Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts with a major or minor in theatre is a comprehensive theatre degree offered in cooperation with the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Candidates for the degree must complete the university general education requirements in addition to the courses in the major prescribed by the School of Theatre. A total of 128 units is required for completion of the degree.
General Education Requirements
As of fall 1997, the university has instituted a new general education program, designed to be a simpler, more coherent and more integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge outside the major discipline which is expected of every undergraduate who receives a degree from USC. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here. In addition, students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must meet the foreign language requirements.
All students who (1) enter the School of Theatre as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) begin college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later; or (3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program. Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program as well. However, continuing and transfer students in the fall of 1997 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.
School Majors
Students who choose the school major are required to complete a minimum of 52 units in theatre as specified:
Required courses (28 units) THTR 101 Introduction to Acting 4 THTR 125 Text Studies for Production 4 THTR 130ab Introduction to Theatrical Production 2-2 THTR 201 Introduction to the Theatre 4 THTR 305a Directing 4 THTR 310 Theory and Practice of World Theatre I 4 THTR 311 Theory and Practice of World Theatre II 4 One course (3 units) from: THTR 230 Communicating Theatrical Design Concepts 3 THTR 231a Costume Construction 3 THTR 232 Stage Lighting 3 THTR 335 Scenic Construction 3 One course (4 units) from: THTR 300 Introduction to Modern Drama 4 THTR 301 Greek and Roman Theatre 4 THTR 302 Shakespeare in His World 4 THTR 313 Comedy of Manners 4 THTR 314 Advanced Topics in Modern Drama 4 Required upper division theatre electives 17
Total required theatre units: 52
Theatre Minor and Humanities Major with an emphasis in Theatre
Students who choose either of these programs are required to complete a minimum of 24 units in theatre as specified.
Students may choose an emphasis in theatre by selecting courses in acting, directing, design, production, playwriting, dance, and musical theatre.
Required courses Units THTR 130ab Introduction to Theatrical Production 2-2 One course (4 units) from: THTR 101 Introduction to Acting 4 THTR 201 Introduction to the Theatre 4 One course (4 units) from: THTR 310 Theory and Practice of World Theatre I 4 THTR 311 Theory and Practice of World Theatre II 4 Required upper division theatre electives 12
Required theatre units: 24
Bachelor of Fine Arts
The Bachelor of Fine Arts provides four years of intensive training at the undergraduate level in performance studies including acting, design, stage management and technical production. A total of 128 units of course work is required for this degree, including a minimum range of 75-84 theatre units depending on the requirements of each program.
All B.F.A. Theatre majors are required to earn a grade point average of 2.75 (A = 4.0) in their theatre courses each semester. B.F.A. students who fail to earn a GPA of 2.75 in their theatre courses will be placed on probation the following semester. Students who remain on probation for a consecutive second semester will be disqualified from the B.F.A. program.
A student disqualified from continued study in the B.F.A. program for failing to meet the GPA standards outlined above will be given the option of transferring into the B.A. program.
General Education Requirements
As of fall 1997, the university has instituted a new general education program, designed to be a simpler, more coherent and more integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge outside the major discipline which is expected of every undergraduate who receives a degree from USC. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.
All students who (1) enter the School of Theatre as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) begin college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later; or (3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program. Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program as well. However, continuing and transfer students in the fall of 1997 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.
Required Courses for the Acting Emphasis (80 units) Units THTR 101 Introduction to Acting 4 THTR 120 Acting 4 THTR 125 Text Studies for Production 4 THTR 130ab Introduction to Theatrical Production 2-2 THTR 201 Introduction to the Theatre 4 THTR 220ab Intermediate Acting I 4-4 THTR 310 Theory and Practice of World Theatre I 4 THTR 311 Theory and Practice of World Theatre II 4 THTR 315ab Physical Theatre I 2-2 THTR 320ab Intermediate Acting II 4-4 THTR 340ab Intermediate Voice 2-2 THTR 397 Theatre Practicum 6 THTR 415ab Physical Theatre II 2-2 THTR 420ab Advanced Acting 4-4 THTR 440ab Advanced Voice 2-2 THTR 471 Senior Showcase 2 THTR 480 Performance for Camera 2 THTR 497 Advanced Theatre Practicum 2 One course (4 units) from: THTR 305a Directing 4 THTR 365 Playwriting 4 Required theatre units: 84
Required Courses for the Design Emphasis (71 units) Units THTR 101 Introduction to Acting 4 THTR 125 Text Studies for Production 4 THTR 130ab Introduction to Theatrical Production 2-2 THTR 201 Introduction to the Theatre 4 THTR 222 Stage Make-up 2 THTR 230 Communicating Theatrical Design Concepts 3 THTR 231ab Costume Construction 3-3 THTR 232 Stage Lighting 3 THTR 305a Directing 4 THTR 310 Theory and Practice of World Theatre I 4 THTR 311 Theory and Practice of World Theatre II 4 THTR 330 Scene Design I 4 THTR 331 Costume Design I 4 THTR 332 Lighting Design I 4 THTR 333 Stage Management I 3 THTR 437 Scene Painting 3 THTR 439 Stage Properties 3 THTR 493ab Periods and Styles 2-2 FA 407ab Drawing and Rendering for the Theatre 2-2 Two courses (6 units) from: THTR 432a Scene Painting 3 THTR 433a Costume Design II 3 THTR 434a Lighting Design II 3 Two courses (6 units) from: THTR 432b Scene Painting 3 THTR 433b Costume Design II 3 THTR 434b Lighting Design II 3 Required theatre units: 83
Required Courses for the Stage Management Emphasis (76 units) Units THTR 101 Introduction to Acting 4 THTR 125 Text Studies for Production 4 THTR 130ab Introduction to Theatrical Production 2-2 THTR 201 Introduction to Theatre 4 THTR 230 Communicating Theatrical Design Concepts 3 THTR 231ab Costume Construction 3-3 THTR 232 Stage Lighting 3 THTR 305a Directing 4 THTR 310 Theory and Practice of World Theatre I 4 THTR 311 Theory and Practice of World Theatre II 4 THTR 333 Stage Management I 3 THTR 397 Theatre Practicum 4 THTR 430 Stage Management II 3 THTR 436 Sound for Theatre 3 THTR 439 Stage Properties 3 THTR 487 Promotion for the Performing Arts 4 THTR 491 Theatre Organization and Administration 4 THTR 492 Producing Theatre 4 THTR 494 Raising Money for the Arts 4 THTR 497 Advanced Theatre Practicum 4 Required theatre units: 76
Required Courses for the Technical Production Emphasis (79 units) Units THTR 101 Introduction to Acting 4 THTR 125 Text Studies for Production 4 THTR 130ab Introduction to Theatrical Production 2-2 THTR 201 Introduction to the Theatre 4 THTR 230 Communicating Theatrical Design Concepts 3 THTR 232 Stage Lighting 3 THTR 305a Directing 4 THTR 310 Theory and Practice of World Theatre I 4 THTR 311 Theory and Practice of World Theatre II 4 THTR 330 Scene Design I 4 THTR 332 Lighting Design I 4 THTR 333 Stage Management I 3 THTR 335 Scenic Construction 3 THTR 397 Theatre Practicum 6 THTR 430 Stage Management II 3 THTR 436 Sound for Theatre 3 THTR 437 Scene Painting 3 THTR 438 Technical Theatre 3 THTR 439 Stage Properties 3 THTR 493ab Periods and Styles 2-2 THTR 497 Advanced Theatre Practicum 4 Required theatre units: 79
Master of Fine Arts
The Master of Fine Arts in theatre allows the choice of an area of emphasis in theatre performance studies including acting, directing, playwriting or theatrical design. The degree is granted through the Graduate School.Forty-eight units of study at the 400 or 500 level are required, respective to the particular emphasis of the student. Regardless of the degree emphasis, at least two-thirds of the units must be at the 500 level or higher. In design, instead of a conventional thesis, the Master of Fine Arts student completes a final project in the area of design and defends it orally before the design faculty. A grade point average of 3.0 must be achieved in all graduate work taken in the School of Theatre. Graduate candidates whose undergraduate degrees are in disciplines other than theatre may be required to satisfy undergraduate prerequisites in theatre as determined by School of Theatre faculty.
Curricula for the Master of Fine Arts Degree
Acting Emphasis* Units THTR 515abcd Advanced Movement 8 THTR 520abcd Advanced Acting 16 THTR 540abcd Advanced Voice Diction 8 Two seminars (8), one of which must be THTR 528 (4), and THTR 597 (8) are required. *Students will not be admitted to this program for the 1997-98 school year.
Directing Emphasis* Units THTR 520ab Advanced Acting 8 THTR 525 Seminar in Contemporary Theatre 4 THTR 528 Seminar in Dramatic Analysis 4 THTR 555 Directing Fundamentals 2 THTR 556ab Directing 4 THTR 558ab Design for Directors 4 THTR 567a Studies in Playwriting 4 THTR 591 Seminar in Producing Theatre 4 THTR 593 M.F.A. Project 2, max 4 Electives by advisement 10 ____ 48 *Students will not be admitted to this program for the 1997-98 school year.
Theatrical Design Emphasis Units Two courses from: THTR 550a Seminar in Scene Design 3 THTR 552a Seminar in Costume Design 3 THTR 553a Seminar in Lighting Design 3 Two continuing courses from: THTR 550b Seminar in Scene Design 3 THTR 552b Seminar in Costume Design 3 THTR 553b Seminar in Lighting Design 3 One remaining course from: THTR 550a Seminar in Scene Design 3 THTR 552a Seminar in Costume Design 3 THTR 553a Seminar in Lighting Design 3 And all of the following: THTR 438 Technical Theatre 3 THTR 493ab Periods and Styles 2-2 THTR 593 M.F.A. Project 2, max 4 Two seminars (8), one of which must be THTR 528 (4).
400- or 500-level electives (14) by advisement are required, five units of which must be at the 500 level.
Playwriting Emphasis Units THTR 525 Seminar in Contemporary Theatre 4 THTR 528 Seminar in Dramatic Analysis 4 THTR 567ab Studies in Playwriting 4-4 THTR 591 Seminar in Producing Theatre 4 THTR 593 M.F.A. Project 2, max 4 THTR 595ab Graduate Playwrights' Workshop 4-4 Electives 16 ____ 48
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