Students who are considering the major should take 07:965:211 Theater Appreciation and 07:965:271 Basic Acting or 07:966:215 Scenic Art as a means to explore potential aptitude for the field. Bachelor of arts (B.A.) theater majors should complete courses in 07:966:215-216 Scenic Art, 07:965:281-282 Theater History, and 07:966:123 Theater Practice (repeated) by the end of the junior year, since they are required of all majors and are prerequisites for most advanced theater courses. It is important to complete theater practice prior to the senior year.
Scenic Art and Theater History are both two-semester courses, which must be taken in sequence, beginning in the fall semester. Theater arts majors in the B.A. program are required to take a minimum of 47 credits, distributed as follows:
1. 15 credits in academic courses: 07:965:281-282 Theater History (3,3); 3 credits in either 07:965:398 Basic Theater Texts (3) or 07:965:408 Dramatic Structure (3); and 6 credits from among 07:965:211 Theater Appreciation I (3), 07:965:212 Theater Appreciation II (3), 07:966:364 Theater Management (3), and 07:965:401 Theater Criticism (3)
2. 10 credits in physical theater: 07:966:215-216 Scenic Art (3,3); 07:966:123 Theater Practice (2,2)
3. 1 credit in 07:965:390 Theater Horizons
4. 6 credits in performance (acting and/or directing)
5. 6 credits in 07:965:491-492 Project Work (BA,BA) and/or 07:965:396 Internship (BA) (for example, a year of study or performance in children's theater ensemble or an internship with a professional theater organization). Approved study abroad credits may be substituted. All credits in this category must be planned and supervised with the B.A. theater arts adviser.
6. 9 credits in theater arts electives
Theater arts students should take correlative courses in dramatic literature (modern drama, Shakespeare) as well as courses in art, dance, and music history and appreciation.
