Major & Minor
Explore and Discover. Vanderbilt University’s academic theatre program covers a wide range of interests including acting, directing, dramatic literature, playwriting, theatre history and criticism, and theatre design and technology. All combine a healthy respect for the written word, practical experience, intellectual curiosity, and hands-on instruction. Theatre offers courses across the theatrical discipline taught by dedicated faculty with a low student/teacher ratio. We encourage students to explore all aspects of theatre, believing that a broad understanding of the art strengthens skills whatever your chosen area of study.
Major | Minor | Major/Minor Declaration
Theatre Major
A theatre major at Vanderbilt offers students a hands-on education in crafting theatrical performances while also cultivating a critical perspective on their cultural role as theatre artists. Faculty to student ratios and class sizes are small, providing majors with close mentorship from professors, each distinguished in their professional careers.
Majors take courses in four areas:
- Acting and directing for production
- Theatre design and technical production
- Writing for the stage
- Theatre and performance studies
Majors select their individual concentration by taking additional courses in one of these areas, and they participate in at least one VUT production. The major requires students to take 30 total credit hours, which gives students the ability to double major in another department. Majors may decide to pursue an Honor’s track in theatre, typically by taking two honors courses during their senior year designed in collaboration with department faculty.
Additional programming for theatre majors and minors includes:
- Tickets to local Nashville theatre productions
- Career development workshops
- Connections to alumni through reunion events
- Spring break travel to theatre-rich destinations
See list of course requirements.
Theatre Minor
A theatre minor at Vanderbilt offers students an innovative “design your own theatre minor” program that is tailored to students’ interests. Minors take a minimum of 18 credit hours and concentrate in one of the department’s course areas, including:
- Acting and directing for production
- Theatre design and technical production
- Writing for the stage
- Theatre and performance studies
Minors take 12 credit hours from four courses in their selected category and fill the remaining six credit hours from two courses from different categories or by participating in VUT productions through practicum credit hours.
Additional programming for theatre majors and minors includes:
- Tickets to local Nashville theatre productions
- Career development workshops
- Connections to alumni through reunion events
- Spring break travel to theatre-rich destinations
See list of course requirements.
Declaring a Major or Minor
Students officially declare their majors by submitting the relevant paperwork to the the College of Arts and Science Office of Undergraduate Education. You may formally declare a major at any time during your third semester of residence but must do so no later than your fourth semester. (Typically, this deadline is the Friday prior to Spring Break of the sophomore year.)
- Complete the Declaration of Major form.
- Have the form signed by your theatre academic adviser. If you are declaring multiple majors, the form you submit must include the signatures of all your major advisers.
- Email the completed form to the Office of Undergraduate Education.