University of Tulsa

What you'll study

The programme emphasises a mix of studio practice, textual analysis and production experience. Core areas typically include acting (scene study, audition technique, voice and speech, movement), stagecraft (scenic construction, lighting, sound and costume), directing and stage management, playwriting and dramaturgy, and theatre history and criticism.

Students move from introductory coursework to advanced, production-based assignments. Typical modules and course types include:

• Acting and Performance: fundamentals of acting, advanced scene study, improvisation, on-camera technique.
• Voice, Movement and Speech: voice training, dialect work, Alexander technique or similar movement approaches.
• Production Practicum: technical theatre labs, scenic design, lighting design, sound design, costume construction, and crew rotations on main-stage and studio productions.
• Directing and Dramaturgy: principles of directing, script analysis, dramaturgical research and theatre-making processes.
• Theatre History and Literature: survey courses from ancient to contemporary theatre, American theatre, and courses in theory and criticism.
• Creative Practice and Special Topics: playwriting, musical theatre workshops (if available), community-engaged theatre and interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Capstone/Senior Project: students usually complete a culminating project such as a directed production, solo performance, design portfolio or research thesis supported by faculty mentorship.

Practical work is central: students are expected to participate in departmental productions, labs and performance festivals, and many programmes encourage internships with local theatre companies and arts organisations.

Entry requirements

Applicants need a secondary-school diploma or equivalent. Typical entry expectations include a strong academic record in relevant subjects (such as English or performing arts), letters of recommendation, and a personal statement outlining theatrical experience and goals.

Many theatre programmes require an audition or submission of performance materials (e.g. monologues, a short filmed scene, or a design portfolio) as part of the application process. Some applicants may be invited for an interview or a movement/voice assessment. International applicants must meet the university's English language proficiency requirements.

Specific portfolio or audition requirements, and any additional institutional admissions criteria, should be checked with the University of Tulsa's admissions and theatre department prior to applying.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a broad range of professions across the creative industries and beyond. Common career paths include:

• Professional actor (stage, screen and voice)
• Director, assistant director or artistic associate
• Stage manager and production manager
• Scenic, lighting, sound or costume designer and technician
• Playwright, dramaturg or creative producer
• Arts administration, producing and fundraising
• Education and community arts work, including teaching at schools and youth programmes
• Further study at graduate-level conservatories or academic programmes (MFA, MA, PhD)

The programme also develops transferable skills valued by employers: public speaking, collaboration, project management, creative problem-solving and research.

Why study at University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa offers theatre training within a liberal arts context, allowing students to pair practical studio work with broader academic study across humanities and social sciences. Class sizes are typically small, enabling close mentorship from faculty who bring professional theatre experience into the classroom.

Students benefit from multiple performance venues and regular production seasons that provide hands-on technical and performance opportunities. The university's location in Tulsa gives access to a lively regional arts scene and potential internships with local theatres, arts organisations and cultural institutions.

Additionally, students can take advantage of interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, scholarship support administered by the university, and career services that connect graduates with professional networks in theatre and related fields.