Major Honours

Theatre Honours

Major details for:
Murdoch code
MJ-THEH
Study mode
Part Time or Full Time
What is a Major?
A major is your primary area of focus within a degree. It determines the core subjects you'll study and the skills you'll master.

Major overview

An Honours year in Theatre is your chance to deepen and extend your undergraduate studies by undertaking an independent research project supported by expert supervision. This project may take the form of a written dissertation or a practice-as-research study incorporating a creative work.

You will have the opportunity to develop your specialisation, while engaging with major debates in theatre and performance studies, such as theatre’s role in social change and the evolving relationship between text, performance and audience. Alongside this, you will cultivate advanced research skills, with the option for strengthening both your scholarly capacity and your creative practice.

Over one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) study, you will develop advanced skills in critical thinking, creative practice, communication, leadership, collaboration and independent research—highly transferable skills valued in the creative industries, cultural organisations, education and beyond.

3 reasons to study Theatre Honours at Murdoch

  1. Pursue either a research dissertation or practice-as-research pathway, tailored to your strengths and career goals.
  2. Engage with theatre as both an artistic practice and a critical lens on contemporary society, for example, through exploring applied, political and ecological performance.
  3. Work closely with an expert supervisor, refining your capacity to lead original scholarly or creative projects.

What you’ll learn

This Theatre Honours major will build upon your previous undergraduate degree.

  • Develop your knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of theatre, performance and creative production.
  • Expand your creative, critical-thinking and communication skills.
  • Learn how to succeed while working on your own, leading others or working within a team.
  • Further develop the writing, data analysis and independent research skills you need as a postgraduate student through our free workshops and seminars.
  • Develop the skills you need to present your knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences.
  • Show responsibility and accountability for your own learning, demonstrating initiative and judgement in diverse contexts.

Your future career

  • By undertaking an honours degree, you can improve your employment prospects, with career paths for graduates possibly including:Higher degree research (Master’s or PhD)
  • Careers in performance, directing, dramaturgy, scenography, acting, writing and creative production
  • Teaching and education
  • Specialised roles in cultural industries, arts organisations and applied community-based performance

Start dates

Starting period Location Face to Face Online Mixed mode
Semester 2, 2026 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes
Semester 1, 2026 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes
Semester 2, 2027 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes
Semester 1, 2027 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Starting period Location Face to Face Online Mixed mode
Semester 2, 2026 Murdoch Yes No No
Semester 1, 2026 Murdoch Yes No No
Semester 2, 2027 Murdoch Yes No No
Semester 1, 2027 Murdoch Yes No No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Major Structure

Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Unit code Unit name Credit points

How to Apply

Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.

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1300 687 3624

1300 687 3624

1300 687 3624

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