Theatre Arts Undergraduate

The course requirements for students pursuing a Theatre Arts option are designed with the intention of allowing students and their faculty advisers to devise a program most suited to the student's specific needs and objectives.

B.A. in Theatre Arts - Degree Plan

B.S. in Theatre Arts - Degree Plan

Outcomes:

Oregon State University students successfully completing an undergraduate degree with a Theatre Arts option will:

Implement and coordinate collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and organizational skills in the theatrical process in theory and practice.

Contribute artistically as a participant in departmental productions.

Evaluate the multi-faceted nature of the production process demonstrate comprehension of the variety of artistry and skills that contribute to a finished theatrical presentation.

Analyze and critique the social significance and cultural resonances of theatrical endeavor as reflected in theatre history and dramatic literature.

Illustrate preparation for further professional/academic training through theatre production and scholarship.

Program Tabs

Undergraduate Core Curriculum

Undergraduate Degree(s) Offered:

Bachelor of Arts

The Core Requirements for each Theatre Arts student include 17 credits of course material. The Core Requirements include:

TA 144 Play Reading (2 credits)*
TA 147 Introduction to the Theatre (3 credits)
TA 244 Scenecrafts (3 credits)
TA 247 Stage Makeup (3 credits)
TA 248 Fundamentals of Acting (3 credits)
TA 344 Playscripts Analysis (3 credits)

* Must be taken twice-1 credit per term

In addition to completing the Core Requirements, working within a liberal arts framework and perspective, all undergraduate Theatre Arts students are expected to complete coursework and demonstrate basic knowledge in two general areas of study:

1. Theatre History, Dramatic Literature, Theory & Criticism (15 credits)
2. Design/Technical, Performance (21 credits)

In addition, theatre arts students must demonstrate production skills through participation in University Theatre shows on the Withycombe Hall Main stage and/or in the Withycombe Hall Lab Theatre. Academic credit may be earned for selected University Theatre production experiences via TA 250 of TA 350 (Theatre Workshop), or in certain cases TA 406 (projects).

Faculty approval for any production-related credit MUST be secured prior to registration. In most cases production related credits do not apply toward student's work toward a Theatre Arts option or minor but may, within certain limits, count toward their university-required electives.

(A minimum of 24 hours of elective courses are required by the University for graduation. At least half of the elective courses must be in courses from outside of Theatre or Speech Communication.)

Note: Grades for all TA courses used for a major or minor must be at least C-. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all courses applied to the major/minor. A maximum of 60 term credits hours may be included in either departmental or interdepartmental majors.

Undergraduate Options

(Area of Study #1) Theatre History, Dramatic Literature, and Theory & Criticism

Description

Minimum of 15 credit hours in this area are required.

Curriculum

History of Theatre Arts
TA 330 Greek to Italian Renaissance
(3 credits)
TA 331 Elizabethan English to 1875
(3 credits)
TA 332 Modern
(3 credits)

Dramatic Literature
TA 360 (DPD) Multicultural American Theatre (3 credits)

Theory & Criticism
TA 444 (WIC) Theory & Criticism of Theatre Arts (3 credits)

Special seminars
TA 407 in Theatre History, Dramatic Literature, Theory & Criticism. As offered and applicable.

Special Studies in Theatre History, Dramatic Literature, Theory & Criticism (as arranged with Faculty).
TA 401 Research (3 credits)
TA 402 Independent Study (3 credits)
TA 405 Reading and Conference (3 credits)

(Area of Study #2) Design, Technical and Performance

Description

Minimum of 21 credit hours in this area are required.

Curriculum

Design & Technical Theatre
TA 121 Oral Interpretation (3 credits)
TA 242 Visual Principals of Theatre (3 credits)
TA 243 Principals of Costuming (3 credits)
TA 245 Stage Lighting (3 credits)
TA 346 Scene and Stage Design (3 credits)
TA 443 Costume Design (3 credits)
TA 451 Introduction to Arts Entrepreneurship (3 Credits)

Performance
TA 249 Fundamentals of Acting II (3 credits)
TA 321 Advanced Oral Interpretation (3 credits)
TA 348 Advanced Acting: Realism (3 credits)
TA 349 Advanced Acting: Styles (3 credits)
TA 351 Principles of Playwriting (3 credits)
TA 352 Playwriting Workshop (3 credits)
TA 354 Fundamentals of Play Direction (3 credits)
TA 454 Advanced Play Direction (3 credits)

Topics in Theatre Arts (as offered and applicable.)
TA 416 Topics (3 credits)

Special studies in Design, Technical & Performance
TA 406 Projects
TA 408 Workshop
TA 410 Internship
TA 450 Studio--Theatre Arts

Theatre Arts Option Total Hours= Minimum of 53 (17 Theatre core classes + 15 credits in study area 1 + 21 credits in study area 2)

(You must have a minimum of 24 upper division credit hours. These 24 from can be from either area 1 or 2.) Maximum of 60 credit hours Hours include both areas and the Theatre Arts core.

Minor

Students minoring in Theatre Arts must complete the following basic course work:

TA 144Play reading (2 credits) must be taken twice at one credit per term.
TA 147 Introduction to Theatre
TA 244 Scenecrafts (3 credits) (3 credits)
TA 248 Fundamentals of Acting
(3 credits)
TA 344 Playscript Analysis (3 credits)

Additional Courses for Theatre Minor
The student must complete an additional 15 credits in theatre arts, 12 of which must be at the upper division level. Production credits (TA 250/350) may not be counted toward the minor.

Theatre Arts minors are strongly encouraged to participate fully in University Theatre productions, backstage, on stage, and in stage management.

Note:

All theatre majors and minors must at some time in their undergraduate training:

1. Serve on a running crew for a Main Stage production.
2. Hold a position of high responsibility on a faculty-supervised production (such as assistant director, stage manager, or props manager).
3. Participate in a major or minor role in a Main Stage or Lab Theatre production.

Undergraduate Electives:

A minimum of 24 hours of elective courses are required by the University for graduation. At least half of the elective hours must be in courses from outside of the Department of Speech Communication.

Departmental Electives (may apply toward university required electives but not TA option requirements.)
TA 250 Theatre Workshop (production and Faculty Supervisor)
TA 350 Workshop Communication Area Elective
More workshop credits can be taken, but only 12 credits can be counted toward graduation.

Electives Outside the Theatre Department
Some recommendations

ENG 105 Introduction to Lit. Drama (3 credits)
ENG 201, 202, 203 Shakespeare (3 credits per class)
ENG 320 American Drama (3 credits)
ENG 411 - 413 Development of Drama (3 credits per class)
ENG 414 - 416 Literary Criticism (3 credits per class)
ENG 436 - 438 Advanced Shakespeare (3 credits per class)
ENG 442 Yeats and Irish Drama (3 credits)
AIHM 225 - 227 Apparel Construction (3 credits per class)
AIHM 250 Fundamentals of Textiles (3 credits per class)
AIHM 270 Fashion & Society (3 credits)
AIHM 319, 320 Comp. Assisted Design & Drafting (3 credits)
AIHM 321 Fashion Illustration & Design (3 credits)
AIHM 327 Flat Pattern Design (4 credits)
AIHM 360 Twentieth Century Fashion (3 credits)
AIHM 427 Draping (4 credits)
AIHM 429 Adv. Problems in Apparel Deign (3 credits)
AIHM 461, 462 History of the Near Environment (4 credits per class)
MUS 185 Voice Class (1 credit)
MUS 169, 369 Opera Workshop (1 credit)
ART 131 Drawing (4 credits)
ART 204 - 206 Introduction to Western Art History (3 credits per class)
ART 222 Graphic Design (3 credits)
ART 360 - 366 History of Art (3 credits per class)
ART 367 History of Design (3 credits)

All theatre students should also be aware of courses in other departments with particular relevance to the study of theatre. Opportunities exist as well to satisfy Baccalaureate Core Requirements or College of Liberal Arts Core Requirements with classes pertinent to the study of theatre.

Theatre

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