Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew of any good theatre education programs that are not $35,000 or higher. I am really interested in teaching drama for my career. Or, would it just be better to major in Musical Theatre and then go back and get my teaching degree? I would love to still perform, but don’t know if that’s the life style I want to live after college.
Where do you intend to teach musical theater? The high schools I know (and I am a public school teacher in a large city) often don’t have full time theater teachers (the theater teacher teaches something else too- English, Music, History etc) My D went to a PA HS- and many of her teachers there had MFAs- which is what you would obviously need (minimally) at the university level too
I intend to teach at the middle or high school level. In all the middle and high schools in my city, we have full time drama teachers who also direct our shows. When majoring in theatre ed., you also get a teacher certificate which would make me eligible to teach most subjects. That is a back up plan and IF that happened, I would hope to at least direct the school plays.
Then where you love is different from where I live - and that’s great. I direct shows and teach AP history 
I would love advice this too!
If you have good grades check out Drew University in NJ…
James Madison University has a Theatre Education Concentration which leads to certification to teach theatre in the public schools K-12.
Wagner College on Staten Island has a dual major program in Theatre and Education (with certification). We loved Wagner when we visited a few years ago and they offered a very good merit scholarship to D that brought the costs way down.
@KatMT so one can major in MT and do the Theater Ed concentration? Would that be done in 4 years?
@joyfulmama – It would be difficult to major in musical theatre and complete the theatre education concentration in four years. It would be more likely to major in theatre with the theatre education concentration, and take some music, dance, and musical theatre classes as electives. The field practicums and the student teaching may conflict with the sequence of the musical theatre classes. The K-12 education and certification course work adds quite a few extra credits to the major, so it works better with the theatre major, which has more electives built into the major requirements than musical theatre. Most musical theatre majors are already taking 17 - 21 credits a semester in order to take all of the additional major course work they would like to take. It MIGHT be possible in 4.5 years, with student teaching in the final fall semester, not sure, though. Possibly if a student came in with a lot of AP, IB, or Dual enrollment credit counting for specific general education requirements it could be easier.
Thus far, none of the musical theatre students have been interested in interviewing for the theatre education concentration, so it has not yet come up.
@KatMT OK thank you for the honest answer! Of course its mom/dad wishes vs D’s wishes… she wants all MT all the time as much as she possible can! We want her to graduate with some other skill as well, related to her theater love. So teaching theater, or writing theater articles/blogs, or Theater management, she loves photography perhaps learning to use it for theater or headshots etc…we have an older D who is a pro dancer so we know very well how difficult it can be in between gigs financially. The D who is a rising senior, will enter college with 18 college credits, no AP’s but the hope is that JMU would accept these 18 credits and free up space for her.
Would you recommend another major or minor that would fit better with what we and she want? I appreciate all your assistance!!
@joyfulmama – very few musical theatre majors at JMU double major, although it is possible… I am going into my 10th year, and I can think of 5 who have graduated with a double major… 2 with English, 2 with Media Arts and Design, and 1 with History… other students have graduated with minors (or at least come close to completing a minor), those include Communications, Music Industry, Film Studies, Non-Profit Studies, English, Creative Writing, and History. The Communications, Music Industry, and Non-Profit studies minors all require a professional internship.
That being said, regardless of pursuing a double major or minor our alums do not seem to have trouble finding jobs in other areas of the arts, or outside of the arts if they choose. It is a professionally focused, liberal arts based program, so the students are gaining other skills… management, writing, lighting, costumes, scenery, dramaturgy, directing, etc… as part of the program, and can take classes outside of the major regardless of major or minor. While many alums from the past 9 years (and earlier, but I know more about the students I taught) are still actively in performing careers, others have chosen to pursue other paths full time which include Arts Management, K-12 education (received masters in education after completing musical theatre degree), Social Work (currently in MSW program), Environmental Non-Profit Management (was not a Non-Profit Studies minor at JMU), Personal Training, College Theatre Professor (after obtaining an MFA), Directing (currently in MFA Directing program), Paramedic, etc…
I am sure that the same can be said of graduates of many programs. Theatre/ Musical Theatre majors are articulate, creative thinkers, understand how to work in teams, know how to meet deadlines, are able to keep cool in high pressure situations, are disciplined, etc… because these are the skills needed to be a successful Theatre/ Musical Theatre majors. They seem to be able to transition easily into other careers inside and outside of the arts if they so choose. Because JMU is a BA program, the students also have the basic academic requisites for admission to many different types of graduate programs.
People I knew in college… 20 - 25 years since graduation… (BFA Musical Theatre and Theatre Majors) are now doctors, producers, lawyers, managers, etc… as well as some still being performers… there are lots of opportunities to switch paths, develop other skills both in college and post college graduation.
Hope that information is helpful, both in relation to JMU and to Theatre/ Musical Theatre as a major in general.
PS. K-12 teaching is really a calling and a gift. There are other better “fall back” plans for arts majors, unless they are super passionate about teaching in the public school system.
@KatMT Wow! Thank you for the very detailed response. This helps me tremendously! You make very good points about the uniques skill sets artist bring to the table. Also the skills she will learn in general at a LAC, which is why we are looking at BA’s, tough I know JMU and some others act more like a BFA really.
You are also correct about teaching being a calling! My D LOVES teaching dance and acting in her capacity as counselor at the local theater and that was really what I was thinking of. For her to be able to work at or run a youth program herself one day. But I guess you are right she doe not need an actual degree in this in order to do this when she graduates while auditioning and training. And I am forgetting about continuing for a masters as you point out as well.
I guess its the fear of helping financially with two kids seeking jobs in this tough field that just worries me!
Is there someone at JMU you would recommend we speak with to verify if her 18 credits will transfer and how they will be applied? Or is that something we wont know until after application is submitted?
Thanks again!!
@joyfulmama – I do not think you can know for sure about the credits until you are admitted to JMU (unless they are AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment credits from a VA CC, in which case there are guaranteed equivalents). However, if you or you D email me her transcript (arecchkm@jmu.edu), I can look at it and give at least an estimate. I am also a freshman and transfer advisor for the major, so am pretty familiar with the requirements that might transfer. I am happy to take a look. 
@KatMT - I just wanted to say that you are a class act. You are so full of information and so willing to help those going through the MT process- and it is super cool
Thank you @toowonderful!
@KatMT I agree with@toowonderful !! Your responses in various threads are always helpful and very unbiased towards your own university.I will get the info to you and as always so appreciate your help!!
@joyfulmama – thank you!