The Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts (1968-1975) offered courses in speech, dramatic arts, and communicative habilitation at Brigham Young University.

In 1968 the Department of Dramatic Arts and the Department of Speech were combined to form the Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts. This department helped students prepare to become teachers, directors, actors, clinicians, or members of any one of several related professions. This department focused on two separate subjects, speech and dramatic arts. The speech portion offered a public address major and selected courses for personal development in argumentation and debate, communication theory, discussion, public speaking, rhetoric, and speech criticism. The dramatic acts curriculum was designed to lead to professional competency in teaching on the secondary level, in acting, directing, or playwriting, or in technical theatre.

Lael J. Woodbury (1968-1972) and Parley W. Newman (1972-1975) served as department chairs until 1975 when the department was renamed the Department of Theatre and Cinematic Arts.

The Department of Theatre and Cinematic Arts (1975-1987) offered courses in film and theatre arts at Brigham Young University.

In 1975 the Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts was renamed the Department of Theatre and Cinematic Arts. This department offered students a comprehensive education in the art, production, history, and technical elements of theatre, film, and videotape production. Charles L. Metten (1976-1980) and Harold R. Oakes (1980-1987) served as department chairs durring its existance. In 1987 it was renamed the Department of Theatre, Speech, and Cinema.

The Department of Theatre, Speech and Cinema (1987-1988) taught classes and developed theatrical and cinematic productions. The Department was reorganized in 1988 as the Department of Theatre and Film. The Department of Theatre, Speech and Cinema was formed in 1987 from the former Department of Theatre and Cinematic Arts. Harold R. Oaks served as the Department Chair served from 1987 to 1988. The Department taught classes related to theatre, film, dance and directing. The Department also produced musical, theatrical and film productions. The Department awarded Bachelor, Masters and Ph.D. degrees. In 1988 the Department was renamed the Department of Theatre and Film.

The Department of Theatre and Film (1988-1997) taught classes about film and theatre and also produced theatrical and film productions. The Department was reorganized in 1997 as the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. The Department of Theatre and Film was organized in 1988. Harold R. Oaks served as Department Chair from 1988 to 1994 and Eric Fielding served from 1994 to 1997. The Department of Theatre and Film was renamed as part of the reorganization of the Department of Theatre, Speech and Cinema in 1988. The two Department Chairs were Harold R. Oaks from 1988 to 1994, and Eric Fielding from 1994 to 1997. The department focused on the teaching and the development of productions related to theatre, speech, and cinematic study. In 1997 the department was reorganized as the Department of Theatre and Media Arts.

The Department of Theatre and Media Arts (1997- ) teaches classes about theatre, cinema, artistic criticism and performance skills.

The Department of Theatre and Media Arts was part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications beginning in 1997. Previously, it was known as the Department of Theatre and Film. The Department Chairs were: Eric Fielding from 1997 to 1998, Robert A. Nelson from 1998 to 2005, Rodger D. Sorensen from 2005 to 2011, and Amy Petersen Jensen from 2011 to the present. The BYU theatre program is designed to educate the student in a basic foundation of dramatic literature, theatre history, performance skills as both actor and director, and techniques in all areas of theatre design technology and production. The BYU media arts program is designed to educate the student in a basic foundation of film history, theory, and criticism along with the fundamentals of media arts and production technology.