Georgetown University

What you'll study

The programme blends practical studio work with academic study. Core topics include acting technique, voice and movement, directing, playwriting, stagecraft and technical theatre, scenic and costume design, lighting and sound, and dramaturgy. Coursework in theatre history, performance theory, and contemporary performance practice provides the historical and critical context for studio training.

Students take a mixture of required core courses and electives, and most enter ongoing production practicums that place them in acting, design, stage management or technical roles for department productions. Upper-level work typically focuses on advanced performance projects, directing or a capstone research or creative project that integrates production experience with scholarly inquiry.

The curriculum emphasises interdisciplinary study: students often combine theatre courses with subjects across the humanities, social sciences or communications. There are also opportunities for internships with Washington, D.C. cultural institutions and for study-abroad experiences that broaden perspectives on performance traditions.

Entry requirements

Admission is through Georgetown's undergraduate application process. Candidates should present a strong secondary-school academic record and submit the general application materials required by the university (transcripts, personal statement, recommendations). For students seeking the performance-focused strand, an audition is normally requested; applicants who do not audition may still be admitted to the academic track and join production work once enrolled.

International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English through accepted language qualifications if their prior education was not in English. As with most selective liberal-arts programmes, a combination of academic achievement, demonstrated engagement in theatre or related activities, and a well-developed personal statement strengthens an application.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a wide range of careers in the performing arts and beyond. Common pathways include professional acting, directing, stage and production management, dramaturgy, playwriting, and design and technical theatre roles (lighting, sound, costume, set). Many alumni work in producing, arts administration, audience development, education and community arts, or in cultural policy and advocacy.

The programme's liberal-arts foundation also prepares students for related fields such as film and television, journalism, public relations, and non-profit leadership, or for postgraduate study in performance, theatre studies, education, law and other disciplines.

Why study at Georgetown University

Studying theatre at Georgetown offers the advantages of a small, practice-oriented department within a major research university. Students benefit from regular, department-produced public performances, hands-on technical training and mentorship from faculty who are active practitioners and scholars. The university's location in Washington, D.C. provides unparalleled access to professional theatres, national cultural institutions, and internship and networking opportunities with leading arts organisations.

Georgetown's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and civic engagement encourages students to connect performance with social and cultural issues. Facilities dedicated to performance and production support a range of theatrical work, from classical repertory to new writing and experimental performance, making it a strong choice for students seeking both practical experience and intellectual depth in theatre studies.