As a means to explore potential aptitude for a theater major, School of Arts and Sciences students should take:
07:965:211 Theater Appreciation
and
07:965:271 Basic Acting or 07:965:215 Scenic Art.
Bachelor of arts (B.A.) theater majors should complete courses in 07:965:281-282 Theater History (or the online equivalent 07:965:231-232); 07:965:215 Scenic Art; and 07:966:123 Theater Practice (taken twice) by the end of the junior year, since they are required of all majors and are prerequisites for most advanced theater courses. Theater History is a two-semester course, which must be taken in sequence, beginning in the fall semester for the in-person section. The Theater History course is also offered online each semester.
Students are expected to achieve grades of C+ or better in the major and no course with a grade of D or lower will count toward the major.
Depending on the student's interest, Theater arts students are encouraged to take correlative courses in dramatic literature (modern drama, Shakespeare) as well as courses in art, dance, and music history and appreciation.
Theater majors in the B.A. program are required to take a minimum of 47 credits, distributed as follows:
16 Credits in Curricular Core Courses (*Required)
07:965:281-282* Theater History I and II (3,3) or the online equivalent 07:965:231-232
07:965:390* Theater Horizons (1)
07:965:211 Theater Appreciation I (3) fall and spring
07:965:212 Theater Appreciation II (3) spring
07:965:290 Broadway: American Musical (3) summers
07:965:300 New York Theater Experience (3) spring
07:965:364 Theater Management (3) fall
07:965:370 Global Theater I (3) fall
07:965:371 Global Theater II (3) spring
07:965:401 Theater Criticism (3) spring
07:965:473 Clothing and Culture (3) fall
07:966:372 Dramatic Structure (3) spring
9-10 Credits** in Physical Theater Courses (*Required):
07:965:215* Scenic Art (3) fall
07:966:123* Theater Practice (2,2) course is taken twice
07:965:216 Scenic Art II (3) spring
07:965:310 Introduction to Costume Design (3) fall
07:966:315 Stage Management (3) fall
07:966:242 Introduction to Stage Lighting (2) spring
6 Credits in Performance (Acting and/or Directing) (*Required):
07:965:271* Basic Acting (3)
07:965:272 Intermediate Acting (3)
07:965:421 Directing (3)
07:965:325 Advanced Acting (3)
07:965:326 Performance Workshop (3) by audition only
07:965:422 Advanced Directing Project (3) by special permission only
07:965:275 On Camera Acting (3) summer only
9-10 Credits in Theater Electives chosen from among any of the following that were not taken to fill another requirement in academic, physical theater, or performance elective:
07:965:211 Theater Appreciation I (3) fall and spring
07:965:212 Theater Appreciation II (3) spring
07:965:214 Black Theater History (3) spring
07:965:216 Scenic Art II (3) spring
07:965:240 Staging Resistance (3) online
07:966:242 Introduction to Stage Lighting (2) spring
07:965:260 Musical Theatre Appreciation (3) spring
07:965:272 Intermediate Acting (3) fall and spring
07:965:275 On Camera Acting (3) summer
07:965:290 Broadway: American Musical (3) summer
07:965:300 New York Theater Experience (3) spring
07:965:302 Theater for Social Development (3) fall
07:965:310 Introduction to Costume Design (3) fall
07:966:315 Stage Management (3) fall
07:965:325 Advanced Acting (3) fall
07:965:326 Performance Workshop (3) spring
07:965:350 Improvisation and Theater Games (2) fall
07:965:364 Theater Management (3) fall
07:965:365 Theater Management: Producing (3) fall
07:965:410 Theater Criticism (3) spring
07:965:421 Directing (3) fall
07:965:422 Advanced Directing Project (3) spring
07:965:451 Storytelling Workshop (2) spring
07:965:471 Creative Dramatics for Children (3) fall
07:965:472 Creative Dramatics for Children (3) spring
Other 966 Theater Classes Are Also Available as Theater Electives
Most require prerequisites or permission of instructor.
Note: the semester a course is offered is subject to change.
Courses offered by the English Department may also be accepted towards the major, but must be approved in advance.
6 Credits in Required Project Work or Internship
Working closely with the B.A. adviser, and any additional faculty adviser, junior or senior students develop and propose appropriate work for the advanced Internship and/or Project Work. Internships involve the student working in a professional theater environment outside of the university. Project Work is comprised of major involvement on a theatrical project such as writing or directing a production. On rare occasions an appropriate acting project can be considered.
07:965:396 Internship/Theater (BA)
07:965:491-492 Project Work (BA,BA)
07:965:493 Honors Project (BA)
Approved study abroad credits may be substituted.
All credits in this category must be planned and supervised by the B.A. theater arts adviser.