Department of Performing Arts

Major in Theater & Performance Studies (A.B.)
A major in Theater & Performance Studies consists of twelve courses, including a production practicum, that combines critical and creative inquiry. Designed for students interested in theater and performance, social justice, cultural criticism and production, dramaturgy, arts management, American and world cultures, education, and civic engagement, this distinctive major offers special strengths in adaptation and performance, developing and devising new work, interdisciplinary learning about culture, politics and identity through the lens of performance research, community-based performance, play analysis and playwriting, stage direction, cross-cultural ensemble, solo performance, dramaturgy, design and multimedia production, and world theater history.

Academic Requirements for the Major
(34 credit hours; 12 courses including Production Practicum)

• 3 core methods courses in Theater & Performance Studies: Acting I (TPST-120, formerly 020), Play Analysis (TPST-130), and Adaptation & Performance of Literature (TPST- 200)
• 1 of two core courses in Comparative Theater Cultures and History/Theory: Cross Cultural Performance Traditions (TPST-105) or World Theater History (TPST-240)
• 1 course in Technical Theater or Design (TPST-160 through 179)
• 2 intermediate courses (200 level or higher)
• 2 advanced courses (300 or 400 level), which may include a senior honor’s project
• 1 elective course from any level, which may include an approved cognate course and/or the Production Participation Lab (190/191)*
• 1 Majors Colloquium (TPST-410), a single credit course for declared majors
• Production Practicum (TPST 090/091): three 1-credit semesters. Majors will be required to receive a total of 3 credit hours of the TPST -Majors Practicum, typically over three semesters, which may be bundled to create a single 3-credit course.  Note that 1 credit must be runcrew.

*Note: Students participating as cast members or in another major sustained way throughout the theater process (stage manager, designer, assistant director etc) must enroll for the course assigned to that production in either the zero or 1-credit option (TPST 190/191). Students who accumulate four of the 1-credit options can bundle those into a single full course to count toward the TPST major.  Only one set of four (TPST-191) may be bundled.

Minor in Theater & Performance Studies
The Minor in Theater & Performance Studies also reflects a balance between creative and scholarly courses, as well as courses which integrate the two.

Academic Requirements for the Minor
(20 credit hours; 6 theater courses plus production practicum)

• Play Analysis (TPST-130)
• 1 out of the following 3 courses: Cross-Cultural Performance Traditions (TPST-105), Adaptation and Performance of Literature (TPST-200), or World Theater History (TPST-240)
• 2 upper level courses chosen from (TPST-200) or higher
• 2 courses at any level, including (TPST 190/191) if bundled into a single 3-credit course

Note: All TPST Minors will be required to register for at least one semester of the Production Practicum, offered in zero-credit and 1-credit options (TPST 090, 091), before graduating.


Performing Arts Minor
The Department of Performing Arts offers an interdisciplinary minor with a concentration in any of its constituent arts. This may be earned by taking three courses in one field (music, theater or dance), and three courses chosen on an elective basis from any of the other areas in the Department of Performing Arts (music, theater, dance and public speaking).

Academic Requirements for the Minor
(18 credit hours; 6 courses in Performing Arts)

Three courses in any one of three disciplines (Theater, Music, Dance), which may include one course credit based on 4 terms in MUSC-100 Dance Performance

Three courses from any area in the Department other than the above chosen discipline (Music, Theater, Dance, Public Speaking).

Supplemental Material Submissions from Prospective Students
Performance samples are not required as part of a Georgetown admission packet. Students interested in submitting supplemental theater materials for review by the Department of Performing Arts should view additional details here.