BA in Theatre - Theatre Teacher Education in Normal United States | Illinois State University

The Theatre Teacher Education program at Illinois State University focuses on training exceptional educator-artists equipped to handle the demands of secondary education. Recognized nationwide, Illinois State ranks as the second-leading institution for teacher preparation accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. Approximately one in seven educators in Illinois public schools graduated from Illinois State. Theatre Teacher Education majors gain comprehensive training in core theatrical disciplines including performance, direction, production design, theatrical history, and play analysis. Simultaneously, students pursue specialized coursework tailored for secondary theatre instruction. The College of Education further strengthens pedagogical abilities through professional development classes. A key advantage of our program is the diverse hands-on learning opportunities in high school environments. Students support experienced educators with extracurricular speech and drama programs, conduct educational workshops, and deliver instructional demonstrations. The program culminates with Theatre Teacher Education candidates overseeing every aspect of a complete theatrical production at a partnering high school.