BA in Theatre (Barnard) 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 then 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.

While Barnard and Columbia students meet their individual college graduation requirements, the major requirements for the Barnard Theatre/Columbia Drama and Theatre Arts programs are the same, with most courses offered through 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 experimentation, where professional directors and designers work alongside undergraduates. Through classic and contemporary plays, as well as performance techniques, these productions generate fresh theatrical perspectives. From Shakespeare to Soyinka to Caryl Churchill, or the directing, solo performance, and playwriting theses showcased in the Senior Thesis Festival, Department of Theatre productions are both educational experiences and platforms for public engagement, shaping perceptions and inspiring creative dialogue.