Coordinator: Terry Byrne

The interdisciplinary minor in Theatre Arts offers introductory courses to a variety of students whose interest in the theatre arts may range from personal performance aspirations to educational uses of the art.

Students minoring in Theatre Arts will acquire knowledge of theory, history, structure, terminology, and conventions of theatre and drama; familiarity with a broad sampling of plays that vary widely in both cultural context and subject matter; intellectual and rhetorical skills necessary to analyze, discuss, and write about plays and performances; understanding and experience of voice and body as instruments in performance; knowledge of and experience with production technology (e.g., in lighting, sound, scenery); and appreciation of the collaborative nature of theatre production.

As with most studio courses, all theatre courses require evaluation of student performance during class meetings; thus, enrollment for these courses is kept low.  Dramatic literature and history courses are conducted in a traditional classroom setting.  A theatre internship works much like an internship for other majors:  it is supervised by a qualified theatre professional on the internship site, and is sponsored by a theatre and drama faculty or advisor with whom the student fills out the internship proposal.  The internship proposal must be approved by the Theatre Arts Minor coordinator.

The interdisciplinary Theatre Arts Minor program draws upon courses, faculty, and staff from the Departments of English, Communication Studies, Modern Languages, and Music.

Course Requirements

In order to obtain a minor in Theatre & Drama, a student must complete 5 courses, four core courses and one course that can be chosen from a list of options.

Core Courses

• TTR 255/COM 255/Acting for Stage and Screen
• TTR 233/LIT 233/World Drama
• TTR 368/Production Techniques
• TTR 498/Theatre Production Workshop

5th Course Option (Choose 1)

• TTR 347/LIT 347/Modern European Drama
• TTR 373/LIT 373/American Drama
• TTR 399/Internship in Theatre Production
• COM 216/History of Performance
• LIT 321/Shakespeare: Sources and Contexts
• LIT 421/Shakespeare: Comedies and Histories
• LIT 422/Shakespeare: Tragedies and Romances
• LIT 427/Major Writers before 1900 (when on a playwright)
• LIT 428/Major Writers after 1900 (when on a playwright)
• MUS 265/Music and the Stage
• SPA 323/20th-Century Hispanic Theatre

The fifth course may also be earned by internship or an independent study, approved by a theatre and drama coordinator and faculty sponsor.  Relevant courses in the student’s major may be counted for the fifth course, with approval by a theatre and drama coordinator.