About Theatre Arts

Do you love the theatre and acting? CCSF's Theatre Arts program offers students training in everything from acting and improv to set design and stage management.

Start your theatre career at CCSF where you will feel challenged and supported to as you push your theatrical desires to new levels.

Explore Potential Careers

Studying Theatre Arts can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Actor/Actress
  • Stage Manager
  • Set Designer
  • Costume Designer
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Playwright
  • Screenwriter

Program Options 

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish.

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals.

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
TH A 30 Introduction to Theatre Arts 3  
TH A 150A Beginning Acting Fundamentals 3  
ENGL 1A + 1AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4   
CSU GE Area E Lifelong Learning and Self-Development 3  
Additional CSU Transferable Units   3  

Total Units: 16-18

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Additional Major Requirement- select 3 units from Group 1 or Group 2 (See Counselor) 3  
CSU GE Area B4 Math / Quantitative Reasoning 3-8  
CSU GE Area A3 Critical Thinking 3-4  
POLS 1 U.S. Government 3  
Additional CSU Transferable Units   3  

Total Units: 15-21

Semester 3

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Additional Major Requirement (See Counselor) 3-4  
Additional Major Requirement (See Counselor) 3-4  
CSU GE Area C2 Humanities 3-5  
CSU GE Area D Social Sciences 3  
CSU GE Area B1 Physical Science 3-6  
CSU GE Area B3 Lab Activity (To Be Taken with Course from B1 or B2) 1  

Total Units: 16-23

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Additional Major Requirement (See Counselor) 3-4  
CSU GE Area A1 Oral Communication 3  
CSU GE Area D Social Sciences 3  
CSU GE Area B2 Life Science 3-6  
CSU Graduation Requirement Group 2 (See Counselor) 3  

Total Units: 15-19

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
TH A 150A Beginning Acting Fundamentals 3  
TH A 153A  Beginning Improvisation 3  
TH A 154A  Beginning Acting For The Camera 4   
TH A 160A Beginning Vocal Production and Audition 3  

Total Units: 13 

Choose any combination of three (3) elective units from the following, be it a single 3-unit course, any 1+2-unit combination, or any three 1-unit courses.

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
TH A 170A Beginning Shakespeare for Actors 3  
TH A 171A Beginning Storytelling and Performance 3  
TH A 201A Ensemble Role Comedy - Play Rehearsal and Presentation 1  
TH A 201B Supporting Role Comedy - Play Rehearsal Presentation 2  
TH A 201C Principal Role Comedy - Play Rehearsal and Presentation 3  
TH A 202A  Ensemble Role Drama - Play Rehearsal and Presentation 1  
TH A 202B Supporting Role Drama - Play Rehearsal Presentation 2  
TH A 202C Principal Role Drama - Play Rehearsal and Presentation 3  
TH A 203A  Ensemble Role Classical - Play Rehearsal Presentation 1  
TH A 203B Supporting Role Classic - Play Rehearsal Presentation 2  
TH A 203C Principal Role Classic - Play Rehearsal and Presentation 3  
TH A 204A Ensemble Role Tragedy - Play Rehearsal Presentation 1  
TH A 204B Supporting Role Tragedy - Play Rehearsal Presentation 2  
TH A 204C Principal Role Tragedy - Play Rehearsal and Presentation 3  

Total Units: 3 

Overall Total Units: 16

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities. Start planning your transfer by exploring Theatre Arts programs at the following institutions: 

  • San Francisco State University
  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis
  • UCLA
  • UC Irvine
  • Stanford

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.