The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in performing arts – theatre is a highly flexible, interdisciplinary, liberal arts degree that affords students the opportunity to pair a broad education in theatre with other areas of the arts or fields of study such as business, humanities, engineering and more.
Interviews are required for acceptance into the theatre program.
Program Requirements
A minimum total of 120 credit hours is required for the BA in performing arts - theatre and includes major courses that must be completed with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.000 (2.500 for department scholarship consideration). A C or better is required for all major required courses, including THEA and/or DANC electives. Students must complete 45 credit hours of upper-division courses. In addition to meeting the requirements of the WSU General Education Program and the requirements of the School of Performing Arts, students in the BA in performing arts - theatre must take the following courses:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Select courses to meet General Education requirements 1 | 34-35 | |
| Core Curriculum Courses | ||
| THEA 180E | Performing Arts Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 150P | Production Experience | 1 |
| THEA 150R | Production Processes | 1 |
| THEA 280 | Inclusion in Performing Arts | 1 |
| THEA 368 | Collaborative Community Project | 1 |
| THEA 370 | Professional Practices for the Performing Arts | 2 |
| THEA 499 | Capstone Project | 1 |
| Acting/Voice/Movement Courses | ||
| THEA 180D | Introduction to Acting Repertoire | 1 |
| THEA 241 | Improvisation for the Actor | 3 |
| THEA 222 | Voice and Movement for the Actor 1 - Speech and Diction | 2 |
| THEA 243 | Acting 1 - Foundations | 3 |
| DANC 290 | Somatics 1 | 1 |
| THEA 342 | Acting 2 - Scene Study | 3 |
| Theory Courses | ||
| THEA 228 | Script Analysis | 3 |
| THEA 323 | Theatre History I | 3 |
| THEA 324 | Theatre History II | 3 |
| THEA 371 | Acting and Theatre Studies Research Semester | 2 |
| Design and Technical Theatre Courses | ||
| THEA 231 | Foundations: Theatre Design and Technology | 3 |
| THEA 272 | Stage Management | 3 |
| Choose two of the following courses | 5-6 | |
| Stagecraft and Scenic Technology | ||
| Stage Lighting Technology | ||
| Costume and Wardrobe Technology | ||
| Stage Makeup | ||
| Scene Design | ||
| Lighting Design | ||
| Costume Design | ||
| Career Transition | ||
| THEA 480 | Theatre Internship | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| Select open electives in consultation with advisor. May include additional THEA courses. | 39-41 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
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Required major courses may also count towards General Education requirements. Students will need to select additional electives to reach 120 credit hours required for graduation with assistance from an advisor.
Applied Learning
All students in a School of Performing Arts bachelor degree track or concentration are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing THEA 371 and THEA 499. Students create a major project whether self-generated, an extension of coursework, or through advanced participation in producing a public performance. Through the capstone experience, students develop and demonstrate, in a hands-on, real-world context, the skills, knowledge and competencies required in their area of emphasis. Students in the School of Performing Arts develop a diverse portfolio of experiences, materials and intellectual properties through a broad offering of applied experiences in their four years. The capstone project provides a practical context for academic, experiential and personal growth through the college experience. The final, real product of the SPA's program of applied learning is a young professional prepared for the future.