By Kelsey Fox
December 2021
If you dream of teaching theater to the next generation of performers, then you may need a graduate degree in theater education.
The proper certification for teaching performing arts at a school or in a community varies. In some places, a master’s degree in education and a teaching license is required. In other situations, a degree in educational theater or even theatre studies is ideal. In still other scenarios, a certificate is enough to secure a position as a theater instructor.
Whatever it is you may need to teach acting, voice, and dance, Top Educational Degrees has found the very best.
Ranking Methodology
To come up with the best graduate degree programs in educational theater, we began by compiling a list of all universities offering a graduate program designed for those wanting to teach the performing arts. We research each program, focusing on master’s degrees and graduate certificates. We then used the following points-based system to narrow down our list to just the top 15.
Annual Out-of-State Graduate Tuition:
$5,000 or Less — 5 points
$5,001 to $10,000 — 4 points
$10,001 to $20,000 — 3 points
$20,001 to $30,000 — 2 points
$30,001 to $40,000 — 1 point
Annual Percentage of 20-Year Return on Investment (ROI):
9%+ — 5 points
7-8% — 4 points
5-6% — 3 points
3-4% — 2 points
1-2% — 1 point
Graduation Rate:
Above 90% — 5 points
Above 80% — 4 points
Above 70% — 3 points
Above 60% — 2 points
Above 50% — 1 point
Student-to-Faculty Ratio:
5:1 and more — 4 points
10:1 and more — 3 points
15:1 and more — 2 points
20:1 and more — 1 point
#15. University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Master of Fine Arts in Theatre for Youth
Greensboro, North Carolina
Annual Graduate Tuition: $18,937
Total Points: 7
Kicking off our ranking of the best master’s degrees in theatre education is University of North Carolina at Greensboro. UNC Greensboro offers an M.F.A. in Theatre for Youth. The terminal degree program is designed especially for those who aspire to leadership roles within youth theater. Sixty semester hours are required to complete the degree. Coursework covers a variety of topics, ranging from Theatre-in-Education to puppetry. UNC’s educational theater program is highly competitive. Only two students are admitted every two years.
#14. Columbus State University
Master of Education in Theatre Education
Columbus, Georgia
Annual Graduate Tuition: $11,394
Total Points: 7
Columbus State University offers an M.Ed. in Theatre Education. Over the course of the degree program, students will “learn to use the techniques of the theatre artist to improve the learning process.” A total of 32 credit hours are required to complete the M.F.A. in Theatre Education. Potential coursework includes Trends and Strategies in Theatre Education, and Musical Theatre History, to name but two.
#13. Winthrop University
Master of Arts in Teaching w/ certification in Theatre
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Annual Graduate Tuition: $29,506
Total Points: 8
Winthrop University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, plus accelerated secondary certification in theater. This unique degree program is designed for those who are interested in teaching the performing arts to middle and high school students in a school setting. Coursework covers both theater and the educational core. We also give Winthrop University high marks for its small class sizes.
#12. Arizona State University
Master of Fine Arts in Theatre for Youth
Tempe, Arizona
Annual Graduate Tuition: $26,160
Total Points: 8
Arizona State University offers an M.F.A. in Theatre for Youth. Students work with accomplished faculty mentors as they hone their own pedagogy and passion for youth performing arts. Coursework allows students to choose an area of emphasis. Options include teaching in elementary or secondary settings. An internship with a school or professional theater company is also required before graduation. Typically, students complete Arizona State’s M.F.A. in Theatre for Youth in three years.
#11. University of Northern Colorado
Master of Arts in Theatre Education
Greeley, Colorado
Annual Graduate Tuition: $19,620
Total Points: 8
University of Northern Colorado offers an M.F.A. in Theatre Education. The degree prepares students to become teachers via hands-on work and teaching experiences. Thirty-six credit hours are required to complete the degree. Potential coursework includes Voice and Movement, and Directing/Acting: Musical Theatre, to name but two. Two three-week in-person summer institutes are also required as part of this 2.5-year degree.
#10. Adelphi University
Master of Arts in Educational Theatre
Garden City, New York
Annual Graduate Tuition: $42,450
Total Points: 9
New York-based Adelphi University offers an M.A. in Educational Theatre. This degree can be completed entirely online. Students may customize their master’s degree by choosing between two concentrations: P-12 or Storytelling and the Arts. The former results in certification, while the latter does not. Both require 36 credits to graduate. Potential coursework includes Artistic Development and Creative Growth, and The Art of Teaching Shakespeare, to name but two.
#9. Emerson College
Master of (Fine) Arts in Theatre Education & Applied Theatre
Boston, Massachusetts
Annual Graduate Tuition: $31,104
Total Points: 9
Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts offers both an M.A. and an M.F.A. in Theatre Education & Applied Theatre. While the M.A. prepares students to teach theater to Pre-K through 12th-grade students, the M.F.A. prepares for college-level teaching. The M.A. consists of 36 credit hours, and can be completed in 1-2 years. The M.F.A. consists of 48 credit hours, and can be completed in about three years. Students may further customize their degree by choosing between two tracks: Theatre Educator or Theatre and Community.
#8. Central Washington University
Master of Arts in Theatre Studies
Ellensburg, Washington
Annual Graduate Tuition: $23,007
Total Points: 9
Central Washington University offers an M.A. in Theatre Studies. According to Central Washington University’s website, this degree is ideal for anyone whose career goals include teaching theater in higher education. Forty-five credits are required to complete this M.A. Potential courses include Studies in Early Modern Drama and Dramaturgy, among others. A Master’s Thesis Project is also required before graduation.
#7. CUNY Hunter College
Master of Arts in Theatre Education
New York, New York
Annual Graduate Tuition: $20,520
Total Points: 9
CUNY Hunter College offers an M.A. in Theatre Education. The degree is best suited for those who already have their New York State teaching certification. Coursework focuses on teaching PreK through 12th grade, and consists of 32-50 credits. Potential classes include Play Analysis, and Child and Adolescent Development, to name but two. A comprehensive exam is also required before graduation.
#6. Boston University
Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Education
Boston, Massachusetts
Annual Graduate Tuition: $56,854
Total Points: 10
Boston University offers an M.F.A. in Theatre Education. To earn this degree, students must complete coursework in stagecraft, and voice and speech, among other subjects. A thesis project is also required during the student’s final year of study. Students have a lot of opportunity to focus and customize their master’s degree in Theatre Education. Weekly graduate seminars are also included in the curriculum.
#5. George Mason University
Teaching Theatre PK-12 Graduate Certificate
Fairfax, Virginia
Annual Graduate Tuition: $33,906
Total Points: 10
George Mason University offers a graduate certificate in Teaching Theatre to students Pre-K through grade 12. To earn the certificate, students must complete 21 credits of theater and education courses. Required classes include Advanced Foundations of Theater Education, and Child and Adolescent Development in Global Contexts, to name but two of the five. An internship or a pro-seminar is also required before graduation.
#4. CUNY School of Professional Studies
Master of Arts in Applied Theatre
New York, New York
Annual Graduate Tuition: $23,160
Total Points: 10
CUNY School of Professional Studies offers an M.A. in Applied Theatre. The degree prepares those passionate about theater to become future leaders in the field of applied theater. Thirty-six credits are required to earn the degree. Coursework covers a variety of topics, ranging from Creating Meaning Through Community Drama to Teaching Through Theatre. Students may also choose to study abroad in Africa with Project Rwanda: Drama and Theatre Education for Reconciliation and Development.
#3. Covenant College
Master of Arts in Teaching
Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Annual Graduate Tuition: $16,728
Total Points: 10
Covenant College’s graduate degree in theater education works a little differently than the other programs featured on our list. The highly ranked private school offers a Master of Arts in Teaching. Students are expected to have earned an undergraduate degree in Theatre, plus a minor in education, before beginning the MAT degree program. Students then graduate with a Master of Arts in Teaching with specialization in Theatre.
#2. Rutgers University – New Brunswick
Combined Bachelor of Art / Master of Arts in Teaching in Theater Education
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Annual Graduate Tuition: $30,144
Total Points: 11
Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey offers a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in Theater Education. The five-year program begins with a liberal arts education concentrating on one area of the Theater Program (acting or musical theater, for example). Students then begin taking Theater Education-specific courses to complete the Master of Art in Teaching requirements. The degree culminates with student’s receiving their license to teach theater in public or private schools.
#1. Loyola Marymount University
Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts: Performance Pedagogy
Los Angeles, California
Annual Graduate Tuition: $19,460
Total Points: 12
Topping our list of the best graduate degrees in educational theater is Loyola Marymount University. Located in Los Angeles, Loyola offers an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts with a focus on Performance Pedagogy. Coursework covers a variety of topics, including collaborating with other artists and developing actor coaching skills, among other areas. Loyola’s theater department boasts three theaters and specially designed performance classrooms.
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