The Honours Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Art program will provide you with a strong, participatory liberal arts degree in theatre studies. This program makes it possible for you to customize your degree to meet your career goals as a theatre practitioner/artist by choosing to study a concentration in the areas of performance, history/theory, and/or design/tech.
The option to combine your theatre degree with a secondary area of study in the arts and social sciences is also a popular route. The opportunity to earn a certificate in arts management while completing this degree provides you with the added professional training through internships with local arts organizations.
For those students who desire a broad exposure to the theatre, courses in acting, improvisation, contemporary theatre and Canadian theatre practice, directing, and television production are available
This degree prepares you for direct entry into the theatre profession or, perhaps, could lead you towards graduate sudies for further learning and specialization.
First year immediately puts you behind-the-scenes of University Players productions by providing you with hands-on experience in your Nature of Theatre lab. Theatre History courses are studied as well as introductory training in areas of theatre production. You may go on to take courses in all aspects of design.
You may also wish to take advantage of our foreign exchange agreement with Plymouth University and spend an exciting year studying theatre in the United Kingdom.
You can develop your skills in technical theatre through volunteer positions and course work experience, as assistant directors, stage managers, assistant sound and lighting designers, scenic artists, hair and makeup designers, costume assistants and in front-of-house management at University Players. In addition, student-run events can provide you with further opportunities to develop your production and design skills.
Career Opportunities
- Theatre Artist
- Administrator
- Teacher (with additional studies)
- Stage Manager
- Costume, set, or lighting designer
- Theatre for social action practitioner
- Graduate school
Student Testimonial
"The BA Dramatic Art program has given me the freedom of choice to construct an education around my wants and needs that is both practical and theoretical, with amazing one on one support and encouragement from faculty and staff. There are just so many opportunities to meet fascinating people and creatively explore the world of the theatre inside the classroom, on the stage, and backstage, that I never stop learning." - Vanessa Imeson, BA (H) Dramatic Art ’10
Required Courses
BA Honours Drama (four-year) - 40 courses
While every attempt is made to keep this up to date, please keep in mind that the official list of required courses can be found in the Undergraduate Course Calendar.
For the Program Outcomes, please click here
Dramatic Art: 20 Courses
DRAM-2000 Intro to Theatre II
- A (Performance)
- B (Theatre History/Theory)
- C (Technical/Design)
15 additional courses from Dramatic Art, to be identified in consultation with a faculty advisor
Options: 6 Courses
2 Social Science courses
2 Language or Science courses
2 courses from any area of study, excluding Arts
Other Requirements: 14 Courses
GART-1500 Foundations of Academic Writing I*
GART-1510 Foundations of Academic Writing II*
2 English courses (Recommended: ENGL-1220 and ENGL-1230)
4 courses from Arts, Languages, Social Science, or Science, including Dramatic Art
6 courses from any area of study, excluding Dramatic Art
*Must be taken in Fall and Winter of First Year