The visual and fine arts attract creative individuals who strive to carve out their own niche. At Goshen College, the art major and minor offers a variety of concentrations tailored to different artistic passions and career paths.
Theater
Major & Minor
Why Study Theater at Goshen College?
At Goshen College, your journey as a theater major or minor immerses you in a vibrant, collaborative community where your creativity and voice are celebrated. Whether you’re drawn to acting, directing, design, stage management, or dramaturgy, you’ll gain hands-on experience from your very first semester.
The theater program emphasizes storytelling that delves into themes of justice, identity, and community. Through mainstage productions, student-directed shows, and interdisciplinary projects, you’ll develop artistic and leadership skills that extend beyond the stage. Theater at Goshen College is a space for discovery, empathy, and purpose, offering you the opportunity to explore and express the human experience through performance.
Career Paths
With a theater degree from Goshen College, you’ll graduate with the confidence and experience to pursue careers in:
Acting
- Directing
- Theater Education
- Stage Management
- Scenic or Costume Design
- Dramaturgy
- Arts Administration
- Communication and Media
- Nonprofit and Community Arts
Our alumni have gone on to work in professional theater companies, public schools, graduate programs and arts nonprofits across the country.
Curriculum and Requirements
The theater major and minor offer a flexible curriculum designed to support both your specialized interests and broad explorations. You have the opportunity to combine theater with other programs such as music, education, communication, or English, tailoring your academic journey to align with your passions and career aspirations.
Core courses include:
- Acting
- Theater History
- Stagecraft
- Directing
- Design and Production
- Senior Theater Seminar
As a theater student, you’ll work closely with faculty mentors to develop your interests and complete a senior project tailored to your passions.
See the full list of courses and requirements in the course catalog
Hands-On Learning Opportunities
As a theater student at Goshen College, you’ll actively participate in multiple full-scale productions each year, including dramas, musicals, student-directed one-acts and experimental works. From auditions to closing night, you’ll engage in every step of production, gaining real-world experience in performance, set construction, costume design, stage management, and more.
Beyond the stage, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary and global experiences such as the “Arts in London” course. This immersive, London-based class allows you to explore contemporary British literature, engage with diverse diaspora communities, and complete experiential assignments in renowned settings like the British Museum and Globe Theatre.
These hands-on experiences and global opportunities are designed to enrich your academic journey, providing a comprehensive and immersive theater education at Goshen College.
Scholarships
Goshen College offers performance-based theater scholarships for talented students involved in theater, regardless of major. Awards are based on an audition or portfolio submission.
Additional financial aid is available through academic scholarships and need-based aid.
Facilities & Resources
Train and perform in Goshen College’s Umble Center, a 250-seat black box theater equipped with flexible stage and seating configurations, a full lighting and sound system, costume shop, and scene shop. Rehearsal spaces and dedicated classrooms support all aspects of production and design.