CSUN's Department of Theatre makes the strongest access case among the region's university programs: admission to the Theatre BA runs through the standard CSU application with no entrance audition, California-resident tuition published around $8,300 a year, and a department of more than 250 majors staging roughly eight productions annually across three campus venues in Northridge.
The BA's acting and directing option concentrates 55-plus units in acting, voice, movement, and directing, with casting in the production season handled by open department auditions, so stage time is earned, not bought. Backstage has ranked the program among the top US university programs for industry connections, plausible given the Valley's studio geography. The graduate MA is scholarship-focused and paused for new admissions, so treat this as an undergraduate destination.
Two access notes extend the reach: the Teenage Drama Workshop, a summer program for grades 7 through 12 that has introduced generations of Valley teens to serious theatre, and CSU-system affordability that makes a theatre degree financially rational in a way private conservatories struggle to match. For LA-area students building professional foundations without conservatory debt, CSUN belongs on the shortlist.
Techniques taught
- Eclectic / multi-technique: Schools that draw on several lineages and fit the tools to the actor, not the reverse.
Class types
Enrollment and schedule
Admission via standard CSU/CSUN application; the 2026-27 catalog specifies no entrance audition for the major, auditions apply to casting in department productions. Requirements: 2.0 GPA in upper-division theatre courses, 18 upper-division theatre units in residence, and four production participations. Schedule: Department office hours Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Duration: Four-year undergraduate degree (120 units).
Published pricing
| Program | Published price | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| undergraduate tuition and fees 2026-27, California resident (university-wide) | $8,328/year (7+ units per semester); non-residents add $471/unit | source 路 2026-07-16 |
Prices are the school's own published rates on the dates shown. We never estimate prices. Always confirm before enrolling.
Instructors
- Daniel Weingarten, Department Chair. Listed as chair contact on the official department page (daniel.weingarten@csun.edu)
Location
Questions actors ask
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Sources and verification
- Theatre Department - CSUN Mike Curb College, accessed 2026-07-16
- Theatre, B.A. - Acting and Directing (2026-2027 catalog), accessed 2026-07-16
- Graduate Theatre Programs - CSUN, accessed 2026-07-16
- 2026-2027 Fall and Spring Cost of Attendance - CSUN, accessed 2026-07-16
Researched 2026-07-16, last verified 2026-07-16. Facts above come only from these sources. Anything we could not confirm is simply not shown. Report incorrect information or claim this listing if you represent the school.
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