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Theatre instructor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a theatre instructor. Theatre instructors usually study theatre, fine arts, or communication. 69% of theatre instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 393 real theatre instructor resumes to see exactly what theatre instructor education sections show.
The most common colleges for theatre instructors are the University of Delaware and the University of Delaware.
There are also many online theatre instructor courses to help get the education required to be a theatre instructor.
What education do you need to become a theatre instructor?
What degree do you need to be a theatre instructor?
- Bachelor's, 69%
- Master's, 21%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a theatre instructor?
- Theatre, 56%
- Fine Arts, 7%
- Communication, 5%
- English, 5%
- Other Majors, 27%
Most common colleges for theatre instructors
| Theatre instructor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Delaware | 7.02% |
| New York University | 7.02% |
| Wayne State University | 7.02% |
| Howard University | 7.02% |
| University of Northern Colorado | 5.26% |
Best majors for theatre instructors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theatre | 56.1% |
| 2 | Fine Arts | 7.3% |
| 3 | Communication | 5.0% |
| 4 | English | 4.6% |
| 5 | Music | 4.6% |
Best colleges for theatre instructors
The best colleges for theatre instructors are Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A theatre instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for theatre instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become theatre instructors.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
6. Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$46,950
Enrollment
9,407
7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
8. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
20 best online courses for theatre instructors
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1. The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart
In this course, you’ll be introduced to sonata form; how it works, where it came from, and how sonatas are put together as multi-movement compositions. We will analyze the early history of the piano sonata and discover the important early masters of this style (Scarlatti, CPE Bach, Haydn, and Mozart). You’ll then investigate the relationship between the keyboard instruments of the time and the musical style, and be able to differentiate between Baroque, Galant, and Classical styles. This course...
2. The Piano Sonata: Russian and 20th-21st Century Composers
In this course, you’ll review sonata form and learn how the piano sonata was revitalized in the 20th century, with a particular attention to composers from Russia, where the sonata was an especially popular and successful genre. You’ll study some of the most influential piano sonatas of the 20th century, in both Neo-Classical and avant-garde styles. This course will also expose you to a variety of lesser-known and more recent compositions, showing how the piano sonata genre continues to expand...
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5. The Piano Sonata: Beethoven and the Romantics
In this course, learners will review sonata form and learn how the piano sonata was taken to new heights by Ludwig van Beethoven. We’ll discover together how the generation that followed interpreted Beethoven’s achievements and put them into practice in their own unique ways. From there, we will explore the “War of the Romantics”: the variety of formal structures for Romantic sonatas (both traditional and progressive) and the major repertoire of this era. You’ll hear some of the important...
6. Exploring Piano Literature: The Piano Sonata
In this 3-course specialization, learners will analyze important passages and components of the piano sonata repertoire, while gaining a solid knowledge of the sonata’s inner workings and a better sense of historical developments in the genre. Across the series, learners will dive into compositions by Scarlatti, CPE Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, Medtner, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, and others.\n\nThese courses were filmed at the University of...
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13. Game Music Composition: Make Music For Games From Scratch
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14. Public Speaking & Communicating: Skip Theory, Master the Art
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15. Pixel Art Fundamentals: Introduction to 2D Game Pixel Art
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16. The Complete History of Music, COMPLETE: Parts 1, 2, and 3
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17. Public Speaking for Beginners
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18. 2023 Complete Public Speaking Masterclass For Every Occasion
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19. TESOL - Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages
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20. Beginner Alto Saxophone Lessons
Have Fun. Play Saxophone. Be Awesome. Repeat...
Top 10 most affordable universities for theatre instructors
The most affordable schools for theatre instructors are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for theatre instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for theatre instructors.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
10. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for theatre instructors
The hardest universities for theatre instructors to get into are Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Some great schools for theatre instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for theatre instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
5. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
Admissions rate
26%
SAT average
1,427
6. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,321
7. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
51%
SAT average
1,395
8. Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,321
9. Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,287
10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for theatre instructors
The easiest schools for theatre instructors to get into are Wayland Baptist University, barry university, and kean university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a theatre instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for theatre instructors.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
5. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
6. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
7. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
8. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
9. Clarke University
Dubuque, IA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
1,058
10. American International College
Springfield, MA • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
1,010
Average theatre instructor salary by education level
| Theatre instructor education level | Theatre instructor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $40,722 |
| Doctorate Degree | $48,410 |
Theatre instructor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025