Theatre Arts (B.A.)

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Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours

Semester Hours required for the Theatre Arts Major: 53 semester hours

The Department of Theatre offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. It concentrates on undergraduate programs that stress the interdependency of academic and production experiences. This liberal arts program emphasizes the importance of a broad theatre background and the mastery of theatre fundamentals in preparation for the more advanced training found in graduate schools or in professional theatre, internship/apprentice programs, or for a career in theatre education.

All students begin a major in Theatre Arts with a core of requirements. Theatre Arts major then selects a particular emphasis that will aid in attaining career goals. Theatre Arts majors must earn a minimum of at least a “C” (2.0) in each major course. A GPA of not less than 2.5 is required in the major.

Major

Core Requirements

Required Core: 26 Credit Hours

Foundation Courses

Total Semester Hours: 5

THA 2220 - Theatre Seminar. Credits: 1
(See Footnote *)
THA 2258 - Script Analysis. Credits: 3
THA 4220 - Senior Thesis Project. Credits: 1
(See Footnote **)

Footnotes:

*Students declaring a Theatre Arts major at EIU after completing THA 2140G or its equivalent may substitute that course for THA 2220.

**Departmental Honors students may substitute THA 4644 for THA 4220.

Performance Courses

Total Semester Hours: 6

THA 1134 - Stage Movement. Credits: 2
THA 2000 - Performance Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 2244 - Acting I. Credits: 3

Technical & Design Courses

Total Semester Hours: 8

THA 2001 - Costuming Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 2002 - Scenic/Lighting Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 2210 - Introduction to Costuming. Credits: 3
A fee is required for shop materials.
THA 2211 - Stagecraft. Credits: 3
A fee is required for shop materials.

History & Literature Courses

Total Semester Hours: 6

THA 3751G - Origins of European Theatre. Credits: 3
THA 3752G - European and U.S. Theatre from 1660 to the Present Day. Credits: 3

Advanced Theatre Lab Courses

Total Semester Hours: 1

One of the following:

THA 30001 - Advanced Performance Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 30011 - Advanced Costuming Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 30021 - Advanced Scenic/Lighting Lab I. Credits: 1

Plus One of the Following Emphases:

Generalist in Theatre Arts

Total Semester Hours: 27

Designated Performance Electives

Total Semester Hours: 6

THA 5585: Creative Drama/Grad. Credits: 3

THA 2281 - Summer Theatre: Performance I. Credits: 3 to 6
THA 30001 - Advanced Performance Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 30002 - Advanced Performance Lab II. Credits: 1
THA 30003 - Advanced Performance Lab III. Credits: 1
THA 30004 - Advanced Performance Lab IV. Credits: 1
THA 3334 - Performing Voice. Credits: 2
THA 3343 - Creative Collaboration: Devised Theatre in Performance Credits: 3
THA 3344 - Scene & Character Study. Credits: 3
THA 33451 - Topics in Acting I. Credits: 3
THA 33452 - Topics in Acting II. Credits: 3
THA 33453 - Topics in Acting III. Credits: 3
THA 3348 - Auditioning & Career Management for Actors. Credits: 3
THA 3349 - Classical Acting Styles. Credits: 3
THA 3431 - Children’s Theatre Tour. Credits: 3
THA 3432 - Creative Drama. Credits: 3
THA 3445 - Directing. Credits: 3
THA 4400 - Advanced Directing Studies. Credits: 3
THA 4810 - Summer Theatre: Performance II. Credits: 3 to 6
THA 4812 - Summer Theatre: Directing. Credits: 3 to 6

Technical and Design Electives

Total Semester Hours: 6

3 hrs. must be chosen from the following courses:

THA 3357 - Scene Design. Credits: 3
THA 3358 - Costume Design. Credits: 3
THA 3360 - Stage Lighting Design. Credits: 3
THA 3434 - Basic Theatrical Design. Credits: 3

3 hrs. must be chosen from the following courses:

THA 2005 - Stage Makeup. Credits: 3
THA 2282 - Summer Theatre: Tech I. Credits: 3 to 6
THA 30011 - Advanced Costuming Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 30012 - Advanced Costuming Lab II. Credits: 1
THA 30013 - Advanced Costuming Lab III. Credits: 1
THA 30014 - Advanced Costuming Lab IV. Credits: 1
THA 30021 - Advanced Scenic/Lighting Lab I. Credits: 1
THA 30022 - Advanced Scenic/Lighting Lab II. Credits: 1
THA 30023 - Advanced Scenic/Lighting Lab III. Credits: 1
THA 30024 - Advanced Scenic/Lighting Lab IV. Credits: 1
THA 3257 - Digital Theatrical Design. Credits: 3
THA 3357 - Scene Design. Credits: 3
THA 3358 - Costume Design. Credits: 3
THA 3360 - Stage Lighting Design. Credits: 3
THA 33611 - Theatre Production Topics I. Credits: 3
THA 33612 - Theatre Production Topics II. Credits: 3
THA 33613 - Theatre Production Topics III. Credits: 3
THA 3434 - Basic Theatrical Design. Credits: 3
THA 45501 - Advanced Design Studies I. Credits: 3
THA 45502 - Advanced Design Studies II. Credits: 3
THA 45503 - Advanced Design Studies III. Credits: 3
THA 4811 - Summer Theatre: Tech II. Credits: 3 to 6

Designated History & Literature Electives

Total Semester Hours: 6

THA 3754G - Theatre and Film. Credits: 3
THA 3755G - African-American Theatre: Historical and Contemporary. Credits: 3
THA 3757G - Contemporary World Theatre. Credits: 3
THA 3758G - Topics in World Theatre History. Credits: 3
THA 3800 - Dramaturgy: History, Theory and Practice. Credits: 3
EIU 4161G - Theatre as a Soapbox. Credits: 3
(See Footnote **)
EIU 4162G - Women’s Voices: Women in the Theatre. Credits: 3
(See Footnote **)

Additional Electives

Total Semester Hours: 9

Any Theatre Arts course chosen in consultation with an advisor.
May include up to 6 hours in courses outside Theatre Arts at 2000 or above.

Performance Emphasis

Total Semester Hours: 27

Admission to the Performance and Technical and Design Emphases is by either audition or portfolio review. Students interested in pursuing either of these programs must apply after having completed a minimum of 30 semester hours, and prior to the completion of 85 semester hours.