Theatre Arts (B.F.A.)
Why Theatre Arts at NIU?
The School of Theatre and Dance offers two undergraduate degrees in theatre arts:
- Bachelor of Fine Arts with emphases in acting, design and technology and dance performance.
- Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies includes study in all theatre as well as liberal arts areas, including foreign language.
Viewed within the context of a vital liberal arts education, the primary goal of our program is to prepare actors, designers, technicians and dancers for professional careers in their chosen field. We recruit students who are willing to take chances, demonstrate initiative and be responsible for their own depth of immersion in our training. We are interested in students who want to explore an art form that will require a lifetime of dedication.
Careers with a Theatre Arts Degree
When you graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre studies from NIU, you'll have a solid foundation for your life's work as an artist of the theatre. Learn more about the careers that our theatre arts graduates have pursued.
Theatre Arts Faculty
Meet our school of theater and dance faculty who specialize in:
- Performance
- Dance
- Design and technology
- History, literature and criticism
Hands-on Learning Opportunities
You'll have access to a wide variety of great opportunities and productions, such as:
- International programs
- Internships
- Theatre camps
- Production seasons
- Box office
- Mainstage series season
- Studio series season
We are close to Chicago and its world-class museums and galleries. Chicago has established itself as a stimulating home for the performing arts. Lyric Opera, Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre Company are all prominent, highly respected and cutting-edge companies in Chicago. But there are numerous smaller off-Loop resident theatres, such as Bailiwick Repertory, that are also highly regarded by the arts community.