Theatre Arts Major (B.A./B.S.)

Major Requirements

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S. 
Minimum Credits Required: 120

University Degree Requirements

For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.

  1. Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
  2. Complete the University General Education requirements.
  3. Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  4. Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
  5. Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
  6. Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.

University General Education Requirements

A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available here.

Category C: Communication12
Category R: Quantitative Reasoning3
Category S: Science and Technology10
Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts6
Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences6
Category W: Wellness2
Category D: Cultural Diversity
Category G: Global Perspectives
Category L: Digital Literacy
Total Credits39

Major Requirements

Core Requirements
THEA 110Introduction to Theatre Arts3
THEA 161Acting I3
THEA 180Dramatic Literature and Style I3
THEA 270
THEA 220
Stagecraft
and Stagecraft Lab
4
THEA 271
THEA 221
Costume Craft
and Costume Craft Lab
4
THEA 280World Theatre3
or THEA 115 World Film
THEA 365Directing I3
THEA 450Capstone Experience3
THEA 480History and Literature of Theatre I3
THEA 371Introduction to Design: Scenic Design *3
or THEA 373 Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre
or THEA 375 Costume Design for the Theatre
Practicum - 8 credits from the following:8
Theatre Practicum (May be repeated multiple times; 1-2 credits)
Stage Management Practicum and Seminar (May be repeated multiple times; 2 credits)
Option
Select one for the two options listed below to complete this major: Theatre Generalist (15 credits) or Design & Technology (18 credits)15-18

Option One: Theatre Generalist

Select 15 credits from the following courses. A minimum of 9 of the 15 credits must be 300 level or above:15
World Film *
World Theatre
Storytelling
Introduction to Theatrical Rendering
Introduction to Dance
Voice and Movement for the Actor
Drawing for the Theatre
Theatrical Makeup Design
Scenic Painting
Devising
Acting III: Advanced Realism
Dance Styles for Theatre
Advanced Acting
Acting the Song
Technical Theatre Production
Introduction to Design: Scenic Design *
Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre
Costume Design for the Theatre
Global Seminar
Period Style for Performance
Acting Styles
Advanced Voice for the Actor
Advanced Movement for the Actor
Directing II
Shakespeare
Total Credits15

Option Two: Design & Technology

Take a different course from what was taken in the Core Requirements above.
THEA 371Introduction to Design: Scenic Design *3
or THEA 373 Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre
or THEA 375 Costume Design for the Theatre
Select 15-18 credits from the following courses. A minimum of 9 of the 18 credits must be 300 level or above:15
Introduction to Theatrical Rendering
Drawing for the Theatre
Theatrical Makeup Design
Scenic Painting
Technical Theatre Production (May be repeated twice; 3-6 credits)
Introduction to Design: Scenic Design (can take the final course as an elective)
Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre
Costume Design for the Theatre
Period Style for Performance
THEA XXX
Internship (3-6 credits)
Shakespeare
Studio Technology Foundations
Graphic Design I
Apparel Construction and Fit
History of Fashion
Total Credits18
*

Student must take one of the courses in the major core requirements and will take a different course in the option.

Degree Requirements & Notes:

  • Students must earn a grade of C or better in all THEA prefix courses.