THEATRE DEGREE PROGRAMS

Major in Theatre - Acting and Directing | Major in Theatre - Theatre Design and Technology | Major in Musical Theatre, Theatre Emphasis | Major in Theatre - Secondary Teaching Certification | Theatre Minor

Chair: Penelope Hasekoester (936) 294-1330

Faculty: Gregg Buck, Kristina Hanssen, Maureen McIntyre, Thomas Prior

Website: www.shsu.edu/~drm_www/

Theatre reflects the human condition in the study of a wide range of behavior, relationships, periods of history, social configurations and aesthetic styles. Involvement in this collaborative art form finds students growing in theatre skills and techniques, better understanding themselves, solving problems, working within a group and meeting production deadlines.

A theatre major first studies each area of the theatre to gain substantial knowledge of acting, technical theatre, costuming, lighting and scenic design, stage makeup, history, criticism, and directing. From that background, a person can specialize in one of these areas with additional coursework in theatre, and in such fields as music, dance, art, radio and television, or teacher education. Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs are available in musical theatre, acting and directing, design and technical theatre, and secondary education.

Students have the opportunity to act in shows every semester. As they develop expertise in areas of their primary interests, advanced students are chosen to stage manage, to design lights, sets, costumes, sound, makeup, and to direct major productions. Productions are staged in either the large, 396-seat proscenium theatre or the 90-seat thrust theatre. The theatres themselves, as well as the scene and costume shops are equipped with excellent technical equipment. Guest
directors and professional workshops provide students additional contacts with other people in professional theatre. The proximity to Houston also allows students exposure to many venues of professional theatre, opera, dance, film and other forms of entertainment.

Academic Programs

BFA in Theatre (areas of emphasis may be acting, directing, design, theatre technology, and secondary education
BFA in Musical Theatre with an area of emphasis in theatre, dance or music

Highlights

The Theatre and Musical Theatre programs at Sam Houston State University:

are active in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival(KCACTF).
have been invited to participate at the Regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival six times in the last six years.
were invited to perform The Laramie Project at the National KCACTF Festival in Washington, D.C. in 2003.
have an apprenticeship program with the Theatre Under the Stars in Houston. Two musical theatre students are selected to participate each year. .
have an internship program with STAGES Repertory Theatre in Houston.
have private auditions on the Sam Houston State University campus for SHSU theatre and musical theatre students by the Broadway Theatre Project.
have guest artists in the areas of acting, directing, playwriting, stage management, and design. These have included Michael York, Edward Albee, Dace Clemmons, Mark Ramont, Robert Marks, Kevin Cooney, Luc LaFortune, Rod Caspers, Andrew Campbell, James McLure, Penny Arcade, James Black, and Judy Dolan.

The program also holds memberships and participates in:

Texas Educational Theatre Association (TETA)
United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT)
Texas Nonprofit Theatres (TNT)
Southwest Theatre Association (SWTA)
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the theatre program are well prepared for rewarding careers in professional or educational theatre or for graduate school.

Suggested Minors

There is no minor required for a BFA in Theatre.

Student Organizations

Alpha Psi Omega - honorary drama fraternity
United States Institute of Technology

Internships/Apprenticeships

The Sam Houston State University Department of Theatre and Dance has a professional apprenticeship program with Theatre Under The Stars, Houston. This apprenticeship allows Sam Houston State University students to work with the Humphrey’s School of Musical Theatre and to work with Theatre Under The Stars in a performance as well as an arts administration capacity. In addition a new internship has been developed with STAGES Repertory Theatre in Houston.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available through the theatre program for theatre and musical theatre majors. Performance, technical and design auditions are held each spring for freshman and transfer students entering in the fall. Continuing scholarships are available for application toward the end of each semester. Contact the Department or visit the website for further information.

Student assistantships are available for advanced theatre students who work in scenery, properties, costuming, lighting and management.

Curriculum

Required Courses for Major

All theatre majors are required to register for THR 114 or 314, theatre workshop, for 4 semesters. Musical theatre majors with a theatre emphasis are required to register for 4 semester hours of production crew. Musical theatre majors with a dance or music emphasis are required to register for 2 hours of production crew. These semester hours do not reduce the requirements for 3-hour courses necessary for the major.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Acting and Directing consists of the following requirements: THR114 for two semesters, 314 for two semesters, 160, 161, 162, 164, 230, 231, 232, 268, 337, 360, 365, 369, 370, 372, and 433, one design course from 334, 430 or 461; 460 or 471, 463, 466, 467, 3 hours of advanced theatre electives, 6 hours of art or music, and 6 hours of dance, and 6 additional hours of English. A minor is not required in this degree program.

Major in Theatre, Acting and Directing Emphasis
Bachelor of Fine Arts

Course	Credit	TCCN
THR 114 (2 semesters)	2	DRAM 1120, DRAM 1121
THR 160, 161, 162, 164, 230	15	DRAM 1330, 2331, 1342, 1351, 1341
DNC 126	2	XXX
THR 231, 232, 268	9	DRAM 2336, 1352
ART 163	3	ARTS 1316

Note: Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement.

Major in Theatre – Design and Technology
Bachelor of Fine Arts

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Design and Technology consists of THR 114 for two semesters, 160, 161, 162, 164, 230, 231 or 268, 260, 261 (freshman and sophomore years). No music is required.

Course	Credit	TCCN
THR 114 (2 semesters)	2	DRAM 1120, 1121
THR 160, 161, 162, 164, 230	15	DRAM 1330, 2331, 1342, 1351, 1341
THR 231, 268	6	DRAM 2336, 1352
ART 163	3	ARTS 1316

Major in Musical Theatre, Theatre Emphasis
Bachelor of Fine Arts

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theatre is available with an emphasis in theatre, music, or dance. The theatre emphasis requires 48 hours of theatre, 16 to 27 hours of dance and 24 hours of music. The dance emphasis requires 30 to 48 hours of dance, 31 hours of theatre, and 24 hours of music. The music emphasis requires 40 hours of music, 31 hours of theatre, and 19 to 27 hours of dance.

Entry into the musical theatre program is by audition only, and those auditions are scheduled toward the end of every semester. Contact the Theatre Program for information.

Course	Credit	TCCN
THR 114 (2 semesters)	2	DRAM 1120, 1121
THR 160, 161, or 162	6	DRAM 1330, 2331, 1342 (Choose 2)
THR 164	3	DRAM 1351
THR 230, 231, 268	2	DRAM 1341, 2336, 1352
DNC 233		DANC 1241
MUS 161, 111x, 112x, 122, 123, 124, 125	13	MUSI 1301, 1181, 1182, 1211, 1212, 1216, 1217
VOI 101x	8	MUAP 2281
DNC 233	8	DANC 1241

* Repeated for credit every semester.

Major in Theatre
Secondary Teaching Certificate
Bachelor of Fine Arts

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with secondary teaching certification requires a minor in another academic area (18-24 hrs.).

Course	Credit	Second Year
THR 114 (2 semesters)	2	DRAM 1120, 1121
THR 160, 161, 162, 164, 230	15	DRAM 1330, 2331, 1342, 1351, 1341
DNC 126	2	XXX
THR 231, 268	6	DRAM 2336, 1352
ART 163	3	ARTS 1316

Theatre Minor. A minor in theatre usually consists of the following courses: 2 courses from 160, 161 or 162; 164, 230, 231, 268, 460 and 466, plus 3 hours of THR 114 or 314.

University Theatre: Auditions for productions are open to all SHSU students. The Theatre operates in conjunction with theatre workshop for which one hour of credit per semester may be received.

We recognize direct mappings of Theater course numbers between institutions are not always possible. Flexibility will be exercised to maximize transfer credit. Students seeking credit for courses not specifically mapped should contact an SHSU Theater advisor to verify transfer compatibility prior to registration at other institutions.

The Core Curriculum at Sam Houston State University contains 42 semester credit hours, encompassing six component areas. Each component area has a minimum credit hour requirement and a set of specific courses that may be used to satisfy the requirement. The chart below details the Sam Houston State University courses and their Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) equivalents that comprise SHSU's core curriculum. Course requirements to meet the university foreign language component of the Bachelor of Arts degree have been included for convenience.

Many departments require specific courses from core component areas to meet degree requirements. Selecting departmentally specifed core courses to complete university core requirements reduces the total number of hours required to graduate.

Component Area 1 Communication
Common Course #	SHSU Course	Credit
ENGL 1301	English 164	3
ENGL 1302	English 165	3

Component Area 2 Mathematics
Common Course #	SHSU Course	Credit
MATH 1332 OR 2312 or 2413 or 1316 or 1324	Math 164 or 170 or 142 or 163 or 199	3
MATH 1350 & MATH 1351 (both required)	MATH 184 & MATH 185	6

Credit for MATH 184 & MATH 185 is applicable only toward elementary/middle school certification.

Component Area 3 Natural Science
Common Course #	SHSU Course	Credit
Select two courses with Labs		8
BIOL 1308 & 1108	Biology 134 & 114
BIOL 2306 & 2106 or 2406	Biology 137 & 117
BIOL 1311 & 1111	Biology 161 & 111
BIOL 1313 & 1113	Biology 162 & 112
BIOL 2401	Biology 245
CHEM 1305 & 1105	Chemistry 135 & 115
CHEM 1307 & 1107	Chemistry 136 & 116
CHEM 1311 & 1111	Chemistry 138 & 118
CHEM 1312 & 1112	Chemistry 139 & 119
GEOL 1305 & 1105	Geology 132 & 112
GEOL 1303 & 1103	Geology 133 & 113
GEOL 1304 & 1104	Geology 134 & 114
GEOG 1301	Geography 131 & Lab 111 (lab required @ SHSU)
PHYS 1311 & 1111	Physics 133 & 113
PHYS 1312 & 1112	Physics 134 & 114 -subject to THECB approval
PHYS 1305 & 1105	Physics 135 & 115
PHYS 1307 & 1107	Physics 136 & 116
PHYS 1301 & 1101	Physics 138 & 118
PHYS 1302 & 1102	Physics 139 & 119
PHYS 2425	Physics 141

Component Area 4 Humanities & Visual & Performing Arts
Common Course #	SHSU Course	Credit
Select 3 hrs from visual and performing arts:		9
ARTS 1301	AGR 299
ARTS 1301	Art 160
ARTS 1311	Art 161
ARTS 1316	Art 163
ARTS 1303	Art 260
DANC 2303	Dance 172
DANC 1301	Dance 176
MUSI 1308	Music 138
MUSI 1301	Music 161
MUSI 1310	Music 264
MUSI 1306	Music 265
DRAM 1330	Theatre 160
DRAM 1351	Theatre 164
DRAM 1310	Theatre 166
DRAM 1341	Theatre 230
DRAM 2336	Theatre 231
Select 3 hours from Literature or Philosophy:
ENGL 2331OR 2332	English 265
ENGL 2342	English 266
ENGL 2343	English 267
PHIL 1301	Philosophy 261
PHIL 2306	Philosophy 263
Select 3 hours from Cultural Studies:
NO TCCN	BSL 236
Foreign Languages 263 FREN, GERM, SPAN 2311/2312 (Sign and other languages may be substituted)	Foreign Languages 264 FREN, GERM, SPAN 2312
GEOG 1303	Geography 265
GEOG 1303	Geography 266
HIST 2311	History 265
HIST 2312	History 266
SOCI 2319	Sociology 168

Component Area 5 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Common Course #	SHSU Course	Credit
Select 9 hours from:		15
HIST 1301	History 163
HIST 1302	History 164
GOVT 2301 or 2306	Political Science 261
GOVT 2302 or 2305	Political Science 285
Select 3 hours from:
SOCI 1301	Agriculture 236
ECON 1301	Economics 230
ECON 2302	Economics 233
ECON 2301	Economics 234
GEOG 1300	Geography 161
PHIL 2303	Philosophy 262
PSYC 2301	Psychology 131
PSYC 2315	Psychology 289
SOCI 1301	Sociology 131
SOCI 1306	Sociology 264
NO TCCN Local Political Systems	Political Science 231
NO TCCN State Political Systems	Political Science 232
NO TCCN Politics of Ethnic Minorities and Gender	Political Science 235
NO TCCN Comparative Survey of World Political Systems	Political Science 265
NO TCCN Introduction to Public Administration	Political Science 266
NO TCCN American Foreign Policy	Political Science 281

Untitled Document

Component Area 6 Institutionally Designated Option
Common Course #	SHSU Course	Credit
Select 1 hour from:
PHED 1164	KIN 215

Untitled Document

B.A. Foreign Language Component
language 1411	Language 141
language 1412	Language 142
language 2311	Language 263
language 2312	Language 264

Degrees require a minimum of 120 hours with 42 advanced hours (300 and 400 level courses). Some degrees require additional hours. All students are required to complete at least six writing enhanced courses accumulating a minimum, of 18 semester hours towards degree completion. Six of the hours must come from the student’s major field of study. SHSU students MUST complete ENG 164, ENG 165, Core Composite Area 2, and one-half of Composite Area 3 prior to enrollment in any upper-level class. In general, the Bachelor of Arts degree requires 8 hours of lab science and the Bachelor of Science degree requires 16 hours of lab science. Applicants for the Bachelor of Arts degree should consult their major department web page for foreign language requirements. Many colleges and programs have additional prerequisites for upper-level classes.
Prior to enrolling in core classes, students are encouraged to review specific degree requirements for their major. Selection of major specified core courses may reduce the total number of hours required for graduation.
Students are encouraged to select the university catalog offering them the most advantages with respect to degree completion. The respective university and/or college catalog selected for graduation determines final degree requirements.

Sam Houston State University
A Member of The Texas State University System