Theatre Arts
This is an archived copy of the 2022-23 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.
Major Requirements
Major: Theatre Arts
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Transfer Students: Must earn a minimum of 60 credits from a baccalaureate-degree granting or professional institution.
- Of these 60, at least 36 must be NDSU resident credits as defined in #7.
- Within the 36 resident credits, a minimum of 15 must be in courses numbered 300 or higher and 15 credits in the major field of study.
- At least 36 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories. |
- A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
AHSS Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree – The completion of a minor program of study.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree – Second year language proficiency at college level required.
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences College Requirements
An additional 9 credits are required by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for a student whose primary degree is a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in a major from the College of AHSS. These additional 9 credits are not required for the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree, Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Environmental Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Bachelor of Music degree, for any student whose primary major or degree is not in the College of AHSS, or the student is earning two majors or two different degrees.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AH&SS College Requirements | ||
Courses used to satisfy any general education requirement cannot be used to also count toward the AH&SS College Requirements. A minimum of three credits is required in each of the 3 following areas for a total of 9 credits. Choose only those courses with the prefixes listed for each area. A course with the WGS prefix can only be used in one area. | ||
| Area One: Humanities | 3 | |
ARB, ENGL, FREN, GERM, HIST, HUM, PHIL, RELS, SPAN, TIPS or WGS | ||
| Area Two: Social Sciences | 3 | |
ANTH, CJ, COMM, EMGT, POLS, SOC, or WGS | ||
| Area Three: Fine Arts | 3 | |
ARCH, ART, ENVD, LA, MUSC, or THEA | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Major Requirements
Students must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in all THEA prefix courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| THEA 150 | Theatre Foundations I | 1 |
| THEA 161 | Acting I | 3 |
| THEA 180 | Dramatic Literature and Style I | 3 |
| THEA 270 & THEA 220 | Stagecraft and Stagecraft Lab | 4 |
| THEA 271 & THEA 221 | Costume Craft and Costume Craft Lab | 4 |
| THEA 280 | World Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 365 | Directing I | 3 |
| THEA 450 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| THEA 480 | History and Literature of Theatre I | 3 |
| Design/Technology Requirement | ||
| Select one from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Design: Scenic Design | ||
| Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre | ||
| Costume Design for the Theatre | ||
| Practicum - 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Theatre Practicum (Repeatable, 1-2 credits) | ||
| Stage Management Practicum and Seminar (2 credits repeatable) | ||
| Electives: Select 21 credits from the following courses. Minimum of 9 credits must be 300 level or above: | 21 | |
| World Film | ||
| Storytelling | ||
| Development of Musical Theatre | ||
| 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 1 | ||
| Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre 1 | ||
| Costume Design for the Theatre 1 | ||
| Theatrical Design Studio II: Collaboration of the Designer | ||
| Study Tour Abroad | ||
| Acting Shakespeare | ||
| Directing II | ||
| Directing III | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Total Credits | 63 | |
| 1 | Can use a different pair toward the 15 credits of elective. |
Major Requirements
Major: Theatre Arts - Design & Tech Theatre Track
Degree Type: B.F.A.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Transfer Students: Must earn a minimum of 60 credits from a baccalaureate-degree granting or professional institution.
- Of these 60, at least 36 must be NDSU resident credits as defined in #7.
- Within the 36 resident credits, a minimum of 15 must be in courses numbered 300 or higher and 15 credits in the major field of study.
- At least 36 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories. |
- A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Major Requirements | ||
| Students must earn a minimum grade of a ‘C’ in all THEA prefix courses. | ||
| ART 111 | Introduction to Art History (May satisfy general education category A and G) | 3 |
| MUSC 100 | Music Appreciation (May satisfy general education category A) | 3 |
| or MUSC 103 | Introduction to Music History | |
| THEA 161 | Acting I | 3 |
| THEA 150 | Theatre Foundations I | 1 |
| THEA 230 | Introduction to Theatrical Rendering | 3 |
| THEA 180 | Dramatic Literature and Style I | 3 |
| THEA 270 & THEA 220 | Stagecraft and Stagecraft Lab * | 4 |
| THEA 271 & THEA 221 | Costume Craft and Costume Craft Lab * | 4 |
| THEA 272 | Drawing for the Theatre * | 3 |
| THEA 275 | Theatrical Makeup Design * | 3 |
| THEA 279 | Scenic Painting * | 3 |
| THEA 280 | World Theatre (May satisfy a general education category D) | 3 |
| THEA 365 | Directing I | 3 |
| THEA 370 | Technical Theatre Production (Take 3 credits 2 times) * | 6 |
| THEA 371 | Introduction to Design: Scenic Design | 3 |
| THEA 373 | Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 375 | Costume Design for the Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 376 | Theatrical Design Studio I: Theatrical Drawing and Rendering * | 3 |
| THEA 377 | Theatrical Design Studio II: Collaboration of the Designer * | 3 |
| THEA 450 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| THEA 480 | History and Literature of Theatre I | 3 |
| THEA 486 | History of Dress and Decor I; the Foundations of Western Style * | 3 |
| THEA 487 | History of Dress and Decor II; Western Style since 1800 * | 3 |
| Practicum- 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Theatre Practicum (Repeatable, 1-2 credits) * | ||
| Stage Management Practicum and Seminar (2 credits) * | ||
| Related Area: | ||
| ENGL 380 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| Total Credits | 87 | |
| * | Students must earn a minimum grade of a ‘B’ in these Design and Technology courses. |
Major Requirements
Major: Theatre Arts - Musical Theatre Track
Degree Type: B.F.A.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Transfer Students: Must earn a minimum of 60 credits from a baccalaureate-degree granting or professional institution.
- Of these 60, at least 36 must be NDSU resident credits as defined in #7.
- Within the 36 resident credits, a minimum of 15 must be in courses numbered 300 or higher and 15 credits in the major field of study.
- At least 36 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories. |
- A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
Major Requirements
Students must earn a minimum grade of a ‘C’ in all THEA or MUSC prefix courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Major Requirements | ||
| ART 111 | Introduction to Art History (May satisfy general education category A and G) | 3 |
| MUSC 100 | Music Appreciation (May satisfy general education category A) | 3 |
| or MUSC 103 | Introduction to Music History | |
| MUSC 130 | Theory and Analysis I | 3 |
| MUSC 132 | Ear Training & Sight Singing I | 1 |
| MUSC 160 | Piano Class I ((Possible to test out of this requirement)) | 1 |
| MUSC 167 | Applied Voice (2 credits in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 267 | Applied Voice (2 credits in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 367 | Applied Voice (2 credits in different semesters) | 2 |
| MUSC 467 | Applied Voice | 1 |
| THEA 150 | Theatre Foundations I | 1 |
| THEA 161 | Acting I 1 | 3 |
| THEA 180 | Dramatic Literature and Style I | 3 |
| THEA 228 | Development of Musical Theatre 1 | 3 |
| THEA 263 | Dance Studio (take one each of Jazz, Lyrical Ballet, Tap) 1 | 3 |
| THEA 364 | Advanced Acting | 3 |
| THEA 266 | Voice and Movement for the Actor 1 | 3 |
| THEA 270 & THEA 220 | Stagecraft and Stagecraft Lab (Taken with THEA 270 Stagecraft) | 4 |
| THEA 271 & THEA 221 | Costume Craft and Costume Craft Lab (Taken with THEA 271 Costume Craft) | 4 |
| THEA 275 | Theatrical Makeup Design | 3 |
| THEA 280 | World Theatre (May satisfy a general education category D) | 3 |
| THEA 362 | Dance Styles for Theatre (Take 2 times) 1 | 4 |
| THEA 365 | Directing I | 3 |
| THEA 368 | Business of Acting | 3 |
| THEA 367 | Acting the Song | 3 |
| THEA 450 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| THEA 463 ACTING THE SONG II | 3 | |
| THEA 466 | Advanced Voice for the Actor 1 | 3 |
| THEA 467 | Advanced Movement for the Actor 1 | 3 |
| THEA 469 MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITION | 3 | |
| THEA 480 | History and Literature of Theatre I | 3 |
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Design: Scenic Design | ||
| Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre | ||
| Costume Design for the Theatre | ||
| Theatre Practice - 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Theatre Practicum (Repeatable 1-2 credits) 2 | ||
| Stage Management Practicum and Seminar (Repeatable - 2 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 97 | |
| 1 | Students must earn a minimum grade of ‘B’ in these music, dance and performance courses. |
| 2 | First year students taking THEA 220 or THEA 221 will not take Practicum 210. When students take THEA 222, 223 or 224 they will take Practicum 210 for 1 cr. |
Major Requirements
Major: Theatre Arts - Performance Track
Degree Type: B.F.A.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Transfer Students: Must earn a minimum of 60 credits from a baccalaureate-degree granting or professional institution.
- Of these 60, at least 36 must be NDSU resident credits as defined in #7.
- Within the 36 resident credits, a minimum of 15 must be in courses numbered 300 or higher and 15 credits in the major field of study.
- At least 36 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories. |
- A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
Major Requirements
Students must earn a minimum grade of a ‘C’ in all THEA prefix courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Major Requirements | ||
| ART 111 | Introduction to Art History (May satisfy general education category A and G) | 3 |
| ENGL 380 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| MUSC 100 | Music Appreciation (May satisfy general education category A) | 3 |
| or MUSC 103 | Introduction to Music History | |
| THEA 150 | Theatre Foundations I | 1 |
| THEA 161 | Acting I * | 3 |
| MUSC 162 | Voice Class | 1 |
| or MUSC 167 | Applied Voice | |
| THEA 180 | Dramatic Literature and Style I | 3 |
| THEA 261 | Advanced Acting | 3 |
| THEA 262 | Introduction to Dance 1 | 1 |
| THEA 263 | Dance Studio (take 2 times) 1 | 2 |
| THEA 266 | Voice and Movement for the Actor 1 | 3 |
| THEA 270 & THEA 220 | Stagecraft and Stagecraft Lab | 4 |
| THEA 271 & THEA 221 | Costume Craft and Costume Craft Lab | 4 |
| THEA 275 | Theatrical Makeup Design | 3 |
| THEA 280 | World Theatre (May satisfy a general education category D) | 3 |
| THEA 361 | Acting III: Advanced Realism 1 | 3 |
| THEA 365 | Directing I | 3 |
| THEA 368 | Business of Acting 1 | 3 |
| THEA 450 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| THEA 461 | Acting Shakespeare 1 | 3 |
| THEA 462 | Acting Styles 1 | 3 |
| THEA 466 | Advanced Voice for the Actor 1 | 3 |
| THEA 467 | Advanced Movement for the Actor 1 | 3 |
| THEA 480 | History and Literature of Theatre I | 3 |
| Theatre Practice - Repeatable for 12 credits: | 12 | |
| Theatre Practicum (1-2 credits) | ||
| Stage Management Practicum and Seminar ( 2 credits) | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Storytelling | ||
| Development of Musical Theatre 1 | ||
| Devising | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Design: Scenic Design | ||
| Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre | ||
| Costume Design for the Theatre | ||
| Total Credits | 88 | |
| 1 | Students must earn a minimum grade of ‘B’ in these dance and performance courses. |
Minor Requirements
Minor: Theatre Arts
Standard Option or
Dance Option
Required Credits: 20
Standard Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Theatre Appreciation: Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Theatre Arts | ||
| Dramatic Literature and Style I | ||
| World Theatre | ||
| Theatre Practicum or Labs: Select 2 credits from the following | 2 | |
| Theatre Practicum | ||
| Stage Management Practicum and Seminar | ||
| Stagecraft Lab | ||
| Costume Craft Lab | ||
| Electives: Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| World Film | ||
| Storytelling | ||
| Acting I | ||
| Development of Musical Theatre | ||
| Introduction to Dance | ||
| Dance Studio (repeatable up to 6 cr) | ||
| Voice and Movement for the Actor | ||
| Stagecraft | ||
| Costume Craft | ||
| Theatrical Makeup Design | ||
| Scenic Painting | ||
| Devising | ||
| Dance Styles for Theatre (repeatable up to 3 cr) | ||
| Directing I | ||
| Introduction to Design: Scenic Design | ||
| Lighting and Sound Design for the Theatre | ||
| Costume Design for the Theatre | ||
| Study Tour Abroad | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Total Credits | 20 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
Dance Option
Required Credits: 20
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Theatre Appreciation: Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Theatre Arts | ||
| Acting I | ||
| Dramatic Literature and Style I | ||
| World Theatre | ||
| Theatre Practicum or Labs: Select 2 credits from the following | 2 | |
| Theatre Practicum | ||
| Stage Management Practicum and Seminar | ||
| Stagecraft Lab | ||
| Costume Craft Lab | ||
| Dance Credits: Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Introduction to Dance | ||
| Dance Studio (Can take up to 6 times) | ||
| Dance Styles for Theatre (Can take up to 3 times) | ||
| Total Credits | 20 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.