Skip to main content
Department ofTheatre and Dance

Academic Program

Navigate here to Theatre Major
Navigate here to Dance Major
Navigate here to Minors

To declare or change a major, minor, or emphasis, fill out the SCU Registrar's Program Petition form.

Auditions are NOT needed to delare a Theatre Arts major.

Featured Classes - All Students

Performers on stage with a colorful backdrop.
Navigate here to Defining the Performing Artist
Three people observing white sculptural models inside a studio.
Navigate here to Intro to Design
Three people in a dance class practicing movements.
Navigate here to Introduction to Performance Collaboration

Featured Classes - Focus

People performing on stage at the Playwrights Festival.
Navigate here to Playwriting
A group of dancers performing on stage in colorful costumes.
Navigate here to Choreography
Two people acting on a stage with a dark, dramatic set.
Navigate here to Intermediate Acting

BA Theatre Arts Major

Theatre Emphasis

The theatre emphasis offers coordinated courses in acting, design, theatre history, dramatic literature, technical production, directing, and playwriting. Students with this emphasis will have a broad foundation in theatrical practice and may choose to focus their study in any of the aforementioned areas.

The acting focus is designed specifically for the student who wishes to pursue the art of acting within the context of a Liberal Arts education. The basis for the acting philosophy is Stanislavski’s method of physical action.

Within the Theatre emphasis, students who wish to focus on Acting should take three of following required and/or elective courses:

THTR 120 Acting Styles I: Shakespeare

THTR 122 Acting Styles II: Acting for the Camera

THTR 123 Acting Styles III: Musical Theatre

THTR 124 Acting Styles IV: Scene Study and Dialects

THTR 125 Acting Styles V: Special Topics

Leading to

THTR 192 Senior Project: Performance

Students with an interest in the Design and Technology aspects of theatre receive hands-on training. Students work closely with faculty in the production process in our well-equipped scenic and costume shops and with state of the art lighting and sound equipment.

Within the Theatre emphasis, students who wish to focus on Design should take the following required and/or elective courses.

THTR 30 Introduction to Design (r)

THTR 130 Technical Design

THTR 131 Sound Design

THTR 132 Lighting Design

THTR 133 Scene Design

THTR 134 Costume Design

THTR 136 Scene Painting

THTR 137 Pattern Drafting and Draping

THTR 138 Production Management

The Directing focus provides students the opportunity to direct a fully produced one act play and be part of the Department of Theatre and Dance One Act Play Festival. A series of courses and other requirements guides eventual directors to synthesize their knowledge and experience in many areas of theatre with skills of creativity, leadership and organization. Within the Theatre emphasis, students who wish to focus on Directing should take the following required and/or elective courses.

THTR 172 Literature and Performance

THTR 185 Dramaturgy (r)

THTR 186 Stage Directing

THTR 196 Senior Project: Directing

The playwriting focus explores, expands and explodes the dialogue between craft and imagination through a variety of writing techniques, the close reading of contemporary plays, and the writing/rewriting process.

Within the Theatre emphasis, students who wish to focus on Playwriting should take the following required and/or elective courses. Three of the following:

THTR 170 Playwriting

THTR 171 Advanced Playwriting

THTR 172 Literature and Performance

THTR 173 Screenwriting

Leading to participation in

THTR 190 New Playwrights' Festival
and/or
THTR 193 Senior Project: Playwriting

Performance Studies is an exciting field that critically examines the many ways in which culture, identity and life is performed on stage and in everyday life.  Students will develop the skills necessary for interpreting the range of performances that construct and deconstruct identities, cultures (local and global), politics and history.

Within the Theatre emphasis, students who wish to focus on Performance Studies should take the following required and/or elective courses.

THTR 41A Critical Perspectives in Performance A (r)

THTR 42B Critical Perspectives in Performance B (r)

THTR 112 Topics in Theatre and Drama prior to 1700

THTR 113 Topics in Theatre and Drama after 1700

THTR 119 Shakespeare's Plays in Performance

THTR 151 Fashion, Politics, and issues of Gender

THTR 161 American Theatre from the Black Perspective

THTR 163 Theatre of Dissent: Social Movements, Migration, and Revolution in the Americas

THTR 167 Performing Identities: Staging Gender, Race & Class

THTR 172 Literature and Performance

Leading to

THTR 197 Senior Thesis

The Teaching Artist focus allows students to develop their teaching skills and pedagogical style through course work and hands-on experience as a peer educator to Theatre professors. Within the Theatre emphasis students who wish to focus on becoming a Teaching Artist should take the following required and/or elective courses.

DANC 159 Teaching the Performing Arts
 
DANC 189 Social Justice and the Arts
 
THTR 196 Senior Project: Directing
 
THTR 194 Peer Educator in Theatre with 2 or more professors
 

Dance Emphasis

The dance emphasis focuses on technical dance training emphasizing modern dance, ballet and jazz. Students have multiple opportunities to choreograph original work culminating with senior dance recitals.

The performance focus offers the students many performance opportunities including but not limited to Senior recitals, Choreographers' Gallery, Images, Charisma-Anima Colllective, Abydos and the department Musical. Within the Dance emphasis, students who wish to focus on performance should take the following required or elective courses.

Within the Dance emphasis, students who wish to focus on Performance should take the following required and/or elective courses.

DANC 29/129 Rehearsal and Performance

DANC 140 Intermediate Advanced Ballet

DANC 141 Advanced Ballet

DANC 142 Intermediate Advanced Jazz Dance

DANC 145 Advanced Jazz Dance

DANC 146 Intermediate Advanced Modern/Contemporary Dance (r)

DANC 147 Advanced Modern/Contemporary Dance

DANC 148 Advanced Modern/Contemporary Dance II

DANC 192 Senior Project: Performance

The Choreography focus allows students to develop their choreographic voice through several classes and the opportunity to present a dance recital as their Senior Project. Within the Dance emphasis, students who wish to focus on Choreography should take the following required and/or elective courses.

DANC 49 Dance Composition (r)

DANC 143 Choreography (r)

DANC 147 Advanced Modern/Contemporary Dance

DANC 148 Advanced Modern/Contemporary Dance II

DANC 189 Social Justice and the Arts

DANC 193 Senior Project: Dance

The Teaching Artist focus allows students to develop their teaching skills and pedagogical style through course work and hands-on experience as a peer educator to Dance professors. Within the Dance emphasis, students who wish to focus on becoming a Teaching Artist should take the following required and/or elective courses.

DANC 159 Teaching the Performing Arts
 
DANC 189 Social Justice and the Arts
 
DANC 192 Senior Project: Performance
 
DANC 194 Peer Educator in Dance with 2 or more professors
 
Contact Us

Kimberly Mohne Hill, Department Chair
Ruth Mikusko, Academic Department Manager

Phone: 408-554-4989

Location: The Department of Theatre and Dance is located in the lower level of  Mayer Theatre.