Drama
About the Program
The Drama Program at Houston Community College provides excellent classroom instruction in theatre arts, develops intensive individualized learning and artistic relationships with students and professional artistic staff, and creates performance opportunities (on stage and in all technical and design areas) for the widest number of interested students.
AWARD TYPES: Associate in Arts
AREA OF STUDY: Liberal Arts & Humanities
Degrees and Certificates
Learn more about the Degrees and Certificates offered by this program by visiting the HCC Catalog.
View Degrees & Certificates by ProgramProgram Outcomes
Students will be able to:View theatrical works of art and provide critical analysis of their effectiveness.
Identify technical theatre components, including costumes, lighting, scenic design, props, sound, and makeup.
Analyze the creative roles of theatrical production and experience, including the actor, audience, playwright and director.
Apply theatrical techniques as part of a theatrical event.
Program Information
General Requirements
To be eligible for an Associate in Arts (AA), an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), or an Associate in Science (AS) degree from HCC, a student must successfully:
Complete at least 60 semester hours of credit as follows: (a) for the AA degree, 43 hours of required core courses and 17 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major (b) for the AAT degree, 44 hours of required core courses plus 16-18 hours of required pre-teaching courses (c) for the AS degree, 43 hours of required core courses plus six additional hours of mathematics, four additional hours of natural science, and 7 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major.
Additional Degree Requirements
A student who has received an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution must meet specific requirements to earn an additional degree from HCC.
- The student must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours at HCC for each additional degree. These hours may not repeat credit applied from a previous HCC degree. These hours may not be satisfied through credit by exam.
- All additional hours must be applicable toward the additional degree. If the student has prior credit in required courses, appropriate substitutions may be arranged.
- All courses required by the specific HCC program of the additional degree must be completed.
- A grade point average of at least 2.0 must be earned on all hours since the previous degree.
- Academic courses from previous degrees may be applied to an additional AAS degree required academic core where equivalent and appropriate, which waives the need for approval, except where program restrictions prevail.
- If the first degree was an Associate in Arts, an Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate in Science, a bachelor degree, or higher degree from an accredited educational institution in the United States, the student will be considered to be “Core Complete”, thus needing to complete only the requirement of 18 additional semester hours at HCC toward a new associate degree.
- Each additional academic associate degree obtained from HCC must be of a different type. Thus, a student may only obtain one Associate in Arts, one Associate of Arts in Teaching, and/or one Associate in Science from HCC. For example, if one degree from HCC was an AA, then any additional degrees must be an AAT, AS, or AAS.
- Multiple Associate of Applied Science degrees may be earned from HCC if all AAS program requirements are met including earning at least 18 additional semester hours at HCC, 12 of which must be earned in the major program of the additional degree. In most cases, however, there is only one AAS degree allowable per workforce program. See counselor or program chair for clarification.
- Multiple workforce Certificates of Completion may be earned from HCC if all program requirements are met for each certificate including earning at least 9 additional unique semester hours at HCC toward the major program of the additional certificate.
- All other state and institutional graduation requirements, including TSI policies and financial obligations, must be met.
Employment
The study of Drama provides students with wide-reaching skills in communication, organization and efficacy. Students with a degree in Drama have the ability to pursue careers as performers, playwrights, directors, producers, stage managers, dramaturgs, theatre educators, ,drama therapists, and a number of arts management positions.
Students who complete the Associates of Arts in Drama will find that course transfer directly and fulfill requirements of their ultimate degree plan at a university or college attended.
There are 1,152 Actors employed in the Greater Houston Area. This number is expected to increase by 4.1% over the next four years.
- The estimated annual job openings is 51 jobs a year.
- Median Wages - $11.42 hourly, $24,000 annually
Hybrid Programs Restrictions
Hybrid programs allow students to take a mix of online and face-to-face courses. Hybrid programs offer 50% to 85% of their courses online and the remainder of the curriculum is taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.
Language Option Restrictions
Some hybrid programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.
Elective Course Restrictions
Some hybrid programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.
Required Course Restrictions
Hybrid programs require students to participate in campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.
Potential Course Restrictions
Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.
Field of Study Curriculum
Drama Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum
Drama Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum: General Track:
Field of Study Coursework:
- DRAM 1351 Acting I
- DRAM 1330 Stagecraft I
- DRAM 2355 Script Analysis
- DRAM 1120 Theater Practicum I
- DRAM 1121 Theater Practicum II
- DRAM 2120 Theater Practicum III
- DRAM 2121 Theater Practicum IV
Choose three of the following courses:
- DRAM 1310 Theater Appreciation
- DRAM 1322 Stage Movement
- DRAM 1341 Stage Makeup
- DRAM 1342 Costume Technology
- DRAM 1352 Acting II
- DRAM 2331 Stagecraft II
- DRAM 2335 Theater Design
Drama Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum: Performance Track:
Field of Study Coursework:
- DRAM 1351 Acting I
- DRAM 1330 Stagecraft I
- DRAM 2355 Script Analysis
- DRAM 1322 Stage Movement
- DRAM 1341 Stage Makeup
- DRAM 1352 Acting II
- DRAM 1120 Theater Practicum I
- DRAM 1121 Theater Practicum II
- DRAM 2120 Theater Practicum III
- DRAM 2121 Theater Practicum IV
Drama Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum: Design/Technical Track:
Field of Study Coursework:
- DRAM 1351 Acting I
- DRAM 1330 Stagecraft I
- DRAM 2355 Script Analysis
- DRAM 1120 Theater Practicum I
- DRAM 1121 Theater Practicum II
- DRAM 2120 Theater Practicum III
- DRAM 2121 Theater Practicum IV
Choose three of the following courses:
- DRAM 1341 Stage Makeup
- DRAM 1342 Costume Technology
- DRAM 2331 Stagecraft II
- DRAM 2335 Theater Design
Fully Transferable:
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has designated the Field of Study Curriculum courses as “fully transferable” to other public colleges and universities in Texas. Students planning on transferring to either private or out-of-state institutions should direct transfer questions to that college or university.
For more information, refer to the HCC Catalog (https://www.hccs.edu/programs/catalog/ ) and Field of Study Curricula Approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board thecb.state.tx.us/institutional-resources-programs/public-universities-health-related-institutions/transfer-resources/field-of-study-curricula/
Marketable Skills
Learn more about the marketable skills—skills valued by employers that can be applied in variety of work settings—so you can communicate these to potential employers. Click on the relevant award title below to see descriptions of marketable skills for that area.
Drama - Design Technology - Field of Study, A.A.
Drama - General - Field of Study, A.A.
Career Opportunities
Explore real-time labor market data on occupations you may pursue post-graduation, offering insight into career opportunities, potential earnings, and job demand in the Greater Houston region.
For more in-depth information about this career and other career pathways, visit Career Coach.
Resources
Search for a Drama Professor or request more information
Get in touch
Susan Hines, MM
PERFORMING ARTS CHAIR: Dance, Drama and Music
Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm