Major Requirements
The Department of Theatre & Dance provides programming balanced with theory and practice, breadth and depth, and an emphasis being a strong collaborator. Our students routinely double major and minor, pairing Theatre with disciplines from English to Environmental Studies. All of our majors graduate as artists with an understanding of the world of theatre and theatre in the world.
Declare your major!
The Process
The THEATRE major consists of five components:
1. Core Required Courses
A total of 10 courses are required for the Theatre major, 8 of which must be:
- 101 – Drama, Stage and Society I
- 102 – Drama Stage and Society II
- 211 – Introduction to Acting
- 221 – Introduction to Directing
- 231 – Stagecraft
- 241 – Introduction to Theatrical Design
- 381 – Junior Seminar
- One course in theatre literature/history/theory
2. Electives
Each major is requried to take 2 electives in additon to their 8 core coures.
The Theatre program offers recurring electives in areas such as playwriting, dramaturgy, adaptation, improvisation, stage management, and arts administration. If there is a specific subject you're interested in learning more about that you don't see listed in the course catalog, let the Chair of the Department know.
View course catalog (pdf)
3. Experiential Learning
Theatre majors must engage in a range of experiential learning, including items from four of the categories below, at least one of which must be a THE/DAN practicum course.
Experiential learning may take many forms, including departmental productions, internships, or jobs. Activities may take place on- or off-campus, be paid or unpaid, and be taken for-credit or audited. Experiences not listed below may be considered but must be approved by the department chair.
- THE/DAN 182 (Performance)
- MUS Musical (performer)
- Dance Club Concert (performer)
- THE/DAN 184 (Dramaturgy)
- MUS Musical (dramaturg)
- THE/DAN 186 (Choreography)
- MUS Musical (choreographer)
- Dance Club Concert (choreographer)
- THE/DAN 183 (Design)
- MUS Musical (designer)
- THE/DAN 187/287 (Directing)
- MUS Musical (asst-/co-director)
- THE/DAN 185/285 (Stage Management)
- GCA Crew (50 hours)
- THE/DAN 181 (Crew)
- MUS Musical (Crew)
- THE/DAN Shop Staff (1 year)
- Front of House Management (1 year)
- Graphic Design / Social Media Coordinator (1 year)
- Department Admin Assistant (1 year)
- THE/DAN Club Officer (1 year)
- AME Internship
4. Senior Capstone Experience
Starting in their junior year, Theatre majors propose and complete a rigorous, immersive SCE project through which they deepen their knowledge and experience within a single theatrical discipline.
A student may complete the Theatre SCE in one of several ways:
- a traditional research thesis in the areas of theatrical criticism, theory, or history;
- a playwriting thesis in which the student writes, workshops, and produces a rehearsed reading of a full-length play;
- a production thesis in which the student serves as dramaturg, stage manager, designer, performer, or director of a departmental production.
Students may also propose alternative projects not listed above, to be developed and approved in collaboration with the faculty.
Learn more about the theatre SCE here
5. Other Expectations
All theatre majors are expected to be supportive members of their peers and role models within the Department. Examples of this include volunteering at work calls, load ins, and strikes; attending Department productions, lectures, and events; and trying new things/being encouraging of students who want to try a discipline or subject outside of their typical repertoire.