Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington features a nationally recognized Department of Theatre, Drama & Contemporary Dance within the College of Arts and Sciences. The undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Theatre and Drama balances liberal arts coursework with immersive studio training. The program fosters academic rigor alongside practical theatre-making, encouraging critical inquiry through courses in acting, directing, dramaturgy, design, playwriting, and theatre history.

Students benefit from a robust production schedule each year—ranging from mainstage plays and musicals to student-directed labs and experimental projects—staged in venues like the historic IU Auditorium and other campus theatres. Productions are inclusive: majors and non-majors alike participate in acting, design, stage management, and technical roles, ensuring broad hands-on exposure.

The curriculum emphasizes both breadth and depth. Core courses include scripted and devised performance, script analysis, theatre technology, voice and movement, global dramatic literature, and performance theory. Admission into upper-division coursework requires passing a review or audition typically after earning 50–60 credits, ensuring readiness for advanced training.

For students targeting professional performance, IU offers a prestigious Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Musical Theatre, co-sponsored by the Department and the Jacobs School of Music. This triple-threat program features intensive training in acting, singing, dance, and audition technique—culminating in a senior showcase for casting directors and agents.

At the graduate level, the department provides M.F.A. degrees in Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Dramaturgy, and Design & Technology, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in Theatre History, Theory, and Literature. The M.F.A. in Acting, offered in partnership with Cleveland Play House, includes industry-standard training and pathways to Actors’ Equity membership . IU also regularly hosts the International Thespian Festival, drawing high school theatres nationally, which provides unique outreach and performance engagement on campus.