Theatre Arts Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Since its earliest forms, the theatre has been a space for discourse, engagement, and entertainment through public assembly as artists work collectively to communicate stories, teach empathy, and impact communities. Theatre isn't something you simply learn about, it's something you do. The Theatre Arts major at OSU involves a dynamic and engaging process that emphasizes the exploration of the complexities of the human condition through engaged study and active collaborative performance. Theatre Arts students are challenged to think critically about the historic and cultural resonances of the theatre while building upon that tradition in practice. Through a combination of course work and participation in University Theatre productions, Theatre Arts students develop skills in collaboration, leadership, project management, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.
The Theatre Arts major provides students the opportunity to learn new skills and the flexibility to concentrate on specific areas within the discipline after completing a small core of courses. Students then engage in a deeper study in areas of performance, writing, technical theatre, design, directing, research, or a combination of these areas. Theatre Arts students gain basic experience in multiple areas within the discipline (technical, performance, analysis, design) so that they may better understand the collaborative process from the inside.
Theatre Arts at OSU is dedicated to providing a quality undergraduate education within a Liberal Arts context and, therefore, prepares students to take any number of professional paths or further graduate studies that involve critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.
Major Code: 041
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Implement and coordinate collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and organizational skills in the theatrical process in theory and practice.
- Contribute artistically as a participant in departmental productions.
- Evaluate the multi-faceted nature of the production process and demonstrate comprehension of the variety of artistry and skills that contribute to a finished theatrical production.
- Analyze and critique the social significance and cultural resonances of theatrical endeavor as reflected in theatre history and dramatic literature.
- Illustrate preparation for further professional/academic training through theatre production and scholarship.
A minimum grade of C- is required in all courses for the major with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| TA 144 | PLAYREADING (take two times) | 2 |
| TA 147 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE | 3 |
| TA 244 | SCENE CRAFTS | 3 |
| TA 247 | +STAGE MAKEUP | 3 |
| TA 248 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING I | 3 |
| TA 344 | PLAYSCRIPT ANALYSIS | 3 |
| TA 420 | +THEATRE BEYOND OSU | 1 |
| TA 444 | ^THEORY AND CRITICISM OF THEATRE ARTS 1 | 3 |
| TA 460 | +CREATING SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE THEATRE INDUSTRY | 3 |
| Focus Area I | ||
| Select 15 credits from the following courses: | 15 | |
| *HISTORY OF THE THEATRE | ||
| *HISTORY OF THE THEATRE | ||
| *HISTORY OF THE THEATRE | ||
| *MULTICULTURAL AMERICAN THEATRE | ||
| RESEARCH | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY | ||
| READING AND CONFERENCE | ||
| SEMINAR | ||
| Focus Area II | ||
| Select 21 credits from courses in any of the following categories: | 21 | |
| Design and Technical Theatre | ||
| ORAL INTERPRETATION I | ||
| VISUAL PRINCIPLES OF THEATRE | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF COSTUMING FOR THE STAGE | ||
| STAGE LIGHTING | ||
| SCENE AND STAGE DESIGN | ||
| COSTUME DESIGN | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP | ||
| Performance | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING II | ||
| ADVANCED ORAL INTERPRETATION | ||
| ADVANCED ACTING: REALISM | ||
| ADVANCED ACTING: STYLES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF PLAYWRITING | ||
| PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP | ||
| FUNDS PLAY DIRECTION | ||
| Topics in Theatre Arts | ||
| TOPICS IN THEATRE ARTS | ||
| Special Studies in Design, Technical, and Performance | ||
| PROJECTS | ||
| THEATRE ARTS INTERNSHIP | ||
| WORKSHOP | ||
| STUDIO: THEATRE ARTS | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, CLA Core, BA/BS Requirements and Electives | 120 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
TA 444 is offered on a two-year cycle. Students should meet with an advisor to confirm when this course will be offered
Participation Requirements
All students must at some time in their undergraduate degree:
-
Serve on a running crew for a Main Stage production.
-
Hold a position of high responsibility and/or leadership on a faculty-supervised production. Assignments to positions must be faculty approved and include, but are not limited to: stage manager, assistant designer, assistant director, dramaturg, etc.
-
Participate in a major or minor role in a Main Stage or Lab Theatre production.
Major Code: 041
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| TA 147 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE | 3 |
| TA 248 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING I | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| TA 144 | PLAYREADING | 1 |
| TA 244 | SCENE CRAFTS | 3 |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| TA 247 | +STAGE MAKEUP | 3 |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| TA 144 | PLAYREADING | 1 |
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| TA 344 | PLAYSCRIPT ANALYSIS | 3 |
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| BS Computer Science | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| TA 420 | +THEATRE BEYOND OSU | 1 |
| TA 444 | ^THEORY AND CRITICISM OF THEATRE ARTS | 3 |
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| BS College of Science | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| TA 460 | +CREATING SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE THEATRE INDUSTRY | 3 |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| TA 147 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE | 3 |
| TA 248 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING I | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| TA 144 | PLAYREADING | 1 |
| TA 244 | SCENE CRAFTS | 3 |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| TA 247 | +STAGE MAKEUP | 3 |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| TA 144 | PLAYREADING | 1 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| TA 344 | PLAYSCRIPT ANALYSIS | 3 |
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| TA 420 | +THEATRE BEYOND OSU | 1 |
| TA 444 | ^THEORY AND CRITICISM OF THEATRE ARTS | 3 |
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| Focus Area 2 | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| TA 460 | +CREATING SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE THEATRE INDUSTRY | 3 |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Focus Area 1 | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course