Overview

Students are provided focused, pre-professional training within the context of broad, liberal arts study. Through a program of applied studio courses at California State University Chico, workshops and full productions, students learn an immediately useful set of theatre skills to prepare them for entry-level professional theatre employment or advanced study in professional theatre training programs and graduate schools. Study of textual analysis, literature and theatre history helps students place the theatre within its larger cultural context, and to think critically, reason clearly, imagine creatively, and communicate effectively about theatre and the world of which it is a part.

Two BA programs that share a common foundation of history, literature, and aesthetic principles:

BA in Theatre Arts California State University Chico is a well-balanced degree. After completing the common core classes, students select a mix of lower and upper division electives in performance, technical theatre/design, and dramatic literature/history.

BA in Musical Theatre is a prescribed degree. After completing the common core classes, students focus their studies specifically on musical theatre performance in the areas of acting, singing, and dancing.

Theatre and Musical Theatre Dance Minors provide courses and production opportunities for students in other majors who wish to add intellectual and practical understanding of theatre and dance to their college experience.

Career Outlook

Qualified graduating seniors are able to take classes that provide them with extensive faculty coaching in preparation for various national unified auditions/interviews held each year for professional companies and graduate schools. Graduates with a BA in Music have gone on to work across the United States and internationally for major studios, independent studios, touring the country and world with major tours, A&R for the record labels, composing, performing on the national and regional stage, and much more. Graduates with a BA in Theatre work professionally as actors, designers, technicians and stage managers in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, on national tours, in various regional theatres, theme parks/cruise lines, and in film and television. Students from all degree programs have found careers as teachers at universities, colleges, high schools, and elementary schools.