Performing Arts

The Department of Performing Arts (DPA) offers A.B. degrees in American Musical Cultures and Theater & Performance Studies and minors in Music, Theater & Performance Studies, and Performing Arts.

Major in American Musical Cultures

The major in American Musical Cultures stands out for its comprehensive study of music from many perspectives. These include historical investigation, media studies, ethnographic research, theory and analysis, creative research, production, and performance. In addition to foundational gateway courses, the program offers a diverse array of electives. Our academic courses provide a well-rounded understanding of American musical life and its global connections, combining theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The curriculum is a rich and varied liberal arts exploration of music, catering to students’ diverse interests and career aspirations. Students explore a range of subjects and develop personalized guided and faculty-mentored paths while following a developmental sequence from introductory to advanced courses.

Requirements for the Major

35 credit hours: 10 courses, four performance ensembles, and two colloquia

  • Three fundamentals courses, chosen from the following
    • Music Theory I (MUSC 1041)
    • Music Theory II (MUSC 1042)
    • Recording Arts I (MUSC 1051)
    • Recording Arts II (MUSC 1052)
    • Writing about Music (MUSC 1061)
    • Filming Music (MUSC 1071)
    • Live Music in Context (MUSC 1081)

The fundamentals courses provide a well-rounded understanding and practical application of music theory, recording, writing, and filmmaking. They foster critical listening, creative expression, and effective communication through hands-on projects and assignments. Music Theory is strongly encouraged as one of the fundamentals.

  • Two core topics courses, chosen from the following
    • Music Culture: Euro Trad (MUSC 1140)
    • Music in a Multicultural World (MUSC 1150)
    • Jazz History (MUSC 1160)
    • Rock History (MUSC 1170)

The core topics courses dive deep into specific musical genres. Students learn to identify stylistic elements and repertoire, explore their historical, cultural, and political contexts, and address intertwined themes such as gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, media, technologies, globalization, social justice, and identity formation.

  • One focus seminar, chosen from the following
    • Musical Cultures (MUSC 4210)
    • Media Analysis (MUSC 4310)
    • Songwriting and Composition (MUSC 4410)
    • Historical Musicology (MUSC 4510)
    • Music Industry Seminar (MUSC 4610)

The 4000-level focus seminars bridge the fundamentals/core topics and the capstone, allowing students to choose to focus on a particular discipline within the study and practice of music. Additional 4000-level seminars may count as electives.

  • Four advanced electives

Advanced seminar and workshop electives (2000-, 3000-, and 4000-level courses) focus on specific topics and provide practice-based studies culminating in research papers, audio recordings, composition portfolios, films, and live performances.

  • Four one-credit performance ensembles

Performance ensembles (all MUSC 1000 sections) allow students to practice diverse musical styles, whether they are beginning or already proficient in voice or an instrument. Four count as a 3-credit course.

  • Two one-credit Performing Arts Colloquia

The colloquium (MUSC 1099) is a key component of all Department of Performing Arts majors and minors. It offers interdisciplinary learning, practical skill development, and intellectual exchange through rotating themes and faculty each semester, practical guidance, introductions to faculty research, guest lectures, and performance showcases.

  • Capstone or internship requirement
  • The following advanced independent study courses, which may be taken to guide the capstone project, are not required but strongly encouraged. They do not count toward the 35 credit hours required for the major.
    • Writing Project (MUSC 4960)
    • Performance Project (MUSC 4970)
    • Media Project (MUSC 4980)
    • Composition Project (MUSC 4990)

The major culminates in either an independent capstone project or an internship. A full-time faculty member advises the independent study capstone project involving significant research or artistic projects. Students are encouraged to select a senior thesis topic related to their courses in the program. Recent capstones have included substantial research papers, audio recordings, recitals, films, podcasts, and composition portfolios. The internship option, approved by the Program Director, allows students to gain real-world experience in the field of music.

Note: One course requirement can be met by related courses in different departments or by studying abroad, with the approval of the Program Director.

Major in Theater & Performance Studies

A major in Theater & Performance Studies consists of courses that combine critical and creative inquiry and is designed for students interested in not only developing skills in theater and performance, but in an interdisciplinary exploration of how these art forms matter in the world. This distinctive degree program engages with theater and performance as it intersects with social justice, cultural and global politics, criticism, American and world cultures, arts management, education, and more. The TPST Program offers studio/seminar courses in acting, directing, playwriting, design, technical theatre, and stage management, as well as coursework and production opportunities that emphasize adaptation and performance, devising and developing new work; cross-cultural performance and world theatre history; performance and politics; community-based performance; interdisciplinary learning about culture, race, gender, and identity; active engagement with our TPST home production season in the Davis Performing Arts Center, and a variety of special topics that offer diverse opportunities for undergraduate research.

Requirements for the degree include 33 total credits (11 courses including TPST-4960).

Requirements for the A.B. in Theater & Performance Studies

33 credit hours, including:

  • At least 2 out of 3 Core Methods Courses: Play Analysis (TPST-1300); Improvisation for Social Change (TPST-1250); Adaptation and Performance of Literature (TPST-2000)
  • At Least 1 of the following: Cross-Cultural Performance Studies (TPST-1050) or World Theater History (TPST-2400)
  • 3 Credit Hours of TPST 1000 Production Practicum in 3 different sections (scene shop, costume, run crew, etc.)
  • At least 18 additional elective credit hours within TPST including:
    • At least 3 credit hours of  Technical Theater or Design Classes 
    • At least 6 credit hours of intermediate elective courses (2000 or higher)
    • At least 3 additional credit hours of  advanced elective courses (3000 or higher)
  • One-credit Majors Colloquium (TPST-4960)
  • 2 one-credit Performing Arts Colloquium

The TPST 1000 Production Practicum sequence is a series of skills-based workshop courses taught by production faculty and staff in the areas of scenery, costumes, and run-crew for productions tied to TPST’s Home Season in the Davis Center. Stage management for the Home Season can also be an option and typically counts for two credit hours.

Note about Credit and Enrollment for Participation in TPST Home Season: Students participating as cast members or in another sustained way throughout the rehearsal process (dramaturg, stage manager, designer, assistant director etc.) should enroll for the course assigned to that production. Each course (Performance Lab TPST 1901-1906; 1196-1199) offers options for zero-three credits, which will be decided upon by Davis Center Artistic Director and faculty based upon audition; course numbers will rotate each semester.  No more than 6-credit hours of the Performance Lab TPST 1901-1906; 1196-1199 sequence can be used toward fulfillment of the major.  After 6 credits have been achieved, advanced students working on productions may enroll for Advanced Performance Lab TPST 3900+ (for variable credits) for work on additional productions.  This cannot be used toward the additional 3-credit hours required for the major in TPST 3000 or higher.

Potential majors are advised to take Play Analysis (TPST 1300) during their first two years and at least one other gateway course. Those seeking to pursue a thesis project are advised to have completed at least half of their degree by January of their junior year.

Up to two courses toward the major may be fulfilled via transfer credits, study abroad, or cognate courses, if approved by the Program Director.

High-achieving junior majors may apply via formal proposal to pursue an honors senior thesis project, a competitive opportunity that can manifest as a creative research project culminating in a public performance, a scholarly thesis, or a community-based project. To apply, majors must have a 3.5 GPA in TPST courses taken at Georgetown by January of their junior year and have taken at least five TPST courses at GU, including courses at the 2000-level or above. (Transfer students and those who have studied abroad may petition the TPST Program Director for an exception.) In the spring of their junior year, students submit a detailed project proposal following guidelines available from the Program Director.  Faculty selects the strongest proposals, approving only those scholarly, creative and community-based projects anchored in original research and TPST methodologies. The committee carefully considers student preparedness to carry out the specific project. The Thesis Workshop course is typically required in addition to students’ registration in a three-credit directed study overseen by their lead advisor to assure intensive, sustained focus. The final deadline for each project is set with the primary thesis advisor, depending on the nature of the project (e.g., scholarly, artistic production, or community-based).

Integrated Writing Requirement for DPA Majors

Both of DPA’s distinctive interdisciplinary majors—American Musical Cultures and Theater & Performance Studies—understand writing as integral. Students fulfill their Integrated Writing Requirement by virtue of completing each major. See further details regarding Music’s and Theater and Performance Studies’ Integrated Writing pathways here and here.

Minor Programs: Music, Theater & Performance Studies, and Performing Arts

DPA offers three minors. The requirements for a minor in Music or Theater & Performance Studies include a combination of scholarly and creative courses. The Performing Arts minor is designed for students working across various performing arts disciplines, including Theater and Performance Studies, Music, Dance, and Public Speaking. The Performing Arts minor includes three 3-credit courses in any of these four disciplines and three additional courses from any other area/s in the department. Four 1-credit Music or Dance performance credits or three 1-credit Theater performance credits may be bundled into a single 3-credit course upon request by the student to their dean. Performing Arts Minors concentrating in TPST, Music, or Dance can count up to two total bundles toward the degree (either each bundling from a different performing arts field or, if approved by the Program Director, two in the same field.)

Minor in Music

The Music Program at Georgetown offers a minor that combines courses in music history, criticism, theory, composition, audio technology, and performance. Students who choose this minor can specialize in various musical forms linked to American culture (including jazz, rock, dance, film, and popular music), music from around the world, and Western European art music spanning the 17th century to the present. Students may count four 1-credit performance ensembles as one upper-level course.

Requirements for the Minor

19 credit hours; 6 music courses and colloquium

  • Two fundamentals courses, chosen from the following
    • Music Theory I (MUSC 1041)
    • Music Theory II (MUSC 1042)
    • Recording Arts I (MUSC 1051)
    • Recording Arts II (MUSC 1052)
    • Writing about Music (MUSC 1061)
    • Filming Music (MUSC 1071)
    • Live Music in Context (MUSC 1081)
  • One core topic course, chosen from the following
    • Music Culture: Euro Trad (MUSC 1140)
    • Music in a Multicultural World (MUSC 1150)
    • Jazz History (MUSC 1160)
    • Rock History (MUSC 1170)
  • Three additional academic courses in music
  •  One one-credit Performing Arts Colloquium

Please refer to the major above for descriptions of these courses. Note that one course may be fulfilled by related courses in other fields or study abroad, if approved by the Program Director.

Minor in Theater and Performance Studies

Requirements for the Minor in Theater & Performance Studies

20 credit hours, including:

  • 1 one-credit Performing Arts Colloquium
  • At least 1 out of 3 Core Methods Courses: Play Analysis (TPST-1300), Improvisation for Social Change (TPST-1250), Adaptation and Performance of Literature (TPST-2000)
  • At Least 1 of the following: Cross-Cultural Performance Studies (TPST-1050), World Theater History (TPST-2400)
  • At least 1 credit hour of TPST 1000 in either Run Crew or Stage Management
  • At least 12 additional elective credit hours within TPST including:
    • At least 6 credit hours of intermediate elective courses (2000 or higher)

Note about Credit and Enrollment for Participation in TPST Home Season: Students participating as cast members or in another sustained way throughout the rehearsal process (dramaturg, stage manager, designer, assistant director, etc.) should enroll for the course assigned to that production. Each course (Performance Lab) offers options for zero to three credits, which will be decided upon by Davis Center Artistic Director and faculty based upon audition; course numbers will rotate each semester.  No more than 3 credit hours of the Performance Lab sequence can be used to fulfill the minor.  After 3 credits have been achieved, advanced students working on productions may enroll in Advanced Performance Lab (for variable credits) for work on additional productions.  

If approved by the program director, up to one course may be fulfilled via transfer credits, study abroad, or cognate courses.

Minor in Theater and Performance Studies

Explore the Performing Arts with our interdisciplinary minor, where you can develop a concentration in any of our arts disciplines: music, theater, dance, and public speaking. To earn this minor, take three courses in your chosen discipline and three elective courses from others. Students may count bundled performance courses as a single 3-credit course, such as four semesters of music ensembles (MUSC 1000) or dance ensembles (DANC 1000), or 3 credits of the Performance Lab sequence for theater production (TPST 1900–1198). Dance-focused minors may combine four semesters of DANC 1020 technique classes (such as Ballet or Modern) into the equivalent of a single 3-credit course, along with a course bundle for four semesters of DANC 100. This opportunity for two bundles is only for minors focusing on dance.

Requirements for the Minor in Performing Arts

19 credit hours; 6 courses in Performing Arts and colloquium

  • Three courses in any one of three disciplines (theater, music, dance, or public speaking)
  • Three courses from any other areas in the department
  • One one-credit Performing Arts Colloquium

Note: A maximum of three courses from any particular discipline may count towards the Performing Arts minor.

For course listings for Music and Theater, see the Schedule of Classes