The Department of Theatre and Dance offers diverse classes for undergraduate students, designed to give students learning opportunities in performance, acting, directing, design, history, voice, and theory and criticism. Our faculty work locally, nationally, and internationally, employing various methodologies and aesthetics.
The department offers a Bachelor of Arts with concentrations in Performance: Acting or Directing, Design, or Theatre Generalist. Admission to the BA in Performance is by audition. These are typically scheduled once a semester.
Students interested in Design should submit a letter of application to the Head of the Design Program, requesting admission into the track.
Students interested in being theatre majors are strongly encouraged to seek departmental advisement to create a curriculum plan, especially if considering either a semester or year abroad. Majors should finish the Theatre core curriculum as early as possible. The core course requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Theatre consist of: THEA 2010, 2110, 3340, 3350, 3311, 3312, 3313, 2810 or 4710, 4720, 4730 or 4750 (24 credits)
An early decision to major in theatre is highly encouraged. Majors should finish the core curriculum as early as possible. Those interested in design/technology should apply for acceptance into that track. Auditions will be held each year for those interested in the performance track.
Core Requirements for All Emphases:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| THEA 2010 | Performance I | 3 |
| THEA 2110 | Acting I | 3 |
| THEA 3311 | Scene Shop Practicum 1 | 1 |
| THEA 3312 | Costume Shop Practicum 1 | 1 |
| THEA 3313 | Running Crew Practicum 1 | 1 |
| THEA 3340 | Production & Design I 1 | 3 |
| THEA 3350 | Production & Design II 1 | 3 |
| Select 3 theatre studies courses, one from each category: | ||
| 1 Foundations Course: | 3,4 | |
| Global Theatre & Performance | ||
or THEA 4710 | Foundations of Theatre History | |
| 1 modern & contemporary non-US course: | 3,4 | |
| Modern and Contemporary Non-US Theatre | ||
| 1 US theatre course: | 3,4 | |
| U S Theatre History | ||
or THEA 4750 | African American Theatre Histo | |
| Total Credit Hours | 24-27 | |
- 1
THEA 3311 Scene Shop Practicum (1 c.h.) and THEA 3312 Costume Shop Practicum (1 c.h.) must be taken with THEA 3340 Production & Design I (3 c.h.)/THEA 3350 Production & Design II (3 c.h.) (in any order), one section of THEA 3313 Running Crew Practicum (1 c.h.), and one free option from 3311-3314, which included Box Office.
NOTE: THEA 3315 Acting Practicum (1 c.h.) does not count toward the major. (Repeatable 4 times)
Emphases
General Emphasis
Core courses (24 credit hours) plus the following courses (6 credit hours):
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two additional THEA/DANC courses or approved out of dept. courses. | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Possible Courses Outside Department*
(* See department regarding courses outside the department.)
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 3060 | Greek Drama | 3 |
| ENLS 3640 | Screenwriting | 3 |
| ENLS 4150 | Early Modern Drama | 3 |
| ENLS 4260 | Modern Irish Literature | 3 |
| ENLS 4840 | Performance Studies | 3 |
| FREN 4420 | 17th-Century Drama | 3 |
| GERM 4430 | German Drama | 3 |
| GREK 4040 | Greek Comedy | 3 |
| LATN 4010 | Roman Comedy | 3 |
| MUSC 3320 | Musical Theatre In Amer | 3 |
| SPAN 6430 | Drama of the Golden Age | 3 |
Design/Technology Emphasis
Core courses (24 credit hours) plus the following courses (9 credit hours):
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three courses of the following: | 9 | |
| Advanced Makeup | ||
| Adv Technical Problems | ||
| Fundamentals of Lighting | ||
| Comp. Tech For Lighting | ||
| Thea Drafting & Model-Making | ||
| Rendering For Designers | ||
| Adv Costume Rendering | ||
| Design for Television | ||
| Design for Puppetry | ||
| Stage Management | ||
| Welding | ||
| Sound Technology | ||
| Costume Construction | ||
| Costume Technology | ||
| Costume Crafts I | ||
| Adv Costume Technique Draping | ||
| Costume Crafts II | ||
| Theatrical Photography | ||
| Scene Design Cad | ||
| Scene Painting | ||
| Design For Dancers | ||
| Advanced Costume Construction | ||
| Design Fundamentals I | ||
| Portfolio Techniques | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Performance Emphasis: Acting or Directing
Core courses (24 credit hours) plus the following courses (12 credit hours):
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses for both Acting and Directing Techniques: 1,2 | ||
| THEA 1090 | Voice I | 2 |
| THEA 3030 | Suzuki Method of Acting | 2 |
| THEA 3110 | Text Analysis for Actors and Directors | 2 |
| Please select one of the following groups: | 6 | |
| Acting Technique: | ||
| Voice II and Acting II and Acting III | ||
| Directing Technique: | ||
| Directing I: The Foundation and Directing II: Staging the Imagination and Directing III: Directing Psycho-Physical Theatre | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Performance track students must continue to be enrolled in technique classes through graduation. Consult with theatre advisor.
- 2
Performance track students may select courses across THEA/DANC disciplines after completion of requirements in either Acting or Directing. Consult with theatre advisor. Additional credits beyond 36 would apply.
Graduate Studies
Students aiming toward graduate study in this discipline should take additional courses according to a planned sequence. Courses both in theatre and in such disciplines as English, history, music, art, and dramatic literature courses in classics, French, Italian, German, Russian, and English are expressly recommended for this purpose.