Minor In Theater Arts

"The theater professors are the most amazing people I have ever met," said LaTanza Britts ’15, who went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Essex in England. "They helped cultivate my talent, and they went above and beyond to care for each and every one of their students."

Take center stage

Storytelling has many benefits, from promoting empathy to teaching lessons to providing entertainment. Using live performance to tell stories that reflect and inspire our community, the Theater Arts Program is a creative scholarly company of artists who immerse themselves in collaborative performance practices, the development of new work, and community engagement. Students train with faculty and guest artists and have opportunities to take on leadership roles in various areas.

As a theater minor, you’ll explore all aspects of theater, from acting and dance to dramaturgy, directing, and playwriting, while you also:

  • Study the history of theater
  • Develop your dramatic skills, become adept at stagecraft, and hone the organizational skills needed for stage management
  • Collaborate with your peers on the development of new plays
  • Explore the potential theater has to create social change
  • Participate in productions as a performer, writer, director, designer, stage manager, dramaturg or technician
  • Work with theater professionals
  • Get hands-on experience through an internship

Learn from professors who are dedicated to your success.

Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.

Selected Courses and Programs
  • History of Musical Theater

    An exploration of dramatic literature, theory, and performance as reflective of and responsive to surrounding society and culture. Course will emphasize connections between classical theater and ritual, and the evolution of these connections from ancient Greece through the late 18th century.

  • Introduction to Acting

    An intensive acting course that focuses on the methodologies of 20th century actor training, including: Biomechanics, Michael Chekhov technique, Meisner, Viewpoints, etc. Students will engage with physically-based scenework as well as the demands of post-modern and contemporary dramatic texts.

  • Dramaturgy

    Analytical and experiential study of the practice of dramaturgy. Dramaturgy focuses on the study of dramatic literature with an emphasis on questions of composition, structure, staging, performance, and audience, employing literary analysis, performance analysis, and historiography. Texts include dramatic literature from various times and places, covering categories such as classical drama, contemporary drama, and musical theater. Students will have hands-on experience, engaging in dramaturgical practice in relation to a production staged by the University Theater program, among other projects.

  • Theater for Community Impact

    This course explores, through the integration of theory and practice, theater as a means for inciting social change. Coursework will consist of readings and performance viewings drawn from a variety of theatrical phenomena and traditions, including: Happenings, Street Theater, Theater of the Oppressed. Additionally, students will work directly with specific community populations in order to translate the experience and stories of others into devised community performance.

  • Full List of Courses and Learning Outcomes for Theater Arts

    The University of New Haven offers a wide variety of in-depth courses that create a transformational educational experience for our students. To view the complete list of courses you'll take while pursuing a minor in Theater Arts, check out the Academic Catalog:

    Theater Arts Minor

Nationally Recognized Center for Career Development

All University of New Haven students have access to the many resources available through the University’s Career Development Center, which has been named one of the best in the nation by The Princeton Review.

From career assessments, networking, and job shadowing to on-campus interviews and salary negotiation, the Career Development Center provides the skills and connections to identify a meaningful career and an opportunity to pursue your passion.

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Various Dates

Next Steps
  • Admission Requirements

    Whether you're still in high school or are transferring from another college, we offer full- and part-time opportunities for undergraduates from inside the U.S. and abroad. The admission process can begin as early as the end of your high school junior year.

    The Application Process

  • Financial Aid Opportunities

    We offer a comprehensive financial aid program, with students receiving assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, student loans, and part-time employment. Funds are available from federal and state governments, private sponsors, and from university resources. More than 85 percent of the University's full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.

    Learn More