Frequently Asked Questions

Texas State requires 42 semester hours of academic foundations, referred to as the General Studies Curriculum. Subjects required include English, Speech Communication, Mathematics, Philosophy, American History, Political Science, and selected courses from the Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.  For more information about the University Core, please click here.

Yes. You must complete 19 hours to earn a minor. If you are a Bachelor of Arts student you are required to have a minor and may select from any number of areas outside of theatre, depending on your interests and abilities.  The B.F.A. Pre-Professional degree does not require a minor.  You cannot minor in the same department as your major.  For example, you cannot seek a BFA degree in Theatre with All Level Certification and minor in Acting.  There is no dance minor.

120- 128 total hours semester hours is the minimum, depending on which degree you are seeking, which means in 4 years you need to average 15-16 semester hours or 30-32 hours per academic year.

Yes. Every year a number of freshmen and transfer students begin in the summer. Usually, they take some of their basic requirements such as History and English, Languages, or Math. It is a good way to get oriented to college life, meet the faculty, and ease into a new environment.

Yes. If you are seeking admission as a transfer into the Theatre Department with an emphasis Design/Technology, Teacher Certification, or Performance and Production, it is possible that some if not most of your courses will transfer. The final determination will be made by the Registrar and the Chairman of the Department of Theatre. For questions about transferability of coursework please contact the Academic Advisor.

There are 6 to 8 plays and 2 musicals, plus creative thesis productions by graduate students, graduate-directed scenes, Black and Latino Playwrights Conference, Directing Two Festival, New Works Play Festival and many other opportunities throughout the academic year. 

Yes. Auditions for Texas State Productions are open to all Texas State University students.

Yes. Each year there are a number of student assistant positions open. These include: Front office assistants, production assistants, building monitors, teaching assistants, costume shop and scene shop assistants. These are responsible positions, and employment is based upon evidence of ability. Many theatre majors supplement their income by working in the Department.

Students who qualify for the Federal Work Study program are virtually guaranteed employment in the Department.

Yes. Texas State currently offers the Master of Fine Arts in Design: Scenic, Lighting and Costume, Master of Fine Arts in Directing, and an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism or Playwriting. A limited number of assistantships are available.

For more information contact:

Brandon R. McWilliams

Director of Graduate Studies

Department of Theatre

601 University Drive

Texas State University 

San Marcos, Texas 78666

We do not have an extensive program in Radio-TV-Film. However, the Department of Journalism does offer a broadcasting concentration. Also, our Department does include work in television and film acting as a part of our Actor Training Program. We also have some classes available in Film Directing and Film Production. Our faculty includes persons with expertise and professional experience in television and/or motion picture acting, directing, and production and a number of our students receive practical film experience with companies on location in the Central Texas area.  For more information on our film courses please see the BFA in Theatre with an emphasis on Performance and Production.

Yes. Our department is home to the Iota Epsilon Chapter of the theatre honor fraternity, Alpha Psi Omega. The pledge process begins in September of each school year. Orchesis Dance Company produces several productions throughout the year. There is also a chapter of USITT, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, which is very active. A number of our students also belong to either the Southwest Theatre Conference or Texas Educational Theatre Association.

Yes. We are an organizational member of USITT, American Theatre Association, Southwest Theatre Conference, Texas Educational Theatre Association (TETA), and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). In 2009, we hosted the Region VI Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.  Every year several of our students participate in United Professional Theatre Auditions (UPTA) and University/Resident Theatre Association (URTA) auditions.

Our department offers a number of scholarships to outstanding students, but the university has numerous scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid available for outstanding students/artists.

Inquiries about departmental scholarships should be sent to the Theatre Arts office. Applications are in the office. They are due by March 1 each year and they are awarded next fall and spring.

For information regarding department scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance, write:

Lori Smith

Department of Theatre and Dance

Texas State University-San Marcos

601 University Drive

San Marcos, TX 78666

For information regarding university scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance, write:

Office of Student Financial Aid

Texas State University-San Marcos

601 University Drive

San Marcos, Texas 78666

This information is available by writing:

Office of Admissions

Texas State University-San Marcos

429 N. Guadalupe Street

San Marcos, Texas 78666-5709