Acting has been taught for more than 75 years at Hamline University in Saint Paul. The school stages productions for three different venues: a theater, a black box theater and those captured in a televised studio. Course work inside the theater arts major consists of script analysis, costume design and teaching theater. There is a also an associated film studies course which examines the work of great actors from the big screen.
Students at Macalaster College in Saint Paul who wish to pursue acting can place their emphasis in two fields: theater or a combination of theater and dance. Theater majors at Macalester are required to take courses in modern global performances, scene design and a course about theories regarding directing productions. Onstage productions at Macalester College are open to all students, not just those who are theater or dance majors.
St. Catherine's University, also known as St. Kate's, is a Catholic-based learning institution located in Saint Paul. Admission into the theater program at the school is competitive, and as of late January 2011, the university was no longer accepting new students for its theater program. The school offers training in acting techniques, dramatic theory, directing and theater design. The school is also in the process of expanding by offering minors in theater studies and theater performance and a major in music theater.
Concordia University's theater department concentrates on two primary subject areas: acting and dance. Courses for undergraduates pursuing a bachelor's degree in theater at Concordia teach students lessons in improvisation, dialect, movement, scenes and Shakespearean dialogue, among other choices. The school also offers a courses in behind-the-scenes work such as stage management and makeup. Students can also earn credit for trips exploring the New York City and London, England theater culture.
There are three distinct course tracks in the theater department at Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minnesota: acting and directing, design or musical theater. Bethel University offers four productions per year, during which students earn credit and advance their skills. Noteworthy classes are an overview of theater topics, Shakespeare performance and stagecraft. As a Christian university, students are also asked to analyze how the message of the play relates to the Bible.