Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 General Catalog (Summer, Fall 2013) 
    
2013-2014 General Catalog (Summer, Fall 2013) ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Theatre Arts - BFA


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Caine College of the Arts

Department of Theatre Arts

BFA DEGREE

Students are expected to develop professional attitudes, standards and work habits to move on to graduate studies or directly into the professional world.  Students choose an area of emphasis within the BFA Degree.  Emphasis programs offered are:  Acting, Theatre Design and Technology, and Theatre Education.  Design/Technology has programs of concentration in Costume Design, Lighting Design, Production Technology, Scene Design, Sound Design and Stage Management.  Theatre Education has a Traditional Certification program and an Applied Theatre program.  The number of required credits for the BFA Degree varies from 65-78, depending on the Emphasis area.

Acceptance into the BFA Degree Program requires a separate departmental application, an audition or portfolio review, and an interview with emphasis area faculty.  Acceptance is competitive and not guaranteed. 

  • Minimum GPA for admission is 2.75
  • Minimum grade accepted in Theatre courses is B-
  • Courses required for major cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis

Retention reviews are held for each BFA student to determine satisfactory progress.  These are done via audition and review in Acting, portfolio reviews in Design/Tech, and benchmark reviews in Theatre Education.  These reviews determine if students will: (A) continue in the program (to continue, students must have demonstrated satisfactory progress and met the appropriate benchmarks);  (B) be placed on programmatic probation  (if a student fails to meet all benchmarks or has not made satisfactory progress, but in the opinion of the faculty has the potential to recover and meet the requirement within one semester’s time, they may be placed on probation); or (C) be discontinued from the program (if a student currently on probation fails to meet requirements within the specified time, or if their conduct is such that the faculty do not have confidence that the student will be able to meet requirements, even during a probationary period). 

Students not retained in the program must apply to another Degree program within the department or select another major. Students dismissed from the program may apply for re-admission only with permission of the faculty at such a time that the student has demonstrated significant improvement from the time of their dismissal.

NOTE: Theatre programs are subject to change based on the needs of the department and the students.

Theatre Arts Departmental Requirements


  • Students are expected to participate in production practicum every semester except the semesters they are enrolled in THEA 1513  and THEA 2203 .
  • Usher at one department production in the Morgan Theatre and one in either the Black Box or Caine Lyric Theatre each semester unless involved in the production as actor or run crew. Students take completion slips, signed by the House Manager, and submit them to the office following the close of the production.
  • Attend all production strikes.

 

Acting Emphasis (78 Credits)


The Acting program is for students desiring to become professional performers, either through continuing graduate studies or directly upon completion of the degree. The BFA Acting program is intended to be a 4-year continuous program that is completed without interruption. BFA Acting students are required to audition for all Department of Theatre Arts productions and accept roles as cast.

Students must apply for the BFA Acting Emphasis as part of their application to the Department, audition, and be interviewed by the Acting faculty. Acceptance is competitive and not guaranteed.  

Retention in the BFA Acting program requires the student to maintain minimum BFA grade requirements, have a successful jury review audition bi-annually with the BFA Performance faculty, meet all department requirements, and be in compliance with additional requirements specified in the BFA guidelines found in the Student Handbook.  Acting students are required to attend all acting Capstone Projects. 

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)


All students must complete a Capstone project during their Senior year. The Capstone project will be determined by the Head of Acting. Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the project is presented.

Theatre Design and Technology Emphasis


The Theatre Design and Technology Program is for students interested in the operations, aesthetics and physical settings of theatre production. Design/Tech students are required to assist with all department productions.

Students in the Design/Tech area choose a specific area of concentration:  Costume Design, Scenic Design, Light Design/Production Technology or Stage Management.

Students must apply to the Design/Tech program and choose an area of concentration as part of their application to the Department, and have a portfolio based interview with the Design faculty. Acceptance is competitive and not guaranteed.

Retention in the BFA Design/Tech program requires students to maintain minimum BFA grade requirements, have a successful annual portfolio review with the BFA Design/Tech faculty, meet all department requirements and be in compliance with additional requirements specified in the BFA guidelines found in the Student Handbook.  

Costume Design Concentration (75-76 credits)


Required Production Assignments (6 credits required)

All design/tech students apply for production assignments in December for the following academic year.  Assignments are made by the design faculty in January.  These assignments are in addition to the practicum requirement and are completed outside of practicum work hours.

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)

All students must complete a Capstone Project during their Senior year. Capstone projects are chosen as part of the production assignment process. Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the project is presented.

Lighting Design Concentration (70-74 credits)


Required Production Assignments (6 credits required)

All design/tech students apply for production assignments in December for the following academic year.  Assignments are made by the design faculty in January.  These assignments are in addition to the practicum requirement and are completed outside of practicum work hours. 

 

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)

All students must complete a Capstone Project during their Senior year. Capstone projects are chosen as part of the production assignment process. Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the project is presented.

Production Technology Concentration (70-73 credits)


Required Production Assignments (8 credits)

All design/tech students apply for production assignments in December for the following academic year.  Assignments are made by the design faculty in January.  These assignments are in addition to the practicum requirement and are completed outside of practicum work hours. 

 

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)

All students must complete a Capstone Project during their Senior year. Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910 during the semester in which the project is presented. Students apply for a sound engineer, master electrician or stage manager assignment. Capstone projects are chosen as part of the production assignment process. 

 

Scene Design Concentration (70-72 credits)


Required Production Assignments (7 credits)

All design/tech students apply for production assignments in December for the following academic year.  Assignments are made by the design faculty in January.  These assignments are in addition to the practicum requirement and are completed outside of practicum work hours. 

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)

All students must complete a Capstone Project during their Senior year. Capstone projects are chosen as part of the production assignment process. Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the project is presented.

Sound Design Concentration (64-70 credits)


Required Production Assignments (6 credits)

All design/tech students apply for production assignments in December for the following academic year. Assignments are made by the design faculty in January. These assignments are in addition to the practicum requirement and are completed outside of practicum work hours.

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)

All students must complete a Capstone project during their Senior year. Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the project is presented. Students apply for a sound design assisgnment. Capstone projects are chosen as part of the production assisgnment process.

Stage Management Concentration (67-71 credits)


Required Assignments (5 credits)

All design/tech students apply for production assignments in December for the following academic year.  Assignments are made by the design faculty in January.  These assignments are in addition to the practicum requirement and are completed outside of practicum work hours. 

 

Music Electives (select 1 option)

Theatre Electives (select 3 courses minimum)

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)

All students must complete a Capstone Project during their Senior year. Capstone projects are chosen as part of the production assignment process. Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the project is presented.

Theatre Education Emphasis


The Theatre Education curriculum prepares students to pursue a wide range of careers in theatre pedagogy and applied theatre.  Students choose either a Traditional Certification Program or an Applied Theatre Program. Those who pursue the certification track qualify to receive a teaching license from the Utah State Board of Education, and may also qualify for a license in a secondary teaching area if they pursue a teaching minor.

Students must apply for admission to the Theatre Education Emphasis and choose one of the tracks as part of their application to the Department and interview with Theatre Education faculty.  Acceptance is competitive and not guaranteed.

Retention in the program requires students to maintain a B- in all courses and pass an annual benchmark review in five areas:  pedagogy, artistry, academics, leadership/service, and professionalism.  Prior to each benchmark review, students submit a self-assessment letter to the Director of Theatre Education, and meet individually with the theatre education faculty to discuss their progress.

The Traditional Certification Program requires completion of the STEP program, a minimum 2.75 GPA, and an annual bendhmark review. 

Traditional Certification Program (55.5 credits)


Required Dramatic Literature Course (3 credits)


Required Theatre Elective Courses (12 credits)


These electives should be chosen in one theatre emphasis area based on the interest and talents of the student, in consultation with their Advisor.

Required Senior Course


Required Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP)


The Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) prepares and licenses students to teach in public secondary schools.  The program consists of three successive semesters of education courses, culminating in supervised student teaching in both the major and minor subject areas. 

STEP requires admission to the Secondary Education Program of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL). The three levels of the STEP Secondary Teacher Education program are offered Fall and Spring only. Each level must be completed before advancing to the next level.

Applied Theatre Concentration (Non-Certification) (69.5credits)


Required Dramatic Literature (3 credits)


Required Theatre Elective Courses (14 credits)


NOTE: 9 credits must be upper division

Ideally these electives should be chosen in one theatre emphasis area based on the interest and talents of the student, in consultation with their Advisor. 

Required Field Work in Theatre (12 credits)


Field work in Theatre comprises of an approved professional internship with a theatre or educational institution. Field research is also an option. 12 internship credits of internship requires the equivalent of 6 months full time employment. Credit is not expected to be completed all at once.

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)


All students must complete a CapstoneProject during their Senior year.

Students must be enrolled in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the project is presented. All projects will be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor. 

Minimum University Requirements


Total Credits

120

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA

Credits of C- or better

100

Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)

40

USU Credits (30 USU credits, 20 of which must be upper-division courses, 10 of which must be courses required for student’s major)

30 USU credits

Completion of approved major program of study

See college advisor

Credits in minor (if required)

12

Credits in American Institutions (ECN 1500 ;HIST 1700 , HIST 2700  or HIST 2710 ; HONR 1300 POLS 1100 ; or USU 1300 )

3

General Education Requirements  and University Studies Depth Requirements 

 

 

 

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