The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Theatre is designed to introduce students to the multiple facets of theatre scholarship and theatre practice. It provides a flexible and extensive education in dramatic literature, theatre history, performance practice and theatrical design for students interested in careers in theatre and related entertainment arts, education, communication and television, and other professions.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the program include an audition or interview with the Theatre Faculty and satisfying the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University.

Matriculation: All students in baccalaureate theatre degree programs begin as B.A. students and subsequently may change to the B.F.A. program depending on interest and ability. Classes for theatre students begin immediately in the freshman year. Students should consult with departmental advisors before beginning the program.

Program Requirements

Candidates must complete a minimum of 120 credits in course work, including satisfaction of the University General Education requirements, College degree requirements, and specific theatre courses required in the individual degree and/or concentrations. The minimum grade for each course required in the major, which must be taken in the Department of Theatre, must be no less than a C-minus in order for the course credit to count toward completion of the degree.Students must be current in their plan of work and all Basic Competency courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the Capstone course. Departmental information published in this Bulletin is intended for use in conjunction with advising, but in all cases, regardless of advice given, students are responsible for meeting and satisfying requirements as set forth in this Bulletin.

All course work must be completed in accordance with the academic procedures of the University and the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts governing undergraduate scholarship  and  degrees, as well as with the requirements of the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance.  

General Education Course Progress: Majors must complete the Basic Composition (BC) requirement by the time forty-five credits have been earned, the Oral Communication (OC) and Intermediate Composition (IC) requirement by the time sixty credits have been earned. Failure to meet these limits on matriculation will result in the student being placed on departmental probation: the student will be ineligible to be cast in or participate as a member of the artistic/production staff of department productions. Transfer students will be reviewed upon entry into the major for compliance with these standards and advised as needed.

Major Requirements: All students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre must complete the following courses:

Theatre Honors Programs (B.A. degrees)

In order to enter the Departmental honors program students must have achieved academic excellence in previous work, such as a high school G.P.A. of 3.5 or a college or university G.P.A. of 3.3. Students must meet all regular major requirements including: three of the following honors-option courses within their major taught by full-time faculty members (internships cannot satisfy this requirement),  at least one 42XX honors seminar offered through the Honors College, a senior honors thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor in their major area (THR 4998) and maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 3.3 cumulative and in the major.

Bachelor of Arts - Departmental Honors in Theatre Option (fifteen credits)

For additional information, students should consult the Irvin D. Reid Honors College.