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Theater (B.A.)

Website: School of Contemporary Arts

Concentrations: Acting, Design/Technical,
Directing/Stage Management, Theater Studies

Please see further information about our Theater Program productions and performances.

About the Major

The Theater Major offers a comprehensive study of Theater in four areas of concentration: Acting, Directing/Stage Management, Design/Technical, and Theater Studies. Courses are offered in acting (stage, film/TV), directing, stagecraft, set design, lighting design, costume design, stage management, dramatic literature, theater history, and dance. Through a high level of active participation, students gain a broad perspective in all areas of theater while developing individual talents and skills in their chosen concentration. The Theater program delivers four major productions each year directed by faculty and professional guest directors. The main season is supplemented by a variety of student-directed projects and guest artist workshops.

Classes and productions take place in the Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for the Performing and Visual Arts. This facility offers a 338-seat proscenium theater, a flexible experimental performance space, a dance studio/rehearsal hall, and fully-equipped costume and scenery shops.

Teacher certification with a Theater major certifies students to teach grades K through 12. The program requires a combined course of study in Teacher Certification and completion of the Theater major. Students should refer to the Teacher Certification Program description in this Catalog, which outlines the requirements, and should seek faculty advisement.

Graduates of the Theater Program have gone on to graduate school while others have established careers in the professional theater as actors, directors, stage managers, and designers. In order to declare a concentration, you must meet with an advisor in the Theater Program.

Students completing this program receive a B.A. degree. A minor is available.

Outcomes for the Major

Goals:

1. Prepare Theater majors to enter into the profession or continue their education in graduate school.

2. Provide a rigorous, well-rounded education for those students who go on to careers outside of theater.

3. Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate broad understanding of theater history, literature, and theory in diverse settings.

2. Critically evaluate performances and their elements in written form.

3. Develop artistic and/or practical skills in their particular discipline.

4. Apply creative thinking in analyzing visual, aural, and performance material.

5. Synthesize practical and creative skills employing professional standards in theatrical production.

Requirements of the Major and Concentrations
  1. Transfer students who have 48 or more credits accepted at the time of transfer are waived from the courses marked with a (W) below.Ìý Waivers do not apply to Major Requirements.
  2. Transfer students with 65 or more creditsÌýare required to complete only one running crew.Ìý All students are required to take Theater Practicum.
  3. Double counting between General Education, School Core, and Major may be possible.Ìý Check with your advisor to see if any apply.
  4. Writing Intensive Requirement (five):Ìý two writing intensive courses in the general education curriculum are required: Critical Reading and Writing II and Studies in the Arts and Humanities; the other three courses are taken in the major.
  5. Not all courses are offered each semester. ÌýPlease check the current Schedule of Classes for semester course offerings.
  6. The Career Pathways Program requirements must be completed prior to graduation. Visit the Cahill Career Center.
THEATER MAJOR
  • Subject & Course # – Title & Course Description
  • GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
  • REQUIRED –Ìý
  • SELECT ONE –Ìý OR
  • *
  • SELECT ONE –ÌýÌýORÌý(W)
  • *
  • SELECT ONE –Ìý OR (W)
  • *
  • SELECT ONE – (W)
  • SELECT ONE –Ìý(W)ÌýÌý *
  • SELECT ONE –
  • SELECT ONE –
  • SELECT TWO – DISTRIBUTION CATEGORY (One course must be outside of school)
    • Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý–Ìý Ìý
    • Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý–Ìý Ìý
    • Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý–Ìý Ìý *
  • * Students in the College Honors Program must take the HNRS course options.
  • SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS REQUIREMENTS
  • CA INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES: ÌýSELECT ONE (MUSTÌýbe discipline OTHER THAN major)
  • (Recommended for Music Education Concentration)
  • Ìý
  • THEATER MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
  • THERE ARE FOUR CONCENTRATIONS IN THE THEATER MAJOR:
    1. ACTING CONCENTRATION
    2. DESIGN/TECHNICAL THEATER CONCENTRATION
    3. DIRECTING/STAGE MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION
    4. THEATER STUDIES CONCENTRATION
  • ACTING CONCENTRATION
  • REQUIRED COURSES:
  • ÌýOR
  • DESIGN/TECH COURSE: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • ELECTIVES: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • CAPSTONE COURSES:Ìý(8 credits needed)
  • (4 credits needed) OR
  • DESIGN / TECHNICAL THEATER CONCENTRATION
  • REQUIRED:
  • ÌýOR
  • DRAMATIC LITERATURE: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • SUGGESTED ELECTIVES OFFERED BUT NOT REQUIRED:Ìý
  • CAPSTONE COURSES:Ìý (8 credits needed)
  • (4 credits needed)ÌýOR
  • DIRECTING / STAGE MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION
  • REQUIRED:
  • ÌýOR
  • SELECT TWO: Ìý(only one may be a costume course)
  • ELECTIVES: ÌýSELECT TWOÌý
  • CAPSTONE COURSES:ÌýÌý(8 credits needed)
  • (4 credits needed)ÌýOR
  • THEATER STUDIES CONCENTRATION
  • REQUIRED:
  • OR
  • OR
  • ÌýOR
  • DRAMATIC LITERATURE: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • DESIGN/TECH ELECTIVES: ÌýSELECT TWO
  • CAPSTONE COURSES:ÌýÌý(8 credits needed)
  • (4 credits needed) OR
  • CAREER PATHWAYS REQUIREMENTS
  • Visit theÌýCahill Career Center / Cahill Office

Note: A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.

Requirements of the Minor
  1. At least half of the courses fulfilling a minor must be distinct from the student’s major. That is, three of the five courses required for a minor cannot be used towards fulfillment of major requirements. A School Core does not need to be completed for a minor. Minors are open to students regardless of school affiliation.
THEATER MINOR
  • Subject & Course # – Title & Course Description
  • Students must complete FIVE total courses and participate in at least one production to complete the Minor in Theater.
  • REQUIRED:
  • ÌýOR
  • THEATER HISTORY OR DRAMATIC LITERATURE: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • REQUIRED: THREE COURSES – CHOOSE COMBINATION (at least one must be at 300 or 400 level):
  • TWO FROM THEATER DESIGN/TECHNICAL THEATER AND ONE THEATER 300-400 ELECTIVE OR
  • ONE FROM THEATER DESIGN/TECHNICAL THEATER ANDÌýTWO THEATER 300-400 ELECTIVE
  • THEATER DESIGN OR TECHNICAL THEATER
  • THEATER ELECTIVE 300 or 400 LEVEL
  • PRODUCTION REQUIREMENT:ÌýStudent must perform, direct, or serve on crew of one mainstage theater production.
  • OR