Directing and Theatrical Production
A program that prepares individuals to manage the planning, design, preparation, and production of plays and other theatrical entertainment programs. Includes instruction in theatrical design, program management, dramatic production, rehearsal management, personnel management and casting, actor coaching, directing concepts and techniques, theater history, scene work, script interpretation, business management, marketing, public relations, and communications skills.
- Schools offering
- 46
- Annual completions
- 114
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $40k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals to manage the planning, design, preparation, and production of plays and other theatrical entertainment programs. Includes instruction in theatrical design, program management, dramatic production, rehearsal management, personnel management and casting, actor coaching, directing concepts and techniques, theater history, scene work, script interpretation, business management, marketing, public relations, and communications skills.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Producers and directors | $83k | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary | $80k | +1.7% | Master's degree |
| Actors | — | +0.3% | Some college, no degree |
| Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other | — | +6.0% | No formal educational credential |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$40k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$31k
Bachelor's
$40k
Top colleges for Directing and Theatrical Production
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pace University | New York, NY | 0 | 23 | 23 |
| Emerson College | Boston, MA | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Marymount Manhattan College | New York, NY | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh, PA | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal, NY | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Berklee College of Music | Boston, MA | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Gallaudet University | Washington, DC | 0 | 4 | 4 |
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