Theatre, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
The department offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre that may be entered into during the third year. All freshman and transfer students entering the Department of Theatre are initially classified as Theatre Foundation students. After successfully completing the first two years of core theatre courses in their foundation areas of emphasis, students apply for admission into a specific degree program (B.F.A. or B.A.) in theatre. The B.A. is designed for students who want a program with a strong emphasis in theatre combined with a strong liberal arts component, and a minor (or other course of directed study) in an area other than theatre.
Student participation in both credit- and noncredit-bearing department activities will be required. Students matriculating in School of the Arts degree programs are bound by the policies and procedures stipulated in this bulletin and in any other current handbook or policy document adopted by the individual programs.
Because of the environment that exists in the Department of Theatre, all aspects of theatre as art, craft, business and education are experienced together. The curriculum immerses students in the practicalities of theatre. Throughout the four years, students work with voice, body and imagination; this practical application, combined with a strong liberal arts component and a minor (or course of directed study), offers a wide field of academic and human experience.
Degree requirements – Bachelor of Arts in Theatre
Students wishing to pursue the B.A. will declare their intention at the end of their sophomore Foundation year. Students will then be given a new departmental advising guide and all courses will be transferred to the new degree track.
| First and second year (B.F.A. shared Foundation) | Credits |
| ARTH 103 or 104 Survey of Western Art | 3 |
| THEA 103 Stagecraft | 3 |
| THEA 104 Costume Construction | 3 |
| THEA 113 Acting I | 3 |
| THEA 114 Acting I or SPCH 121 Effective Speech | 3 |
| THEA 201-202 Stage Voice and Speech or equivalent in Art Foundation, design, stage management or theatre practicum electives | 3-3 |
| THEA 203-204 Movement for the Actor or equivalent in Art Foundation, design or stage management electives | 3-3 |
| THEA 211-212 Introduction to Drama | 3-3 |
| THEA 213-214 Acting II or equivalent in Art Foundation, design or stage management electives | 3-3 |
| THEA 227 Basic Stage Costuming and Makeup or THEA 221 Introduction to Scene Design or THEA 228 Basic Stage Costuming and Makeup or THEA 229 Introduction to Lighting Design | 3 |
| MATH 131 or STAT 208 (university core) | 3 |
| UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II (university core) | 3-3 |
| UNIV 200 Writing and Rhetoric (university core) | 3 |
| Approved humanities/fine arts (university core)* | 3 |
| Approved natural/physical science (university core)* | 3 |
| Approved social/behavioral science (university core)* | 3 |
| Core credits | 63 |
| Third and fourth years (broader exploration of humanities) | |
| ENGL XXX (Shakespeare or other play-reading) | 3 |
| THEA/AFAM 303 Black Theatre, THEA 403 or 404 History of Dramatic Literature; or THEA 423 or 424 Modern Drama | 3-3 |
| THEA 307-308 History of the Theatre | 3-3 |
| THEA 300-level practicum (if equivalence hours not yet met) | 0-6 |
| THEA 3XX or 4XX upper-level elective* | 3 |
| THEA 415 The Business of Theatre (capstone) | 4 |
| Approved humanities/fine arts, natural/physical science or social/behavioral science electives* | 3-3 |
| Electives (emphasis in minor area or directed course of study; consult with academic adviser)* | 23 |
| Foreign language* | 3-3 |
| Additional credits | 57 |
| Total credits | 120 |
* A minimum of 45 upper-level (300- to 500-) courses are needed to graduate. Electives should be chosen in consultation with an adviser.