The Theatre and Communication Arts program offered at Whittier College is firmly based in the liberal arts tradition. Students who major within the department will also follow a program of study designed to stimulate awareness of various cultural traditions and to develop the creative abilities of each individual. This program also provides pre-professional training for those who plan to seek a career in the performing arts, to prepare for graduate school, or to pursue careers in other allied fields such as teaching. Recent graduates have found that their education in this department has helped them to prepare for careers in personnel, education, sales and advertising, business, law, and publishing, as well as in acting, directing, design and technical production, writing, film, television, and the themed entertainment industry.

The department's production program typically includes three-to-four faculty directed productions, numerous one-act productions by student directors. For especially qualified students, there are opportunities to design and, occasionally, to direct for the main season.