Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts & Acting
The Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts & Acting at Dubois College is a liberatory,
performance-centered program dedicated to the study, practice, and production of theatrical art
through a culturally conscious and Black-centered lens. This program blends rigorous actor training,
dramatic literature analysis, and production design with a deep engagement in African American
performance traditions and global Black storytelling.
Students will explore the full spectrum of theater-from classical and contemporary acting techniques
to community-based performance and devised theater. The curriculum emphasizes social justice,
ensemble work, cultural expression, and the transformative power of live performance. With a focus
on both artistry and activism, students gain experience in acting, directing, stagecraft, scriptwriting,
and critical performance theory.
Graduates are prepared to enter professional theater, film, arts education, or graduate training in
acting, directing, or dramaturgy.
Program Highlights
– Training in Black theatrical traditions, performance, and political theater
– Courses in acting, directing, playwriting, African diasporic theater, and stagecraft
– Digital and in-person performance techniques, including monologue and scene work
– Opportunities for capstone performance, internships, and ensemble productions
– Tuition-free, online-accessible, rooted in cultural legacy and creative liberation
Degree Plan
– Introduction to Theater Arts
– College Writing & Communication
– Acting I: Voice, Movement & Presence
– African American Theater History
– Visual Literacy & Design Thinking
Year 1 - Spring Semester
– Script Analysis & Dramatic Structure
– Public Speaking for Performers
– Acting II: Scene Work & Monologue
– Intro to Theater Production & Stagecraft
– Quantitative Reasoning or College Algebra
Year 2 - Fall Semester
– Directing I: Blocking, Space & Ensemble
– Acting III: Character Development
– Black Performance Aesthetics
– Writing for Stage: Playwriting I
– Elective (e.g., Theater and Social Movements, Spoken Word)
Year 2 - Spring Semester
– Global Theater of the African Diaspora
– Voice for the Actor
– Costume, Lighting, and Scenic Design
– Playwriting II: Adaptation & Experimental Forms
– Elective (e.g., Film Acting, Movement for Theater)
Year 3 - Fall Semester
– Acting IV: Shakespeare & Classical Text
– Theater Education & Community Engagement
– Internship I: Theater Company, Youth Theater, or Production Assistant
– Stage Management & Tech Tools
– Elective (e.g., Cultural Criticism, Hip Hop Theater)
Year 3 - Spring Semester
– Theater for Social Change
– Ensemble Devised Theater Project
– Directing II: Vision, Theme & Collaboration
– Research Methods in Theater
– Elective (e.g., Black Feminist Theater, Performance Art)
Year 4 - Fall Semester
– Capstone Proposal & Rehearsal Techniques
– Professional Practices for Actors
– Internship II or Independent Theater Project
– Seminar: Theater & Liberation
– Elective (e.g., Multimedia Theater, Digital Performance)
Year 4 - Spring Semester
– Capstone Performance Project (Play, Showcase, or Solo Work)
– Audition Techniques & Industry Prep
– Career Development in the Performing Arts
– Seminar on Ethics & Cultural Representation
– Elective (e.g., Musical Theater, Directing for Film)