Augustana University

What you'll study

The programme blends performance, design, technical production and academic study. Core learning areas typically include acting (voice, movement, scene study), directing, stagecraft and technical theatre (lighting, sound, scenic design), costume and makeup, playwriting and dramaturgy, and theatre history and literature. Students progress from foundational skills and ensemble work to advanced electives and a capstone project.

Learning is largely experiential: students participate in mainstage and studio productions, serve in production crews, and undertake practicum or internship placements. Courses you can expect include Acting I–IV, Voice and Movement, Stagecraft and Scene Shop, Costume Design and Construction, Lighting and Sound Design, Directing, Script Analysis, Playwriting, Theatre History, and a Senior Capstone or Production Seminar.

The department emphasises collaborative work across disciplines, giving students opportunities to specialise in performance, design/technology, directing, or theatre studies, while maintaining a broad understanding of theatrical practice. Small class sizes and regular public productions allow students to build portfolios of on-stage and technical credits.

Entry requirements

Admission to the Bachelor’s in Drama follows Augustana University’s undergraduate application process. Typical entry expectations include a completed secondary school diploma or equivalent and submission of high school transcripts. Applicants are usually asked to submit a personal statement and one or more letters of recommendation.

Because theatre training is practical, the department commonly requires an audition or submission of a performance portfolio for prospective majors. Auditions may include prepared monologues, cold readings, or movement/vocal exercises; design or technical applicants may submit a portfolio of past work. Transfer students will submit college transcripts and may be asked to provide evidence of prior theatre experience.

International applicants are expected to meet the university’s English-language requirements, and any additional departmental audition or portfolio instructions will be provided by the theatre faculty. Specific assessment details and audition formats are available from the department’s admissions information.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a wide range of theatre- and arts-related careers. Common pathways include acting and ensemble work for stage, screen or community theatre; directing and stage management; set, lighting and costume design; technical theatre and production management; dramaturgy and play development; and arts administration and producing.

Alumni also pursue careers in related fields that value communication and creative problem-solving, such as education (including teaching and theatre-in-education programmes), community arts programming, nonprofit management, event production, public relations, and media. Many graduates continue to graduate study (MFA, MA) in performance, design, directing, or theatre studies, or complete teacher certification where required for classroom roles.

Why study at Augustana University

Augustana offers a liberal-arts environment with small classes and close faculty mentorship, which benefits intensive practice-based training. Students receive frequent opportunities to perform and work on productions, gaining substantial practical experience alongside academic courses in theatre history and criticism.

Theatre students at Augustana typically benefit from hands-on access to production facilities, collaborative projects with music and dance programmes, and support for internships and community partnerships that extend learning beyond campus. Faculty are active teachers and practitioners who guide students through audition preparation, portfolio development and career planning.

For students who want a balance of rigorous theatre training and a broad liberal-arts education that supports multiple career paths, Augustana’s Bachelor’s in Drama provides a foundation in both the practical craft and the intellectual study of theatre.