Note: the major requirements have recently changed. The new requirements below apply to students expecting to graduate in 2027 or later. Majors in the classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026 should read the following page for modified requirements that now apply to them.
NEW MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Theater and Dance majors are responsible for completing course requirements, production service requirements, and the season planning requirement.
Course Requirements
Course levels and categories
Majors complete a minimum of 10 courses offered or approved by the department. Courses must meet course level requirements, and category requirements, as described below. A course may satisfy both a course level requirement and a category requirement.
Course level requirements
Courses counting toward the major must include:
- at least three 100-level courses.
- at least three 200-level courses.
- at least two 300- and/or 400-level courses.
Category requirements
Courses counting toward the major must include:
- at least one 100-level course emphasizing collaborative and improvisatory techniques (e.g., THDA 110 or THDA 111).
- at least one course in a physical performance practice (e.g., acting or dance/movement)
- at least one course in design
- at least three courses in critical and contextual studies
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Course Requirement
At least one of your courses must focus on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This course may be offered by a different department, but in that case must be taken in addition to the 10-course minimum for theater and dance courses counting toward the major (unless it is cross-listed with theater and dance). For more information about this requirement, see Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Focus Area
In collaboration with their advisor, each major chooses courses to support achievement in a self-defined focus area. While not all courses counting toward the major will apply to a focus area, about 6 of the minimum 10 courses should be chosen with a major’s focus area in mind. (See Pathways Through the Major.)
Production Service Requirements
Majors must
serve at least two times in a crew role for a departmental production; and
serve at least one time in a creative support role for a departmental production.
Examples of crew roles include back-stage crew, lighting or sound operator, and costume crew.
Examples of creative support roles include stage manager or assistant stage manager, dramaturg,
assistant director or choreographer, designer or assistant designer.
Majors may elect to receive academic credit for their service. However, only one full course (or two half-courses) in this area may be counted toward fulfilling the 11-course minimum requirement for the major. Majors may also elect to complete production service without receiving academic credit, as long as service is completed successfully.
Season Planning
All declared majors participate every year in a collaborative planning process for the following year's performance season. This process involves a number of meetings in the fall semester, and final meetings early in the spring semester. As part of this process, majors reflect on their prior year's learning. In addition, in concert with season planning, junior majors wishing to pursue optional senior honors work will complete senior project proposals by early in the spring semester. Majors should expect to participate in the season planning at least twice.
Comprehensive SATISFACTION of THE MAJOR REQuIREMENTS
To be certified as having completed the theater and dance major--students must complete the requirements outlined above in all three areas: course requirements, production service requirements, and participation in season planning.
Declaring the Major
Prior to declaring the major, a student must successfully complete a 100-level course in collaborative and improvisatory techniques (e.g., THDA 110 or 111), and also serve in at least one production service role. Students considering majoring must also confer with a faculty member about a possible focus area before declaring. (See Getting Started in the Major.)