Theatre Major

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The Theatre major, in the School of Music and Theatre, is designed to provide a background in theatre studies within the context of a liberal arts education to prepare majors for job related goals or advanced training. Core Courses and co-curricular activities provide students with opportunities to develop artistic literacy through practice, study, and development of an aesthetic appreciation of theatre. The Theatre concentrations allow students to receive specialized training in musical theatre, acting and production. The concentrations strengthen students’ abilities to pursue careers as performers, directors, designers, producers, stage managers, playwrights, and theatre managers. The Theatre major with concentrations also prepares students who wish to continue their education at professional or graduate schools.

MUS 051-058 Performance Class Requirement: All theatre majors must register for Performance Class each semester. This is a 0 credit activity course and therefore does not affect the total hours enrolled each semester. A P (passing) grade based on attendance and performance is necessary every semester for graduation.

THR 345 - Selected Topics in Theatre Requirement: THR 345 is a study of selected topics not commonly stressed in regular courses. All theatre majors must register for a THR 345 for a specified number of semesters, according to the degree concentration.

THR 100a/100b-400a/400b Theatre Production and Performance Requirement: Theatre Production and Performance provides theatre majors with opportunities to apply classroom content in a practical fashion. All theatre majors are required to enroll in THR 100a and/or 100b (and the upper level equivalents) for a minimum of 6 times during their degree progress. Permission to enroll in THR 100b/200b/300b/400b will be granted through the audition and casting procedure within the theatre department.

Successful completion of one Theatre concentration is required. A student must declare up to one concentration by the end of the second semester of study. Theatre majors are not permitted to minor in Theatre.

Major Requirements

Core Courses (27 semester hours):

SMT 100 -SMT 400E and/or SMT 100 -SMT 400F (8 experiences)
THR 105 - Play Production: Stagecraft-Set Design, Construction, Lighting and Props 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 108 - Introduction to Acting 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 250 - Makeup for the Stage and Screen 1 Credit Hour(s)
THR 306 - Directing 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 321 - Evolution of the Dramatic Arts 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 322 - Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Theatre and Film 3 Credit Hour(s)
SMT 051-058 - Performance Class (S) 0 Credit Hour(s)
SMT 369 - Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the Arts 3 Credit Hour(s)

Musical Theatre Concentration (32 semester hours):

THR 208 - Intermediate Acting 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 216 - Ballet Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 217 - Jazz and Popular Dance Techniques 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 308 - Advanced Acting 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 316 - Modern Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 317 - Tap Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 345 - Selected Topics 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 499 - Senior Performance Project 1 Credit Hour(s) (Senior Capstone Experience)
SMT 163 - Vocal Explorations 1 Credit Hour(s)
SMT 320 - Advanced Musical Theatre Styles 3 Credit Hour(s)
MUS 102 - Musicianship I 3 Credit Hour(s)
MUS 185 - Piano Class I 2 Credit Hour(s)

Vocal Ensemble

2 credits from:

SMT 100A - Concert Choir 1 Credit Hour(s) or
SMT 100B - University-Community Chorus 1 Credit Hour(s)
SMT 150A - Chamber Singers 1 Credit Hour(s) or
SMT 150B - Studio2Stage 1 Credit Hour(s)
SMT 150C - Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit Hour(s)

Applied major lesson

3 hours from:

MUS 225A-U - Major Performance Area Instruction 1-3 Credit Hour(s)
MUS 125A-U - Major Performance Area Instruction 1-3 Credit Hour(s)
MUS 126A-U - Major Performance Area Instruction 1-3 Credit Hour(s)

Acting Concentration (26 semester hours):

THR 208 - Intermediate Acting 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 216 - Ballet Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 217 - Jazz and Popular Dance Techniques 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 308 - Advanced Acting 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 499 - Senior Performance Project 1 Credit Hour(s) (Senior Capstone Experience)
MUS 105 - Fundamentals of Music 2 Credit Hour(s)
SMT 163 - Vocal Explorations 1 Credit Hour(s)

Select 12 credits from the following:

MUS 104 - Introduction to Piano 2 Credit Hour(s)
MUS 120
SMT 320 - Advanced Musical Theatre Styles 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 316 - Modern Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 317 - Tap Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 345 - Selected Topics 3 Credit Hour(s) (can be repeated with different titles)

Production Concentration (26 semester hours):

THR 270 - Principles of Design 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 345 - Selected Topics 3 Credit Hour(s) (enroll four times under different titles)
THR 445 - Advanced Design Practicm 3 Credit Hour(s) (Senior Capstone Experience)

9 additional hours from the following:

ART 102 - An Introduction into Two-Dimensional Art and Graphics 2 Credit Hour(s)
ART 103 - An Introduction into Three-Dimensional Art 2 Credit Hour(s)
BUS 101 - Introduction to Business 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 245 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 304 - Group Communication and Leadership 3 Credit Hour(s)
MED 102 - Digital Media Toolbox 2 Credit Hour(s)
MED 156 - Media and Culture 3 Credit Hour(s)
MED 202 - Graphic Design 3 Credit Hour(s)
MED 302 - Multimedia Storytelling 3 Credit Hour(s)
MKT 200 - Principles of Marketing 3 Credit Hour(s)
MUS 240 - Audio Recording and Production 2 Credit Hour(s)
NDI 255 - Integrated Arts in Early Childhood 3 Credit Hour(s)
WRI 351 - Business and Professional Writing 1 Credit Hour(s)
WRI 352 - Grant Writing 1 Credit Hour(s)
WRI 353 - Writing and the Publishing Industry 1 Credit Hour(s)
WRI 354 - Writing to Inform 1 Credit Hour(s)
WRI 355 - Writing for Social Change 1 Credit Hour(s)
WRI 356 - Writing for Non-Specialist Audiences 1 Credit Hour(s)
THR 208 - Intermediate Acting 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 216 - Ballet Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 217 - Jazz and Popular Dance Techniques 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 308 - Advanced Acting 3 Credit Hour(s)
THR 316 - Modern Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 317 - Tap Dance Technique 2 Credit Hour(s)
THR 345 - Selected Topics 3 Credit Hour(s)
SMT 370 - Internship 0-6 Credit Hour(s) (1-3 credits)