Macaulay Honors College

Macaulay Honors College is an honors program within the City University of New York (CUNY) system and does not grant theatre degrees directly. Instead, students enroll in one of the participating senior CUNY colleges, such as Hunter College, Brooklyn College, or Queens College, where they pursue their academic major—including Theatre or Performing Arts. Macaulay enhances the student experience with additional academic support, funding opportunities, and interdisciplinary coursework, but the theatre training itself is administered by the student’s home campus.

Theatre majors at Macaulay benefit from a dual academic structure. While they complete their core theatre courses—such as acting, directing, design, and theatre history—through their home CUNY campus, they also participate in Macaulay’s honors seminars and programming. These honors seminars often focus on New York City’s cultural, social, and political landscape, providing valuable context and inspiration for students interested in performance and storytelling.

Macaulay students have access to a range of enrichment opportunities that complement their theatre education. These include study abroad, research funding, internships, and cultural access through the Macaulay Opportunities Fund. Students also receive a Cultural Passport, which offers free or discounted admission to many of New York City’s cultural institutions, including theaters. This integration of resources allows theatre majors to build professional networks and gain practical experience beyond the classroom.

While Macaulay’s central building in Manhattan includes a small performance space used for workshops, screenings, and student events, most theatrical productions are produced at the individual CUNY campuses. These schools have dedicated theatre departments and facilities where students participate in mainstage plays, student-led productions, and showcases. This setup allows students to enjoy both the depth of a full theatre major and the breadth of an honors college experience.

Macaulay students majoring in theatre enjoy a distinctive blend of academic rigor, artistic training, and cultural immersion. By combining the conservatory-style training of CUNY’s theatre departments with Macaulay’s mentorship, funding, and NYC-centered programming, students are well prepared to pursue careers in acting, directing, design, or arts leadership. Macaulay enhances the traditional theatre major with resources that are ideal for aspiring artists in one of the world’s leading theatre cities.