Theatre, B.A.
Bachelor Of Arts With A Major In Theatre
The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Theatre emphasizes a breadth of content knowledge in theatre, augmented by extensive coursework outside the discipline. The degree is designed to allow students maximum flexibility by pairing theatre with one or more outside disciplines. Students so desiring could expand a minor into a second major.
Distinctive Features of the Program
Students who graduate with their degree in Theatre are career ready with a number of skills and credentials at their fingertips, including:
- script & text analysis; basic acting techniques; stage management fundamentals; production scheduling; scenic, costume, lighting, & sound fundamentals; audition preparation; rehearsal process management; budgeting for productions; rudimentary grant writing; event & performance coordination; arts administration basics; audience engagement & outreach; playwriting fundamentals; and research
- team collaboration; leadership, professional communication; creative problem solving; time management; public speaking; adaptability; conflict resolution; reliability and accountability; emotional intelligence; and professional etiquette.
Students gain expertise in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; Canva and Adobe Express; Basic QLab; basic lightboard operation; Zoom & digital presentation tools; and basic ticketing platforms such as AudienceView and Eventbrite.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students who wish to apply for admission to the Bachelor of Arts program in Theatre must meet the general admission requirements for Marshall University.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Grade Standard
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program in Theatre are required to complete all coursework in the respective majors with a minimum grade of C. Course grades of D and F are not counted toward graduation requirements and must be replaced with a grade of C or better before graduation or before using that course as a prerequisite for another required course.
Candidates for graduation must have a Grade Point Average of 2.0 or higher in all work attempted at Marshall University
Upper Division Credit Hours
A minimum of thirty-nine (39) credit hours must be earned in courses numbered 300-499.
Minimum Credit Hours
Students must earn at least 120 credit hours. No courses in the college and major requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Media may be taken Credit/Non-Credit unless the course is otherwise specified.
Course Requirements
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Core II Natural/Physical Science | 4 | |
| Core II Social Science | 3 | |
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Multicultural/International | 3 | |
| Capstone (THE 499 Senior Capstone Project) | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BA in Theatre Requirements | ||
| Theatre Major | ||
| THE 101 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| THE 201 | Crit Analysis Theatre Lit | 3 |
| THE 245 & THE 151 | Intro to Technical Theatre and Tech Theatre Lab | 4 |
| THE 250 & THE 152 | Introduction to Costuming and Tech Theatre Lab | 4 |
| THE 440 | Theatre History To 1660 | 3 |
| THE 441 | Theatre Hist Since 1660 | 3 |
| THE 499 | Senior Capstone Project 1 | 3 |
| Four (4) credits of Practicum: | 4 | |
| Theatre Practicum | ||
| Select nine (9) credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Stage Movement I: Foundations | ||
| Stage Voice I: Foundations | ||
| Acting I: Foundations | ||
| Stage Lighting I | ||
| Drafting & Rendering | ||
| Stage Decor | ||
| Stage Make-up | ||
| Theatre (THE) Electives | 15 | |
| Total Theatre Major Credit Hours | 51 | |
| Minor | 15–18 | |
| Additional Non-THE Electives | 17–29 | |
A minimum of 120 credit hours are required for this major.
- 1
Students pursuing the B.A. will complete a capstone project appropriate to their emphasis area in theatre and their chosen minor or second major field. Projects must be approved by the student’s school director and capstone advisor.
Semester Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| THE 101 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| THE 151 or THE 152 | Tech Theatre Lab or Tech Theatre Lab | 1 |
| THE 245 or THE 250 | Intro to Technical Theatre or Introduction to Costuming | 3 |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class (Recommended) | 1 |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| THE 151 or THE 152 | Tech Theatre Lab or Tech Theatre Lab | 1 |
| THE 245 or THE 250 | Intro to Technical Theatre or Introduction to Costuming | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| THE 201 | Crit Analysis Theatre Lit | 3 |
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| Core I Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Core II Social Science (CT, MC/I) | 3 | |
| Course in Minor | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| Core II Humanities (WI) | 3 | |
| Course in Minor | 3 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| THE 440 | Theatre History To 1660 | 3 |
| Core II Natural/Physical Science | 4 | |
| Course in Minor | 3 | |
| Course in Minor | 3 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| Course in Minor | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| THE 441 | Theatre Hist Since 1660 | 3 |
| Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 2 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| THE 499 | Senior Capstone Project 1 | 3 |
| Course in Minor or Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| THE Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
- 1
Students pursuing the B.A. will complete a capstone project appropriate to their emphasis area in theatre and their chosen minor or second major field. Projects must be approved by the student’s school director and capstone advisor.