Theater Arts Major

The Theater Arts Major:

The Theater Arts degree allows students to examine and experience the relationship between drama as literary artifact and drama as performance. Students are given technical instruction in the craft of presenting plays with particular emphasis on interpretation of drama and its place within culture. In addition to the intellectual abilities developed as in all liberal arts programs – flexibility of mind, clarity and precision in written and oral communication, and an ability to negotiate the often confusing world of human artifacts – students also benefit from work with the technical side of dramatic presentation.

Duquesne believes strongly in the liberal arts approach to studying Theater. This approach guarantees that students will have the broadest understanding of all aspects of Theater with a more intense knowledge of a specific field of study within the theatrical profession. Their education will prepare them for work in all areas of theater as well as a strong basis for further study at the graduate level. Skills learned through the pursuit of Theater are also strongly desired in the fields of Business, Marketing, Public Relations, Teaching and Law.

CORE REQUIREMENT: 15 credit hours, including:

THEA 151: Introduction to Theater

ENGL 204W: Introduction to Drama

THEA 210: History of Theater I (Ancient to Renaissance)

THEA 211: History of Theater II (Renaissance to Present)

THEA 305: Directing I

LITERATURE COURSES: 9 credit hours, selected from 300-400 level English Department courses that emphasize dramatic literature.

ELECTIVES: 12 credit hours, chosen from the following:

THEA 201: Acting I (2 credits)

THEA 301: Acting II (2 credits)

THEA 302: Acting III (2 credits)

THEA 303: Acting IV (2 credits)

THEA 310: Technical Theater

THEA 405: Directing II

THEA 481/ENG 434W: Dramatic Criticism

ENGL 301W: Playwriting I

ENGL 400W: Playwriting II

THEA 496: Directed Studies (including practica in Theater Management, Technical Theater, and Performance)

The Theater Arts Minor:

CORE REQUIREMENT: 9 credit hours, including:

THEA 151: Introduction to Theater
THEA 210: History of Theater I (Ancient to Renaissance)
THEA 211: History of Theater II (Renaissance to Present)

LITERATURE COURSES: 6 credit hours selected from 300-400 level English Department courses that emphasize dramatic literature.

ELECTIVES: 6 credit hours, chosen from the following:

ENGL 203: Introduction to Drama