Theatre, B.F.A.
Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Major in Theatre
The B.F.A. degree in theatre is a professional, conservatory-style program that offers intensive training in performance or production. Our comprehensive curriculum prepares students for their future career both on stage and behind the scenes and includes hands-on experience through productions during the academic year. The professional residency gives majors real-world experience, industry mentorship, strong portfolios, and valuable networking that builds confidence and career readiness. Students choose a required emphasis area from the following:
Theatre Performance
The Marshall University Theatre performance program (B.F.A. degree) takes the conservatory approach to actor training. Using 21st century as well as tried-and-true trends in actor training such as: The Method, The Meisner Approach, Bogart Viewpoints, Alexander Technique, Linklater, and Lessac – students in performance develop their craft according to current expectations in the American theatre, film and television industries. Guided by faculty of outstanding professional credentials, Marshall University Theatre students are given careful, individual attention as well as shared insight and mentorship in the practical side of the “business”.
Theatre Production
The production program at Marshall University is centered on the belief that the best theatre experiences are based on the collaborative efforts of well-informed theatre artists. Marshall’s production students are presented with a sequential series of courses unique to their chosen discipline. Curricula and carefully crafted production calendars are designed to develop an advanced understanding of the art of theatre, focused study within the discipline and applied production opportunities. The success of this approach is sufficient for us to require that our B.F.A. students apply for, and receive, internships and/or professional contracts in their field of study prior to receiving their degree.
Admission Requirements
Students desiring entry into the B.F.A. degree must be formally admitted to the program following the completion of an audition or portfolio review in the student’s area of emphasis and an interview with the area faculty. This audition or portfolio review may occur at any time, but typically takes place during the second semester of the student’s sophomore year. Students should consult the theatre program website for specific audition/portfolio requirements.
Readmission After Absence of Two or More Semesters
Theatre majors returning after having not enrolled in theatre study for two or more consecutive semesters must re-audition/interview before permission to continue in the major will be granted. Students should consult the theatre program website for specific audition/portfolio requirements.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Grade Standard
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Theatre are required to complete all work in the major 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.
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 may be taken Credit/Non-Credit unless the course is so 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 I: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking (MTH 121 Concepts and Applications (CT)) | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Core II Mathematics (MTH 121 Concepts and Applications (CT)) | 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 | |
BFA in Theatre Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Theatre Core | ||
| THE 101 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| THE 201 | Crit Analysis Theatre Lit | 3 |
| THE 240 | Stage Lighting I | 4 |
| 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 |
| Six (6) credits of Practicum: | 6 | |
| Theatre Practicum | ||
| THE 440 | Theatre History To 1660 | 3 |
| THE 441 | Theatre Hist Since 1660 | 3 |
| THE 490 | Professional Theatre Residency 1 | 4 |
| THE 499 | Senior Capstone Project 2 | 3 |
| Total Theatre Core Credit Hours | 37 | |
| Total Area of Emphasis Credit Hours 3 | 36 | |
| Electives Outside of the Major 4 | 13 | |
A minimum of 120 credit hours are required for this major.
- 1
B.F.A. Theatre majors must enroll in Theatre Internship (THE 490 Professional Theatre Residency) for a total of four (4) credit hours and successfully complete an approved internship prior to initiating the senior capstone THE 499 Senior Capstone Project) experience. Internships are approved by the faculty advisor and the school director.
- 2
All students must have completed a minimum of ninety (90) hours of coursework before enrolling in the senior capstone THE 499 Senior Capstone Project experience. Students who are juniors must discuss the capstone experience with their advisors prior to the second semester of their junior year.
- 3
Course selection depends upon emphasis area.
- 4
Students should consider declaring a minor to meet this requirement.
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 |
| Emphasis Area Course | 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 |
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| THE 201 | Crit Analysis Theatre Lit | 3 |
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| THE 240 | Stage Lighting I | 4 |
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| Coure II Humanities | 3 | |
| Core II Social Science (CT) | 3 | |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| THE 440 | Theatre History To 1660 | 3 |
| THE 490 | Professional Theatre Residency 1 | 4 |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| THE 370 | Theatre Practicum | 1 |
| THE 441 | Theatre Hist Since 1660 | 3 |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| Non-THE Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| THE 499 | Senior Capstone Project 2 | 3 |
| Core II Natural/Physical Science | 4 | |
| Emphasis Area Course | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
- 1
B.F.A. Theatre majors must enroll in Theatre Internship (THE 490 Professional Theatre Residency) for a total of four (4) credit hours and successfully complete an approved internship prior to initiating the senior capstone (THE 499 Senior Capstone Project) experience. Internships are approved by the faculty advisor and the school director.
- 2
All students must have completed a minimum of ninety (90) hours of coursework before enrolling in the senior capstone THE 499 Senior Capstone Project experience. Students who are juniors must discuss the capstone experience with their advisors prior to the second semester of their junior year.