San Antonio College

San Antonio College offers an Associate of Arts (AA) degree with a concentration in Drama, designed primarily to prepare students for transfer to four-year universities offering theatre degrees. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in theatre studies and production, enabling students to gain experience across acting, stagecraft, design, and live performance.

Core coursework includes classes like Introduction to Theatre, Acting I & II, Stagecraft I & II, along with required technical theatre practicum semesters. To build hands-on skills, students must complete lab or practicum credits every semester—typically four lab hours over two years—which involve participating in departmental productions in roles ranging from acting to crew and design.

Students benefit from the opportunity to work in SAC’s two main performance venues: the 1,004-seat McAllister Fine Arts Auditorium, great for large-scale productions, and the more intimate 176-seat McCreless Theatre, ideal for small plays or experimental work. Each academic year, the theatre department produces several main stage shows, often attracting local audiences.

The program balances creative learning with practical industry insight. Students engage in designing, building, and running theatre productions while developing collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills. The curriculum encourages exploration of various theatrical genres and roles—performance, design, stage management, or writing—providing a well-rounded introduction to theatre arts.

SAC’s Drama program emphasizes community and student engagement. Students can audition open to all enrolled and in good academic standing. Revenue from ticket sales supports departmental scholarships. With strong mentorship from faculty and active involvement in production seasons, the program is ideal for students aiming to transfer into a university theatre program prepared and experienced.