Theatre Arts (BS)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2022–Spring 2023 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Theatre Arts
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): TA_ _BS

Program Information

As part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Theatre Arts is committed to a liberal arts education for our undergraduate students and professional training for graduate students. The ancient art of theatre is most fully understood and exists at its deepest form of expression through the creation of performances shared with an audience. Doing so demands a deep array of knowledge and skill combined with a professional attitude and work ethic that can serve students throughout their lives in whatever profession they pursue.

All Theatre Arts Undergraduate Majors are required to fulfill course requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences, General Education and Programmatic/Supporting Courses.

Theatre Arts Requirements are split into four core areas: Academics, Performance, Design and Technology, and Performance/Production. In addition, Theatre Arts undergraduate majors utilize 18 hours of department electives to specialize in one of five areas including African American Theatre, Performance, Design and Technology, Dramaturgy and Playwriting, and General Studies. All majors participate in the Culminating Undergraduate Experience in their final year.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.

Degree Summary

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
General Education Requirements ¹		31
College/School Requirements		13-15
Program/Major Requirements ¹		42
Supporting Courses		33
Minimum Total Hours		121

¹: Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

There are no specific admission requirements for this degree plan.

The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.

General Education Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
General Education Requirements ^*		31
The following courses are required by the program and satisfy the respective General Education Requirement(s):
TA 224	Introduction to Acting as Communication
TA 326	Cultural Diversity in Performance

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Arts & Sciences Requirements
GEN 100	Student Success Center First Year Experience	1
or GEN 101	Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
Foreign Language ¹		6-8
Electives in Natural Sciences or Social Sciences at the 300-level or above ²		6
WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above ³
Minimum Total Hours		13-15

Program/Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Department of Theatre Arts
Academic Core
TA 326	Cultural Diversity in Performance ⁴	3
TA 360	Theatre History & Script Analysis I: Classical-Medieval	3
TA 361	Theatre History & Script Analysis II: Renaissance-Romantic	3
TA 362	Theatre History & Script Analysis III: Modern & Contemporary	3
TA 366	History of the African-American Theatre ⁴	3
Performance Core
TA 224	Introduction to Acting as Communication	3
TA 327	Acting Fundamentals: The Craft of Imagination	3
Design and Technology Core
TA 240	Stagecraft-QR	3
TA 243	Design Aesthetics	3
TA 245	Costume Construction	3
Performance/Production Projects
TA 350	Theatre Production Practicum ⁵	5
TA 433	Fundamentals of Stage & Production Management	3
TA 460	Black Diasporic Conversations Seminar ⁴	1
TA 550	Culminating Undergraduate Experience Practicum	3
Minimum Total Hours		42

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Supporting Courses
TA Electives		18
Electives in the Division of Humanities, other than Theatre Arts (300-level or above)		15
General Electives ⁶		0
Minimum Total Hours		33

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement)
Requirement fulfilled by completing:
TA 550	Culminating Undergraduate Experience Practicum

¹: Completion of the second semester of a single foreign language; hours will vary depending on the language taken
²: In addition to courses counted toward general education
³: May be incorporated into other degree requirements
⁴: Part of the African American Theatre program.
⁵: All theatre majors are required to work on five productions as part of their studies; this requirement is fulfilled by enrolling in the TA 350 (Theatre Production Practicum) course. Students are expected to experience a variety of theatre skills in addressing this requirement. Students may enroll for two sections in one semester, but this is not encouraged. All assignments count for one credit hour, with the exception of stage management, which counts for two credit hours. Refer to the TA 350 instructor for details on how this course is organized and how it functions during the semester.
⁶: Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

Note: This is an example of how a student might complete their Theatre Arts degree. Students are encouraged to consult with their TA advisor to find the best path for the student based on the student’s schedule and current course offerings.

Flight Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Fall		Hours
ENGL 101	Introduction to College Writing	3
GEN 100 or GEN 101	Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience	1
TA 224	Introduction to Acting as Communication	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR		3
Foreign Language 1		4
Gen Education: Arts and Humanities - AH		3
	Hours	17
Spring
ENGL 102	Intermediate College Writing	3
TA 240	Stagecraft-QR	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social and Behavioral Sciences-SB		3
Foreign Language 2		4
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S		3
	Hours	16
Year 2
Fall
TA 327	Acting Fundamentals: The Craft of Imagination	3
TA 243	Design Aesthetics	3
TA 326	Cultural Diversity in Performance	3
TA 350	Theatre Production Practicum	1
TA 360 or TA 361 or TA 362	Theatre History & Script Analysis I: Classical-Medieval or Theatre History & Script Analysis II: Renaissance-Romantic or Theatre History & Script Analysis III: Modern & Contemporary	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Science with Lab-B or S/SL		4
	Hours	17
Spring
TA 245	Costume Construction	3
TA 361 or TA 360 or TA 362	Theatre History & Script Analysis II: Renaissance-Romantic or Theatre History & Script Analysis I: Classical-Medieval or Theatre History & Script Analysis III: Modern & Contemporary	3
TA 350	Theatre Production Practicum	1
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH, D2		3
Humanities elective (non-Theatre Arts) (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	16
Year 3
Fall
TA 362 or TA 360 or TA 361	Theatre History & Script Analysis III: Modern & Contemporary or Theatre History & Script Analysis I: Classical-Medieval or Theatre History & Script Analysis II: Renaissance-Romantic	3
TA 433	Fundamentals of Stage & Production Management	3
TA 350	Theatre Production Practicum	1
Humanities elective (non-Theatre Arts) (300 level or above)		3
Theatre Arts Elective		3
Theatre Arts Elective		3
	Hours	16
Spring
TA 366	History of the African-American Theatre	3
TA 460	Black Diasporic Conversations Seminar	1
TA 350	Theatre Production Practicum	1
Theatre Arts elective		3
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above)		3
Humanities elective (non-Theatre Arts) (300 level or above)		3
	Hours	14
Year 4
Fall
TA 350	Theatre Production Practicum	1
Theatre Arts elective		3
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above)		3
Humanities elective (non-Theatre Arts) (300 level or above)		3
General elective		3
General elective (if necessary)		0-3
	Hours	13-16
Spring
TA 550	Culminating Undergraduate Experience Practicum	3
Theatre Arts elective		3
Theatre Arts elective		3
Humanities elective (non-Theatre Arts) (300 level or above)		3
	Hours	12
	Minimum Total Hours	121-124

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan. What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

To create either report:

Log into your ULink account.
Click on the Academic Progress tile.
Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.

Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan. The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center. Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.