Fields of Study
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance
Theatre based majors
A student should declare a Theatre major through Jim Lyden, Chief Departmental Advisor. Students declare a Theatre minor through an advisor in their major area. Once declared as a major, a student will be assigned an academic advisor according to their concentration area. Theatre @ ODU holds auditions & interviews annually for acceptance into the Performance Emphasis & the Design/Technology Emphasis.
Theatre Major
Pathway
4-Year Plan
The Theatre Major at ODU is for students who want to explore every aspect of theatre -- from acting to producing to designing. If your goal is to work as a director, producer or dramaturg, this is for you. You'll develop a well-rounded understanding of the what, how and why of theatre. Learn More
Contact & Advisor
Performance Major
Pathway
4-Year Plan
Performance students are mentored as pre-professionals and should be passionate about performance. That passion should lead them towards doing the work of the actor - reading scripts, finding audition material, keeping in shape, and rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing! The best candidates for our performance emphasis are ready to take artistic risks, support the ensemble, and be leaders in the ODU theatre community.
Performance emphasis students commit to performing as a member of ODURep and completing the rigorous sequence of classes. Senior students may be eligible for internships at the Virginia Stage Company, Norfolk's Equity company. Learn More
Contact & Advisor
Design/Technology Major
Pathway
4-Year Plan
The Design/Technology Emphasis is for students who wish to become professionals in the theatre off-stage. If you can imagine it, you can become it! Our Design/Technology students become Designers, Scenic Artists, Technicians, Engineers, as well as Stage Managers and Producers.
Students in the Design/Technology Emphasis make a commitment to work as pre-professionals on at least one production for ODURep each semester. Usually by the third year, our students are designing their own productions. In addition, they can often travel with faculty to summer festivals and they may be eligible to complete a professional internship at the Virginia Stage Company through the PORT program.
Entrance into the Design/Technology program is by interview and portfolio submission only. Interviews are scheduled each year in the spring. Students should be prepared to talk about their career goals and how they see themselves reaching those goals. Learn More
Contact & Advisor
Theatre Education Major
Pathway
4-Year Plan
Theatre Education at ODU integrates theatre arts and education in the classroom, in the community, and on the stage.
Part of our mission is to use the power of theatre to shape society and to change lives. We see education as the tool with which our students create the future. Learn More
Contact & Advisor
Additional areas of interest
Humanities
Graduate Certificate in Arts & Entrepreneurship
The graduate certificate in Arts & Entrepreneurship focuses on helping students cultivate tools that are essential to launching and sustaining successful for-profit, non-profit, and community-based arts programs and initiatives that place art at the forefront of social innovation. These tools include creating sustainable business plans, grant writing, fundraising, social media marketing, cultivating and engaging stakeholders, arts administration, and social entrepreneurial and design thinking skills. These skills are paired with critical tools drawn from studying the social, political, economic and cultural value of arts-based innovations. The certificate is intended for individuals interested in studio and/or the performing arts, including painting, sculpture, metalwork, graphic design, cartooning, illustration, letterpress, music, dance, theatre, film and video. Learn More
