San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University’s School of Theatre & Dance offers a vibrant and inclusive program combining scholarly study, practical training, and cultural engagement. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), the department provides both undergraduate and graduate degrees—including a B.A. in Theatre Arts and a Master of Arts in Theatre Arts—as well as minors and dance tracks. Programs emphasize training for careers in professional and educational theatre or dance, grounded in both theory and creative practice.

The B.A. in Theatre Arts (45 units) includes foundational coursework in acting, directing, production, history, dramaturgy, and theatrical writing, with 18 elective units that allow students to focus on areas like performance, play development, design/technology, or musical theatre. Auditions aren’t required for program entry, and students often receive credit through curricular productions. Undergraduate production experience is cultivated through studio workshops and major stage productions mounted in the School’s performance venues, where rehearsals and performances serve as immersive learning labs.

SFSU’s theatre program operates in three performance venues: the Little Theatre (a 218-seat proscenium), the Lab Theatre (a 55-seat black box), and the Studio Theatre—a flexible rehearsal and performance space used for both theatre and dance projects. Supportive technical facilities include scene, paint, costume, props, lighting, and sound shops, giving students hands-on access to professional-level production environments.

The department emphasizes collaboration with guest professionals, interdisciplinary programming, and regional arts engagement. Students can pursue internships and partnerships with leading Bay Area institutions like ACT, Berkeley Repertory, Marin Theatre Company, Magic Theatre, and ODC. The School also supports a student-run Players Club and Student Dance Alliance, fostering peer-led events such as Fringe-style play festivals, concerts, and themed club experiences.

Graduates emerge with not only artistic and scholarly expertise but versatile professional skills—including leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and communicative creativity. Alumni hold leadership roles in theatre, film, television, and education across the nation, reflecting the School’s commitment to preparing artists who thrive as cultural storytellers and civic contributors.