Performing Arts Pathway
Unleash your creativity and prepare for your artistic and scholarly future in the performing arts while earning college credit in high school!
Why Choose Performing Arts Pathways?
Dance Courses
DANC 130V Hip Hop 1 (Fall '26/Spring '26)
DANC 140 Dance Appreciation (Fall '25/Spring '26 also counts as general education)*
DANC 201 Contemporary Technique 1 (Fall '26/Spring '26)
DANC 210 Ballet Technique 1 (Spring '26)
DANC 235 Jazz Technique 1 (Fall '26)
DANC Technique Electives
Technique courses beyond level 1 are possible with an audition.
*Online option
Theatre Courses
THEA 143 Theatre Appreciation (Fall '25/Spring '26 also counts as general education)*
THEA 222 Voice and Movement for the Actor 1 – Speech and Diction (Spring '26)
THEA 228 Script Analysis (Fall '26)
THEA 231 Foundations: Theatre Design and Technology (Spring '26)
THEA 241 Improvisation for the Actor (Spring '26 also counts as general education)
THEA 243 Acting 1 – Foundations (Fall '26/Spring '26 also counts as general education)
THEA 244 Stagecraft: Applied Technology (Fall '26)
THEA 245 Stage Lighting and Electrics (Fall '26/Spring '26)
THEA 253 Costume and Wardrobe Technology (Fall '26)
*Online option
High school junior and seniors can take any of our suggested courses at a reduced rate ($149.00 flat rate per course) and earn college credit at Wichita State University. Some of our classes listed also count as general education courses toward any degree. All of our DANC and THEA courses count to any of our School of Performing Arts degrees. If you'd like more information about our different degrees, you can find them all here.
Wichita State University is fully accredited by the North Central Region of the Higher Learning Commission. Therefore, WSU credits are highly transferable to many colleges and universities nationwide. If you would like to know more about the transferability of college credits to other universities, click here.
- Acting: Engage in training in acting methods, voice techniques, improvisation, and character development for stage, film, and voiceover
- Dance: Explore studies in contemporary dance with additional choices in ballet, jazz, hip hop and tap along with an introduction to dance theory
- Design/Technology: Discover production innovation through courses in stagecraft, lighting, and costumes
- Musical Theatre: Get inspired and refine your skills through courses in dancing and acting for a performance-focused career
- Theatre: Dive into an overview of theatre training including acting, script analysis, and foundations of design and technical theatre
- Guest Artists: Join current performing arts majors and learn from visiting professional actors, choreographers, designers, and directors
- Productions: Attend all school-led productions for FREE (dance repertoire concerts, musicals, films, and plays)
- College Audition/Interview Prep: Engage in semester college audition/interview preparation processes through “Major for a Day” (discounted)
- College Visits: Explore Wichita State and learn about housing, admissions, student organizations and more
- Career Counseling: Get insights on scholarships and career paths with Shocker Career Accelerator and current performing arts faculty
- Curriculum and Degree Understanding: Gain insight and mentorship into choosing the performing arts degree path this is aligned with your educational and career interests
- Discover your area of interest before the pressure is on to declare a major
- Accumulating college credits early and graduate on time or early
- Save money
- Easy transition from high school to college
- Greater likelihood of future academic success
- Opportunity to access college facilities and resources
- Professional and affordable training while in high school
