Theatre Arts BA
- Major
- BA
- In-Person
- Greeley
- K-12 Drama Teaching
- Theatre Studies
4 Years
Program Overview
Bring stories to life — on stage or in the classroom. You’ll learn from experienced faculty in small, hands-on classes and have the opportunity to be involved in 30+ productions each year.
A Theatre Arts BA with Two Distinct Paths: Choose the concentration that matches your passion: Theatre Education (K-12) and Theatre Studies. Both paths lead to the same destination: you’ll graduate with real-world skills, production experience and a network of connections that set you apart and launches your career.
As a Theatre Studies student, you’ll explore performance, directing, stage management and arts entrepreneurship — building foundational skills for professional theatre careers or graduate programs.
The Theatre Studies Concentration consists of three parts:
Liberal Arts Curriculum: 31 credits
- Written Communication: 6 credits
- Mathematics: 3 credits
- Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS]: 15 credits
- Natural & Physical Sciences: 7 credits
Theatre Major Curriculum: 54 credits
- Required major courses: 38 credits
- Performance: 10 credits
- Electives: 6 credits
University-Wide Credits: 35 credits
Additional courses to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC.
You’ll work closely with your advisor each semester to plan coursework and ensure all requirements are met.
View Full Degree Requirements for Theatre Studies Concentration
The Drama Theatre Arts K-12 Teaching concentration with Licensure provides everything you need to step into your own classroom:
- Hands-on teaching experience
- Production expertise
- All requirements for Colorado teacher licensure
The Licensure Drama Theatre Arts for grades K-12 concentration consists of four parts
-
Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
These courses build a broad foundation in writing, math, science, and the humanities. To stay on track for graduation, choose LAC courses that also meet major requirements. -
Required Major Credits
Theatre Arts courses cover acting, directing, design, theatre history, and stage production. You’ll also complete performance and technical electives to build practical experience. -
Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) Credits
These courses prepare you for licensure in drama and theatre arts (K–12). You’ll study education foundations, teaching methods, and complete supervised student teaching. -
University-Wide Credits
Take additional electives as needed to reach the 120 total credits required for graduation. The number of elective credits will vary depending on your LAC selections.
For educator licensure majors, PTEP coursework counts toward the minimum of nine upper-division credits (300–400 level) at UNC.
Degree Requirements – Licensure: Drama Theatre Arts (Grades K-12)
These plans are recommended schedules to complete your bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. You must consult with your major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Four-Year Plan – Theatre Studies Concentration
Four-Year Plan – Licensure: Drama Theatre Arts (K-12) Concentration
Add creativity and performance skills to your degree with the 24-credit Theatre Arts minor at UNC. Designed for students majoring in other disciplines, this flexible minor lets you explore the areas of theatre that interest you most whether that’s acting, directing, stage management or production. It pairs especially well with majors in education, communication, English, music or business.
For detailed course requirements, visit the academic catalog button below.
Concentrations
Whether you see yourself inspiring the next generation on stage or shaping productions behind the scenes, the Theatre Arts BA gives you two clear paths forward. Both concentrations combine classroom study with hands-on production experience to prepare you for a career in theatre, education or the performing arts.
Our BA in Drama Theatre Arts (K-12) with licensure program is a dynamic blend of performance, pedagogy, and practice that prepares you to teach and lead with creativity and confidence.
Teacher candidates gain hands-on classroom experience while developing as skilled, reflective educators committed to excellence in Theatre Arts. Upon graduation, you’ll be certified to teach in Colorado and ready to make an immediate impact in K–12 schools, helping students discover how theatre enriches learning, builds empathy and empowers self-expression.
Our Theatre Studies program is built for theatre creators. It is a launchpad for playwrights, directors, producers, arts entrepreneurs, and innovators ready to shape the future of theatre.
This flexible program allows you to design your education around your passions, combining performance, production, and management to prepare you for a wide range of careers in the arts. Whether your goal is to lead a company, develop new work, or redefine what theatre can be, you’ll graduate ready to make your mark as a creative force in the industry.
Award-winning Achievements
PVA graduates don't just work in theater — they shape it.
Our alumni are award-winning playwrights crafting bold new work, directors leading regional and national stages, entrepreneurs launching innovative theater companies and multidisciplinary artists redefining what performance can be. They are educators inspiring future theatre professionals and administrators sustaining the institutions that keep the arts alive.
Theatre Arts alumni work as managers keeping productions running smoothly, producers bringing ambitious visions to life, promoters filling seats and administrators sustaining the institutions that keep the arts alive.
From our stages to the national spotlight — our Theatre graduates are making their mark.
UNC Theatre students perform Miranda's Nightmare production, a blend of theatre and dance, with performances in English and Spanish.
Find Your Artistic Voice
UNC is a cultural hub — on campus, across Colorado, and within the global theatre community. This is where you’ll learn and grow as an artist, cultivate your creativity and develop the leadership skills that set you apart.
But what makes PVA truly special is the community. You’ll work alongside passionate performers, dedicated educators, skilled technicians and working professionals who push you to be better every day.
Theatre isn’t just what you do. It’s who you are. Grow into who you are with us.
Why UNC for Theatre Arts?
Productions each year
Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, one-acts, workshops, stage readings, and so much more
Spaces That Inspire Creativity
Our college spans seven buildings filled with places to create, perform, and collaborate. You’ll work in three professional theaters, a state-of-the-art performance hall, cutting-edge recording studios, three art galleries, a dedicated music library, and collaborative spaces designed for artists and performers to thrive.
Hispanic Serving Institution
To advance the success of our Hispanic, Latino and Latinx-identifying students
Rigorous Pre-Professional Training
Our Theatre Arts BA prepares you for what’s next—whether that’s a competitive graduate program, a professional career in theatre or a theatre classroom immediately after graduation.
Theatre Education Concentration
To apply for the Theatre Education concentration, you must complete the following:
- Submit a UNC Application.
- Complete the Audition Form. You can find this in your UNC Application Portal and submit the required materials. These may include references, transcripts, a short essay, resume and a video introduction.
- Attend your interview
Theatre Studies Concentration
To apply for the Theatre Studies concentration, you need to complete the following:
- Submit a UNC Application.
- Complete the Audition Form. You can find this in your UNC Application Portal and submit the required materials. These may include references, transcripts, a short essay, resume and a video introduction.
No interview is required for entrance to the Theatre Studies program. We will make a program decision based on the supplemental documents you have submitted.
To be considered for a Theatre scholarship, you will need to complete a 15-minute interview with Theatre Studies faculty during an in-person or virtual audition/interview day. You can schedule this via the Audition Form in your UNC Application Portal.
If you are currently in your freshman year at UNC and havn’t yet applied for or been admitted to the School of Theatre Arts & Dance, you can complete the “Seeking Application” and audition in the fall or spring semester.
All students interested in majoring in Theatre must apply and audition for the School of Theatre Arts & Dance. Theatre or Dance minors do not require an audition.
To be considered for a Theatre scholarship, you’ll need to complete a 15-minute faculty interview during one of our audition/interview days (available in-person or virtually). Schedule your interview through the Audition Form in your online UNC Application Portal.
Theatre Education
As a Theatre Education student, you’ll take classes in theatre performance, history and technology as well as in theatre pedagogy and general education. You’ll be well prepared to teach drama in grades K-12.
Theatre Studies
As a Theatre Studies student, you’ll study playscript analysis, acting methods, performance in theatre, stage directing, theatre arts management, playwriting and more — building a comprehensive foundation in every aspect of theatre.
Standing Ovations
Alumni
“UNC has one of the best theater programs in the country. I would rather do theater from my first day than wait until my junior year like at other schools where you’d major in education with an emphasis in theater.”
Evette Srouji, ’23
B.A. in Theatre Studies/Theatre Education
Little Theatre of the Rockies, Curious Theatre Company, Colorado Shakespeare Festival Theatre
Set the Stage for Your Future
Little Theatre of the Rockies
The Little Theatre of the Rockies is a professional summer stock theatre owned and operated by UNC’s School of Theatre Arts and Dance. Established in 1934, it’s the oldest professional summer stock theatre West of the Mississippi River and the oldest professional theatre company in the state of Colorado.
Productions
Experience even more world class theatre year-round through our Mainstage season, student-directed one-acts, and more works produced by our student groups. We also inspire school-age communities through the annual High School Theatre Festival and a Theatre for Young Audiences production every spring.
Student Theatre Groups
Join a student-run troupe or ensemble for improv and sketch comedy, poetry workshops and slams, playwriting, and monthly stage and table readings. Develop your leadership skills on an advisory board or theatre honor society.
Arts at UNC
You work with exceptional faculty who are active in the theatre industry and have broad professional networks.
The UNC School of Theatre Arts and Dance is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).
To nurture a community where passion and aptitude are transformed into the professional skills that create the foundation for a meaningful career in the arts and beyond.
Professional Licensure
UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure.
Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Professional Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure. It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help!
- PVA@unco.edu
- (970) 351-2993
- Frasier Hall