Pace University

What you'll study

The degree combines practical studio work with academic study to develop versatile theatre-makers. Core studio courses typically include acting technique, voice and speech, movement, diction, scene study and audition technique. Production and technical training covers stagecraft, lighting, sound, scenic and costume design, and stage management. Students also take classes in directing, play analysis, dramaturgy and theatre history to build critical and contextual knowledge.

• Performance studio: acting, improvisation, voice for the actor, movement for the actor, scene study
• Production and design: scenic, lighting and sound design, costume, props, stage management
• Academic studies: play analysis, theatre history, dramaturgy, contemporary theatre practice
• Professional practice: audition preparation, career development, internship placements, production practicum
• Electives and cross-disciplinary options: musical theatre, film/television workshops, creative writing, or courses in business and media

Students participate in mounting season productions, workshops and collaborations with other departments, gaining credits through performance and technical assignments. The curriculum is typically balanced with general education requirements to ensure broad intellectual development.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a high school diploma or equivalent and a record of academic achievement. As this is a performance‑oriented programme, an audition or submission of a performance portfolio is usually required; applicants should prepare monologues, songs (if applicable), and or documentation of technical/design work according to the school’s audition guidelines. Additional application materials commonly include a personal statement, letters of recommendation and a high school transcript. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests or prior study in English when required.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of fields across the performing arts and related industries. Common career paths include work as actors in theatre, film and television; directors; designers (scenic, lighting, costume, sound); stage managers; dramaturgs; producers and theatre administrators. Many alumni also pursue related roles in casting, arts education, community arts organisations, production management, and arts marketing or development. The programme also prepares students for graduate study in performance, directing, design or theatre studies.

Why study at Pace University

Pace University is located in New York City, providing direct access to a dense professional theatre ecology, audition opportunities, internships and guest artists. The programme blends conservatory-style studio training with liberal arts coursework, allowing students to develop practical skills alongside academic perspectives. Faculty typically include working practitioners and scholars who bring professional experience and industry connections to teaching. Students benefit from multiple on‑campus performance spaces, production opportunities, and university career services that help bridge training with professional pathways in the performing arts.