Requirements for the Theatre Arts Major - 52 Credits

The major in Theatre Arts is designed to provide students with a fundamentally sound and well-rounded bachelor of arts education and training in theatre and in its related arts of performance and design. It is the objective of the Theatre Arts Program to instill in students an abiding respect for theatre as an historical and cultural institution; to enhance their appreciation of theatre’s significant role in a society’s social, political, and cultural life; and to prepare students for the world of professional theatre and for graduate study. The bachelor of arts in Theatre Arts degree requires 52 credit hours of study, which includes 15 credit hours in one of three tracks of study: Performance, Design/Technology, or Theatre Studies. The Theatre Studies track gives students the opportunity to fashion their own areas of focus in consultation with a theatre advisor. In addition to its curricular requirements, the Program provides students with practical experience in all aspects of theatre production as part of their educational experience. The creative process, a professional attitude and work ethic, and artistic integrity are the emphases of all theatre production courses. Theatre majors are also required to fulfill the English department’s foreign language requirement.

Theatre Studies Track - 15 Credits

Students must consult with a Theatre Arts program advisor in choosing their courses, in order to insure sufficient breadth and balance within the concentration. Courses may be selected from the Performance and Design/Technology tracks, the approved Theatre elective courses list, and any in the Theatre major core requirements list that are not being used to fulfill the requirements of that area. This track is recommended for students interested in pursuing one of the Massachusetts Department of Education’s alternative routes to licensure in Theatre.

Approved Theatre Elective Courses

Students may petition to substitute courses from this list of electives to satisfy the core curriculum or the Performance or Design/Technology track requirements. Approval will be granted by the student’s faculty advisor and the department chair, provided such substitutions satisfy the depth, breadth, and specificity of study required by the Theatre Arts program.

• ART 0103 - Drawing I Credits: 3
• ART 0104 - Design Fundamentals Credits: 3
• ART 0106 - Art Survey: Prehistoric to Middle Ages Credits: 3
• ART 0107 - Art Survey: Renaissance to Present Credits: 3
• COMM 0101 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3
• COMM 0332 - Writing for the Interactive Media Credits: 3
• ENGL 0276 - Writing About the Arts Credits: 3
• ENGL 0285 - Basics of Film Writing Credits: 3
• ENGL 0367 - Film Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
• ENGL 0385 - Screenwriting for Feature Film Credits: 3
• ENGL 0391 - Special Studies in Film Credits: 3
• ENGL 0393 - History and Development of Motion Pictures Credits: 3
• MUSC 0101 - Music Appreciation Credits: 3
• MUSC 0160 - History of Jazz Credits: 3
• MUSC 0200 - Music History I Credits: 3
• MUSC 0201 - Music History II Credits: 3
• THEA 0350 - Dramaturgy Credits: 3
• THEA 0358 - Production Seminar Credits: 3 *
• THEA 0360 - Theatre Production Credits: 6
• THEA 0362 - Research Seminar in Theatre Credits: 3
• THEA 0398 - Internship in Theatre Credits: 3-12
• THEA 0399 - Independent Study Credits: 3-6

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements  and complete a common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in the Common Core .