Course Planning

Theatre Arts Major - Planning

Course planning advice here is limited to majors. For a full description of degree requirements, please see this overview of the Academic Program and refer to the Catalog for details and official rules. Any discrepancy between the Course Planning Pages and the Catalog will be resolved in favor of the Catalog.

Possible Degree Path – starting in the first year. The following is a typical major plan. This is not the only way forward. Please consult with your advisor and the online course schedule to create your unique path. Course offerings may vary between the fall and spring semesters. It is recommended that the Co-Op experience be completed during the summer between the Sophomore and Junior year, during the fall semester of the Junior year or during the summer between the Junior and Senior year.

 
First Year

One of the following required fundamental courses:

  • Acting Fundamentals (TART 140, fall or spring)
  • Script Analysis Fundamentals (TART 210, fall)

One of the following general elective courses at the 100- or 200-level:

  • Dance Making Fundamentals (DANC 250)
  • Introduction to Theatre (TART 100)
  • Design Fundamentals (TART 185)
  • Art of Stage and Props Management (TART 275) 
  • Beginning Playwriting (TART 290)
  • Computer Aided Drafting (TART 295)
  • Intermediate Acting (TART 335)

Possibly one Theatre Practicum experience (TARA P21-P24)

Possibly one theatre activity experience (TARA)

Sophomore

One of the following courses to meet the technical requirement:

  • Scenery and Lighting (TART 260, fall) or
  • Costume and Makeup (TART 280, spring)

One of the following movement elective courses:

  • Modern Dance Technique (DANC 215, fall or spring)
  • Ballet Technique (DANC 216, fall or spring)
  • Jazz Dance Technique (DANC 217, fall or spring)
  • Voice and Movement for the Theatre (TART 135, fall)

If not previously taken, complete the required fundamental courses:

  • Acting Fundamentals (TART 140, fall and spring)
  • Script Analysis (TART 210, fall)

One or possibly two Theatre Practicum experiences (TARA P21-P24) jor electives:

  • Voice and Movement for the Theatre  (Tart 135, fall)
  • Meisner Technique (TART 335, spring)
  • Modern Technique (DANC 215, fall)
  • Ballet Technique (DANC 216, spring)
  • Jazz Technique (DANC 217, spring)

If not previously completed, complete the fundamental courses:

  • Performance Fundamentals (TART 140, fall and spring)
  • Production Fundamentals (TART 145, fall)
  • Script Analysis (TART 210, spring)

One or possibly two theatre activity experiences (TARA)

Junior

Two courses, one from each of the following sets of required courses:

  • One of: Theatre History (TART 310, fall) or American Musical Theatre (TART 375, spring)
  • One of: Stage Directing (TART 430, fall) or Production Design (TART 450, spring)

If not previously taken, complete one of the movement elective courses:

  • Modern Dance Technique (DANC 215, fall or spring)
  • Ballet Technique (DANC 216, fall or spring)
  • Jazz Dance Technique (DANC 217, fall or spring)
  • Voice and Movement for the Theatre (TART 135, fall)

One of: Stage Direction (TART 430, fall) or Production Design (TART 450, spring)

  • One of: Beginning Playwriting (TART 290, spring) or Movement Work (TART 365, fall) or Reading and Writing Dance (DANC 290, spring)

If not previously completed, complete one of the following major electives:

  • Voice and Movement for the Theatre  (Tart 135, fall)
  • Meisner Technique (TART 335, spring)
  • Modern Technique (DANC 215, fall)
  • Ballet Technique (DANC 216, spring)
  • Jazz Technique (DANC 217, spring)

 1-2 theatre activity experiences (TARA)

If not previously taken, complete one of the following 100-, 200-, or 300-level general elective courses:

  • Dance Making Fundamentals (DANC 250)
  • Introduction to Theatre (TART 100)
  • Design Fundamentals (TART 185)
  • Art of Stage and Props Management (TART 275) 
  • Beginning Playwriting (TART 290)
  • Computer Aided Drafting (TART 295)
  • Intermediate Acting (TART 335)

 One to two Theatre Practicum experiences (TARA P21-P24)

Co-Op experience must be completed before the start of the fall semester.

Senior

 
Theatre Arts: Senior Seminar (TART 497, spring

If not previously taken, complete remaining courses from the following sets of required courses

  • One of: Theatre History (TART 310, fall) or American Musical Theatre (TART 375, spring
  • One of: Stage Directing (TART 430, fall) or Production Design (TART 450, spring)

Any of the four Theatre Practicum experiences remaining must be completed (TARA P21-P24 credits)



Planning Recommendations: Production Design (TART 450) should be completed before the senior year to prepare for more advanced work.  Please consult the online course schedule to verify the semester in which this course is offered.

A note about Health Humanities courses in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance: 

  • Dancing Alive: Power of Self-expression (HEHU 200) may count as a movement elective. This course is open to all students regardless of experience.
  • Queer Memory Plays (HEHU 300) may count as a replacement for American Musical Theatre (TART 375). This course is open to students with junior standing or by permission of instructor.

Capstone Comments: The Capstone in theatre consists of Theatre Arts: Senior Seminar (TART 497).

Possible Degree Path – starting in the second year. The following is a typical plan to complete this major. Please consult with your advisor or a member of the Department to create your unique path. 

     

    First Year

     -

    Sophomore

    One of the following required fundamental courses:

    • Performance Fundamentals (TART 140, fall or spring)
    • Script Analysis Fundamentals (TART 210, fall)

     

    One of the following courses to meet the technical requirement:

    • Scenery and Lighting (TART 260, fall) or
    • Costume and Makeup (TART 280, spring)

    One of the following movement elective courses:

    • Modern Dance Technique (DANC 215, fall or spring)
    • Ballet Technique (DANC 216, fall or spring)
    • Jazz Dance Technique (DANC 217, fall or spring)
    • Voice and Movement for the Theatre (TART 135, fall)

    One or two Theatre Practicum experiences (TARA P21-P24)

    Junior

    Two courses, one from each of the following sets of required courses:

    • One of: Theatre History (TART 310, fall) or American Musical Theatre (TART 375, spring)
    • One of: Stage Directing (TART 430, fall) or Production Design (TART 450, spring)

    If not previously taken, complete the required fundamental courses:

    • Performance Fundamentals (TART 140, fall and spring)
    • Script Analysis (TART 210, fall)

    One of the following 100-, 200-, or 300-level general elective courses:

    • Dance Making Fundamentals (DANC 250)
    • Introduction to Theatre (TART 100)
    • Design Fundamentals (TART 185)
    • Art of Stage and Props Management (TART 275) 
    • Beginning Playwriting (TART 290)
    • Computer Aided Drafting (TART 295)
    • Intermediate Acting (TART 335)

    One or two Theatre Practicum experiences (TARA P21-P24)

    Co-Op experience must be completed before the start of the fall semester.

      Senior

      Theatre Arts: Senior Seminar (TART 497, spring)

      If not previously taken, complete remaining courses from the following sets of required courses:

      • One of: Theatre History (TART 310, fall) or American Musical Theatre (TART 375, spring)
      • One of: Stage Directing (TART 430, fall) or Production Design (TART 450, spring)

      Any of the four Theatre Practicum experiences remaining must be completed (TARA P21-P24 credits.

        Planning Recommendations: Production Design (TART 450) should be completed before the senior year to prepare for more advanced work.  Please consult the online course schedule to verify the semester in which this course is offered.

        A note about Health Humanities courses in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance: 

        • Dancing Alive: Power of Self-expression (HEHU 200) may count as a movement elective. This course is open to all students regardless of experience.
        • Queer Memory Plays (HEHU 300) may count as a replacement for American Musical Theatre (TART 375). This course is open to students with junior standing or by permission of instructor.

        Capstone Comments: The Capstone in theatre consists of Theatre Arts: Senior Seminar (TART 497).