Theater Arts & Dance Undergraduate Degrees

The Theater Arts major and minor and the Dance minor are related degree programs within the Department of Performance, Play & design. All of these degrees use courses with the THEA subject in their required course lists. It is possible to “share” at least two classes between the Theater Arts major and Dance minor for students who wish to pursue both degrees.

Students work with the Theater Arts academic advisor to create an academic plan or add to an existing plan document. Students are encouraged to consult with the advisor well in advance of declaration.

Transfer students may petition to have equivalent lower-division courses taken at other schools count toward lower-division minor requirements and should consult with the Theater Arts academic advisor as early as possible regarding this opportunity.

Appointments with the Theater Arts academic advisor are scheduled through Navigate Slug Success (for current UCSC undergraduates), or questions may be emailed to the Theater Arts advisor: theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu.

Participation Eligibility / Admission to the Theater Arts & Dance Programs

Any student admitted to UCSC is eligible to participate in our staged productions and/or enroll in our classes! There is no audition or portfolio review to pursue any of our degrees, nor do we require that students be declared in or affiliated with the department to participate in our productions and/or enroll in our classes, though all productions and some classes enroll via a competitive audition or interview process and some classes have prerequisites. Impacted classes may also give priority to students declared in Theater Arts, especially close to their graduation term.

Theater Arts B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts (Theater Arts major) offers a background in the theory and practice of theater arts with the opportunity to focus on drama, dance or design as well as studio courses and hands-on production experience.

The major requires 15 five-unit and 3 two-unit courses (81 units), including 40 upper division units.

Please find detailed information about the philosophy and requirements of the major in the General Catalog:

• Complete intro. and information about the Theater Arts major
• Getting Started in the major: FROSH
• Getting Started in the major: TRANSFER STUDENTS
• Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
• THEA Course Offerings & Enrollment
• THEA major advising

Theater Arts Minor

Students earn a minor in Theater Arts by completing eight courses that provide a background in the theory and practice of the theater arts as well as an opportunity to focus on either drama, theater design/technology, or dance. 

The Theater Arts Minor requires 7 five-unit courses and 1 two-unit courses (36 units), including 25 upper division units.

There are no prerequisites for declaring the minor, though individual courses may have prerequisites for enrollment, and a major must be officially declared before a minor is declared.

• Theater Arts minor requirements & declaration information
• THEA Course Offerings & Enrollment
• THEA minor advising

Dance Minor

Students earn a minor in Dance by completing eight courses that provide a background in both the theory and practice of dance.

The Dance Minor requires 7 five-unit courses and 1 two-unit courses (36 units), including 25 upper division units.

There are no prerequisites for declaring the minor, though a major must be officially declared before a minor is declared. Individual courses may have prerequisites for enrollment, and some upper division courses enroll by instructor permission.

NOTE: Students may pursue a Dance minor in addition to the Theater Arts major and can “share” up to 2 – 3 lower division classes between the two degrees!

• Dance minor requirements & declaration information
• THEA Course Offerings & Enrollment
• Dance minor advising

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