Immerse yourself in the study of performance as a mode of inquiry, creativity, and public engagement.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and Performance Studies in the College of Letters & Science allows students to engage with performance on physical, intellectual, and aesthetic levels, growing not only as performers but also as artists, thinkers, makers, viewers, and participants in the artistic event. The practical focus of the major is creating theater of all kinds using all its art forms. Equally important is the study of theater and dance performance theory, history, culture, and literature.
Students study with faculty known for their scholarly research and creative work. Opportunities include student-directed theater projects and performances, honors projects, internships in local theaters, teaching courses in the department, and invitations to diverse and exciting lectures and performances.
Highlights
- Get involved in a performance arts student group.
- Audition for one of the department’s many productions and workshops.
- Bring together your undergraduate studies with a Capstone Experience.
Curriculum
The theater training and academic courses offered by our department are geared toward the student who is interested in learning about theater and performance from multiple perspectives. Whether new to theater or seasoned with years of training and skill, all students receive an education that engages them fully.
The program curriculum consists of lower division courses in performance practice and performance studies, followed by upper division courses in performance studies, histories of performance, technical theater, and production and design. Students also engage in upper division electives in stage management, playwriting, directing, choreography, sound design, scenic design, costume design, or lighting design, as well as a myriad of performance opportunities.
Learn more at tdps.berkeley.edu/undergrad/theater
Options in TDPS
We offer two sets of majors and minors: one in Theater and Performance Studies and one in Dance and Performance Studies. Both provide students with the opportunity to define a focus area in their upper division elective courses before pursuing capstone experiences. We also offer a summer certificate in Performance and Culture in the U.S., an opportunity to develop or deepen your U.S. cultural literacy and intercultural communication skills as you study acting or public speaking, explore performance modalities, and learn how performance intersects with media and society.
Declaring the Major
Upon acceptance to UC Berkeley, you are admitted to the College of Letters and Science as an undeclared student. You may declare the majorafter completing two required lower division courses:
- One performance practice course (THEATER 10, 14, or 60)
- One performance studies course (THEATER 25AC, 26, or 52AC).
After completing the above courses, contact the Undergraduate Academic Advisor to declare the major. Transfer students should meet with the advisor as early as possible to discuss transfer credit and create an academic program plan.
The flexibility and integration of our curriculum makes TDPS graduates excellent candidates for a variety of professions in the social, corporate, legal, and arts sectors, as well as for admission to graduate programs in the arts and in professional schools. Graduates have used their critical and expressive skills toward successful careers as professional artists in dance, theater, and experimental performance, as well as in law, advertising, human resources, publishing, radio, technology, social work, and in all aspects of for-profit and non-profit administration.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for TDPS students. The College of Letters & Science spotlights career pathways for students in the Arts & Humanities, and offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after completing graduation Examples include:
- Actor
- Costume Construction
- Director
- Filmmaker
- Lighting Designer
- Music & Entertainment Lawyer
- Opera Coordinator
- Playwright
- Producer
- Production Manager
- Public Speaking Coach
- Publicist
- Sound Designer
- Stage Manager
- Technician
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Acting
- Costume Design
- Directing
- Film
- Journalism
- Law
- Lighting Design
- Medical School
- Production Management
- Scenic Design
- Stage Management
- Theater and Performance Studies
Tai, class of 2022
Tai White received his BA in Theater & Performance Studies in 2022, where he earned the Mask and Dagger award and the Travis Bogard award. In 2023 he earned his MA in Classical Acting from LAMDA. Tai has worked with Burnt Orange Theatre, Patch Plays, and Page2Stage, Lyric Hammersmith’s Evolution Labs, TAW Entertainment Ltd., and Marin Shakespeare Co.
During his time at UC Berkeley, Tai learned the foundational skills of a professional actor, including how to balance technique with instinct, how to take direction quickly and effectively, and how to work with heightened text or styles.
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and first-year guides from L&S and Arts & Humanities.
- Visit L&S Advising for help with major exploration and degree requirements.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Review the TDPS Handbook; start on lower division requirements.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or A&H Compass or Gateway course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get involved with a performance arts student group like A.N.T.I. or BareStage Productions.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Find community service opportunities through the Public Service Center.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Attend department events such as the TDPS Speaker Series or New Play Reading Series.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Arts & Humanities website.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Think about a focus for your upper division electives.
- Look into study abroad; check out options for Performing Arts abroad.
- Declare the major after completing two of the required lower division courses in practice and performance studies.
- Enrich your studies with a course thread, certificate, or minor.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Check the TDPS Callboard for production calls and auditions.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS website; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Explore the Arts Research Center.
- Teach theater in local schools through the CREATE program.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Begin building your network and exploring career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE; look into the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Begin taking upper division requirements in performance studies, histories of performance, technical theater, and production and design, as well as electives.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Consider applying to the TDPS Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a TDPS peer advisor or member of the A&H Dean’s Leadership Team.
- Check out College Corps and the Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Center for Interdisciplinary Critical Inquiry.
- Interested in arts policy or administration? Intern in public service/non-profit centers with UCDC.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Interested in public service? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Peace Corps, Teach for America, and U.S. Department of State.
- Look into post-graduate programs such as the Berkeley Rep Next Generation Fellowship or the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Bring together your studies with a Capstone Experience.
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Receive thesis guidance in the Townsend Center Honors Thesis Workshop.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Start connecting with alumni groups and events.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course such as THEATER 10 or 118AC.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—look into programs like Digital Humanities or Film and Media Industries.
- Learn about applying to graduate school with the PhD Admissions Bootcamp.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal and transfer guides from L&S and Arts & Humanities.
- Review the TDPS Handbook and meet with your major and college advisor.
- Work on lower division requirements; think about a focus for your upper division electives.
- Enroll in an upper division Performance Studies course so that you can qualify for a senior Honors Project.
- Declare the major after completing two of the required lower division courses in practice and performance studies.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Check the TDPS Callboard for production calls and auditions.
- Get involved with a performance arts student group like A.N.T.I. or BareStage Productions.
- Find support at the Transfer Student Center or Re-entry Student Program.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Begin exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Arts & Humanities website.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in upper division requirements in performance studies, histories of performance, technical theater, and production and design, as well as electives.
- Meet with a design lecturer to discuss senior capstone options as an assistant designer or designer of a TDPS production.
- Look into study abroad; check out options for Performing Arts abroad.
- Consider applying to the TDPS Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend department events such as the TDPS Speaker Series or New Play Reading Series.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS website; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Center for Interdisciplinary Critical Inquiry.
- Explore the Arts Research Center.
- Teach theater in local schools through the CREATE program.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Begin building your network and exploring career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to develop skills and explore fields.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Continue upper division requirements and electives.
- Bring together your undergraduate studies with a Capstone Experience, such as leading a TDPS Workshop Production as a director, playwright or performer.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Receive thesis guidance in the Townsend Center Honors Thesis Workshop.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a TDPS Peer Advisor, Transfer Peer Advocate, or member of the A&H Dean’s Leadership Team.
- Check out College Corps and the Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Interested in arts policy or administration? Intern in public service/non-profit centers with UCDC.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Interested in public service? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Peace Corps, Teach for America, and U.S. Department of State.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs, such as the Berkeley Rep Next Generation Fellowship or the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Bring together your studies with a Capstone Experience.
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Start connecting with alumni groups and events.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Get ready for Berkeley with RHETOR 100 Writing at the University.
- Thinking about a PhD? Apply to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship the summer before your first semester.
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course such as THEATER 118AC.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—look into programs like Digital Humanities or Film and Media Industries.
- Learn about applying to graduate school in the PhD Admissions Bootcamp.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Theater and Performance Studies or choosing a major?
The Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies offers undergraduate advising to students interested in TDPS majors, minors, and certificate programs. Current or prospective students may contact the Undergraduate Academic Advisor about course requirements, declaring a major or minor, capstone experiences, or any questions related to TDPS undergraduate programs. Students can also speak to Peer Advisors, majors who are familiar with the department, actively use student advising, take advantage of the opportunities and courses offered here, and are willing to talk about their TDPS experience. For more information, visit tdps.berkeley.edu/undergrad/advising.
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
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