Theater

“To Be, or Not to Be,” on Stage or Backstage

Our Theater program helps you discover and express your creativity while enhancing your teamwork and leadership skills. You will learn how to perform scenes and monologues; create characters; improvise during performances; understand and demonstrate basic principles, techniques and styles of body movement and dance; read and write about significant dramatic literature; design costumes; build, design, paint and light stage scenery; operate stage lighting; serve as a stage manager; and rehearse and present a play. As a Theater student, you will also develop skills beneficial to your educational and professional careers, such as public speaking, verbal and written communication, project management, and teamwork.

Career Options

Careers

Find your path.

Media Technical Directors/Managers – est. salary $96,103
Producers and Directors – est. salary $96,103
Costume Attendants
– est. salary $59,205*
Talent Directors – est. salary $96,103
Set and Exhibit Designers – est. salary $58,394

**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Transfer Opportunities

Videos & Multimedia

Courses and Completion Sequence

The following courses and sequence of courses is designed for the optimal success and completion of the Theater degree/certificate. Any alterations should be discussed with your academic advisor.

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or
ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)
3 credits   Writing/Research/Info Lit 1
ENGL 131 - Acting I 3 credits Students pursing a proficiency certificate: ENGL 131 is first required course for Acting certificate  Oral Communication/Creative Expression
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra,
MATH 137 - Geometry for Design or higher
3 credits   Quantitative Reasoning
CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology 3 credits   Technological Competency
ANTH 101 - Introduction to Anthropology or
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology
or
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or
PSYC 101H - 101H Introduction to Psychology (Honors) or
GEOG 103 - Cultural Geography or
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or
SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
3 credits   Cultural Analysis & Interpretation

Critical Courses: Theater majors should complete ENGL 101, ENGL 102, College Mathematics and CIS 103 in their first 24 credits

  • This program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program after earning their associate’s degree
  • Follow this course schedule each semester and you’ll earn your associate’s degree in two years
  • Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register.

Semester 2

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
ENGL 132 - Acting II 3 credits Students pursuing a proficiency certificate: ENGL 132 is second required course for the Acting certificate Major Course
ENGL 115 - Public Speaking 3 credits   Major Course
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or
ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)
3 credits   Writing/Research/Info Lit 2
ENGL 137 - Introduction to Theater 3 credits Required for the Technical Theater certificate Major Course
ENGL 135 - Movement and Dance for Actors 3 credits Students pursing a proficiency certificate: ENGL 135 is an option for the fourth required course for the Acting certificate. Major Course

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
ENGL 141 - Introduction to Technical Theater 4 credits

Students pursing a proficiency certificate: ENGL 141 is the third required course for Technical Theater certificate

Major Course
ENGL 232 - Introduction to Drama 3 credits   Major Course
ART 101 - Visual Communication or
ART 101H - Visual Communication (Honors) or
ART 103 - History of Art: Ancient to Renaissance or
BLAS 101 - Introduction to Black Studies or
HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or
HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) or
HIST 121 - World History: The Distant Past or
HIST 221 - African American History After 1865 or
HUM 101 - Cultural Traditions: Ancient to the 13th Century or
HUM 101H - Cultural Traditions: Ancient to the 13th Century (Honors) or
MUS 103 - Introduction to Music or
MUS 121 - Modern American Music or
World Language
3 credits These options have been selected to explore and expand upon topics of importance to Theater students
Students may elect to consider other options, with advisement
Directed Elective
EASC 111 - Environmental Conservation or
EASC 111H - Environmental Conservation (Honors) or
BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology or
CHEM 105 - Inquiry into Chemistry
3 or 4 credits Fulfills Natural Sciences requirement Scientific Reasoning
DVP 150 - Producing and Directing Techniques for Digital Video Production or
ENGL 107 - Society and Mass Communications or
ENGL 120 - Voice and Articulation or
ENGL 136 - Movement and Dance II or
ENGL 146 - Advanced Technical Theater or
ENGL 205 - Creative Writing or
ENGL 271 - The Language of Film or
ENGL 282 - Scriptwriting or
PHOT 104 - Introduction to Video Production 
3 or 4 credits ENGL 120 and 136 are performance based
ENGL 107, 205, 282 are of interest for writers
ENGL 271 and PHOT 151, and DVP 150 are for an interest in directing.
ENGL 146 is for those interested in learning the more specialized technical aspects of theatre.

Students pursing a proficiency certificate: ENGL 120 is an option for the fourth course of the Acting certificate
Directed Elective

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
ENGL 142 - Rehearsal and Performance or
ENGL 146 - Advanced Technical Theater
4 credits Students pursuing a proficiency certificate: ENGL 142 is the fourth required course for Technical Theater certificate, ENGL 146 is an option for the fourth course of the Acting certificate Major Course
ENGL 142
ENGL 241 - Introduction to Shakespeare (recommended) or
ENGL 190 - Introduction to Literature or any 200-level literature course
3 credits These options have been selected to explore and expand upon topics of importance to Theater students.
Students may elect to consider other options, with advisement.
ENGL 120 and 136 are performance based
ENGL 107, 205, 282 are of interest for writers
ENGL 271 and PHOT 151 for an interest in directing
Directed Elective
ART 101 - Visual Communication or
ART 101H - Visual Communication (Honors) or
ART 103 - History of Art: Ancient to Renaissance or
BLAS 101 - Introduction to Black Studies or
HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or
HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) or
HIST 121 - World History: The Distant Past or
HIST 221 - African American History After 1865 or
HUM 101 - Cultural Traditions: Ancient to the 13th Century or
HUM 101H - Cultural Traditions: Ancient to the 13th Century (Honors) or
MUS 103 - Introduction to Music or
MUS 121 - Modern American Music or
World Language
3 credits   Directed Elective
DVP 150 - Producing and Directing Techniques for Digital Video Production or
ENGL 107 - Society and Mass Communications
ENGL 120 - Voice and Articulation
ENGL 136 - Movement and Dance II or
ENGL 146 - Advanced Technical Theater or
ENGL 205 - Creative Writing
ENGL 271 - The Language of Film
ENGL 282 - Scriptwriting
PHOT 104 - Introduction to Video Production
3 or 4 credits ENGL 120 and 136 are performance based.
ENGL 107, 205, 282 are of interest for writers.
ENGL 271, PHOT 151, and DVP 150 are for an interest in directing.
ENGL 146 is for those interested in learning the more specialized technical aspects of theatre.
Students pursing a proficiency certificate: ENGL 120 is an option for the fourth course of the Acting certificate
Directed Elective
General Elective 3 credits   General Elective
  • Congratulations, this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
  • Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
  • Finalize your transfer plans:
  • Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
  • Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.

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