Our Program

ACTORS are agents of CHANGE. A film, a piece of THEATRE, a piece of music, or a book can MAKE A DIFFERENCE. It can CHANGE THE WORLD.
- Alan Rickman

DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS MISSION STATEMENT:

To provide students with a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of theatre. The curriculum emphasizes developing aesthetic awareness of the individual theatrical arts and explores their collaborative relationships. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, including the entertainment industry, education, and business.

Theatre at CSUSB

The broad range of subjects studied for a degree in Theatre Arts prepares graduates for a wide variety of fields in the vast network that is the entertainment industry. Live theatre, design, film, television, corporate and media training, radio, podcasting, public relations, advertising, business, law, and education are all avenues pursued by our graduates.

Work in your area of interest

While there are many acting opportunities, CSUSB also boasts an award-winning technical program. Several design students have placed in regional and national competition at KCACTF and USITT conferences. In addition, theatre students are encouraged to work with faculty as assistant directors, designers, stage managers, and in theatre administration.

The Curriculum

All theatre majors complete a common core of classes in performance, production and history. Students then choose a personal concentration in one of five areas:

Acting
Design/Technical
Drama Education
Musical Theatre

Also offered are a Children’s Theatre Certificate and a single-subject theatre credential.

Our Facilities

The Performing Arts Center at CSUSB houses an all-new, 478-seat, state-of-the-art stage for theatre and music performances, opening late 2025, as well as our 150-seat Ronald E. Barnes theatre and the 250-seat Recital Hall in our existing, newly-rennovated Performing Arts Building forming a comprehensive Performing Arts Center - the first of its kind in San Bernardino.

The Faculty & Staff

The award-winning faculty and staff of the Department of Theatre Arts are passionate educators and accomplished professionals who bring real-world experience into the classroom. By sharing their craft, insights, and industry knowledge, they prepare students for both creative and academic success.

Our Graduates

Many of our graduates have achieved notable success in the performing arts and as educators. The following is a very small sampling of recent graduates working in their fields of study.