Do you enjoy performing onstage or in front of a camera? Perhaps you would you rather work backstage or on a film set designing and building scenic elements and costumes, operating lights and sound, editing, designing and applying special effects make up, directing a stage production or directing a short film? Whether you are an actor, director, designer or technician, our Film and Theatre Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) program may be for you! With a conservatory approach, our program teaches you the fundamental knowledge and techniques essential to performance and production in the film and theatre industries.
Our students often choose to move directly into the workforce as actors, technicians and designers in both theatre and film. Our faculty offers a broad range of coursework that focuses on skills to greatly increase your opportunities in the industry. Upon completing the Associate in Fine Arts degree, you will be prepared for entry-level employment in performance and/or production or ready to transfer your credits to a four-year college.
Our Film and Theatre program might be a good fit if you:
To pursue an arts-related profession, you should develop a varied skillset and seek professional training in either performance or technical theatre. Creatively YOURS, we can help you develop these skills.
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Our Film and Theatre Associate in Fine Arts program prepares you for entry-level employment within film and theatre production companies. Our hands-on curriculum allows you to gain fundamental knowledge and techniques essential to acting and working in the many technical areas that relate to the film and theatre industries. We emphasize resume building skills, and provide a conservatory approach, as you select between an Acting or Technical concentration.
Our Acting concentration gives you skills in:
Our Technical concentration provides you skills in
Lastly, our curriculum allows you to gain real-world experience through practicum and capstone experience courses.
This program is designed to prepare you to:
Yes! While our program is designed to prepare you for entry-level employment, you may also transfer to many four-year institutions and professional film and theatre schools. Therefore, we encourage you to select a four-year school as soon as possible. This will allow you to learn the transfer college’s program requirements so you can take the proper classes at HACC.
Please see the list of schools for transferring options:
Cheyney University of PA: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania - Bloomsburg: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania - Lock Haven: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania - Mansfield: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
East Stroudsburg University of PA: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
Indiana University of PA: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
Kutztown University of PA: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
PennWest California: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
PennWest Clarion: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
PennWest Edinboro: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
Slippery Rock University of PA: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
West Chester University of PA: | Pennsylvania Statewide P2P Agreement (pdf) |
Students may only complete this program at our Harrisburg Campus through on-campus/in-person instruction.
Yes! We offer many scholarships through the HACC Foundation. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. To learn how to apply, please visit hacc.edu/Scholarships.
You may take classes in the spring, summer and fall. Please visit our website to apply anytime.
When submitting your application, please use program code 2500. This will ensure that you are enrolled in the correct program.
Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Please choose the option that works best for you to meet with us.
Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.
“HACC challenges me and encourages me to go above and beyond.”
“HACC is a leader in education, and the HACC Theatre Program Faculty are an amazingly talented group of award-winning artists who guide students to successful endeavors in professional theatre careers.” – Lori Friedlander, theatre technical director