The Department began in 1921 as the the Department of Public Speaking and Dramatic Arts, and has been called many different names over the years. The name was changed to the Department of Threatre and Cinematic Arts in 1975 and then was changed to the Department of Theatre and Film in 1988.

The Department of Theatre and Cinematic Arts has undergone several name changes during its existence. It began as the Department of Public Speaking and Dramatic Arts in 1921 and became the Department of Speech in 1930. In 1953 it was renamed the Department of Speech and Dramatic arts which was divided into the Department of Dramatic Arts and the Department of Speech in 1961. In 1968 the separate departments were combined to once again create the Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts. The department became the Department of Theater and Cinematic Arts in 1975 and the Department of Theatre and Film in 1988.

T. Earl Pardoe was named Chair of the Department of Public Speaking and Dramatic Arts in 1921 and remained chair of the Department of Speech until 1951. He was succeeded by Harold T. Hansen who was chair successively of the Speech, Speech and Dramatic Arts, and Dramatic Arts Departments until he retired in 1965. He was succeeded as chair of the Department of Dramatic Arts by Lael J. Woodbury who continued as chair of the recombined Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts until 1971 when he was succeeded by Parley W. Newman. Morris M. Clinger was chair of the Department of Speech from 1961 to 1968 when it was a separate department. Parley W. Newman was chair of the Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts until 1975 when he was succeeded by Charles L. Metten who was succeeded in 1980 by the current chair, Harold R. Oaks.