Theatre (BA)

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Offered by the Department of Performing Arts , College of Arts and Sciences .

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires demonstrated talent through an audition portfolio review arranged with the department, preferably prior to beginning university studies. However, a student may enter as an intended major and have an audition or portfolio review during the first year. Students will be accepted based on programmatic approval and written declaration of major.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements

49-51 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 27 credit hours at or above 300-level
- Students who wish to study abroad must receive prior approval from their advisor in order to ensure that appropriate courses will transfer and that scholarships and financial aid will apply
Specializations: Design and Production; Directing; Performance; Playwriting; Theatre and Social Justice

Course Requirements

Core (22 credit hours)

Production Participation (2-4 credit hours)

Complete the following to demonstrate participation in a minimum of four department productions in either a performance or technical capacity, including one production as a stage manager or assistant stage manager, and one production in another technical capacity:

THTR-001 Musical/Theatre Production (0)
THTR-101 Musical/Theatre Production (1)
PERF-265 Theatre Practicum (1) : Sets, Costumes, Props
PERF-265 Theatre Practicum (1) : Stage Management

Capstone (3 credit hours)

THTR-480 Senior Capstone (3)

Specializations (22-24 credit hours)

Complete 22-24 credit hours from one of the following specializations:

Design and Production (24 credit hours)

Required

Elective

Complete 6 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Required:

Directing (24 credit hours)

Required

Theatre Design

Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

Elective

Complete 9 credit hours from the following:

PERF-490 Independent Study Project in Performing Arts (1-6) (3 credit hours required)
PERF-491 Performing Arts: Internship (1-6) (3 credit hours required)
THTR-450 Rotating Topics in Theatre (1-3) (3 credit hours required)

Performance (24 credit hours)

Required

Topics

Complete 9 credit hours from the following:

THTR-450 Rotating Topics in Theatre (1-3)

Playwriting (24 credit hours)

Required

Theatre Design

Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

Upper-Level Performing Arts

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Elective

Complete 6 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Upper-Level Performing Arts, or other approved courses:

Theatre and Social Justice (22 credit hours)

Note: Completion of the Required, Cultural Area, and Focused Area categories satisfies the requirements of the Social Action, Justice, and the Performing Arts (Undergraduate Certificate) .

Required

Cultural Area

Complete 3 credit hours from the following, or other approved cultural studies course:

Focused Area

Complete 3 credit hours from the following, or other approved course:

CRGC-360 Knowledge and Power: Critical Interdisciplinary Theory and Method (3)
DNCE-465 Advanced Studies in Critical Inquiry (3) (approved topics)
MUS-318 Insiders and Outsiders in World Music (3)
MUS-441 Advanced Studies in Music History and Ethnomusicology (3) (approved topics)
MUS-442 Advanced Studies in Music Analysis and Performance (3) (approved topics)
SOCY-210 Power, Privilege, and Inequality (3)
THTR-450 Rotating Topics in Theatre (1-3) (3 credit hours required)

Additional Required

Complete 9 credit hours from the following:

THTR-450 Rotating Topics in Theatre (1-3) (3 credit hours required)
THTR-452 Directing Techniques (3)
THTR-457 Playwriting (3)

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.