mydream

I have a very deep love for performing, however, I've lately realized that I don't want to pursue a professional theater career. The idea of being a theater teacher suddenly came to me one day and the more I have thought of it, the more I've loved it. Anywhoo...this may seem like a silly question, but I can't find an answer for it: what do you major in in college to become a theater teacher? Is it simply Theater, with some additional education courses? If anyone could help, I'd greatly appreciate it

bulldog256

First let me say that I understand entirely where you are coming from. I was in the same boat. It took me a while to figure out what to do also.

So, question, are you talking teaching theatre in either grade school/high school or at a college level?

I know that all of my college theatre professors have professional experience. They've all worked/ are working, in theatre professionally in order to be considered to teach.

As far as grade/high school goes, you would need to get yourself a teaching certificate. You can get certified in Theatre specifically Though most schools do not offer it as a area of certification due to lack of interest.

Teaching certification works differently for different states. Generally speaking a degree in a subject area (in your case theatre) and in education (either primary k-8 or secondary 6-12)
You have to get this degree from an Accredited Institution, those should be listed by your state Board of Education.

I know that Illinois State University has a specific Theatre Education program. I attended there my freshman year as a Theatre Ed major.

Though I soon realized that as much as I love theatre, it was not practical for me to be able to only teach theatre. I am now at Knox College majoring in Secondary Education and Social Studies Education. I am also pursuing an "endorsement" in Theatre. This means that I have taken enough courses (25 hours in Illinois) to be able to teach it.

Your best bet in understanding the requirements would be to visit your state's Board of Education webpage.

Let me know what you deiced to do!

Tarhunt

If you're talking high school, bulldog has good advice. I would simply add that you should get a BA and focus a lot on technical theater. In most places, the high school theater teacher has to know sets, lighting, costumes, directing, and acting.

Good luck!

KatMT

I do not know where you live, but Virginia Commonwealth University in VA has a program specifically in Theatre Education that combines education with theatre (including lots of techincal, like Tarhunt suggests)... the VCU program leads to public school certification in Theatre. Many private schools will hire you without certification... I was the theatre teacher at boarding school for two years between my work as a professional actor and graduate school in directing, and I am not certified.

Now I teach in a college theatre program. If college teaching is what interests you, going the BA (or BFA) to MFA route is the way to go unless you are an "academic"... some people who are more focused on theatre history and research will go from a BA to MA to Phd... for those who choose this route often being published is the professional presence that most colleges require their professors to keep... for people who go the MFA route, often acting, directing, designing, or technical directing professionally "replaces" the publishing componant.

If you are interested in H.S. Theatre teaching.... many public schools do not hire a seperate theatre director... often the theatre program is run by the english teacher or the music teacher... it depends on the school system and the community... for this reason it may be wise to get dual certification in theatre and another subject that interests you.

There are many different ways to have a life in the theatre... it is important to find your passion... for this a BA program can be ideal! Good luck.

alwaysamom

mydream,

NYU's Steinhardt School of Education offers a wonderful Educational Theatre program, which is very well-respected in both the education and theatre communities, and is unique in many ways. Have a look at their website:

http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/page.php?page_id=516

ifoundalaska

The theatre teachers at my school both have english degrees, with a masters in english or teaching (not theatre). I don't think that's typical, though.

skewlcounselor

For high school, the more certifications you have the more desirable you will be as a candidate. Now it is typical for new teachers to be certified in two or more academic areas; i.e. math and science, social studies and english, etc. For a theatre teacher it is nearly essential that you are also certified in another area. I would recommend english because most drama programs are run out of the english department. A student teacher I met recently was certified in english, art and theatre. I would advise, as well, that you avoid getting a masters before you have your first teaching job or you may price yourself out of the market. (Teachers with master's degrees are generally paid at a higher rate and may be deemed too expensive for someone with no experience.)

alwaysamom

This thread is almost six years old. The OP likely graduated from college over a year ago.

skewlcounselor

alwaysamom: Hahahha! ooops! Well perhaps someone who is currently considering becoming a theatre teacher can benefit!

TheRealKEVP

It is VERY typical for a High School to not have a full time theatre teacher, instead just dumping all responsibility for theatre on the English department, (and if it is a musical, on the music department). I don't think this is a very good arrangement, English teachers have a tendency to take up rehearsal time by giving out "vocabulary quizzes" and things like that, because they don't really know how to rehearse a play.

I think I would advise any person who wants to teach theatre at a high school level (in the United States) to get certified in English together with theatre. Because most high schools won't be looking for a theatre teacher, they will be looking for an English teacher who can also do theatre.

Also, I would suggest that anyone who has only had English teachers instead of theatre teachers needs to find a good audition coach if they are auditioning for college theatre programs.

KEVP

NJTheatreMOM

My son knows a young woman with a BA in theatre who is currently working toward certification as a high school English teacher.

Her goal is to be hired as an English teacher who will also be able to teach theatre/direct plays. After researching the matter, she concluded that this would be the only way she could obtain a position as a theatre teacher at a public high school.