“As a theater major I developed skills vital to any company's workforce. I can follow directions, take feedback, work with others towards a common goal, understand what is needed in certain situations, I can improv and think on my feet, I can read a room, I can be in the moment, and you can put me in front of a 1000-person presentation hall without a microphone and I can deliver”
Michael Standifer '16 | Theatre Grad
We are excited that your student is considering Santa Clara University to study Theatre and Dance. After years of talking to parents of prospective students, I also understand your concerns about the ways in which pursuing theatre and dance will prepare them for life after college. I want to reassure you that in addition to receiving excellent training in performance, design, and critical analysis, theatre and dance students learn and develop essential life skills.
The most highly sought skills from employers in all fields include leadership, communication, team-work, creativity, and the ability to meet deadlines. In the Department of Theatre and Dance, through intensive experiential learning, our students develop those same skills in great depth, making them among the most competitive for any position. Our graduates are working at the highest levels in theatre and dance and they are also successful at Silicon Valley tech companies and in the fields of law, medicine, business and education. A Theatre Arts degree prepares them to become leaders in whatever profession they choose.
We understand that your child may wish to pursue other courses of study in majors that can add to their marketable skills after college. A Theatre Arts degree (emphasis in Theatre or Dance) is designed to allow students to double major in another field and still be challenged to grow their artistic skills at the highest level. We also realize the high cost of an SCU education and are very fortunate to have departmental scholarships to award as grants over and above other financial aid your child might receive.
I welcome you to call us at 408-554-4989 or email with any questions about our program and how we train students to 
in whatever profession they choose. As our main webpage says, when your student comes to Santa Clara, they can “invent the life they want to lead.” We are here to help them!
Kimberly Mohne Hill
Chair, SCU Department of Theatre and Dance