91ÊÓÆµ

Directing, BA

Step behind the curtain with 91ÊÓÆµâ€™s Bachelor of Arts in Directing, a rare undergraduate program where you’ll collaborate with actors, designers, and playwrights on live productions. With a semester abroad in Barcelona and mentorship from professional directors, this degree prepares you to create compelling theater and develop a distinctive directorial voice.

Sands College of Performing arts students on stage.
Location

New York City

Number of Credits

128

Start Date

Fall

F1 Visa Eligible

Yes

STEM Designated Program

No

Direct, Create, and Collaborate in the Center of the Theatre World

The bachelor’s in directing at 91ÊÓÆµâ€™s Sands College of Performing Arts—one of the —is also one of the few undergraduate programs in the nation offering hands-on training for theater directors. The program integrates practical experience with a strong liberal arts foundation, training students in directing, acting, stage management, script analysis, and movement. Through the , students collaborate with actors, playwrights, designers, and technicians, creating original work and reimagining classic productions.

During your fifth semester, you’ll study abroad at the , where you’ll train in European theater techniques while continuing to meet academic requirements. Back in New York, you will gain experience assistant directing professional productions and participating in new works festivals. Each project hones your ability to craft a unique directorial voice, collaborate across disciplines, and bring your creative vision to life.

Graduates of the directing degree program have created theater companies, directed professionally in regional and international venues, and gone on to prestigious graduate programs. With an understanding of theater as an interdisciplinary art form, alumni are equipped to create compelling productions and carve out successful careers as directors, producers, and artistic leaders.

Top 10

Did You Know?

91ÊÓÆµ is one of the most represented colleges on Broadway, ranked #4 for the 2023–2024 season (Source: Playbill.com)

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Top 27

one of the Top 27 acting colleges in America of 2024 (Source: Backstage.com)

Among the Best

named one of the best college dance programs for 2024 in America (Source: DanceUS.org)

Top 13

one of the 13 best musical theater colleges in America of 2025 (Source: Backstage.com)

Curriculum

You will have coursework in global marketing management, advertising and promotion, sports marketing, or digital marketing. Further, you’ll learn the necessary competencies to work for a Fortune 1000 firm, the communications division of a global corporation, an ad agency conglomerate, on Madison Avenue, for an internet giant or start up, and everywhere in between.

Take Courses Like…

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Students being directed by a student in the Directing-International Performance Ensemble, BA program.

Careers

Our graduates have created theater companies, directed regionally and internationally, or have further bolstered their expertise at the graduate level.

As a 91ÊÓÆµ student, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with our robust career services team to develop a career plan that best fits your goals.

Where 91ÊÓÆµ Graduates Shine

View the full list

Student Quote

We give our students the tools to make their own work—to break new ground, push their limits, take risks, and collaborate with others. We cultivate and nurture the artist-creator. We ask our students, what do you have to say?

—Adrienne Kapstein, Head of the BA in Acting and BA in Directing programs

Featured Faculty

Associate Professor
Program Head: BA International Performance Ensemble

Clinical Assistant Professor
Associate Program Head: BA International Performance Ensemble

Admission and Financial Aid

Ready to take charge of your future? 91ÊÓÆµ is with you every step of the way, providing a world class education and the skills your industry will be looking for far into the future.

  • To learn more about requirements to apply to the Sands College of Performing Arts and what each program requests to include in your application, visit the Sands admission webpage.

  • All prospective students to the Sands College of Performing Arts must submit an application for admission to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions before beginning the audition or interview process.

    1. Application Deadlines

    • November 1: Early Decision—provided that the audition or interview is completed before December 1.
    • December 1: Application Final Deadline—no application will be accepted after this date.
    • January 3: Pre-screen Deadline—all pre-screens must be in by this date for callback consideration.
    • May 1: Deposit Deadline—commitment date for all admitted students, no new decisions will go out after this date.

    2. Submit Your Audition Or Portfolio Media On Acceptd

    Once prospective students have applied for admission to 91ÊÓÆµ, they should and upload the pre-screen requirements to all programs in which they wish to audition/interview.

    NOTE: Applicants will need to know their Application ID number (sent via email once the application is processed).

    3. Get Your Callback

    Our faculty will review each digital submission and issue decisions on all submissions. For those issued callbacks, the faculty will need to see the applicant for a live audition or interview. Students will be notified via Acceptd of the faculty’s decision within two weeks from time of submission and, if given a callback, will be invited to schedule their audition or interview via Acceptd. Students who are not called back will also be notified in the same time frame.

    If a student does not hear back from the College of Performing Arts within three weeks, they may email performingarts@pace.edu.

    4. Attend The Callback Audition Or Interview

    If granted multiple callbacks, the student will need to attend all auditions/interviews. (All programs audition/interview separately).

    5. Get The Academic And Artistic Decision

    Students will receive one decision letter with their academic and artistic acceptance together. Early Decision applicants will receive their decision by December. All other applicants will be reviewed for academic admission and notified of both the academic and artistic decision beginning in mid-March. In all instances a student must be academically admissible to qualify for admission to the Sands College.

  • Understanding the value of a degree is essential, especially in terms of return on investment (ROI). According to The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 91ÊÓÆµ is in the top 6% of U.S. colleges that provide the best return on tuition investment.

    For the 2024–2025 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition is $56,382. However, many students pay significantly less due to our generous merit scholarships, which offer up to $33,000 annually, as well as need-based scholarships, grants, on-campus employment opportunities, and loans. 91ÊÓÆµ is more affordable than you think. Financial assistance can come from many places, including scholarships, grants, on-campus employment, and loans.

    Merit Scholarship Estimator

    based on your academic achievements to see how much merit aid you may receive.

    Net Price Calculator

    Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your annual education costs and financial aid package.

  • For any inquiries, please email Wayne Petro, Director of Enrollment and Incoming Advisor. He’s here to help answer your questions and guide you through the enrollment process.

Top 6%

Did You Know?

91ÊÓÆµ is ranked in the top 6% nationally for return on investment (Source: The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce)

Contact Us

Admission Contact

Office of Undergraduate Admission
New York City: (212) 346-1323
Westchester: (914) 773-3746
Email: undergradadmission@pace.edu

Departmental Contact

Adrienne Kapstein
Phone: (212) 618-6128
Email: akapstein@pace.edu