The primary goal of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Film of Providence College is the development of theatre artists. It provides knowledge of and experience in the discipline of theatre, offering a foundation necessary for graduate study and continued professional development. By developing theatre artists, the department directly enriches the life of the College through a program of public performances.

In keeping with the liberal arts foundation, the Department of Theatre, Dance and Film is committed to providing its students with a thorough background in theatre history, theory, criticism, and literature. This approach arises from the belief that, in addition to developing proficiency in a variety of theatre crafts and performance techniques, the young theatre artist must understand theatre as an art which exists in an historical, political, spiritual and economic context.