The B.F.A. with a major in Theatre prepares students for a broad range of opportunities including performance, teaching, arts administration, and many non-arts based careers such as sales, training and development, and management. 

The Theatre program at VSU offers numerous productions throughout the year, providing students with significant performance experience. Theatre graduates learn a host of life skills including collaboration, working to deadlines, self-discipline, patience, perseverance, analytical skills, and critical thinking.

Valdosta State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre. 

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Recommended Curriculum Map

University Core (Areas A to E) .............................................................................. 42 hours

Core curriculum Area F............................................................................................ 18 hours

DANC 1500 Introduction to Dance (3 hours)
THEA 1000 Voice and Diction (3 hours)
THEA 1100 Theatre Appreciation (3 hours)
THEA 1120 Introduction to Theatrical Design (3 hours)
THEA 2750 Basic Technical Theatre and Stage Lighting (3 hours)
THEA 2800 Fundamentals of Acting (3 hours)

Senior Core Curriculum............................................................................................ 28 hours

THEA 2730 Theatrical and Film Makeup
THEA 2810 Basic Stage Movement
THEA 3700 Play Analysis for Production
THEA 3710 Theatre Performance 
THEA 3720 Theatre Production 
THEA 3740 Theatre Management
THEA 3750 Costume History
THEA 3950 Fundamentals of Play Directing
THEA 4790 Portfolio and Resume Presentation 

Select one of the following:

DANC 1600 Ballet I
DANC 2800 Jazz Dance I 

Select one of the following:

THEA 3760 Lighting Design
THEA 3770 Costume Design
THEA 3780 Scene Design 

Select one of the following:


THEA 3880 Theatre History I
THEA 3890 Theatre History II

Theatre Management Track .............................................................................. 22 hours

THEA 1710   Improvisation (1 hour)
THEA 2840   State Management (2 hours)
ACCT 2099   Accounting Principles for Entrepreneurs (3 hours)
MKTG 3050  Introduction to Marketing (3 hours)
THEA 3730   Theater Management Practicum (1 hour)
THEA 3745   Front of House Management (2 hours)
THEA 4740   Theatre, Labor Relations, and the law (3 hours) 

Select one of the following

ACED 2400 Computer Technology for the Workplace (3 hours)
BUSA 2201   Fundamentals of Computer Applications (3 hours)
CS 1000        Introduction to Microcomputers and Applications (3 hours) 

Select one of the following, (not taken in Sr. Curriculum)

THEA 3880   Theatre History I (3 hours)
THEA 3890   Theatre History II (3 hours) 

Select one of the following:

THEA 3710   Theatre Performance (1 hour)
THEA 3720   Theatre Production (1 hour)
THEA 3725   Stage Management Practicum (1 hour)

Total Hours in Major.................................................................................................... 68 hours

Elective Hours................................................................................................................ 10 hours

Total Hours in Program................................................................................................ 120 hours

GPA  Requirement

Students entering the University directly from high school must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better on all course work undertaken in order to continue as Theatre and Dance majors. If in any given semester a student's overall GPA falls below 2.0, the student will have one semester (fall or spring) to bring it back up to or above 2.0. If the overall GPA remains below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student will be requested to change majors. Any student who fails to respond to that request will automatically be transferred to an undeclared major status.

Students who enter the University as transfer students who wish to continue a major in Theatre or Dance must have a GPA of at least 2.0 on all course work undertaken. Upon acceptance as a major, a student must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA as described above.

Students changing majors from another program within the University must also have at least a 2.0 overall GPA to transfer to the Theatre or Dance major, and they will be subject to the same maintenance requirements already described. 

Skills you will learn

As a major in the Theatre program you will:

  • develop critical thinking, problem-solving, planning and organizational skills
  • learn teamwork.
  • Work with deadlines
  • Develop perseverance, self-discipline, and patience while developing physical stamina and creative abilities
  • strengthen and refine their acting, technical, management, and voice skills before they enter the professional world. 
  • develop a broad understanding of music, literature, history, and other arts to help interpret ideas and feelings in acting.
  • develop an understanding of music, costuming, and staging.
  • develop an understanding of basic business operations                       

Sample careers for Theatre graduate 

Employment opportunities for Theatre graduates include:

  • Actor/Actress
  • Arts Administrator
  • Costume Designer
  • Costume Technician
  • Development/Fundraising Officer
  • Director
  • Lighting Designer
  • Playwright or Script Writer
  • Producer
  • Scenic Designer
  • Stage Manager
  • Teacher
  • Technician
  • Technical Director
  • and many more options, just ask us!