Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

Requirements Under the Semester System, starting Fall 2016
(find Quarter System requirements below)

I.   Basic Core required of all students (20 units)
These classes are designed to provide you with a strong foundation of knowledge in the core areas of theatre: acting, design and technology, script analysis, and theatre history and literature.  As a culminating activity, and to showcase the skills you have developed during your time at CSUB, you complete a two-semester senior project.

a.   Theatre 1008           Beginning Acting                       (3 units)
b.   Theatre 2100           Script Analysis                          (3 units)          
c.   Theatre 2200           Stagecraft                                (3 units)
d.   Theatre 2210           Principles of Design                   (3 units)
e.   Theatre 3108           Antiquity to Rebirth                   (3 units) 
f.    Theatre 3118            Restoration to Experimentation  (3 units)
g.   Theatre 4908           Senior Project: Research           (1 unit)
h.   Theatre 4910           Senior Project: Culmination       (1 unit)

 
II. Breadth Electives (12 units)
Select one course from each category: performance, design, literature and theatre education. Work with your advisor to choose which courses will serve your needs and interests the best.

a. One 3-Unit Performance course from the following:     

Theatre 2000               Intermediate Acting: Foundations
Theatre 2010               Intermediate Acting: Techniques
Theatre 3000               Movement for the Actor                     
Theatre 3010               Voice and Speech for the Actor         
Theatre 3040               Scene Study                                       
Theatre 3050               Directing                                            

b. One 3-Unit Design course from the following:

Theatre 3200               Theatrical Design                               
Theatre 3210               Computer-Aided Drafting for Theatre

c. One 3-Unit Literature course from the following:

Theatre 3128               Contemporary Latina/o Dramatic Literature
Theatre 3138               Women Playwrights
(above courses double-count for the Junior Year Diversity Requirement)

d. One 3-Unit Theatre Education course from the following:

Theatre 3300               Dramatic Literature and Performance for Youth
Theatre 3310               Dramatic Activity for the Classroom  
Theatre 3320               Applied Dramatic Activity for the Classroom

III. Additional Electives (9 units)
Choose three additional 3-unit courses in Theatre, at least two of which must be upper division, selected with the approval of the faculty advisor. Note: 1000 level courses may not be used to satisfy this requirement. This is your chance to customize your major and to deepen your knowledge in specific areas on interest.

• You may select courses listed under “Breadth Electives” that you are not using for the Breadth Elective requirement.

• Theatre 3200: Theatrical Design may be repeated for credit for different course content (scenic, lighting, or costume design).

• Additional options:
Theatre 3060: Playwriting
Theatre 2770 or 4770: Special Topics in Theatre (if three units)
Theatre 2990 or 4990: Individual Study (if three units and with approval)

IV. Theatre Company (4 units)

Theatre Company (a one-unit course) is a chance to join with other theatre majors to meet guest artists, discuss productions, and to learn more about the department and the business of theatre. Complete at least four of these courses, two at the upper-division level.

Theatre 1400, 2400, 3400, or 4400 depending on your class level. (These courses can be repeated for credit.)


V.  Production Experience (7 units)
Productions offer laboratory experiences where you can apply what you are learning in your coursework, as well as add credits to your résumé. If you have a love for theatre, you may have developed it through your involvement in productions. To get your degree, you are required to complete seven show assignments, though many majors end up with more than that. At least two of your experiences are to be working in the theatre shop constructing the set or hanging the lights, two are to be crewing or stage managing a show, and the other four are your choice (acting in campus productions or the children’s touring show, or more off-stage work).  

Qualifying courses: Theatre 2410, 2420, 2460, 2470, 2480, 4410, 4420, 4460, 4470, 4480

a. Two courses must be selected from Theatre 2460 and 4460 (Technical Theatre Laboratory)
b. Two courses must be selected from Theatre 2470 and 4470 (Run of Show)  -or-
    one from Theatre 2470/4470 (Run of Show) and one from Theatre 2480 and 4480 (Stage Management Practicum).           
c. Four of the seven must be taken for upper-division credit.

VI.  A minor in another discipline is recommended, though not required.

To graduate, you must maintain a ‘C’ average in your major.

Theatre Advisors:

Mandy Rees (661) 654-2240              mrees@csub.edu
Chris Eicher (661) 654-2426              ceicher@csub.edu
Maria-Tania Becerra (661) 654-2524   mbecerra6@csub.edu

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

QUARTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for the Major in Theatre

Effective for Students Beginning PRIOR to Fall 2016

I.   Basic Core (five units each) required of all students.

These classes are designed to provide you with a strong foundation of knowledge in the core areas of theatre: acting, design and technology, script analysis, and theatre history and literature.

      a.  Theatre 221—Script Analysis

      b.  Theatre 232—Acting I

      c.  Theatre 241—Introduction to Stage Craft

      d.  Theatre 251—Technical Theatre and Design

      e.  Theatre 371—Ancient Passions (formerly Theatre History I)

      f.   Theatre 372—Renaissance and Beyond (formerly Theatre History II)

      g.  Theatre 385—Modern Drama

II. Electives: four additional five-unit courses in theatre, at least two of which MUST be upper division, selected from the list below.

This is your chance to customize your major to fit your needs and interests. For example, if you plan to teach high school drama you might consider Creative Dramatics, Directing, Scenic and Lighting Design, an advanced acting class and Theatre for Youth. If you want to pursue acting, you might take Acting II and III, Voice and Diction, Movement, and Scene Study. For designers—Scenic, Lighting and Costume Design, as well as AutoCAD would be appropriate. Playwrights would benefit from Playwriting, African-American and Women Playwrights, and Directing or acting classes. Your advisor can help you to select what is best for your individual needs.

            Theatre 233—Acting II

            Theatre 234—Acting III

            Theatre 305—Creative Dramatics

            Theatre 307—Dramatic Literature for Children

            Theatre 311—Movement I

            Theatre 312—Movement II

            Theatre 321—Voice and Diction I

            Theatre 351—Lighting Design

            Theatre 352—Scenic Design

            Theatre 353—Costume Design

            Theatre 354—AutoCAD for the Theatre

            Theatre 361—Directing I

            Theatre 381—Women Playwrights (also counts for GRE requirement)

            Theatre 383—African-American Playwrights (also counts for GRE req.)

            Theatre 404—Playwriting

            Theatre 405—Theatre for Youth

            Theatre 421—Scene Study

            Theatre 477—Special Studies (as announced)

            Theatre 499—Individual Study


III.  Production Courses: a minimum of six production courses (THTR 200, 201, 202, 203, 206, 207, 400, 401, 402, 403, 406 and 407) as specified below.

Productions offer laboratory experiences where you can apply what you are learning in your coursework, as well as add credits to your resume. If you have a love for theatre, you may have developed it through your involvement in productions. To get your degree, you are required to work on eight shows, though many majors end up with more than that. At least two of your experiences are to be crewing or stage managing a show, two are to be working in the theatre shop constructing the set or hanging the lights, and the other four are your choice (acting in quarterly productions or the children’s touring show, or more off-stage work).  

a.  Of the six, four must be taken for upper-division credit

b.  Of the six, two must be selected from THTR 202 & 402 (Technical Theatre Lab)

c. Of the six, two must be selected from THTR 203 & 403 (Run of Show) –or– one from THTR 203 & 403 (Run of Show) and one from THTR 200 & 400 (Stage Management Practicum)

Each student must complete at least two production courses each year, while in residence as a theatre major.

IV. Complete Theatre Company (THTR 195, 295, 395, 495, as appropriate to student’s class level).  Complete the course at least five times.

Theatre Company (a one-unit course) is a chance to join with other theatre majors to meet guest artists, discuss productions, and to learn more about the department and the business of theatre.

V.  THTR 491 and 492: Senior Project Preparation and Presentation

Your senior project is a two-quarter process—a culminating activity to showcase the skills you have developed during your time at CSUB.

You must also complete a minor in another department. 

To graduate, you must maintain a ‘C’ average in your major

Theatre Advisors:

Mandy Rees (661) 654-2240   mrees@csub.edu

Chris Eicher (661) 654-2426         ceicher@csub.edu

Maria-Tania Becerra (661) 654-2524 mbecerra6@csub.edu