
- Crown Royal (national commercial)
- Florida Stage
- Florida State University M.A./Ph.D.
- Gable Stage
- Lincoln Center
- Mad Cat Theatre Company
- Missoula Children's Theatre
- Mosaic Theatre
- National tour of Memphis
- New York Film Academy
- Northern Illinois University M.F.A. in Scene Design
- NSU M.S. in Interdisciplinary Arts
- Office Depot (national commercial)
- Pittsburgh CLO
- Riverside Theatre
- Royal Caribbean
- Rutgers University M.F.A. in Scene Design
- Shakespeare Miami
- Slow Burn Theatre Company
- Sol Children's Theatre
- Southern Mississippi University M.F.A. in Lighting Design
- Stella Adler Studio, New York City
- The Playground Theatre for Young Audiences
- The Wick
- Theatre of the Stars, Atlanta
- Thinking Cap Theatre
- University of Central Florida M.F.A. in Acting
- University of London
- The University of Louisville M.F.A. in Acting
- University of Missouri-Kansas City M.F.A. in Sound Design
- University School at NSU
- Vanguard
- West Virginia Public Theatre