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

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail in the general education section. In addition, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree must meet foreign language requirement.

All students who (1) entered the School of Theatre as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) began 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 who began college full-time before summer 1997 and enter USC before summer 2000 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

 

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

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail in course requirements.

All students who (1) entered the School of Theatre as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) began 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 who began college full-time before summer 1997 and enter USC before summer 2000 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

 

Minor Programs

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	4
One course (4 units) from :		4
THTR 101	Introduction to Acting	4
THTR 201	Introduction to the Theatre	4
One course (4 units) from :		4
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

Minor in Dance

The minor in dance is a 25-unit program. Students applying to this minor must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (A = 4.0).

Upper Division Required Courses (16 Units)		Units
THTR 380	Historical Approaches to Dance	4
THTR 388	Senior Seminar in Dance	4
THTR 482	Choreography for Television	4
THTR 483ab	Dance Performance	2-2
Electives (9 units)
THTR 280	Dance as an Art Form
THTR 282	Activities for Professional Preparation: Dance (concurrent enrollment in a 100-level technique course required)	1
THTR 285	Elements of Dance Production	4
THTR 385	Choreography and Performance	4
Techniques Courses
THTR 181a	Modern Dance	2
THTR 181b	Modern Dance	2
THTR 182a	Advanced Modern Dance	2
THTR 182b	Advanced Modern Dance	2
THTR 183a	Ballet	2
THTR 183b	Ballet	2
THTR 183c	Ballet	2
THTR 183d	Ballet	2
THTR 184a	Jazz Dance	2
THTR 184b	Jazz Dance	2
THTR 184c	Jazz Dance	2
THTR 188a	International Style Ballroom Dance (to include folk and square dance)	2
THTR 188b	International Style Ballroom Dance	2

Minor in Musical Theatre

The minor in musical theatre, interdisciplinary in nature, is a 27-unit program incorporating the study of acting, dance or movement, vocal arts and related musical subjects. Admission to the minor requires an audition for music but not for theatre.

For students majoring in theatre or another non-music discipline:

Required Courses		Units
MUED 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American DIversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
MUPF 124ab	Beginning Guitar, or
MUPF 150ab	Beginning Piano, or
MUED 330x	Fundamentals of Music	4
MUPF 401	Individual Instruction (6) or
MUPF 141	Class Voice (2), or
MUPF 241	Intermediate Class Voice (2), and
MUPF 401	Individual Instruction (4)	6
MUPF 402*	Musical Theatre Workshop	8
Two units to be selected from:
THTR 181-189
THTR 216	Movement for Actors
THTR 316	Advanced Movement for Actors
THTR 343	Musical THeatre Audition
		_____
Total units		27

*2 units of MUPF 402 may be satisfied by taking THTR 397 Theatre Practicum I.

For students majoring in Music Performance (Vocal Arts):

Required Courses		Units
MUPF 402*	Musical Theatre Workshop	8
THTR 101	Introduction to Acting	4
THTR 343	Musical Theatre Audition	3
MUED 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
Two units to be selected from :
THTR 181-189
THTR 216	Movement for Actors
THTR 316	Advanced Movement for Actors
Six units tp ne selected from:
THTR 252ab	Intermediate Acting I
THTR 352ab	Intermediate Action II
Total Units		27

*2 units of MUPF 402 may be satisfied by taking THTR 397 Theatre Practicum I.

For students majoring in music (non Vocal Arts Performance):

MUPF 401	Individual Instruction	4
MUPF 402*	Musical Theatre Workshop	8
THTR 101	Introduction to Action	4
THTR 343	Musi cal Theatre Audition	3
MUED 400	The Broadway Musical: REflection of AMerican DIversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
Two units to be selected from:
THTR 181-189
THTR 216	Movement for Actors
THTR 316	Advanced Movement for Actors
Two units to be selected from:
THTR 252ab	Intermediate Action I
THTR 352ab	Intermediate Action II
Total units		27

*2 units of MUPF 402 may be satisfied by taking THTR 397 Theatre Practicum I.

Minor in Performing Arts Studies

The minor in performing arts provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinema-television, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society. The minor in performing arts studies is a 20-unit program

Required Courses		Units
THTR 303	The Performing Arts	4
Plus a minimum of four courses (16 units) from the following list. Three courses (12 uints) must be upeer division. One course (4 units) must be from each school.
CTCS 190	Introduction to Cinema	4
CTCS 200	History of the International Cinema I	2
CTCS 201	History of the Interantional Cinema II	2
CTCS 392	History of the American Film,1925-1950	4
CTCS 393	History of the American Film, 1946-1975	4
CTCS 404	Television Criticism and Theory	4
CTCS 464	Film and/or Television Genres	4
CTCS 469	Film and/or Television Style Analysis	4
MUHL 100x	Jazz, Ragtime and Blues	4
MUHL 200x	Introduction to Concert Music	4
MUHL 220x	The Great Composers	4
MUHL 302	Musical Cultures of the World	4
MUHL 350abx	Music, Culture and Ideas	3-3
MUED 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
THTR 201	Introduction to the Theatre	4
THTR 280	Dance as an Art Form	4
THTR 300	Introduction to Modern Drama	4
THTR 301	Greek and Roman Theatre	4
THTR 302	Shakespeare in His World	4
THTR 380	Historical Approaches to Dance	4
THTR 385	Choreography and Performance	4
THTR 404	Acting Theory	4
THTR 493ab	Periods and Styles	2-2
		__________
Total units required		20

Note that for cinema-television, music and theatre majors: cinema majors take 8 units of music and 8 units of theatre; music majors take 8 units of cinema and 8 units of theatre; theatre majors take 8 units of cinema and 8 units of music (all upper division courses.)

 

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 1998-99 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 1998-99 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