University of Idaho

The Department of Theatre Arts offers several degrees across undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduates can choose from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Science (B.S.) in Theatre Arts, which provides a well-rounded liberal arts foundation or teacher-preparation option, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre Arts. The B.F.A. emphasizes professional training with students specializing in either Performance or Design, Technology, and Management (DTM). All theatre majors must complete a shared core curriculum before pursuing their emphasis track.

Admission into the B.F.A. program is selective, requiring an audition or portfolio review. Candidates continue to be evaluated via jury performances or portfolio feedback each semester, and must maintain a minimum GPA for ongoing participation in productions.

At the graduate level, University of Idaho administers the state’s only Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Theatre Arts, which is available both on-campus and online. Graduate students may concentrate in Performance, Directing, Dramatic Writing, Design / Technology / Management, or Theatre Pedagogy. Progress is monitored through creative projects and juried performance, lasting approximately two to three years depending on full-time or distance status.

The department’s training model is intensely hands-on: students engage in real-world production assignments—acting, designing, managing, and writing—through frequent mainstage, studio, and student-led shows. University facilities include the 417-seat Hartung Theatre, the intimate Forge Theatre (about 100 seats), and the small Pocket Playhouse studio venue, supporting both traditional and experimental work.

Opportunities extend beyond campus through internships, fellowships, and partnerships with institutions such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (via the Rex Rabold Fellowship) and Actors Theatre of Louisville. These enrich Washington’s strong practical and academic approach, blending liberal arts inquiry with professional development in acting, design, writing, directing, and theatre management.