Theatre

Your Future In Theatre

Are you passionate about the arts? Want to help create theatrical magic on and off the stage? A Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from the University of North Texas can prepare you for a wide variety of careers in the arts, including:

• Acting (both stage and film)
• Directing
• Drama coach
• Drama education and criticism
• Lighting, costume, makeup, scenery or sound design or technician
• Producing
• Stage crew member
• Stage managing
• Theatrical photographer
• Wardrobe technician

Another career option is teaching theatre at an elementary or secondary school. Combining your degree with studies in journalism or a law degree could lead to a career as a theatre critic or an entertainment lawyer.

What we offer

The Department of Dance and Theatre provides you a comprehensive understanding of theatre. Through our rigorous curriculum, you will:

• Gain practical experience in costuming, stagecraft, stage lighting, stage management and theatrical makeup through laboratory work
• Have opportunities to perform lead roles, direct, design sets and stage manage and work with faculty, guest and student directors and choreographers
• Learn how to perform with your body and voice
• Learn how to prepare plays for performance
• Study actors, plays and playwrights from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe and North America

Our faculty members are outstanding teachers as well as active professionals and renowned researchers. They include a noted Edward Albee scholar who was nationally recognized for his book about the Broadway musical set designs of William and Jean Eckart. Another was a costume designer for the Long Beach Opera, among others, and received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award.

We sponsor two student organizations — the University Players and the Alpha Psi Omega national honor society — that provide performance and networking possibilities. Our facilities include:

• Acting/directing studios
• Rehearsal rooms
• Shops devoted to costume, set and prop design and construction
• Two full-size performance venues (the University Theatre and the Studio Theatre)

Competitive scholarships are available to help you pay for your education. They are awarded based on academic excellence and professionalism. Information about these scholarships is available at www.danceandtheatre.unt.edu.

What to expect

You will be classified as a pre-major upon entering the program and need to meet certain requirements to move into major status. The specific requirements are outlined at www.unt.edu/catalog.

While pursuing your degree, you will complete courses in acting, design and technical theatre, theatre history/dramatic literature, and electives ranging from stage management to playwriting.

Our Career Center, Internships and Cooperative Education office, and professional academic advisors are among the many valuable resources that are available to you at UNT. The Career Center and the Internships and Cooperative Education office can provide advice about future employment opportunities as well as getting hands-on experience in your major. Academic advisors will help you plan your class schedule each semester.

How to enroll at Unt

High school students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Texas Recommended or Distinguished Achievement Program or the equivalent in high school.

In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, apply for admission at www.applytexas.org by March 1 and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT. For details, visit www.unt.edu/credit.

Transfer students

If you’re attending a Texas community college, you should consult our Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to review your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Our Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you with a peer mentor and other campus resources. More than 3,500 students transfer to UNT each year. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at transition.unt.edu.