Performance Studies

Explore performance in all aspects of social life with the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Performance Studies. Through performance, you will engage creatively with the world around you in an on-going process of investigation and meaning-making.

At Texas A&M, you can do it all — you don’t have to specialize in music or theater. We offer a program that allows you flexibility to combine music, theater, and technology that will satisfy your curiosity, too.

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About the Performance Studies Program

Performance Studies invites students to ask questions about the world through performance. We take an interdisciplinary, liberal arts approach to the study of performance. We emphasize project-based learning, trans-disciplinary research, and community involvement.

Through this program, you will develop the skills to become a critical thinker and engaged citizen. We cultivate analytical, interpretive, and creative skills that prepare creative individuals for diverse careers in and beyond the arts.

Areas of Emphasis


Four Pillars of the B.A. in Performance Studies

Performance as Research

In Performance Studies, we embrace the fact that live, embodied performance provides a unique way to know and understand the world. A musician, an actor, a dancer, or performer of any stripe knows the world differently by virtue of their performance practice; we teach our B.A. students to harness that knowledge and share it widely.

Intercultural Performance Practices

We privilege performance as a location of intercultural encounter — a way for us to understand each other through performance. We bring artists from around the world to our campus to work with our students on research and performance projects, and we equip our students with the tools they need to be responsible global citizens and make ethical choices.

Performance and Technology

We train students to take advantage of technological advances in their creative and professional lives, and to recognize the risks and rewards ongoing technological progress can provide to our communities.

Performing Communities

Our courses emphasize the use of performance to create and circulate knowledge for and within a variety of communities. In courses on topics ranging from arts administration to activist performance, B.A. students learn to use the arts to promote resilient communities and drive social change. We make informed and responsible citizens, who use performance to serve their communities and the wider world.


Curriculum

Our B.A. provides a foundation in critical reflection, analysis, and creative practice from which students can launch a variety of careers. In their core Performance Studies courses, B.A. students are immersed in performance theory, learn the craft of creating live theatrical and musical performance, and cultivate essential research and writing skills to be successful citizens, scholars, and artists in the 21st century.

The four-year performance studies undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Degree Plan | 2023–2024 Catalog

For more information, visit the Texas A&M Course Catalog.

Year 1 32

Fall Semester – 16 credit hours

PERF 101 Introduction to Performance Studies 3
Survey of topics in the interdisciplinary field of performance studies, including forms of performance, performance in everyday life and performance in global and intercultural contexts; in-class performance exercises and discussions; major writing component.
American history 3
Courses in this category focus on the consideration of past events and ideas relative to the United States, with the option of including Texas History for a portion of this component area. Courses involve the interaction among individuals, communities, states, the nation, and the world, considering how these interactions have contributed to the development of the United States and its global role. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.
Creative arts 3
Courses in this category focus on the appreciation and analysis of creative artifacts and works of the human imagination. Courses involve the synthesis and interpretation of artistic expression and enable critical, creative, and innovative communication about works of art. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, team work, and social responsibility.
Foreign language 4
Complete 14 hours of a foreign language through the intermediate level. If you choose to enroll in a language you have studied previously without receiving college credit, you must first take a placement test. See academic advisor.
General elective 3
Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, up to 12 hours of courses from PERF 300-499 or FILM 300-499 may be applied.

Spring Semester – 16 credit hours

ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric 3
(ENGL 1302) Composition and Rhetoric. Focus on referential and persuasive researched essays through the development of analytical reading ability, critical thinking and library research skills.
Prerequisite: Freshman or sophomore classification; also taught at Galveston and Qatar campuses.
Foreign Language 4
Complete 14 hours of a foreign language through the intermediate level. If you choose to enroll in a language you have studied previously without receiving college credit, you must first take a placement test. See academic advisor.
Mathematics 3
Courses in this category focus on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships. Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate quantitative tools to everyday experiences. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, and empirical and quantitative.
Social and behavioral sciences 3
Courses in this category focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative, and social responsibility.
Performance studies elective 3
Select from PERF 100-499; FILM 100-499; ANTH 324/PERF 324; AFST 327/PERF 327; AFST 398/FILM 398; CHIN 465/FILM 465; CLAS 415/FILM 415; COMM 345/FILM 345; COMM 435/FILM 445; ENGL 251/FILM 251; ENGL 324/FILM 324; ENGL 351/FILM 351; ENGL 356/FILM 356; ENGL 358/FILM 358; ENGL 385; EURO 405/FILM 405; FREN 425/FILM 425; GERM 435/FILM 435; INTS 215/FILM 215; ITAL 455/FILM 455; PHIL 376/FILM 376; WGST 343/FILM 343.
Year 2 30

Fall Semester – 15 credit hours

PERF 301 Performance in World Cultures 3
Application of the tools of performance studies to explore the enactment of the arts in world cultures and the ways the people of every society express themselves in performance; examination of different genres of performance through music, theatre, verbal art and dress.
Communications/English 3
Select one of the following: COMM 203 — Public Speaking; COMM 205 — Communication for Technical Professions; COMM 243 — Argumentation and Debate; ENGL 103 — Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition; ENGL 203 — Writing about Literature; ENGL 210 — Technical and Professional Writing.
Foreign Language 3
Complete 14 hours of a foreign language through the intermediate level. If you choose to enroll in a language you have studied previously without receiving college credit, you must first take a placement test. See academic advisor.
Government/Political science 3
Courses in this category focus on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Courses involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.
General elective 3
Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, up to 12 hours of courses from PERF 300-499 or FILM 300-499 may be applied.

Spring Semester – 15 credit hours

Foreign Language 3
Complete 14 hours of a foreign language through the intermediate level. If you choose to enroll in a language you have studied previously without receiving college credit, you must first take a placement test. See academic advisor.
Government/Political science 3
Courses in this category focus on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Courses involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.
Life and physical sciences 3
Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative, and team work.
Performance studies elective 3
Select from PERF 100-499; FILM 100-499; ANTH 324/PERF 324; AFST 327/PERF 327; AFST 398/FILM 398; CHIN 465/FILM 465; CLAS 415/FILM 415; COMM 345/FILM 345; COMM 435/FILM 445; ENGL 251/FILM 251; ENGL 324/FILM 324; ENGL 351/FILM 351; ENGL 356/FILM 356; ENGL 358/FILM 358; ENGL 385; EURO 405/FILM 405; FREN 425/FILM 425; GERM 435/FILM 435; INTS 215/FILM 215; ITAL 455/FILM 455; PHIL 376/FILM 376; WGST 343/FILM 343.
General elective 3
Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, up to 12 hours of courses from PERF 300-499 or FILM 300-499 may be applied.
Year 3 30

Fall Semester – 15 credit hours

American history 3
Courses in this category focus on the consideration of past events and ideas relative to the United States, with the option of including Texas History for a portion of this component area. Courses involve the interaction among individuals, communities, states, the nation, and the world, considering how these interactions have contributed to the development of the United States and its global role. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.
Life and physical sciences 3
Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative, and team work.
Mathematics 3
Courses in this category focus on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships. Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate quantitative tools to everyday experiences. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, and empirical and quantitative.
Literature directed elective 3
Choose from AFST 204/ENGL 204; AFST 205/ENGL 205; AFST 329/ENGL 329; AFST 339/ENGL 339; AFST 379/ENGL 379; AFST 393/ENGL 393; CLAS 261; CLAS 262; CLAS 352; CLAS 372; ENGL 202; ENGL 203; ENGL 206; ENGL 212; ENGL 219; ENGL 220; ENGL 221/MODL 221; ENGL 222/MODL 222; ENGL 227; ENGL 228; ENGL 231; ENGL 232; ENGL 292; ENGL 305; ENGL 306; ENGL 313; ENGL 314; ENGL 315; ENGL 316; ENGL 317; ENGL 318; ENGL 321; ENGL 322; ENGL 323; ENGL 330; ENGL 331; ENGL 333/WGST 333; ENGL 334; ENGL 336; ENGL 337; ENGL 338; ENGL 340; ENGL 343; ENGL 350; ENGL 352; ENGL 356/FILM 356; ENGL 357; ENGL 360; ENGL 361; ENGL 362/HISP 362; ENGL 365/RELS 360; ENGL 372; ENGL 373; ENGL 374/WGST 374; ENGL 375; ENGL 376; ENGL 377; ENGL 378; ENGL 390; ENGL 391; ENGL 392/RELS 392; ENGL 394; ENGL 395; ENGL 396; ENGL 412; ENGL 414; ENGL 415; ENGL 431; ENGL 474/WGST 474; EURO 441/RUSS 441; EURO 442/RUSS 442; EURO 443/RUSS 443; EURO 444/RUSS 444; ITAL 453.
Performance studies seminar 3
Select from PERF 450-480.

Spring Semester – 15 credit hours

PERF 303 Creating Performance 3
Live and mediated performance; techniques and skills for performance; practical experience; discussion and critical analysis of performance; strategies for devising performance.
Language, philosophy and culture 3
Courses in this category focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.
Life and physical sciences 3
Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative, and team work.
Performance studies seminar 3
Select from PERF 450-480.
General elective 3
Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, up to 12 hours of courses from PERF 300-499 or FILM 300-499 may be applied.
Year 4 28

Fall Semester – 15 credit hours

Language, philosophy and culture or creative arts 3
Courses in this category focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.
Social and behavioral sciences 3
Courses in this category focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative, and social responsibility.
Performance studies elective 3
Select from PERF 100-499; FILM 100-499; ANTH 324/PERF 324; AFST 327/PERF 327; AFST 398/FILM 398; CHIN 465/FILM 465; CLAS 415/FILM 415; COMM 345/FILM 345; COMM 435/FILM 445; ENGL 251/FILM 251; ENGL 324/FILM 324; ENGL 351/FILM 351; ENGL 356/FILM 356; ENGL 358/FILM 358; ENGL 385; EURO 405/FILM 405; FREN 425/FILM 425; GERM 435/FILM 435; INTS 215/FILM 215; ITAL 455/FILM 455; PHIL 376/FILM 376; WGST 343/FILM 343.
Performance studies seminar 3
Select from PERF 450-480.
General elective 3
Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, up to 12 hours of courses from PERF 300-499 or FILM 300-499 may be applied.

Spring Semester – 15 credit hours

PERF 481 Capstone Seminar: Performance as Research 3
Capstone senior project on an individually-chosen research topic, presentation of a performance or interdisciplinary project; major writing and oral communication components.
Literature directed elective 3
Choose from AFST 204/ENGL 204; AFST 205/ENGL 205; AFST 329/ENGL 329; AFST 339/ENGL 339; AFST 379/ENGL 379; AFST 393/ENGL 393; CLAS 261; CLAS 262; CLAS 352; CLAS 372; ENGL 202; ENGL 203; ENGL 206; ENGL 212; ENGL 219; ENGL 220; ENGL 221/MODL 221; ENGL 222/MODL 222; ENGL 227; ENGL 228; ENGL 231; ENGL 232; ENGL 292; ENGL 305; ENGL 306; ENGL 313; ENGL 314; ENGL 315; ENGL 316; ENGL 317; ENGL 318; ENGL 321; ENGL 322; ENGL 323; ENGL 330; ENGL 331; ENGL 333/WGST 333; ENGL 334; ENGL 336; ENGL 337; ENGL 338; ENGL 340; ENGL 343; ENGL 350; ENGL 352; ENGL 356/FILM 356; ENGL 357; ENGL 360; ENGL 361; ENGL 362/HISP 362; ENGL 365/RELS 360; ENGL 372; ENGL 373; ENGL 374/WGST 374; ENGL 375; ENGL 376; ENGL 377; ENGL 378; ENGL 390; ENGL 391; ENGL 392/RELS 392; ENGL 394; ENGL 395; ENGL 396; ENGL 412; ENGL 414; ENGL 415; ENGL 431; ENGL 474/WGST 474; EURO 441/RUSS 441; EURO 442/RUSS 442; EURO 443/RUSS 443; EURO 444/RUSS 444; ITAL 453.
Performance studies elective 3
Select from PERF 100-499; FILM 100-499; ANTH 324/PERF 324; AFST 327/PERF 327; AFST 398/FILM 398; CHIN 465/FILM 465; CLAS 415/FILM 415; COMM 345/FILM 345; COMM 435/FILM 445; ENGL 251/FILM 251; ENGL 324/FILM 324; ENGL 351/FILM 351; ENGL 356/FILM 356; ENGL 358/FILM 358; ENGL 385; EURO 405/FILM 405; FREN 425/FILM 425; GERM 435/FILM 435; INTS 215/FILM 215; ITAL 455/FILM 455; PHIL 376/FILM 376; WGST 343/FILM 343.
General elective 3
Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, up to 12 hours of courses from PERF 300-499 or FILM 300-499 may be applied.
General elective 1
Select from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, up to 12 hours of courses from PERF 300-499 or FILM 300-499 may be applied.

FAQ About the Program

How much does it cost to attend?

The cost to attend varies depending on a variety of factors, including semester of admission, student type, how many hours you take per semester, and rate type. Use the Texas A&M Tuition Calculator to get the best estimate of your tuition cost per semester.

Additional costs to consider include course materials, housing, meal plans, parking, and fees.

What financial aid and scholarships are available to students?

Numerous scholarships and financial aid are available through Texas A&M University and the School of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts. Incoming freshmen applicants are considered for university scholarships through the ApplyTexas Application or the Coalition Application. Continuing students can apply for additional scholarships through the University Scholarship Application for Continuing Students. For more information about university scholarships, visit scholarships.tamu.edu.

Who can I go to with questions?

For more information about the B.A. in Performance Studies, please contact Dr. Kim Kattari at kkattari@tamu.edu.

How do I declare a major in Performance Studies?

To declare a major in Performance Studies, please contact your academic advisor.

How will the program prepare me for a career?

A Performance Studies degree prepares you for multiple career paths in a changing and dynamic world. In Performance Studies, we seek the knowledge performance reveals about human experience and culture.
There are many resources available to you at Texas A&M that can help you identify and prepare for your future career. The best resource is the TAMU Career Center, which houses several mentors experienced with Performance Studies majors.


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