Minneapolis Community & Technical College

Minneapolis College offers a focused and transfer-aligned Theatre Arts program through its School of Design and the Arts. Built around the Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) in Theatre Arts – Transfer Pathway, the curriculum prepares students for seamless transition into the Theatre Arts bachelor’s programs at institutions within the Minnesota State system. The program integrates performance, technical theatre, and academic theory to ensure both creative skill-building and scholarly grounding.

Students in the Theatre Arts program participate in three faculty-directed mainstage productions annually, staged across three distinct performance spaces (proscenium, thrust, and black‑box venues). These productions, developed in collaboration with faculty, community artists, and occasional guest directors, provide students with real roles in acting, design, directing, or stagecraft.

Classroom coursework emphasizes both performance and analysis. Core subjects include Acting, Script Analysis, Theatre History, Directing, and Technical Theatre. Students choose an emphasis—Acting, Directing, or Technical Theatre—and classes are structured to build both practical technique and critical understanding, including global dramatic literature and contemporary theatrical contexts. These courses fulfill clear requirements for transfer into Minnesota State universities.

The program’s intimate size and faculty engagement support personalized mentoring and collaborative learning. Minneapolis College faculty bring professional theatre experience, while smaller class sizes foster close student–teacher relationships. The college’s location in downtown Minneapolis grants students access to a dynamic theatre community—including the Guthrie Theater and major regional venues—enhancing exposure and internship opportunities.

Graduates leave Minneapolis College equipped with an A.F.A. degree, portfolios, production credits, and strong preparation for upper‑division theatre study. Designed for transfer, the program ensures eligibility for junior-level standing at Minnesota State colleges offering Theatre Arts B.A. or B.S. degrees. Alumni typically continue their education at universities such as Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State Mankato, Moorhead State, Southwest Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, or Winona State.