Overview

The major sequence in drama provides you with a comprehensive overview of theatrical literature and history and a grounding in production work. Through performances, workshops and practical classes, ACU’s drama sequence develops your skills in many areas including theatre production, stage management, direction, and acting, as well as knowledge of theatre history and repertoire. You’ll gain transferrable skills in communication and public speaking, allowing you to seek employment in the performing arts industry or use the skills developed in other professional contexts. When combined with an appropriate tertiary teaching qualification, the drama major is a pathway to becoming a secondary-school drama teacher. You do not need any previous theatre experience and there are no prerequisites for studying this sequence at ACU.

Career opportunities

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • acting and performing
  • directing
  • production
  • arts advocacy
  • client consulting
  • workshop facilitation
  • teaching and education
  • stage management and production
  • arts coordinating and communications
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Completion requirements

A student must complete 80 cp of the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

  1. at least 10 cp from 100-level units (Part A);
  2. at least 40 cp from 200-level units (Part B);
  3. at least 20 cp from 300-level units (Part C).

*Students in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) and Bachelor of Education (Secondary and Special Education) must complete 60 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of no more than 2 units at 100-level and at least 2 units at 300-level.

Complete at least 10 credit points from the following:

  • PERF102Theatre Making: Essentials of Theatre Production10 CP
  • PERF104Drama's Greatest Hits: Performing Drama History10 CP

Complete at least 40 credit points from the following:

  • PERF200Theatre for Young People10 CP
  • PERF203Plays and Playhouses10 CP
  • PERF205Devising Theatre: Performance and Production Methods10 CP
  • PERF207Australian Drama: History, Performance and Perspectives10 CP
  • PERF208On Stage: Body and Voice in Performance and Production10 CP
  • PERF211Revolutionary Spirit: Staging Modern Politics10 CP
  • PERF215On Screen: Movies, TV, Video Games10 CP
  • PERF220All the World's a Stage: Critical Approaches to Global Drama10 CP
  • PERF221The Director's Laboratory10 CP
  • PERF222Staging the End of the World: Apocalypse, Conspiracy and Conflict10 CP
  • HUMA250Ancient Greek History and Drama10 CP

    200-level cross-credited unit

Complete at least 20 credit points from the following:

  • PERF302Independent Drama Project: Research and Practice10 CP
  • PERF318That Is the Question: Shakespeare and Renaissance Theatre10 CP
  • PERF319Theatre Production and Performance10 CP
  • PERF321Plays That Shook the World10 CP
  • ENGL338Adaptation: From Page to Screen10 CP

    300-level cross-credited electives

  • HUMA318The Literature and Drama of New York City10 CP

    300-level cross-credited electives

  • HUMA320Major Creative Project10 CP

    300-level cross-credited electives. Restriction requirement for HUMA320. Permission from the National Head of School or Course Coordinator is required prior to enrolling in this unit if you wish to count towards a particular major.

  • HUMA332Arts and Humanities Special Project10 CP

    300-level cross-credited electives. Permission from the National Head of School or Course Coordinator is required. Quotas apply. An application process will apply for special projects on offer and academic merit will be considered. The student must be undertaking a major taught by the National School of Arts and Humanities (not including Mathematics and Technology).

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