현대 공연예술의 종류와 장르는 매우 다양하다. 수많은 공연예술 분야 중에서 오늘날 대중으로부터 많은 관심과 호응을 얻고 있는 것이 뮤지컬이라 해도 과언이 아니다. 뮤지컬이 우리나라 대학 내에서 교과목 또는 전공분야로 시작된 지 10여년이 지났다. 현재 약 30여 대학 및 8개 대학원에 뮤지컬학과(전공)가 개설되어 있으며 그 숫자도 점차 증가하고 있는 추세이다. 초창기 각 대학의 고유한 환경과 여건에 따라 여러 가지 다양한 형태로 신설된 뮤지컬학과는 많은 변화를 가지면서 현재의 학과 또는 전공의 형태로 존재하게 되였다. 본 연구는 뮤지컬이라는 새로운 학문분야가 우리나라 대학 내에서 시작 된 시점으로부터 현재 학과(전공)로 정착되어진 현황에 대해 연구하였다.
Contemporary performing arts are divided into various fields. Today, the most popular field of performing arts would be musical theatre arts. It has been about 10 years since the musical theatre major has become a major field of study at universities in Korea. Currently, about 30 undergraduate programs and 8 graduate programs in Korea offer a musical theatre major, and the number is gradually increasing. During the initial development, the musical theatre major had been established in various forms in accordance with the circumstances of each university, and they have evolved into current forms of departments after undergoing many changes. The beginning stages of the establishment of a musical theatre major in universities can be categorized into three types: 1) developed from theatre and film departments or developed as a branch of music departments and eventually formed as an independent department, 2) developed as one of internal majors within theatre, dance or music departments, and 3) established as an official music theatre department from the very beginning. This study examines the current state of musical theatre major as a brand new field of study from the beginning of its existence to its settlement as an official department or a major at universities in Korea.
