<p>Hi everyone!! This is my first post ever on CC. I found this website by chance and I'm so happy I did. I'm a senior, and I'm in the process of applying to schools ofcourse. I want to major in theatre and Secondary English Education. I basically want to be a theatre director and a high school teacher. I'm confused on how I would be able to do that in college. Would I double major the two?? would I major in theatre and minor in English? I really dont understand this whole process honestly. I'm going to be the first one in my family to go to college and so I'm in this alone basically; I mean I get some help from my councelor but she hasnt really answered my questions clearly. My drama teacher/director at school said that there are some colleges that offer a theatre education program. I would much rather do that honestly, but since I haven't found that program in many schools I feel like should maor in theatre and education. The only university that I found so far that offers something like the theatre education program is Eastern Illinois university. I really like that school, but I still need help on what my official major would be. Please if anyone can help me I would really appreciate it. Have a nice day!!</p>
<p>Some high schools, but certainly not all, have extensive theatre programs. While some high schools offer several theatre courses, in many high schools, it’s just an extracurricular activity. I think majoring in English probably will give you the most options for a high school teaching position. If you have a theatre background, too, that will enhance your qualifications. So, the most common options would be:
- Double major in English & Theatre. For this, you’d have to actually complete the requirements for both majors since not too many schools offer a joint major in English-Theatre in which some course requirements will overlap, thus reducing the overall number of requirements. Some English depts. will allow you to substitute courses in a related field, e.g., Theatre, for a couple of your English courses. Some schools might require that you complete the requirements for both with no courses serving double-duty.
- English major with a Theatre minor.
- English major with a Theatre or Drama genre subconcentration within the English major (depends on whether the English major at a particular school offers a subconcentration in that area).
- English major + Theatre elective courses without a formal minor.</p>
<p>At some large state unis, I think Theatre might be a subconcentration in a Speech-Communication dept. So, if that’s the case with a school you might attend, you also might have to take some courses in other areas of speech and communication, too. These also could enhance your qualifications for a teaching position in English.</p>
<p>Since you have to take certain education courses for teacher certification, this could make it somewhat more difficult to do a double major. The best thing is to check the requirements of the particular schools to which interest you.</p>
<p>The answer to your question will vary from state to state and school to school. I would suggest that you contact the schools on your list individually. Talk with the Education dept., the Theatre dept, and the English Dept. to get the whole picture.</p>
<p>Gerardslover92:</p>
<p>You have asked a more complex question than you know. The simple answer is that doing a double-major in Secondary Education and a major in Theatre is difficult because the licensing requirements for education degrees are extensive, and may not leave much room for courses which are not on the required list for English. </p>
<p>The good news, however, is that some states may permit you to use some Drama or Theatre classes in support of an English degree. It’s also possible in many states to get a credential in Drama. Ohio does a multi-age license in Drama. Kansas used to do a secondary certificate in Speech and Drama; I don’t know whether they still do.</p>
<p>A good way to approach this is to type “state department of education [my state]” into Google or any other search engine. You’ll have to explore the links to find a list of universities in your state which offer a license in Drama, or Theatre, or English, or Integrated Language Arts. Find one which is close to home, and call the Education Department. Tell them what you want to do. They will tell you whether it’s possible at their institution, and if not, who else you could contact.</p>
<p>Here, for example, is the list of schools in Ohio which offer the multi-age Drama license. As you’ll see, there are only eight of them:</p>
<p>[Program</a> Classifications](<a href=“http://dnet01.ode.state.oh.us/Core2/ODE.CORE.ProgramApproval.Public.UI/IHEsByClassification.aspx]Program”>http://dnet01.ode.state.oh.us/Core2/ODE.CORE.ProgramApproval.Public.UI/IHEsByClassification.aspx)</p>
<p>One level higher on the website shows you all the licenses offered in Ohio:</p>
<p>[Program</a> Classifications](<a href=“http://dnet01.ode.state.oh.us/Core2/ODE.CORE.ProgramApproval.Public.UI/Classifications.aspx?orgType=2]Program”>http://dnet01.ode.state.oh.us/Core2/ODE.CORE.ProgramApproval.Public.UI/Classifications.aspx?orgType=2)</p>
<p>There are similar pages for other states. If you need more help, let me know what state you live in, and I’ll do some sleuthing. Department of Education websites can be quite daunting. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>