Northwestern students rehearse a musical number

About Us

The Drama Major in Weinberg College is open to all interested students across the university. Although students in Weinberg may pursue Drama as their sole major, many combine Drama with another major or minor. Students in Education and Social Policy, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Medill School of Journalism find that the flexibility of the Drama Major makes it an appealing double major. Students in the five-year BA/BMus program also find Drama a valuable complement to their study in the School of Music.

Students in the School of Communication too may pursue a double-major with Drama. However, this usually works best for students in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Communication Studies, or Radio/Television/Film rather than for students in Theatre or Performance Studies. Although majors in Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies take some of the same courses, the three majors each have a distinct emphasis, and students should reflect carefully before making a choice. Students whose primary passion is acting usually find the Theatre Major the best option; prospective students must indicate their interest in the School of Communication and the Theatre Department when applying, because transferring into the Theatre Department once a student at Northwestern is possible in only a few exceptional cases. Students whose interests span performance art and adaptation, ethnography and theory find the Department of Performance Studies a good fit.

Drama Majors tend to be highly self-motivated, and although their eventual career paths may resemble those of Theatre, Performance Studies, or English majors, they prefer to set their own course to reach their goals. Some Drama Majors have a strong interest in one area of practice—whether design, directing, dramaturgy, playwriting, musical direction or performance, choreography, stagecraft and management, or arts administration. Other Drama Majors are interested in sampling diverse courses—from Acting for Non-Majors to Storytelling and Performance Art. All Drama Majors recognize the value of acquiring a deep background in the history and theory of dramatic and theatrical performance in diverse historical periods and cultures.

Students interested in the Weinberg Drama Major should consult the Director of the Program, Professor Susan Manning, via email at s-manning@northwestern.edu. Prospective students will be referred to this website. Prospective students interested in the Theatre Department or the Department of Performance Studies should visit the School of Communication website.