Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Major: Theater Arts

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts program in theater offers a broad liberal arts education in the art and humanity of theater, with the opportunity to pursue concentrations in acting, design/technical, directing, dramatic writing, and general theater studies. Theater education provides much-sought-after knowledge and skills such as creative problem-solving, teamwork, and collaboration. Students intending to major in theater will need to complete 40 credit hours of coursework, with the opportunity to pursue double or secondary majors. Most students will opt to take many classes beyond the requirements in order to enhance their knowledge and improve their skills.  

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate a common theater production vocabulary.
• Students will be able to demonstrate a disciplinary knowledge of acting craft that they can apply toward their scenes analysis and/or performance.
• Students will be able to analyze a script for the purpose of theatrical production.
• Students will be able to recognize, identify, and utilize historical periods, styles, and artistic movements.

Undergraduate Policies

For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Accelerated Master's Programs

Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.

The Bachelor of Arts program in theater offers concentrations in acting, design/technical theater, dramatic writing, directing, and general theater. Students intending to major in theater must complete 40 hours of coursework. Most students will opt to take many classes beyond the requirements in order to enhance their knowledge and improve their skills. Students interested in declaring a specific concentration of study can satisfy the additional requirements listed below in order to fulfill a Bachelor of Arts with a specific concentration. Students who do not declare a concentration will receive the designation of "General Theater" on their transcript. 

The basic course requirements for all theater majors are as follows:

Elective Courses

Departmental Honors

Majors wishing to take a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in theater must make written application to the director of undergraduate theater studies no later than May 1 of their junior year. Students must have a minimum 3.25 overall grade point average and a minimum 3.75 grade point average in theater. Acceptance into the honors program is contingent upon faculty support and recommendation by the director of undergraduate theater studies and the department chair.

Those accepted register for THTR 397 and THTR 398 during their senior year, for a total of 6 hours. The honors project is defined as a production project in acting, design, playwriting, directing, or management/outreach. A supporting paper discussing the concept, execution, and performance of the project must be filed with the director of undergraduate theater studies no later than one week following the project presentation. Preparation of the project will be supervised by a department faculty member.

This project may be accepted for honors only if it receives a grade of A from both the project advisor and the director of undergraduate theater studies. The grade of A must be received both semesters. Students who qualify will receive the notation “Departmental Honors in Theater” on their diplomas. Information about the structure and specific requirements of the honors project is available from the director of undergraduate theater studies.

Concentration Requirements

 Concentration in Acting

Concentration in Design/Technical Theater

Concentration in Directing

 Concentration in Dramatic Writing

Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.