戏剧艺术"theatre"源于古希腊θέατρον；又称为舞台艺术，是艺术的一种综合表现形式。通常演员通过肢体、语言、唱歌、音乐剧或舞蹈等方式来表现真实存在的或想象中的故事呈现给舞台观众。
戏剧专业主要是研究学习戏剧、其他戏剧形式以及生产过程；课程内容包括：戏剧史、剧本写作、表演、导演、灯光设计、布景以及服装设计。
舞台设计专业的学生主要研究学习如何制作布景、服装、灯光以及声音，并将它们有机的结合起来达到和谐的舞台效果的学科。*(1)
就业展望
戏剧与表演（Theatrical and Performance）：$67,580
室内设计师（Interior Designers）：$52,970
美术家（Fine Artists）：$54,000
作家（Writers and Authors）：$68,420*(5)
制片人与导演（Producers and Directors）：$92,390*(6)
典型课程列表
| 舞台灯光 | Stage Lighting |
| 舞台导演 | Directing |
| 戏剧文学 | Dramatic Literature |
| 戏剧史 | History of Theatre |
| 表演基础 | Acting Fundamentals |
| 剧本分析 | Script Analysis |
| 技术生产基础 | Technical Production Fundamentals |
| 口译 | Oral Interpretation |
| 布景设计 | Set Design |
| 舞蹈与动作 | Dance and Movement |
*(7)
注：课程列表为本科专业课程列表。
选校分析
建议申请在选校时考虑以下因素，再做决定：
学院提供实习工作吗？
每学期会产生多少部作品？
目前有多少比例的学生喜欢该专业？
教授一般在哪里教学？
该学院是否受国家戏剧学院的认可？*(8)
心理准备
“The more experience you get, the more you learn about yourself, and the more you learn about yourself, the more you learn about acting.”
Titian, sophomore, performance, San Francisco State University
“A theater technician must be curious about how things are built and how things work.”
Dr. Ronald Naversen, Associate Professor of Scenic Design, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Are You Ready To...?
Sew and fit costumes
Walk the catwalks high above the stage to hang lights
Build and strike (take down) sets
Research historical periods
Write and direct your own play
Build and strike (take down) sets
Analyze scripts to really get to know the character you’re playing
Spend long evenings in rehearsal*(9)
学生评价
Creative, organized, and able to manage your time well. You may be working on a paper about Shakespearean comedy while rehearsing your own performance art piece.
Creative as well as good at solving problems, working with your hands, and working together with different people, from producers to actors.*(9)
参考资料
(1) Major: Theater Design and Stagecraft College Board
(2) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 39-5091 Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance US Bureau of Labor Statistics
(3) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-1025 Interior Designers US Bureau of Labor Statistics
(4) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-1013 Fine Artists US Bureau of Labor Statistics
(5) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-3043 Writers and Authors US Bureau of Labor Statistics
(6) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-2012 Producers and Directors US Bureau of Labor Statistics
(7) Major: Theatre The Princeton Review
(8) Major: Theater Arts College Board
(9) Major: Theater Arts College Board
学校列表
美国
本科
综合性大学（非完全列表）：
文理学院（非完全列表）：
研究生
非完全列表：