Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Master of Fine Arts



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 general education requirements of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and the diversity requirement in addition to the requirements for the major prescribed by the School of Theatre. A total of 128 units is required for completion of the degree, of which four units must meet the university's diversity requirement. Sixty-four units of general education courses and 52 units of theatre courses with 12 units of free electives are required to satisfy degree requirements.

Diversity Requirement

All students must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism.

Majors

Students may choose either the school major, the humanities major or the stage management emphasis. The school major requires that more courses be concentrated in theatre as the major subject. The humanities major allows students to combine courses in several different departments in the humanities in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

The School of Theatre has three sets of requirements, depending on whether a school major, humanities major or stage management emphasis is chosen.

Requirements for School Major in Theatre (B.A. in Theatre)

Lower division courses required during the first two years
are (20 units):
Units
THTR 101Theatre I4
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4
THTR 151Theatre II4
THTR 213History and Literature of the Theatre I4
THTR 214History and Literature of the Theatre II4
____
20

32 units of upper division courses are required,
which must include:
Units
THTR 305aDirecting4
THTR 313History and Literature of the Theatre III4
THTR 314History and Literature of the Theatre IV4
ElectivesUpper division theatre20
____
32

Requirements for Humanities Major in Theatre (B.A. in Humanities with an Emphasis in Theatre)

Lower divisionUnits
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4

32 upper division units, 20 of which must be in theatre
and must include:
Units
THTR 305aDirecting 4
and a choice of:
THTR 313History and Literature of the Theatre III, or
THTR 314History and Literature of the Theatre IV4
ElectivesUpper division theatre12
____
20

The remaining upper division courses (12 units) are taken in the humanities. Usually, these courses are taken in cinema-television, English or music, but may be in any area of the humanities.

Requirements for B.A., Stage Management Emphasis

First YearUnits
THTR 101Theatre I4
THTR 151Theatre II4
THTR 213History and Literature of the Theatre I4
THTR 214History and Literature of the Theatre II4

Second YearUnits
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4
THTR 230Scenographic Techniques2
THTR 231Costume Construction3

Third YearUnits
THTR 232Stage Lighting3
THTR 333Stage Management I3
THTR 355Directing for the Actor2
THTR 430Stage Management II3

Fourth YearUnits
THTR 313History and Literature of the Theatre III4
THTR 314History and Literature of the Theatre IV4
THTR 491Theatre Organization and Administration4
THTR 495aExperimental Theatre Workshop I4

and a choice of: Units
THTR 496Experimental Theatre Workshop II, or
THTR 497bAdvanced Theatre Workshop4
ElectivesUpper division theatre by advisement3

Requirements for the Minor in Theatre

Lower division requirementsUnits
THTR 101Theatre I4
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4
THTR historyA theatre history course
(the school recommends 210 or 211)
4
____
12

Electives in Theatre, Upper division Twelve units of upper division theatre units are required of which no more than four units of THTR 490 may be used.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts provides four years of intensive training at the undergraduate level in performance studies including acting, theatrical design, technical direction and stage management. A total of 132 units of course work is required for completion of the acting or design emphasis and 130 units are required for the technical direction or stage management emphasis. Four units must meet the university's diversity requirement.

All B.F.A. Theatre majors are required to earn a grade point average of 2.75 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.

In rare cases (i.e., medical or psychological), a student may be granted a second consecutive semester on probation. The requirements for removal from probation for a student in the second probationary semester will be negotiated on a special contract with the School of Theatre. Such a student may be required to earn a GPA above 2.75 in theatre courses. In no case will a B.F.A. student be granted a third probation semester.

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

A total of 36 units of general education courses is required for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Skill Level, Composition

Expository Writing 101 and 102 (4-4)

Students enroll in this course as early in their college careers as possible, preferably in their first semester.

Areas of Study

Five courses, one course in each of the following categories, are required: The Natural World; Empirical Approaches; Western Culture I or Ethical Approaches; Western Culture II or American Public Life; and Non-Western Cultures. Two courses selected from the Literature and/or the Arts categories are also required.

Diversity Requirement

All students must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism.

Required Courses for the Acting Emphasis

First YearUnits
THTR 112Critical and Historical Studies in Drama I2
THTR 115abStage Movement I2-2
THTR 120abActing and Dramatic Analysis I4-4
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4
THTR 140abVoice I2-2
THTR 397Theatre Practicum1 or 2

Second YearUnits
THTR 212Critical and Historical Studies in Drama II2
THTR 215abStage Movement II2-2
THTR 220abActing and Dramatic Analysis II4-4
THTR 222Stage Make-up1
THTR 240abVoice II2-2
THTR 397Theatre Practicum1 or 2

and a choice of one from: Units
THTR 131Scenic Construction Fundamentals3
THTR 231Costume Construction3
THTR 232Stage Lighting3
THTR 333Stage Management I3
THTR 436Sound for Theatre3

Third YearUnits
THTR 312Critical and Historical Studies in Drama III2
THTR 315abStage Movement III2-2
THTR 320abActing III2-2
THTR 340abVoice III2-2
THTR 355Directing for the Actor2
THTR 397Theatre Practicum1 or 2

Fourth YearUnits
THTR 397Theatre Practicum1 or 2
THTR 412Critical and Historical Studies in Drama IV2
THTR 415abStage Movement IV2-2
THTR 420abAdvanced Individual Acting Problems2-2
THTR 440abVoice and Diction2-2

Required Courses for the Design Emphasis

First YearUnits
THTR 101Theatre I4
THTR 112Critical and Historical Studies in Drama I2
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4
THTR 151Theatre II4
THTR 212Critical and Historical Studies in Drama II2

Second YearUnits
THTR 222Stage Make-up1
THTR 230Scenographic Techniques2
THTR 231Costume Construction3
THTR 232Stage Lighting3
THTR 312Critical and Historical Studies in Drama III2
THTR 412Critical and Historical Studies in Drama IV2

Third YearUnits
THTR 330Scene Design I4
THTR 331Costume Design I4
THTR 332Lighting Design I4
THTR 333Stage Management I3
THTR 438Technical Theatre3
FA 407abDrawing and Rendering for the Theatre2-2

Fourth YearUnits
THTR 305aDirecting4
THTR 493abPeriods and Styles2-2

and a choice of two from: Units
THTR 432abScene Design II3-3
THTR 433abCostume Design II3-3
THTR 434abLighting Design II3-3

Required Courses for the Technical Direction Emphasis

First YearUnits
THTR 101Theatre I4
THTR 112Critical and Historical Studies in Drama I2
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4
THTR 131Scenic Construction Fundamentals3
THTR 151Theatre II4
THTR 212Critical and Historical Studies in Drama II2

Second YearUnits
THTR 222Stage Make-up1
THTR 230Scenographic Techniques2
THTR 231Costume Construction3
THTR 232Stage Lighting3
THTR 312Critical and Historical Studies in Drama III2
THTR 412Critical and Historical Studies in Drama IV2

Third YearUnits
THTR 330Scene Design I4
THTR 331Costume Design I4
THTR 332Lighting Design I4
THTR 333Stage Management I3
THTR 397Theatre Practicum1 or 2
THTR 430Stage Management II3
THTR 438Technical Theatre3

Fourth YearUnits
THTR 305aDirecting4
THTR 397Theatre Practicum1 or 2
THTR 436Sound for Theatre3
THTR 439Stage Properties3
THTR 493abPeriods and Styles2-2

Required Courses for the Stage Management Emphasis

First YearUnits
THTR 101Theatre I4
THTR 130Introduction to Theatrical Production4
THTR 151Theatre II4

Second YearUnits
THTR 112Critical and Historical Studies in Drama I2
THTR 212Critical and Historical Studies in Drama II2
THTR 222Stage Make-up1
THTR 230Scenographic Techniques2
THTR 231Costume Construction3
THTR 232Stage Lighting3
THTR 333Stage Management I3
THTR 397Theatre Practicum 1 or 2
THTR 430Stage Management II3

Third YearUnits
THTR 312Critical and Historical Studies in Drama III2
THTR 397Theatre Practicum 1 or 2
THTR 355Directing for the Actor2
THTR 436Sound for Theatre3
THTR 439Stage Properties3

Fourth YearUnits
THTR 397Theatre Practicum 1 or 2
THTR 412Critical and Historical Studies in Drama IV2
THTR 438Technical Theatre3
THTR 491Theatre Organization and Administration4
CNTV 425Production Planning2

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 515abcdAdvanced Movement8
THTR 520abcdAdvanced Acting16
THTR 540abcdAdvanced Voice Diction8

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 1996-97 school year.

Directing Emphasis*Units
THTR 520abAdvanced Acting8
THTR 525Seminar in Contemporary Theatre4
THTR 528Seminar in Dramatic Analysis4
THTR 555Directing Fundamentals2
THTR 556abDirecting4
THTR 558abDesign for Directors4
THTR 567aStudies in Playwriting4
THTR 591Seminar in Producing Theatre4
THTR 593M.F.A. Project4
Electives by advisement10
____
48

Students will not be admitted to this program for the 1996-97 school year.

Theatrical Design EmphasisUnits
Two courses from:
THTR 550aSeminar in Scene Design3
THTR 552aSeminar in Costume Design3
THTR 553aSeminar in Lighting Design3
Two continuing courses from:
THTR 550bSeminar in Scene Design3
THTR 552bSeminar in Costume Design3
THTR 553bSeminar in Lighting Design3
One remaining course from:
THTR 550aSeminar in Scene Design3
THTR 552aSeminar in Costume Design3
THTR 553aSeminar in Lighting Design3
And all of the following:
THTR 438Technical Theatre3
THTR 493abPeriods and Styles2-2
THTR 593abM.F.A. Project2-2

400- or 500-level electives (14) by advisement are required, five units of which must be at the 500 level.

Playwriting EmphasisUnits
THTR 525Seminar in Contemporary Theatre4
THTR 528Seminar in Dramatic Analysis4
THTR 567abStudies in Playwriting4-4
THTR 591Seminar in Producing Theatre4
THTR 593abM.F.A. Project2-2
THTR 595abGraduate Playwrights' Workshop4-4
Electives16
____
48

 

NEXT SECTION
 

Catalogue ContentsUSC Source BookCampus MapAdmissionUSCweb

USC Monogram

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs,
Office of University Publications
univpub@usc.edu