Message from the Department Chair

Welcome to Marywood University's Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance website. Here you will find helpful information about our undergraduate and graduate performing arts degree programs, faculty, community outreach, and performance events. Please feel free to contact us directly for any additional information. We will be happy to help you learn about opportunities for music, theatre, and dance study at Marywood.

Come visit campus and see our new performance venue, the Marian Chapel (located in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life/Loughran Hall). Completed in April 2007, the chapel has a dual role for the University community. This 180-seat facility serves as a worship space and as an acoustically-designed recital hall complete with new 35-rank Peragallo pipe organ and new Steinway grand piano. The Black Box Theatre (located in the ground floor of the Performing Arts Center) is a laboratory theatre designed with flex staging to accommodate student-directed productions and experimental theatre.

As of July 1, 2009, the performing arts degree programs at Marywood unite under a new title: the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Degree programs now include: Bachelor of Music in music education; music therapy; and music performance. Bachelor of Arts degrees offered in musical theatre; theatre arts; and arts administration (concentration in music or theatre). Teacher certification programs include: secondary 7-12 certification in communication arts (specialization in theatre arts); and music education K-12. Undergraduate students majoring in other areas across the University can choose an 18-credit minor specialization in music, theatre, or dance.

Graduate programs include: Master of Arts degree in music education. Post-baccalaureate students already possessing an undergraduate degree in music may pursue Pennsylvania initial teacher certification in music K-12 education.

Since its foundation in 1915, as one of the first three degree-granting programs at Marywood, the music department continued its strong commitment of service and academic excellence for well over ninety years. Today, our newly created Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance continues that tradition of excellence begun in the music and theatre degree programs, preparing students to meet the needs of the 21st century as professional artists and leaders in their respective areas of expertise.

Interested in music, theatre, or dance as a career choice? Come join the Marywood University community.

We hope to hear from you soon!

—Joan McCusker, IHM, Ph.D., Chair
Music, Theatre, and Dance (570) 348-6268 x2531
mccusker@maryu.marywood.edu