Bachelor of Theatre Arts
The Bachelor of Theatre Arts (BTA) program gives independent-thinking, entrepreneurial theatre-makers and arts managers the ability to create a course of study supporting their unique interests. The program’s flexibility and interdisciplinarity makes the BTA particularly attractive to undergraduates wishing to pursue a minor or second major at the university. BTA students complete coursework and hands-on learning experiences in a wide range of areas, including performing arts management, playwriting, global theatre and ethnic studies, theatre and social change, practice-as-research, education, and stage management.
The BTA provides flexibility for students who are interested in developing a minor area of study or pursuing a second major. In consultation with the program advisor, students may customize the program to fit personal academic or career goals.
In their own words
I chose the BTA program for its diverse theatre experience that allows me to choose my own adventure in my overall theatre education without limiting myself to only performing, directing, designing, etc.. I enrolled into U-M planning to pursue my degree in business administration and the flexibility of the degree program makes it possible for me to pursue these two degrees at once.
The thing I value most about the BTA program is the flexibility it offers me to lean into the parts of theatre that I am most passionate about as well as explore new areas that I am not as familiar with. Because our program allows us a lot of freedom of how we want to build our theatre education, I have learned a lot about being independent and self-sufficient. I think this is why so many BTA students have leadership positions in student organizations. This is not to say that we don’t have advisors and faculty members to help us when we get stuck, because we do, but I appreciate learning how to make my own path. When I first got to Michigan, I was slightly intimidated by SMTD, but being in the BTA and learning to advocate for myself and put myself out there for new opportunities has given me a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities.
Applying
Because the BTA program serves students with wide-ranging interests, auditions and prescreening interviews are not required. Applicants must submit a Statement of Purpose and several writing samples as outlined by the department via the Artistic Portfolio.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Theatre Arts requires a minimum of 120 credits: roughly half of the coursework must be within SMTD; the other half may be taken in other schools at U-M. BTA students take a core of theatre courses and also a significant number of elective courses from a broad range of theatre offerings, such as Playwriting, Global Theatre and Ethnic Studies, Performing Arts Management, African American Drama, History of Decor, Theatre and Incarceration, Latina/o Theatre for Social Change, Solo Performance, and Multicultural Acting.
Silent Advisor
Degree requirements and term-by-term layout for current students.
The BTA Experience
Alumni
Alumni provide a strong network across the country in a variety of performing arts organizations and adjacent fields. From Broadway to Disney World, from the Spoleto Festival to Jacob’s Pillow, and from cruise ships to regional theatres, Wolverines can be found “in the wings” creating and supporting live performance in every venue imaginable.
Guest Artists & Masterclasses
Visiting artists interact with students as resident teaching artists in the classroom and as guest designers and stage managers on MainStage season creative teams. They zoom in to chat with students at our weekly seminar or as guests in our classes providing a strong connection to current industry practices.
Immersive Learning
BTA students immerse themselves in real-world applications of their studies through the Immersive Learning requirement. Students fulfill this requirement through study abroad, internships, fieldwork, the Prison Creative Arts Project, and other community-engagement work.
BTA students also work in our professional production shops, supporting the mainstage season through a series of credit bearing production practicums.
Performance Venues
Faculty- and guest-directed plays take place in the Arthur Miller Theatre, the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, and the Power Center for the Performing Arts.
Faculty studios, Directing Theses, and the student-led Basement Arts productions are produced in the Newman Studio.
Flexibility
The BTA provides flexibility for students who are interested in developing a minor area of study or pursuing a second major. In consultation with the program advisor, students may customize the program to fit personal academic or career goals. SMTD coursework to include: Acting Design Script Analysis Theatre History, Literature, Criticism Technical Theatre Stage Management Professional Development (BTA Forum) Immersive Learning (internship, fieldwork, study abroad, or equivalent) Liberal arts coursework to include: First-Year Writing, Upper-level writing, Race &; Ethnicity elective, and academic electives from across the U-M.
Faculty
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Raja-Benz-index.jpg)
Raja Benz
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Brinker_Laura_IndexImage.jpg)
Laura Brinker
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Cantor_Daniel_IndexImage.jpg)
Daniel Cantor
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Jose-Casas-index.jpg)
José Casas
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shavonne-Coleman-index.jpg)
Shavonne Coleman
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MarkColson-grid.jpg)
Mark Colson
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Scott-Crandall-grid.jpg)
Scott Crandall
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Disla_Antonio_IndexImage.jpg)
Antonio Disla
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Drone_Patrick_IndexImage.jpg)
Patrick Drone
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Fialko_Jess_IndexImage.jpg)
Jess Fialko
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Jenna-Gerdsen-index.jpg)
Jenna Gerdsen
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Jungah-Han-1.jpg)
Jungah Han
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Hooker_Jake_IndexImage.jpg)
Jake Hooker
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Amy-E-Hughes-index.jpg)
Amy E. Hughes
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Kevin-Judge-index.jpg)
Kevin Judge
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Tzveta-Kassabova-index.jpg)
Tzveta Kassabova
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Halena-Kays-index.jpg)
Halena Kays
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Kuras_Jeffrey_IndexImage.jpg)
Jeffrey Kuras
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lindsay_Richard_IndexImage.jpg)
Richard Lindsay
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lucas_Ashley_IndexImage.jpg)
Ashley E. Lucas
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Christianne-Myers-index.jpg)
Christianne Myers
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Nkanga_Mbala_IndexImage.jpg)
Mbala Nkanga
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sarah-Oliver-index.jpg)
Sarah Oliver
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Packard_Geoffrey_IndexImage.jpg)
Geoff Packard
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Jay-Pension-index.jpg)
Jay Pension
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rogerio-M-Pinto-400x300-1.jpg)
Rogério M. Pinto
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Henry-Reynolds-index.jpg)
Henry P. Reynolds
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Alexis-Riley-index.jpg)
Alexis Riley
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rodriguez_Emilio_IndexImage.jpg)
Emilio Rodriguez
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/moore-heads-placeholder-index.png)
Beth Sandmaier
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sortore-hero.jpg)
Jeremy Sortore
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Traister_Christina_IndexImage.jpg)
Christina Traister
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Tiffany-Trent-index.jpg)
Tiffany Trent
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Malcolm-Tulip-index.jpg)
Malcolm Tulip
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Uffner_Nancy_IndexImage.jpg)
Nancy Uffner
![](https://smtd.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Karin-Waidley-grid.jpg)
Karin Waidley
Performance, Production, and Engagement Opportunities
Students in the Department of Theatre & Drama have a wide range of opportunities available to them outside of the classroom, both on and off the stage–depending on your major.