Santa Clara University Theatre and Dance

Santa Clara University’s Theatre & Dance Department—among the oldest in continuous operation in the country—offers a rich undergraduate liberal arts education grounded in the Jesuit tradition. Students earn a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts with a focus in either theatre or dance, and can also pursue minors in theatre, dance, theatre design & technology, or musical theatre (the latter in collaboration with the Music Department). The program emphasizes academic rigor, creative expression, and artistic discipline, with majors fulfilling core requirements and working closely with faculty mentors who support personalized educational journeys.

Theatre majors can specialize through focused study areas including Acting, Design & Technology, Directing, Playwriting, Performance Studies, or Teaching the Performing Arts. Courses span foundational studio classes like Acting Styles, Intro to Design, and Performance Collaboration, and culminate in senior projects tailored to each student’s focus. For example, playwrights and directors present fully produced works, while acting students complete a performance-based senior project.

Each year, the department stages a dynamic season with four faculty-led mainstage productions, two dance concerts, student-directed plays, and additional staged festivals and recitals. These productions offer students hands-on experience across disciplines—acting, choreography, design, direction, and production—and are accessible to the entire university community . SCU students also enjoy free admission to departmental performances, enhancing participation and audience engagement on campus.

Supporting this creative ecosystem is SCU•Presents, the university’s performing arts presenting organization, which brings guest artists, social justice–focused programming, and community outreach events to campus. This collaboration enriches student work with outside artistic perspectives and fosters dialogue that aligns with the department’s mission of performing meaningfully in service to others.

In sum, Santa Clara’s Theatre & Dance program combines rigorous coursework, diverse production opportunities, and mentorship grounded in ethical and creative learning. Operating within a vibrant Jesuit liberal arts environment and Bay Area setting, the department cultivates empathy, critical thinking, and performance excellence—preparing graduates for careers in theatre, education, design, community engagement, or further study.