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The cast of This Girl Laughs, This Girls Cries, This Girl Does Nothing theatre production.

Theatre Degree

Bachelor of Arts, Minor

Program Type:

Major, Minor

Career Path:

Performing Arts, Humanities

Program Site:

Department of Theatre

College or School:

Undergraduate College

Why study Theatre?

Theatre majors learn how to communicate in multiple forms and settings no matter their specialty. They are exposed not only to acting but to acoustics, aesthetics and art, among others.

The Theatre program offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a minor.


What classes would I take?

Our model and curriculum educate the whole person and often help students discover interests they had never previously discovered. Students generally take 100-200 level courses during their first year of college, while registering for higher level courses as upperclassmen.

Sample courses that you may take as a Theatre student include:

  • Introduction to Western Theatre
  • Stage Makeup
  • Stage Combat
  • Costume Construction
  • Scene Design
  • History of Western Theatre
  • Directing
  • Acting Shakespeare
  • Contemporary Drama
  • Multicultural American Drama

* Courses listed above are offered during the current academic year. Course availability and offerings can change at any time. Refer to the Academic Bulletin to view all major requirements.


What kind of experience will I gain?

With the broad liberal arts education all students receive at Wake Forest, graduates emerge as strong critical thinkers, prepared to face life’s many challenges.

Through discipline, performers, directors, designers, and stage managers learn clear self-expression and therefore grow in their ability to communicate well with others orally, visually, and in writing. They also learn about themselves and develop self confidence, organizational and analytical skills, and creative approaches to problem solving.

Wake Forest theatre majors have become actors, directors, stage managers, designers, theatre artistic directors, professors, cabaret singers, playwrights, and members of comedy troupes. Others have made careers outside of the arts and enjoy participating in community theatre. Many graduates also serve on boards for civic arts organizations.

Students in this program will develop the following skills:

  • Creativity
  • Expressive ability
  • Keen observation of human traits and characteristics
  • Conceptual ability
  • Exposure to drama of various historical time periods
  • Quick thinking
  • Ability to relate to abstract ideas
  • Oral communication skills
  • Creative problem solving and interpretation
  • Memorization skills

Are there extracurricular activities?

Joining a club or organization is a great way to get involved and do more with your major. Our Theatre students participate in the following programs:


What kind of job can I get?

Careers that often interest Theatre majors, and fields our graduates work in, include:

Theatre graduates include a story writer and editor on the CBS series Bob Hearts Abishola; actors; architects; teachers; doctors; and aerospace engineers.

Art History

The study of Art History and studio art provides a historical, cultural, and social context for the comprehension, evaluation, and creation of visual art.

Art History

Music

The Music program provides students with a solid grounding in music theory and history, with additional coursework in performance and ensembles.

Music

Studio Art

In its Studio Art major, Wake Forest believes that when a student creates a painting or a photograph or a print or a sculpture, the art shapes, traces and molds the creator-student.

Studio Art
Students working in an engineering class
Students participating in Holi
Hearn Plaza with Reynolda Hall in the distance
The Demon Deacon shows up during New Student Orientation.

Let us know you’re interested in Wake Forest and we’ll do the rest.

Families visiting campus during spring Campus Days.
Wait Chapel in the fall