Studying Theatre Studies at UBC exposes you to a wide array of methodologies for analyzing theatre and performance. Some methodologies involve close textual analysis, examining a play's form, style, and narrative in detail. Others focus on the historical and sociological contexts that influenced specific plays and theatre traditions. Still others adopt a more philosophical lens, exploring theatre's unique qualities as an art form and how it offers a distinct perspective on the world, while also looking beyond theatre to the broader place and function of performance in society. UBC Theatre Studies encourages exploring, applying, and debating these diverse methodologies, fostering new and global connections between them.
Why this program?
- Learn in an interdisciplinary field that studies theatrical performance in relation to its literary, physical, psycho-biological, sociological, and historical contexts.
- Prepare yourself for a wide variety of careers within the theatre or arts fields.
Program information
Send details- Campus: Vancouver
- Faculty: Faculty of Arts
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts
- Length 4 yrs
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Co-op
Yes
You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
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Honours
Yes
You can study intense specialization in a single field.
The Theatre Studies program includes introductory courses in the areas of Theatre Studies, Acting, Theatre Production, and Design. Subsequent years require a strong focus on Theatre Studies, as well as the history, dramaturgy, and methods of theatre practice.
Theatre Studies shares similarities with disciplines like Literary Criticism, Cinema Studies, and Art History, recognizing that there is no single “correct” approach to the art form. It integrates various methods you might not immediately associate with theatre, such as intercultural studies, disability studies, critical race theory, and gender studies, as well explorations of performance across a range of media and in diverse contexts. This provides transferable knowledge and skills that extend beyond Theatre Studies, enabling students to think critically about community and culture and to communicate their ideas effectively.
Campus features
- Frederic Wood Theatre: a fully equipped proscenium arch, 400-seat theatre.
- Dorothy Somerset Theatre: a black box studio theatre with flexible seating.
Life at UBC's Vancouver campus
UBC Theatre and Film is a renowned department that has produced some of Canada’s most innovative artists and scholars for over 50 years. Our five programs are encouraged to mingle through regular social events such as screenings and productions.
Find out moreYour future
Graduates go on to a multitude of career paths, including but not limited to director, playwright, dramaturge, producer, educator, arts administration, front of house manager, curator, and academic roles.
Program graduates
- Set designer
- Playwright
- University professor
- Cultural manager
- Artistic director
- Freelance theatre practitioner
- High school drama teacher
Program requirements
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Arts
- No specific courses required beyond those needed for general admission
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Second Languages
- Social Studies
- Visual and Performing Arts