Ohio Wesleyan University

What you'll study

The programme balances practical studio work with scholarly study. Core topics include acting technique, voice and movement, scene study, and ensemble performance; technical theatre skills such as stagecraft, scenic and lighting design, costume, and stage management; and academic courses in playwriting, dramaturgy, theatre history and criticism.

• Performance and practicum: acting classes, scene study, voice and movement, and regular participation in departmental productions and mainstage shows.
• Design and technical theatre: scenic design, lighting, sound, costume construction, props and technical direction, with hands‑on lab hours in the scene shop and lighting lab.
• Creative and scholarly study: playwriting, dramaturgy, theatre history, criticism and courses exploring contemporary and classical drama.
• Directing and production: introductory and advanced directing, production management and stage management courses that prepare students to lead projects from concept to performance.
• Capstone experience: senior projects or a capstone production involving research, creative work or a practicum that demonstrates readiness for professional work or graduate study.

Students also complete general education requirements across the liberal arts, and many take complementary coursework in areas such as film studies, music, psychology, English or communications to broaden their artistic, historical and analytical perspective.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a high school diploma or equivalent and present a strong academic record. Admission typically considers transcripts, letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Prospective performance majors are usually asked to audition; those interested in design or technical tracks may submit a portfolio or attend an interview demonstrating their experience and skills.

International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests or equivalent evidence of previous study in English. The department looks for evidence of creativity, commitment to collaborative work and the ability to balance practical production work with academic study.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for a range of careers in the arts and beyond. Common pathways include:

• Professional performance (stage, touring companies and selected film/television opportunities)
• Directing, stage management and production leadership in theatres and festivals
• Technical and design careers in scenic, lighting, sound and costume departments
• Playwriting, dramaturgy and literary management
• Arts administration, producing, marketing and development for cultural organisations
• Education and community theatre, including secondary‑level teaching (often followed by teacher certification) and outreach programmes
• Further graduate study in theatre, performance studies, directing, design, or related disciplines

The programme’s emphasis on collaborative production experience, public performance and internship placements also prepares students for transferable roles in communication, project management and creative industries.

Why study at Ohio Wesleyan University

Ohio Wesleyan offers a liberal‑arts theatre education in a close‑knit college environment where students receive substantial faculty mentorship and frequent practical opportunities. The department stages multiple productions each year, giving students roles both onstage and behind the scenes, and provides access to campus performance spaces and production facilities where students gain real technical experience.

Students benefit from small class sizes, cross‑disciplinary collaboration across the university and connections with regional theatres and arts organisations for internships and professional development. The programme’s integration of rigorous classroom study with hands‑on production work prepares graduates for both immediate entry into the field and continued study at the graduate level.