Program Recognition
•Ivy League Theatre Arts major in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences
•Interdisciplinary program linking theatre history, literature, theory, performance, acting, directing, design, devising, and playwriting
•Fall 2026 curriculum uses 14 courses: 2 core courses, 7 attribute-distributed courses, 1 production course, and 4 electives
•Faculty-directed productions are taught as courses for credit
Training
•Introductory and advanced studio options include acting, directing, playwriting, design, dance, movement, voice, and performance courses
•THAR 3500 Rehearsal and Performance and THAR 3501 Production for Performance anchor production-based credit
•Extracurricular workshops, talks with visiting artists, staged readings, and theatre outings extend training beyond coursework
Professional Development
•Edinburgh Project selects majors on alternating years to develop a performance piece for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
•Optional honors capstone can be a production, thesis, internship, or independently designed performance or research project
•Graduates pursue MFA and doctoral study plus careers in theatre, film, producing, business, medicine, law, and other fields
Degree Flexibility
•Students choose courses across Theatre Arts and other departments with advisor consultation
•Curriculum is built for flexibility across performance disciplines
•The major is declared after enrollment through Penn's field-of-study process and advisor meeting
