Theatre BA
Theatre BA
About this Program
The Theatre BA combines comprehensive theatre training with a broad liberal arts education, preparing you for careers in performance, production and beyond. Gain hands-on experience through productions and collaborative projects while building the creative and critical thinking skills for professional theatre or graduate study.
As a Theatre BA student, you’ll explore the full spectrum of theatre-making while developing your own artistic interests. Your coursework spans acting, directing, design, production and theatre history, giving you a well-rounded understanding of the creative and technical processes behind live performance. This flexible degree also allows you to complement your theatre studies with electives, a minor or a second major.
Your learning extends beyond the classroom through extensive production opportunities. Work on mainstage productions in roles ranging from acting and stage management to dramaturgy, assistant directing and design, then expand your experience through student-led performances, directing showcases, artist residencies and collaborative creative projects. By graduation, you’ll have the knowledge, practical experience and confidence to contribute to the professional theatre community or continue your education in graduate school.
Quick Facts
Program Type
Major
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
School
Cornish College of the Arts
Campus
South Lake Union
Learning Format
In-Person
Duration
4 years
Start Date
August, January
Credits
120 semester credits
Find YOUR Creative Path
Our Theatre programs are designed with flexibility in mind. Students can explore different academic and creative paths early in their studies and, if their interests evolve, easily transition between the BFA and the BA without losingprogress toward their degree. BA students benefit from the freedom to study across disciplines by pursuing a double major or minors, while students pursuing a BFA receive specialized training. This structure helps you find the program that best supports your artistic and professional goals as they evolve through your course of study.
At a Glance
Choosing a college is about finding the program that best supports your goals. At Cornish, we look for students who are passionate about their area of study and eager to grow.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze text based on dramaturgy, cultural context and style.
- Collaborate effectively in the creation of theatre arts.
- Apply discipline-specific skills and tools to the creation of performance.
- Connect your artistic practice to the issues of the day through a racially aware, intersectional lens.
- Marshal resources to lead to a final creative endeavor.
Connect Your Passion to New Possibilities
Explore purposeful academic combinations while pursuing a rigorous arts education to enhance your career preparation. At Seattle University, you can combine a Theatre BA with a wide variety of other majors or add any minor while staying on track to graduate in four years.
While this is not an exhaustive list, explore some of the many ways Theatre can be paired with other disciplines to enhance your academic journey and strengthen your professional preparation:
- Theatre BA + English or Creative Writing BA
- Theatre BA + Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies BA
- Theatre BA + Environment and Sustainability BA (Education & Communication specialization)
- Theatre BA + Film & Media BA
- Theatre BA + Music BA
- Theatre BA + Public Affairs
- Theatre BA + Electrical Engineering Minor
- Theatre BA + Medieval Studies Minor
- Theatre BA + LGBTQ Minor
- Theatre BA + Nonprofit and Public Administration Minor
- Theatre BA + Social Welfare Minor
- Theatre BA + 3+3 Accelerated Law Pathway
Explore Facilities
Create with confidence in professional spaces that encourage experimentation, collaboration and artistic exploration.
Raisbeck Auditorium
Take the stage in a historic Seattle landmark where generations of artists have created memorable theater, dance and live performances.
Cornish Playhouse
Perform in Cornish’s highest-profile venue, a 434-seat Seattle landmark built for the 1962 World’s Fair and now home to public performing arts events.
Learn About the PlayhouseJon and Mary Shirley Fabrication Studio
Build practical production skills in the Jon and Mary Shirley Fabrication Studio, where you’ll gain hands-on experience with scenic construction, props and production materials.
Visit Cornish College of the Arts
For more than a century, Cornish College of the Arts has inspired artists, performers and designers to push creative boundaries and shape the future of their fields. Today, at Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University, you can experience that legacy firsthand while exploring the studios, performance spaces and collaborative community where creativity comes to life. Schedule a campus visit, take a virtual tour or connect with our admissions team to discover how you can make this historic creative community your own.
Theatre Faculty + Staff
Dedicated to mentoring the next generation of creatives, Cornish faculty combine extensive professional expertise with a passion for teaching students how to develop the skills, confidence and vision to succeed in the arts.
