Bachelor in Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts (Bachelor's)

Tuition is 100% of first-year students receive financial aid..

The programme is a full-time, on-campus Bachelor of Arts in Theatre offered at Messiah University. Students choose a concentration in acting, directing, or technical production and design. The curriculum combines studio-based training with academic study in dramatic literature, theatre history, and theory. All applicants must audition or interview with faculty for admission.

Focus areas include acting, directing, technical production and design.

The programme requires a total of 120 credits, distributed across core theatre courses, liberal arts requirements, and a Senior Capstone Project. Students complete applied studio work in acting, directing, and technical production as part of their coursework.

Graduates enter roles such as actor, director, stage technician, set designer, light or sound coordinator, and community arts activist.

Applicants must audition or interview with the Department of Theatre and Dance faculty. Admission is based on performance, portfolio, or interview evaluation. No specific GPA or test score requirements are listed.

The programme totals about 120 credit hours. on-campus, full-time, four-year programme. For international students, tuition is above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 78% of applicants.

Messiah University’s identity is rooted in Christian community and the conviction that faith should shape academic and student life. Its motto, “Christ Preeminent,” guides the university’s approach to education, with values that include sharpening intellect, deepening Christian faith and inspiring action. The institution has grown into a private university of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, serving 3,454 undergraduate and graduate students.

Academic options span more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs, with over 150 undergraduate and pre-professional degree options and more than 20 graduate degree and certificate programs. Areas of study are organized across interests and career fields. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program connects classroom learning, clinical expertise, scholarship and professional development. Faculty research and continuing education also extend into international clinical communities, including advanced manual therapy teaching in Rome.

The university’s 375-acre campus is in Mechanicsburg, in central Pennsylvania, and provides an active residential setting shaped by Christian community. Average class size is 20, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. International students should expect faith to be integrated into academic programs and daily experience, alongside opportunities for service, athletics and campus involvement. Students come from 33 states and 23 countries, adding an international dimension to campus life.