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WELCOME TO THEATRE AT SDSU!
Since Sybil Eliza Jones founded a Drama Program within the English Department 1926, the study of dramatic arts and the presentation of live theatre has been a part of campus life at San Diego State University. After becoming an independent Department of Drama in the late 1960s, the current Theatre program has been training future theatre artists for over 80 years.
Our program offers students a wide variety of courses taught by a highly qualified faculty. The mission of the program is twofold. First, we wish to provide quality education on the undergraduate and graduate levels for students who desire to pursue a career in theatre, whether that career be in acting, directing, design, technical theatre, or teaching. Our second, and equally important mission, is a strong commitment to the philosophy of the University as a liberal arts institution. We provide SDSU students an opportunity to enrich their present and future lives by learning to understand and enjoy the art of theatre.
The faculty believes that theatre is an immensely rewarding major, even for those who do not plan a career in the field. The study of theatre enriches the lives of men and women because it helps them to know themselves and to interact effectively with one another. Through the art of theatre, we experience the work of some of the greatest writers, thinkers, and artists our civilization has ever known. In addition, our training programs are specifically geared toward assisting students in their efforts to seek professional works in various fields of theatre arts, to seek teaching positions in various levels of educational theatre, to contribute to the cultural life of the community by participating in civic and community theatre work, and to further their awareness of drama as a significant art form in order to become informed and discriminating members of the theatre-going public.
The bachelor’s degree in theatre arts prepares students for excellence in performance and design. To achieve that goal, we offer a rich variety of courses and six-play production season open to the San Diego community with many creative design and performance opportunities for the student. In addition, professional growth opportunities are provided through associations with a number of regional professional theatre companies as well as campus visits by professional theatre managers, directors, designers, playwrights, and performers. The program is structured in a manner which involves students in all aspects of theatre. Students have the option of pursuing either a general emphasis in theatre arts or specializing in a single emphasis area.
Our graduate programs provide opportunities for students to pursue advanced study in theatre arts. Our pre-professional M.F.A. degree programs in Musical Theatre (one of only three in the country) and Design and Technical Theatre (with emphases in scenery, costumes, lighting, and technology) are designed to combine rigorous academic coursework with practical production experiences and professional internship opportunities. Students are given numerous opportunities showcasing their acting, directing, design, and technical expertise through our campus season of plays and musicals as well as our connections with local theatre companies. Our M.A. program attracts students seeking professional development (educators and artists), personal enrichment, and preparation for further graduate study. All graduate students are encouraged to collaborate with students across the School of TTF both in the classroom and laboratories, and through our production programs. In addition, students wishing to develop their skills as a teacher are given practical classroom experience as Teaching and Graduate Assistants.
Since the merger with the Television and Film Department in 2001, our faculty has been actively and enthusiastically developing avenues for interdisciplinary collaboration between the students in our programs. Recognizing that the traditional boundaries between theatre, television, and film are becoming increasingly blurred, we believe it is our responsibility to prepare students to succeed in all aspects of the entertainment industry. We are committed to establishing a curriculum that embraces our similarities and recognizes our differences. We wish to create an atmosphere where students automatically collaborate with their colleagues from across the School both in the classroom and on practical production projects.
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