The Department of Theatre and Film Studies offers a theatre major and theatre minor, a film minor, and, through the Music Department, a musical theatre voice concentration.

Integrating faith and the dramatic disciplines.

It is difficult to imagine in today's media saturated, postmodern, narrative-focused culture, that one can consider him/herself adequately educated without having developed an understanding of how dramatic art works and impacts its audiences and practitioners. It is our prayer that students here are prepared to become "missionaries" to the dramatic professions. That is to say, we seek to help them become both skilled in dramatic craft and mature in Christian discipleship, that they might one day enter the professional stage and film worlds in order to produce fine art to the glory of God, but also to reach out to a lost “people group” (dramatic professionals) who will not very likely be reached by outsiders. The dramatic arts are arguably one of the most influential modes of cultural communication today. We would be foolish to neglect proclaiming the Kingdom of God in this vital marketplace.

The dramatic arts thrive on liberal arts education!

The renowned actress and acting teacher Uta Hagen wrote, "To be more than an adequate or serviceable actor, it takes a broad education in the liberal arts." Theatre and film educators generally agree: those who wish to write, produce, direct, shoot, act in or otherwise create dramatic work need a wide understanding of many facets of life to produce their art effectively. A Covenant liberal arts education powerfully equips theatre and film graduates to work in the dramatic professions.

Theatre Studies

Covenant has two separate production arms: Mainstage Drama produced by the Theatre and Film Studies Department and the Drama Association, our fully student-led theatre. Additionally, students can work on plays at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). This is the most unique element of our program; a chance to work in a "secular theatre laboratory" and later debrief with Christian professors and students is key to our goal of preparing students to be "missionaries" to the professional theatre and film worlds.

Film Studies

With our new film minor now available plus the addition of a full time film professor in 2012, a film major –drawing on courses currently in development, such as Computer Animation – likely won't be far behind. Our active student-led Film Club is regularly involved in production of shorts which are eligible for screening at the local Broad Street Film Festival. Furthermore, students can spend a semester at the CCCU’s Los Angeles Film Studies Center,* taking a full roster of courses including a 6-hour internship in one of several Hollywood production houses.

* Off-campus programs require separate application and admission.