Slippery Rock University

What you'll study

The programme balances practical training and academic study. You will take core modules in acting technique, voice and movement, improvisation, scene study and audition technique, alongside technical and design modules such as stagecraft, scenic design, lighting design, costume construction, sound and stage management. Academic components typically include theatre history, dramatic literature, play analysis, theatre criticism, directing, and playwriting.

• Acting and performance practice
• Voice, speech and movement
• Stagecraft: scenery, props and workshop practice
• Lighting, sound and technical theatre
• Costume design and construction
• Directing and production management
• Theatre history, criticism and dramaturgy
• Capstone or senior project and participation in mainstage productions

Students engage in multiple production assignments each year, working in performance, design and running crews. The curriculum is typically delivered through a mix of classroom instruction, studio labs, rehearsals and public productions; many students complete internships with regional companies or take elective courses that broaden skills in film, media or arts administration.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised secondary school qualification or equivalent. Typical admissions considerations include academic record, a personal statement and recommendations. For performance, design or technical pathways, Slippery Rock University generally requests an audition or a portfolio showing recent work; some applicants may be invited to campus for an interview or live audition while others submit recorded materials.

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through recognised tests or prior study in English. Specific departmental requirements and any audition/portfolio guidelines are provided by the Department of Theatre; prospective students should consult the university for up-to-date application details and required materials.

Career prospects

Graduates with a bachelor's in Drama from Slippery Rock University move into a range of careers across the performing arts and related fields. Typical roles include:

• Actor, ensemble performer or company member in theatre, film and television
• Director, assistant director or dramaturg
• Stage manager, production manager or technical director
• Scenic, lighting, sound and costume designer or technician
• Arts administrator, producer or community arts organiser
• Secondary school drama teacher (often with additional certification) or further study at the graduate level (MFA, MA)
• Related roles in event production, casting, media and content creation

Hands-on production experience, internships and networking with regional theatres strengthen employability, while the programme’s training also prepares students for postgraduate conservatoire or university programmes.

Why study at Slippery Rock University

Slippery Rock University offers a focused theatre education with regular mainstage and student productions that give undergraduates frequent opportunities to work in front of and behind the curtain. The Department of Theatre emphasises small-class instruction and close mentorship from faculty with professional experience, enabling personalised feedback and practical skill development.

The campus facilities support both performance and technical training, with rehearsal spaces, costume and scene shops, and production labs. Situated within reach of regional theatre centres, the university facilitates internships and collaborations with professional companies, giving students pathways into the wider performing-arts community. Career services and alumni networks further help graduates transition into professional or postgraduate study options.