BA in Drama and Theatre Arts (Columbia College) in New York United States | Columbia University

The Barnard and Columbia undergraduate theater program explores drama, theater, and performance studies as a unique form of intellectual and artistic exploration. Students begin with core courses covering literary, cultural, and embodied traditions of both Western and non-Western performance, alongside practical training in acting, directing, design, and playwriting. Majors later focus on a specialized area, culminating in advanced thesis work—either an original research paper or a creative project (in acting, design, directing, dramaturgy, playwriting, or solo performance) that blends research with artistic expression.

Though Barnard and Columbia students meet their own college's graduation standards, the major requirements for Theater at Barnard and Drama and Theatre Arts at Columbia are the same, with most courses provided by Barnard's Theatre Department. Degrees are awarded by each student's respective college within Columbia University.

The Department's productions in the Minor Latham Playhouse and Glicker-Milstein Black Box Theatre serve as a dynamic space for exploration, where professional directors and designers work alongside undergraduates. Through classic and contemporary plays, as well as diverse performance methods, these productions generate fresh perspectives on theater today. Whether staging Shakespeare, Soyinka, Caryl Churchill, or original thesis works in the Senior Thesis Festival, these performances are both educational experiences and public engagements, shaping ideas for broader audiences.