California State University

What you'll study

The programme balances studio practice, production work and classroom study across approximately four years. Lower-division work typically establishes core skills in acting, voice and movement, fundamentals of stagecraft and introductions to theatre history and script analysis. Upper-division study deepens specialisms through advanced acting techniques, scene study, directing, dramaturgy, playwriting and collaborative ensemble work.

• Acting and performance: scene study, improvisation, character work, on-camera technique where offered.
• Design and technical theatre: set, lighting, costume and sound design; stagecraft, props, rigging and theatre technology.
• Production practice: stage management, production practicum, crew assignments on department productions and capstone projects.
• Theory and history: theatre history, dramatic literature, criticism, and studies in contemporary performance.
• Directing and writing: introductory and advanced directing, play development, script analysis and playwriting.
• Professional preparation: audition techniques, portfolio development, internships and community partnerships.

All students also complete the university's general education requirements (CSU GE Breadth or equivalent), which provide a broad liberal-arts foundation alongside the major. Many campuses offer options to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a more practice-focused Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA); BFA tracks commonly require auditions and a heavier production/studio component.

Entry requirements

Admission to California State University undergraduate programmes requires a high school diploma or equivalent and meeting CSU systemwide eligibility criteria, including completion of college-preparatory coursework and minimum GPA benchmarks. Specific studio or BFA tracks usually require an additional audition, portfolio or interview as part of the selection process.

• General entry: completion of required college-preparatory courses, university application, transcripts and meeting the campus' minimum GPA.
• Auditions/portfolios: for performance, design or BFA options, applicants typically submit a live or recorded audition, or a portfolio of design/technical work and may be asked to attend an interview.
• Transfer students: many students transfer from community colleges; articulation agreements and lower-division prerequisites (such as fundamentals of theatre, acting or technical courses) help ease transfer into the major.
• Other materials: some campuses request letters of recommendation or a statement of purpose explaining theatrical experience and goals.

Career prospects

Graduates with a bachelor’s in Drama/Theatre from a California State University enter a range of careers across performance, production and arts administration. Many alumni work in professional theatre companies, regional and community theatres, touring ensembles, and in film and television production.

• Performing: stage actor, voice-over artist, on-camera actor, ensemble member.
• Creative and technical roles: director, dramaturg, stage manager, set/costume/lighting/sound designer, technical director, props master.
• Production and management: production manager, company manager, talent agent assistant, casting assistant.
• Education and outreach: teaching in community programmes, arts education roles (note that K–12 credentialing requires additional certification), community arts organiser.
• Related fields: film/TV production, event production, arts administration, marketing for cultural organisations, graduate study in theatre, MFA programmes and interdisciplinary arts.

Practical production experience, internships and portfolio work completed during the degree are key to transitioning into professional roles or postgraduate study.

Why study at California State University

California State University campuses combine public-university access with conservatory-style studio training and numerous production opportunities. Students benefit from regular departmental productions, hands-on technical facilities, and faculty who are practitioners and scholars in theatre and performance. The CSU system's close ties to regional theatre scenes and cultural institutions provide pathways to internships and local professional networks.

Additionally, the breadth of academic offerings across the university allows theatre students to combine the major with complementary studies—such as film and media, business, education or digital arts—so graduates leave with both artistic skills and broad career flexibility.