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, or 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 part of the learning experience in this major is accomplished through supervised work in the management operations of the theater arts department. 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, sing, dance, and learn the details of theatrical design and technical production in the areas of scenery, costumes, lighting and sound.
Admission to these degrees requires an audition or interview with members of the theater arts faculty. All B.F.A. 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.
Drama, B.A.
Acting, B.F.A.
Theatrical Production Arts, B.F.A.
Musical Theater, B.F.A.
Theater Arts Management, B.S.
Theater Minor
Dance Minor
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 or see THPA 36700 Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life in the course descriptions.
International Programs
The student is admitted to the major following a successful interview with members of the theater faculty.
THPA 10000 |
Theater Production |
3 |
THPA 10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
THPA 11200 |
Introduction to Theatrical Design |
3 |
THPA 13100-THPA 13200 |
Acting I and Acting II |
6 |
THPA 16100 |
Script Analysis for the Theater |
3 |
THPA 36100-THPA 36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
THPA 36400 |
Aesthetics and Criticism or |
|
THPA 46400 |
Theories of Comedy and Tragedy or |
|
THPA 46800 |
Senior Seminar |
3 |
THPA 37100 |
Directing I |
3 |
THPA 38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
THPA 46100 |
Contemporary Developments in Theater |
3 |
Total, credits in the major |
35 |
WRTG 15100 |
Affiliate to Script Analysis for the Theater or |
|
WRTG 10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
WRTG 11000 |
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 |
|
ENGL 31100-31200 |
Dramatic Literature |
6 |
ENGL 21900 |
Shakespeare (THPA 36700 Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life may be substituted for ENGL 31200 or ENGL 21900) |
3 |
Total, credits outside the major |
16-18 |
|
Electives |
67-69 |
|
Total, B.A. in drama |
120 |
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:
Requirements for these programs are set out below.
THPA 10000 |
Theater Production |
3 |
THPA 10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
THPA 14100-THPA 14200, THPA 24100-THPA 24200 |
Scene Study |
11 |
THPA 14300-THPA 14400 |
Voice and Movement |
4 |
THPA 24300-THPA 24400 |
Voice and Speech for the Stage |
3 |
THPA 24500-THPA 24600 |
Movement for the Stage |
3 |
THPA 16100 |
Script Analysis for the Theater |
3 |
THPA 34300 |
Advanced Voice and Speech |
3 |
THPA 34400 |
Dialects for the Stage |
3 |
Any dance technique classes offered in the Department of Theatre Arts, in any combination |
2 |
Two semesters of ballet or two semesters of modern dance must be taken concurrently with THPA 34300-THPA 34400. If this requirement has been met previously, any two semesters of theater arts dance may be substituted.
THPA 34100-THPA 34200 |
Styles of Acting |
6 |
THPA 44100 |
TV Acting |
3 |
THPA 37100 |
Directing |
3 |
THPA 36100-THPA 36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
THPA 38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
THPA 36400 |
Aesthetics and Criticism or |
|
THPA 46400 |
Theories of Comedy and Tragedy or |
|
THPA 46800 |
Senior Seminar |
3 |
Theater arts dance (in addition to 2 credits listed above). May be replaced by PALS 01500 Fencing, PALS 09000 Personal Defense, PALS 09300 Personal Fitness I, or PALS 05900 Gymnastic Activities with permission of adviser. |
1 |
|
THPA 46100 |
Contemporary Developments in Theater |
|
Electives in theater arts |
13 |
|
Total, credits in the major |
78 |
WRTG 15100 |
Affiliate to Script Analysis for the Theater or |
|
WRTG 10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
WRTG 11000 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
ENGL 31100 |
Dramatic Literature |
3 |
ENGL 31200 |
Dramatic Literature or |
|
ENGL 21900 |
Shakespeare (THPA 36700 |
3 |
Total, credits outside the major |
9 |
|
Free electives |
33 |
|
Total, B.F.A. in acting |
120 |
Total required credits: 60 (plus requirements in theater technology or theatrical design concentrations)
THPA 10000 |
Theater Production |
3 |
THPA 10100 |
Basic Theater Technology |
3 |
THPA 10400 |
Drafting for the Stage |
3 |
THPA 11200 |
Introduction to Theatrical Design |
3 |
THPA 11500 |
Basic Lighting Technology |
3 |
THPA 13100 |
Acting I |
3 |
THPA 16100 |
Script Analysis for the Theater |
3 |
THPA 20000 |
Advanced Theatrical Production |
3 |
THPA 21200 |
Scene Painting |
3 |
THPA 22100 |
Costume Construction |
3 |
Select two for a total of 6 credits
THPA 21500 |
Lighting Design or |
|
THPA 21700 |
Scene Design or |
|
THPA 22400 |
Costume Design |
6 |
THPA 32500-THPA 32600 |
History of Costume and Decor |
6 |
THPA 36100-THPA 36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
Select one
THPA 28300 |
Stage Management or |
|
THPA 38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
Total, credits in the major |
51 |
WRTG 15100 |
Affiliate to Script Analysis for the Theater or |
|
WRTG 10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
WRTG 11000 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
Select two for a total of 6 credits
ENGL 31100 |
Dramatic Literature or |
|
ENGL 31200 |
Dramatic Literature or |
|
ENGL 21900 |
Shakespeare or |
|
THPA 36700 |
Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life (3) |
6 |
Total, credits outside the major |
9 |
|
Total, required credits |
60 |
THPA 20000 |
Advanced Theatrical Production (in addition to the credits required above) |
3 |
THPA 20400 |
Computer-Aided Drafting for the Theater |
3 |
THPA 20100 |
Advanced Techniques of Stagecraft |
3 |
Select one of the following:
THPA 30600 |
Sound Technology or |
|
THPA 32100 |
Advanced Costume Construction |
3 |
Select one of the following:
THPA 40200 |
Senior Project in Technical Production or |
|
THPA 40800 |
Senior Project in Sound Design or |
|
THPA 41600 |
Senior Project in Lighting Design |
3 |
Select one of the following:
THPA 40100 |
Seminar in Technical Production or |
|
THPA 40700 |
Advanced Project in Sound Design |
3 |
Select one of the following:
THPA 30101 |
Technical Direction or |
|
THPA 31500 |
Advanced Lighting Design or |
|
THPA 30700 |
Sound Design or |
|
THPA 31700 |
Advanced Scene Design or |
|
THPA 32400 |
Advanced Costume Design |
3 |
Total, theater technology concentration |
21 |
|
Electives |
39 |
Required credits in theater arts
THPA 21100 |
Design Presentation Techniques |
3 |
THPA 37100 |
Directing I |
3 |
THPA 2xxxx |
Third level-2 design course: scene design, lighting design, or costume design |
3 |
Select two for a total of 6 credits:
THPA 31500 |
Advanced Lighting Design or |
|
THPA 31700 |
Advanced Scene Design or |
|
THPA 32400 |
Advanced Costume Design |
6 |
Select one of the following:
THPA 41700 |
Advanced Project in Scene Design or |
|
THPA 41500 |
Advanced Project in Lighting Design or |
|
THPA 42400 |
Advanced Project in Costume Design |
3 |
Select one of the following:
THPA 41800 |
Senior Project in Scene Design or |
|
THPA 41600 |
Senior Project in Lighting Design or |
|
THPA 42500 |
Senior Project in Costume Design |
3 |
Required credits outside theater arts
ART 13000 |
Introduction to Drawing |
3 |
ART 22100 |
Figure Drawing |
3 |
ARTH xxxxx |
Any course in art history |
3 |
ARTH xxxxx |
Any course in art history |
3 |
Total, theatrical design concentration |
33 |
|
Electives |
27 |
|
Total, B.F.A. in theatrical production arts |
120 |
THPA 10000 |
Theater Production |
2 |
THPA 10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
THPA 14100-THPA 14200, THPA 24100-THPA 24200 |
Scene Study |
11 |
THPA 14300-THPA 14400 |
Voice and Movement |
4 |
THPA 15100-THPA 15200 |
Jazz Dance I |
2 |
THPA 15300-THPA 15400 |
Ballet I |
2 |
THPA 15500-THPA 15600 |
Modern Dance I |
2 |
THPA 15700-THPA 15800 |
Tap Dance I |
2 |
THPA 16100 |
Script Analysis for the Theater |
3 |
THPA 24300-THPA 24400 |
Voice and Speech for the Stage |
3 |
THPA 24500-THPA 24600 |
Movement for the Stage |
3 |
Any two semesters of THPA dance at level 2
THPA 25300, THPA 25400 |
Ballet II or |
|
THPA 25100, THPA 25200 |
Jazz II or |
|
THPA 25500, THPA 25600 |
Modern Dance II |
4 |
THPA 34100-THPA 34200 |
Styles of Acting |
6 |
THPA 34500, THPA 34600 |
Musical Theater Workshop and/or |
|
THPA 34700, THPA 34800 |
Opera Workshop |
8 |
THPA 44500, THPA 44600 |
Musical Theater Workshop |
|
THPA 44700, THPA 44800 |
Opera Workshop |
|
THPA 35100, THPA 35200 |
Dance for the Musical Stage |
4 |
THPA 36100-THPA 36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
Total, credits in the major (theater arts) |
64 |
MUTH 10100 |
Fundamentals of Music Theory (block course) |
1 |
MUTH 12100 |
Introduction to Musical Styles |
2 |
MUNM 17100-MUNM 17200 |
Keyboard Musicianship for Musical Theater Majors |
2 |
MUNM 22100-MUNM 22200 |
Musicianship for Theater I and II |
6 |
MUNM 35100 |
American Musical Theater |
3 |
PFMJ 19900 |
Performance Repertoire and Pedagogy |
4 |
PFMJ 10100, PFMJ 20100, PFMJ 30100, PFMJ 40100 |
Voice I, II, III, and IV |
15 |
Total, credits in the major (music) |
33 |
ENGL 31100 |
Dramatic Literature or |
|
ENGL 21900 |
Shakespeare (THPA 36700 Interrelationships: |
3 |
WRTG 15100 |
Affiliate to Script Analysis for the Theater or |
|
WRTG 10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
|
WRTG 11000 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
Total, credits outside the major |
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, B.F.A. in musical theater |
121 |
The student is admitted to the major following a successful interview with members of the theater faculty.
THPA 10000 |
Theater Production |
3 |
THPA 18000 |
Theater Management Practicum |
3 |
THPA 10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
THPA 11200 |
Introduction to Theatrical Design |
3 |
THPA 16100 |
Script Analysis for the Theater |
3 |
THPA 13100 |
Acting I |
3 |
THPA 28400 |
Promotion and Publicity for the Performing Arts |
3 |
THPA 36100-36200 |
History of the Theater |
6 |
THPA 37100 |
Directing I |
3 |
THPA 38100 |
Theater Organization and Management |
3 |
THPA 38500 |
Fund-Raising for the Performing Arts |
3 |
THPA 38600 |
Producing Theater |
3 |
THPA 46100 |
Contemporary Developments in Theater |
3 |
THPA 49100 |
Professional Internship |
3-12 |
Total, credits in the major |
44-53 |
WRTG 10800 |
Academic Writing I (4) or |
|
WRTG 11100 |
Academic Writing II (3) |
3-4 |
ENGL 31100 |
Dramatic Literature I |
3 |
ENGL 31200 |
Dramatic Literature II (3) or |
|
ENGL 21900 |
Shakespeare (3) or |
|
THPA 36700 |
Interrelationships: British Drama and Cultural Life (3) or |
|
THPA 36300 |
Drama and the London Theater (3) |
3 |
MATH 10500 |
Math for Decision Making (3) or |
|
MATH 10800 |
Calculus for Decision Making (4) |
3-4 |
GBUS 20300 |
The Legal Environment of Business I |
3 |
ECON 12100 |
Principles of Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 12200 |
Principles of Microeconomics |
3 |
TVR 24100 |
Advertising |
3 |
SPCM 11500 |
Business and Professional Communication (3) or |
|
WRTG 21100 |
Writing for the Workplace (3) |
3 |
COMP 11000 |
Computers and Information Technologies (3) or |
|
COMP 10500 |
Introduction to Web Development (3) or |
|
COMP 17100 |
Principles of Computing Science I (4) |
3-4 |
ACCT 22500 |
Financial Accounting |
3 |
ACCT 22600 |
Management Accounting |
3 |
MGMT 20600 |
Organizational Behavior and Management |
3 |
Total, credits outside the major |
39-42 |
|
Electives |
25-37 |
|
Total, B.S. in theater arts management |
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.
THPA 10000 |
Theater Production (to be taken concurrently with THPA 10200) |
1 |
THPA 10200 |
Stagecraft |
2 |
THPA 16000 |
Introduction to the Theater |
3 |
THPA 13100 |
Acting I (students must complete 6 credits of required theater courses |
3 |
Total |
9 |
SPCM 23000 |
Analysis and Performance of Literature |
|
SPCM 33300 |
Analysis and Performance of Prose |
|
SPCM 33400 |
Group Performance of Literature |
|
SPCM 33500 |
Analysis and Performance of Poetry |
|
Any theater arts courses not restricted to majors only |
||
Total |
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.
THPA 15300, THPA 15400 |
Ballet I |
2 |
THPA 25300, THPA 25400 |
Ballet II |
2 |
THPA 15500, THPA 15600 |
Modern Dance I |
2 |
THPA 25500, THPA 25600 |
Modern Dance II |
2 |
One of the following
THPA 35300, THPA 35400 |
Ballet III or |
|
THPA 45300, THPA 45400 |
Ballet IV or |
|
THPA 15700- THPA 15800 |
Tap Dance I or |
|
THPA 15100- THPA 15200 |
Jazz Dance I or |
|
THPA 35100, THPA 35200 |
Dance for the Musical Stage |
2 |
THPA 15000 |
Introduction to Dance |
3 |
THPA 35800 |
Survey of Dance History |
3 |
THPA 35500 |
Dance Composition |
3 |
Total, dance minor |
19 |