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Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Theatre

• Requirements for a Major in Theatre

Requirements for a Major in Theatre

A bachelor's degree in theatre requires completion of (1) B.A. or B.S. degree requirements, (2) theatre core, (3) theatre electives, and (4) a theatre Capstone. The Bachelor of Arts requires between 50 and 62 credit hours depending on the number of courses required to demonstrate language proficiency, while the Bachelor of Science requires 59 credit hours.

B.A. and B.S. Degree Requirements

All students selecting a theatre major must choose either the B.A. or the B.S. degree.

B.A. Degree Requirements

The B.A. degree requires a third-semester proficiency in a classical or modern foreign language of the student's choice.

B.S. Degree Requirements

• STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)

AND two of the following:

• HST 290 - The Historian's Craft: What Historians Know and How They Know It (3 credits)
• INT 301 - Interdisciplinary Research Methods (3 credits)
• STA 216 - Intermediate Applied Statistics (3 credits)

Core Courses

Theatre core courses require 35 credits as outlined.

Design/Tech/Management Area

Requires eight credits, including two of the following:

• THE 250 - Theatre Management (3 credits)
• THE 261 - Stagecraft I (3 credits)
• THE 262 - Costume Construction (3 credits)

AND two (one-credit) sections of applied theatre practice corresponding to courses selected from design/tech/management areas listed previously:

• THE 298 - Applied Theatre Practice (1 to 3 credits)

Theatre Studies Area

Requires 12 credits, including:

• THE 161 - Theatre Production (3 credits)
• THE 162 - Play Analysis (3 credits)
• THE 371 - Theatre History I (3 credits)
• THE 372 - Theatre History II (3 credits)

Performance Area

Requires nine credits, including:

• THE 151 - Acting Process (3 credits)
• THE 252 - Acting Characterization (3 credits)
• THE 365 - Directing I (3 credits)

Advanced Theatre Study

Requires six credits, including two of the following (one must be a design course selected from THE 367, THE 368, or THE 369):

• THE 362 - Production Dramaturgy (3 credits)
• THE 367 - Scenography (3 credits)
• THE 368 - Lighting Design (3 credits)
• THE 369 - Costume Design (3 credits)
• THE 465 - Directing II (3 credits)

Elective Courses

Requires 12 credits. Electives must be taken in addition to courses taken in the theatre core. Courses not selected to fulfill the theatre core may be taken as electives once core requirements are met. Elective credit for THE 298 is available only after completing tech lab requirement.

• THE 152 - Voice for the Actor (3 credits)
• THE 198 - Rehearsal and Performance (1 to 3 credits)
• THE 250 - Theatre Management (3 credits)
• THE 261 - Stagecraft I (3 credits)
• THE 262 - Costume Construction (3 credits)
• THE 263 - Makeup (2 credits)
• THE 298 - Applied Theatre Practice (1 to 3 credits)
• THE 300 - Storytelling (3 credits)
• THE 325 - Theatre for Social Change (3 credits)
• THE 356 - Acting for the Camera (3 credits)
• THE 362 - Production Dramaturgy (3 credits)
• THE 366 - Drama in Education (3 credits)
• THE 367 - Scenography (3 credits)
• THE 368 - Lighting Design (3 credits)
• THE 369 - Costume Design (3 credits)
• THE 380 - Special Topics in Theatre (1 to 3 credits)
• THE 399 - Independent Reading (1 to 3 credits)
• THE 400 - Touring Theatre Production (3 credits)
• THE 454 - Acting Advanced Scene Study (3 credits)
• THE 455 - Shakespeare Performance (3 credits)
• THE 465 - Directing II (3 credits)
• THE 490 - Internship (1 to 6 credits)
• THE 499 - Independent Research (1 to 3 credits)

A maximum of three credits from THE 490 - Internship may be counted toward the required theatre elective credit. With advisor approval, students can also complete a maximum of six hours of credits in other disciplines related to theatre to apply toward elective requirements (non-THE prefix).

Capstone

Requires three credits. All students majoring in theatre must take THE 495 as a senior. This course offers a synthesis of ideas and theories about one or more current critical issues in theatre.

• THE 495 - Theatre Capstone (3 credits)

Suggested Order of Coursework

The following guidelines are for completing the theatre major. Students should verify specific major requirements with their advisor. This option assumes students will complete the required skills, general education, and required courses working toward a B.S. or B.A. degree. Theatre students are encouraged to avoid taking evening courses where possible, due to rehearsal conflicts in the cocurricular theatre program.

Year One

• THE 151 - Acting Process (3 credits)
• *THE 161 - Theatre Production (3 credits)
• THE 162 - Play Analysis (3 credits)

*THE 161 fulfills the general education Foundations-Arts category and is required for the theatre major.

Year Two

Requires two credits (one credit each) of THE 298 in concert with two technical theatre classes, as follows:

• THE 252 - Acting Characterization (3 credits)
• THE 298 - Applied Theatre Practice (1 to 3 credits)

AND two of the following:

• THE 250 - Theatre Management (3 credits)
• THE 261 - Stagecraft I (3 credits)
• THE 262 - Costume Construction (3 credits)

Years Three and Four

Select one design course and either an additional design course or THE 362 or THE 465.

• THE 365 - Directing I (3 credits)
• THE 371 - Theatre History I (3 credits)
• THE 372 - Theatre History II (3 credits)

Design Course

• THE 367 - Scenography (3 credits)
• THE 368 - Lighting Design (3 credits)
• THE 369 - Costume Design (3 credits)

The following courses can fulfill the additional course requirement:

• THE 362 - Production Dramaturgy (3 credits)
• THE 465 - Directing II (3 credits)
• THE 495 - Theatre Capstone (3 credits)
• Theatre electives (12 credits)

Program Description

Visit gvsu.edu/acad/theatre-ba-bs.htm to view the program description