Theatre Studies

The Theatre Studies Minor provides students with a robust introduction to theatre through the study of dramatic texts, history, and stagecraft. The courses offered in the minor fulfill many general education requirements, including the Common Core, Writing Intensive and Interdisciplinary requirements. The program provides students an opportunity for intellectual and creative exploration of humanities subjects that round out their undergraduate experience, while reinforcing skills in communication, collaboration, and creativity, competencies that are sought by employers in nearly every profession. Working in the theatre fosters collegiality and a willingness to work collaboratively, qualities that are fundamental to the successful completion of higher education degrees and functioning in the professional world.

The Theatre Studies Minor complements the many baccalaureate majors at City Tech, widening the scope of undergraduate studies at City Tech and fostering an appreciation of the arts. Courses in the program provide access to the professional theater world in New York City, including attending plays, going on backstage tours, and visiting museums and archives. There are many career paths that start at the doorsteps of New York City theaters—playwriting, directing, dramaturgy, stage management, design, technical theatre, and interactive media—and these areas are introduced to students in the Theatre Studies minor. The minor also provides a direct onramp to two existing bachelor’s degree programs at City Tech—Entertainment Technology and Emerging Media—and would significantly enhance the learning outcomes in both of these degrees. For students who want to extend their studies beyond the minor, there are many excellent theatre programs at other CUNY colleges at the baccalaureate, masters and Ph.D. levels, which include Brooklyn College, Hunter College, CCNY, Queens, and the Graduate Center.

The core curriculum is multidisciplinary, with courses from the departments of Humanities (Introduction to Theatre; History of the Theatre; Storytelling; Theatre of Law, etc.), English (Introduction to Literature II, Drama), and African American Studies (Black Theatre). Elective courses include Introduction to Entertainment Technology and Studies in Identity and Orientation.

Learning Outcomes

Students will: 

• Identify the unique nature of dramatic form and the human needs from which it springs  

• Communicate a working knowledge of key concepts in drama, performance studies, and theatre history 

• Critically apply performance theories to contemporary and historical examples in order to deepen understanding of the ways in which class, gender, race, politics, economics, and ideology informs theatrical expression and audience response  

• Use knowledge about historical information from distinct cultures and societies to contextualize written and visual primary and secondary evidence  

• Demonstrate the ability to connect scholarly inquiry about theatre and performance studies to technological and professional contexts  

Graduation Requirements

• All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

Advisement Information

If you’re interested in declaring and earning an academic minor in Theatre Studies, please consult the Academic Minors page for more information about minors and to download the appropriate forms. The coordinator for this academic minor is Professor Christopher Swift.

A minor in Theatre Studies is available to students in major programs with 12 or more credits available in General Education Flexible Common Core and College Option Requirements. Students should be advised by their major departments as to how to take minor courses in a way that would help fulfill their contributory credits.

Students must be enrolled in a bachelor-level (4-year) major at City Tech in order to enter the Theatre Minor degree program.