Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science
Lee Byron, Associate Professor, Chair and Director of Theater
The Department of Theatre Arts offers curricula leading to the bachelor of arts in drama, the bachelor of science in theater arts management, and the bachelor of fine arts in acting, musical theater, and theatrical production arts (with concentrations in theatrical design or theater technology). The B.F.A. degree in musical theater is offered jointly by the Department of Theatre Arts and the School of Music. It is administered by the Department of Theatre Arts.
The bachelor of arts degree provides a liberal arts approach to theater and allows the student maximum flexibility in preparing for advanced study and exploring a wide variety of career opportunities in the theater.
The bachelor of science degree combines intensive training in all aspects of theater management with a well-rounded education in the liberal arts. This is accomplished through formal class work, internships, and required cocurricular practica. A significant portion of the learning experience in this major is accomplished through supervised work in the management operations of the Department of Theatre Arts. Theater arts management majors must expect to commit a minimum of 600 contact hours to these duties.
The bachelor of fine arts degree is performance-based and designed to prepare students for careers within the area of their major. This degree features highly individualized instruction and offers students the opportunity to act, direct, sing, dance, and learn the details of set design and construction, lighting, sound, costuming, and make-up.
Admission to these degrees requires an audition or interview with members of the theater arts faculty. All majors participate in departmental review processes. These reviews of performance are presented to the faculty and determine the student's eligibility to continue in the program.
The Department of Theatre Arts participates in the London Center program with a 9-credit core program and additional credits available in British drama. Please refer to the "International Programs" section (p. 310) or to 305-36700 Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life, under theater arts course descriptions.
The student is admitted to the major following a successful interview with members of the theater faculty.
305-10000 |
Theater Practice |
2 |
305-10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
305-11200 |
Introduction to Theatrical Design |
3 |
305-13100-305-13200 |
Introduction to Acting |
6 |
305-16000 |
Introduction to the Theater |
3 |
305-36100, 305-36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
305-36400 |
Aesthetics and Criticism or |
|
305-46400 |
Theories of Comedy and Tragedy |
3 |
305-37100 |
Directing I |
3 |
305-38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
305-46100 |
Contemporary Developments in Theater or |
|
305-46800 |
Senior Seminar |
3 |
|
Total |
34 |
377-15100 |
Affiliate to Introduction to the Theater or |
|
377-10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
377-10700 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
|
Intermediate foreign language (or equivalent) (4-6 credits), or |
|
|
Six credits from departmentally approved courses focusing on other than the dominant U.S. culture, or |
|
|
Semester of study in a foreign country, other than England or the English speaking areas of Canada |
4-6 |
307-31100, 307-31200 |
Dramatic Literature |
6 |
307-21900 |
Shakespeare (305-36700 Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life may be substituted for 307-31200 or 307-21900.) |
3 |
|
Total |
16-18 |
|
Electives |
68-70 |
Total required for degree |
120 |
Bachelor of Fine Arts Programs |
|
After successful audition or interview by theater arts faculty, students may be admitted to one of the following programs for the bachelor of fine arts degree:
· B.F.A. in acting
· B.F.A. in theatrical production arts: theatrical design or theater technology
· B.F.A. in musical theater
Requirements for these programs are set out below.
305-10000 |
Theater Practice |
4 |
305-10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
305-14100-305-14200, 305-24100-305-24200 |
Scene Study |
11 |
305-14300-305-14400 |
Voice and Movement |
4 |
305-24300-305-24400 |
Voice and Speech for the Stage |
2 |
305-24500-305-24600 |
Movement for the Stage |
2 |
305-16000 |
Introduction to the Theater |
3 |
305-34300 |
Advanced Voice and Speech |
3 |
305-34400 |
Dialects for the Stage |
3 |
|
Dance: 305-15300, 305-15400 Ballet I or 305-15500, 305-15600 Modern Dance I. Two semesters of ballet or two semesters of modern dance must be taken concurrently with 305-34300 and 305-34400. If this requirement has been met previously, any two semesters of theater arts dance may be substituted |
2 |
305-34100-305-34200 |
Styles of Acting |
6 |
305-44100 |
TV Acting |
3 |
305-37100 |
Directing |
3 |
305-36100, 305-36200 |
History of Theater |
6 |
305-38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
305-36400 |
Aesthetics and Criticism or |
|
305-46400 |
Theories of Comedy and Tragedy |
3 |
|
Theater arts dance (in addition to 2 credits listed above). May be replaced by 664-01500 Fencing, 664-09000 Personal Defense, 664-09300 Personal Fitness I, or 664-05900 Gymnastic Activities with permission of adviser |
1 |
305-46100 |
Contemporary Developments in Theater or |
|
305-46800 |
Senior Seminar |
3 |
|
Electives in theater arts |
15 |
|
Total |
79 |
377-15100 |
Affiliate to Introduction to the Theater or |
|
377-10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
377-10700 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
307-31100 |
Dramatic Literature |
3 |
307-31200 |
Dramatic Literature or |
|
307-21900 |
Shakespeare (Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life 305-36700 may be substituted for 307-21900 or 307-31200 |
3 |
|
Total |
9 |
|
Elective total |
32 |
Total required for degree |
120 |
Total required credits: 64 (plus requirements in theater technology or theatrical design concentrations)
305-10000 |
Theater Practice |
4 |
305-10100 |
Basic Theater Technology |
3 |
305-10400 |
Drafting for the Stage |
3 |
305-11200 |
Introduction to Theatrical Design |
3 |
305-16000 |
Introduction to the Theater |
3 |
305-13100 |
Introduction to Acting |
3 |
305-21100 |
Rendering |
3 |
305-21200 |
Scene Painting |
3 |
305-21300 |
Stage Lighting |
3 |
305-22100 |
Costume Construction |
3 |
305-31100 |
Scene Design |
3 |
305-32500, 305-32600 |
History of Costume and Decor |
6 |
305-36100, 305-36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
305-38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
|
Total |
49 |
377-15100 |
Affiliate to Introduction to the Theater or |
|
377-10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
377-10700 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
376-11700-376-11800 |
Survey of Western Art |
6 |
Any two of the following:
307-31100 |
Dramatic Literature, or |
|
307-31200 |
Dramatic Literature or |
|
307-21900 |
Shakespeare or |
|
305-36700 |
Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life (3 credits) |
6 |
|
Total |
15 |
305-21400 |
Stage Lighting |
3 |
305-30100 |
Advanced Techniques of Stagecraft |
3 |
305-30300 |
Theater Sound Production I |
3 |
305-40900 |
Senior Project in Technical Production or |
|
305-41900 |
Senior Project in Lighting Design |
3 |
305-40100 |
Seminar in Technical Production |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
|
Electives |
41 |
Required credits in theater arts
305-31200 |
Scene Design |
3 |
305-37100 |
Directing I |
3 |
305-32300-305-32400 |
Costume Design |
6 |
305-41100 |
Seminar in Scene Design or |
|
305-41300 |
Seminar in Lighting Design or |
|
305-42200 |
Seminar in Costume Design |
3 |
305-41000 |
Senior Project in Scene Design or |
|
305-41900 |
Senior Project in Lighting Design or |
|
305-42000 |
Senior Project in Costume Design |
3 |
Required credits outside theater arts
326-13000 |
Introduction to Drawing |
3 |
326-22100 |
Figure Drawing |
3 |
|
Total |
24 |
|
Electives |
32 |
Total required for degree |
120 |
305-10000 |
Theater Practice |
2 |
305-10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
305-14100-305-14200, 305-24100-305-24200 |
Scene Study |
11 |
305-14300-305-14400 |
Voice and Movement |
4 |
305-15100-305-15200 |
Jazz Dance I |
2 |
305-15300, 305-15400 |
Ballet I |
2 |
305-15500, 305-15600 |
Modern Dance I |
2 |
305-15700-305-15800 |
Tap Dance I |
2 |
305-16000 |
Introduction to Theater |
3 |
305-24300-305-24400 |
Voice and Speech for the Stage |
2 |
305-24500-305-24600 |
Movement for the Stage |
2 |
Any 2 semesters of 305- dance at level 2:
305-25300, 305-25400 |
Ballet II or |
|
305-25100-305-25200 |
Jazz II or |
|
305-25500, 305-25600 |
Modern II |
4 |
305-34100-305-34200 |
Styles of Acting |
6 |
305-34500, 305-34600/ 305-34700, 305-34800; 305-44500, 305-44600/ 305-44700, 305-44800 |
Music Theater Workshop and/or Opera Workshop |
8 |
305-35100, 305-35200 |
Dance for the Musical Stage |
4 |
305-36100, 305-36200 |
History of Theater |
6 |
551-13100-551-13200 |
Music Theory I-II |
4 |
551-13300-551-13400 |
Sightsinging I-II |
3 |
555-17100-551-17200 |
Keyboard Musicianship for Musical Theater Majors |
2 |
555-25300 |
Involvement with Music |
3 |
555-35100 |
American Musical Theater |
3 |
556-10100-556-40200 |
Private Voice |
23 |
|
Total |
100 |
307-31100 |
Dramatic Literature or |
|
307-21900 |
Shakespeare (305-36700 Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life may be substituted for 307-31100 or 307-21900) |
3 |
377-15100 |
Affiliate to Introduction to the Theater or |
|
377-10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
377-10700 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
|
Total |
6 |
Area 1: |
Self and Society |
6 |
Area 2: |
Science, Mathematics, and Formal Reasoning |
6 |
Area 3: |
Human Expression (may be taken from major courses) |
|
General: |
From Areas 1, 2, or 3 |
6 |
|
Global and Historical Perspective (courses from Areas 1, 2, or 3) |
|
|
Total electives |
18 |
Total required for degree |
124 |
The student is admitted to the major following a successful interview with members of the theater faculty.
305-10000 |
Theater Practice |
5 |
305-10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
305-11200 |
Introduction to Theatrical Design |
3 |
305-16000 |
Introduction to the Theater |
3 |
305-13100 |
Introduction to Acting |
3 |
305-28300 |
Stage Management |
3 |
305-28400 |
Promotion and Publicity for the Theater |
3 |
305-36100, 305-36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
305-305-37100 |
Directing |
3 |
305-38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
305-38500-305-38600 |
Theater Arts Management I-II |
6 |
|
Total |
40 |
377-15100 |
Affiliate to Introduction to Theater or |
|||
377-10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|||
377-10700 |
Academic Writing II |
3 | ||
307-31100, 307-31200 |
Dramatic Literature |
6 | ||
313-10500 |
Math for Decision Making (3) or |
|||
313-10800 |
Calculus for Decision Making (4) |
3-4 | ||
887-20300 |
Introduction to Law I |
3 | ||
306-12100 |
Principles of Macroeconomics |
3 | ||
306-12200 |
Principles of Microeconomics |
3 | ||
884-31200 |
Principles of Marketing |
3 | ||
221-24100 |
Advertising |
3 | ||
319-11500 |
Business and Professional Communication |
3 | ||
312-11000 |
Introduction to Computers and Information Systems (3) or |
|||
312-15700 |
Ex Machina: The Computer and You (3) or |
|||
312-17100 |
Principles of Computer Science I (4) |
3-4 | ||
880-22500 |
Financial Accounting |
3 | ||
|
Total |
36-38 | ||
|
Electives |
42-44 | ||
Total required for degree |
120 | |||
The theater minor provides an option for students who may not want to be theater arts majors but wish to take theater courses, be guided in course selection, and receive recognition for their studies. Minors must be declared through consultation with the department office.
305-10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
305-10000 |
Theater Practice (to be taken concurrently with 305-10200) |
1 |
305-16000 |
Introduction to the Theater |
3 |
305-13100 |
Introduction to Acting (students must complete 6 credits of required theater courses before taking 305-13100) |
3 |
|
Total, theater |
9 |
319-23000 |
Analysis and Performance of Literature |
|
319-33300 |
Analysis and Performance of Prose |
|
319-33400 |
Group Performance of Literature |
|
319-33500 |
Analysis and Performance of Poetry |
|
|
Any theater arts courses not restricted to majors only |
|
|
Total, electives |
9 |
Total, minor in theater |
18 |
The dance minor combines technique with academic study. It is intended to supplement majors in related fields such as theater, music, or physical education. Minors must be declared through consultation with the theater department office.
305-15300, 305-15400 |
Ballet I |
2 |
305-25300 |
Ballet II |
2 |
305-15500, 305-15600 |
Modern Dance I |
2 |
305-25500 |
Modern Dance II |
2 |
One of the following:
305-35300 |
Ballet III or |
|
305-45300 |
Ballet IV or |
|
305-15700-3050-15800 |
Tap Dance I or |
|
305-15100-305-15200 |
Jazz Dance I or |
|
305-35100 |
Dance for the Musical Stage |
2 |
305-15000 |
Introduction to Dance |
3 |
305-35800 |
Survey of Dance History |
3 |
305-35500 |
Dance Composition |
3 |
|
Total |
19 |
