Theater and film are creative and collaborative arts in which true excellence is achieved through hands-on experience. Students can explore their craft by choosing concentrations in acting, musical theater, design and technology, or filmmaking, all within a dynamic liberal arts curriculum that provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Student-proposed majors in other areas of theater such as directing or playwriting can be created in consultation with faculty. As part of a strong, interdisciplinary Department of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts, our students also benefit from exposure to visual art, music, and new digital media perspectives.
Each year, the Rutgers University-Camden theater program presents a full season of plays and musicals that creates learning opportunities in every area of production from design work and stage management to acting and directing. Groundbreaking, fully supported productions range from Shakespearean tragedies to modern classics and musicals. Student-generated work is highly encouraged and showcased annually in the Student-Directed One Act Play Festival.
Core Curriculum for Acting, Musical Theater, and Design and Technology Concentrations (25 credits)
50:965:123 Voice for the Stage (3)
50:965:124 Movement for the Stage (3)
50:965:202 Play Reading and Analysis (3)
50:965:241 Stagecraft (3)
50:965:271 Acting I (3)
50:965:302 Practicum/Crew Call in Technical Theater (BA) At least 3 credits required
50:965:496 Senior Project Theater (BA) At least 1 credit required
50:965:380 History of Theater I (3)
50:965:381 Modern Drama (3)
Acting Concentration (21 credits)
The acting concentration enables students to hone their craft in classes taught by seasoned theatrical professionals. Performance opportunities abound in the Rutgers-Camden theater season, which includes three mainstage productions as well as student-directed and student-created work.
50:965:371 Acting II (3)
50:965:372 Acting for Film (3) or 50:965:373 Improvisational Theater (3)
50:965:471 Acting III (3)
Select at least one additional 3-credit literature and history elective, two additional 3-credit theater practice electives, and one additional 3-credit design and technology elective
Musical Theater Concentration (21 credits)
The musical theater concentration provides students with well-rounded training in acting, dance, and singing, complemented by a thorough general background in all areas of theater and performance opportunities in department-presented musicals.
50:700:131 Singing for the Stage (3)
50:203:201 Musical Theater Dance (3)
50:965:308 American Musical Theater (3)
50:965:371 Acting II (3)
At least 3 additional credits of dance course is required
At least 3 credits of Applied Voice (50:701:169 Voice I or higher) are required
Select at least one additional 3-credit 300- or 400-level theater elective from any category
Highly recommended:
50:700:161-162 Ear Training I,II (2,2)
Design and Technology Concentration (21 credits)
Students enrolled in the design and technology concentration complete coursework in all areas of theatrical design taught by our faculty and outstanding professionals active in their fields. In addition, the Rutgers-Camden theater season provides many opportunities for designers, theater technicians, and stage managers.
50:965:242 Stagecraft II (3)
50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
50:965:314 Scenic Design (3)
50:965:362 Costume Design (3)
50:965:382 Lighting Design (3)
50:965:361 Survey of Costume History (3)
At least 3 additional credits of:
50:965:302 Practicum/Crew Call in Technical Theater (BA)
Highly recommended:
50:082:101 Introduction to Art History I (3)
50:082:102 Introduction to Art History II (3)
Literature and History Electives
50:965:240 The Art of Comedy (3)
50:965:308 American Musical Theater (3)
50:965:309 American Theater (3)
50:965:310 Experimental Theater (3)
50:350:331 Shakespeare I (3)
50:350:332 Shakespeare II (3)
50:965:345 Theater and Film in Europe (3)
50:965:361 Survey of Costume History (3)
Theater Practice Electives
50:203:201 Musical Theater Dance (3)
50:203:227 Jazz Dance (3)
50:965:248 Stage Combat (3)
50:203:249 Ballet I (3)
50:965:350 Auditions and the Business of Theater (1)
50:965:301 Performance (BA)
50:965:303 Actor Director Workshop (BA)
50:965:318 Playwriting I (3)
50:965:319 Playwriting II (3)
50:965:320 Directing I (3)
50:965:321 Directing II (3)
50:965:322 Directing for Film (3)
50:965:363 Educational/Children's Theater (3)
50:965:371 Acting II (3)
50:965:372 Acting for Film (3)
50:965:373 Improvisational Theater (3)
50:965:471 Acting III (3)
Design and Technology Electives
50:965:242 Stagecraft II (3)
50:965:245 Scenic Painting (3)
50:965:270 Stage Makeup (3)
50:965:302 Practicum/Crew Call in Technical Theater (BA)
50:965:314 Scenic Design (3)
50:965:362 Costume Design (3)
50:965:268 Stage Management (3)
50:965:382 Lighting Design (3)
Filmmaking Concentration (45 credits)
The filmmaking concentration is a unique collaboration between film and theater that builds on the program's strengths and resources in both areas. Filmmaking students take a series of production courses that focus on diverse genres and techniques in filmmaking and include documentary, fiction, experimental, and film for theater productions. Filmmaking students also take theater courses specializing in acting, directing, lighting, and production design. The concentration culminates in a senior film project where students collaborate with filmmakers, actors, and designers within the program.
Courses Required (30 credits)
50:354:201 The Art of Film or
50:354:390 Introduction to Film Studies
50:965:125 Introduction to Video and Film
50:965:225 Video and Film Production
50:965:325 Advance Video and Film Production
50:965:425 Postproduction
50:965:252 Screenwriting I
50:965:322 Directing for Film or 50:965:320 Directing I
50:965:382 Lighting Design or 50:965:314 Scenic Design or 50:965:241 Stagecraft
50:700:302 Sound and Image or 50:700:449 Audio Postproduction
50:965:495 Senior Project Film (BA)
At least two courses (6 credits) from the following:
50:354:300 History of Film I
50:354:301 History of Film II
50:354:302 History of Film III
50:354:201 The Art of Film
50:354:350 Major Filmmakers
50:354:391 to 394 Special Topics in Film
50:354:396 to 399 Special Topics in Film Genres
50:965:240 The Art of Comedy
50:965:345 Theater and Film in Europe
50:354:310 Literature and Film
50:354:315 American Film
50:354:320 World Cinema
50:840:130 Religion and Film
Approved Film History Electives
At least three courses (9 credits) from the following:
50:700:302 Sound and Image
50:700:449 Audio Postproduction
50:965:241 Stagecraft
50:965:242 Stagecraft II
50:965:265 Special Topics in Theater
50:965:271 Acting I
50:965:301 Performance
50:965:302 Practicum in Design and Technical Theater
50:965:303 Actor Director Workshop (BA)
50:965:314 Scenic Design
50:965:318 Playwriting
50:965:320 Directing I
50:965:322 Directing II
50:965:322 Directing for Film
50:965:352 Screenwriting II
50:965:360 Independent Study in Theater
50:965:362 Costume Design
50:965:371 Acting II
50:965:372 Acting for Film
50:965:382 Lighting Design
50:354:401 Advanced Screenwriting
50:965:471 Acting III
Theater Approved Elective
