Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts
The Theater Arts Department currently has three concentrations within the major: performance, directing/dramaturgy/playwriting, and design/technical. Each concentration consists of the theater core curriculum supplemented by one concentration requirement, one concentration elective, plus two theater major electives. Each concentration requires 10 production units taken as THP practicum courses.

Graduation Skills for Each Concentration
The Theater Arts Department addresses the graduation skills using the embedded model. Every course within the core curriculum and most electives as part of a specific concentration require various projects that address Critical Thinking (CT), Writing (W), and Speaking (S). The Quantitative Reasoning (QR) graduation skill can be met by completing GST 200, MAT 145, MAT 146, or PHY 119.

Transfer students must consult an adviser about potential adjustments to their course requirements to fulfill each of these skills.

Theater Arts Major Nine core courses for each concentration:
THR 228 Introduction to Stagecraft
THR 232 Acting
THR 245 Introduction to Asian and Asian American Theater
THR 250 Script Analysis: Foundations of Theater
THR 270 Black Theater
THR 328 Theatrical Design
THR 361 Theater History and Criticism I
THR 362 Theater History and Criticism II
THR 366 Stage Direction

Theater Major Electives
For each of the three concentrations, students may choose two electives from the following pool of courses. Within a single concentration, a course can count as a theater major elective only if NOT taken to satisfy a concentration requirement or concentration elective:

THR 233 Acting for the Camera
THR 226 Movement for the Theater
THR/FLM 230 Scene Painting for Stage and Film
THR 235 Skills of Musical Theater
THR 237 Dance for Musical Theater
THR 255 Introduction to Musical Theater
THR 265 Computer Drafting for the Stage and Architecture
THR 275 Lighting and Sound for the Stage
THR 280 Costumes and Makeup for Performance
THR 295 Theater Topics
THR/ENL 325 Playwriting I
THR 326 Playwriting II
THR 350 Voice for Speech, Stage, and Screen
THR 365 Advanced Acting
THR 425 New Methodologies of Stage Direction and Dramaturgy
THR 495 Theater Topics
ENL 221 Expository Writing about the Arts and Popular Culture
ENL 330 Shakespeare
ENL 338 Readings in British and Commonwealth Drama
ENL 358 Readings in American Drama
ENL 368 Readings in World Drama
NOR 352 Modern Nordic Drama

Performance Concentration
This concentration within the theater curriculum is designed to serve students hoping to pursue graduate studies in theater (MA/PhD and MFA) and/or professional work as performers. Students choosing this concentration will enroll in the nine core theater major courses taken by all theater majors plus the electives and requirements listed below. Students in the performance concentration are encouraged to consult with their adviser when selecting electives. Advisers will assist students in identifying the year and semester elective courses are offered. Students are strongly encouraged to also complete a professional internship at a local Twin Cities theater.

To fulfill this concentration:
Thirteen THR courses—nine required core courses, one performance concentration requirement, one performance concentration elective, two theater major electives, plus 10 theater practicum units taken as THP courses.

Performance Concentration Requirement:
THR 365 Advanced Acting

Performance Concentration Electives:
Select and complete one of the following: THR 226 Movement for the Theater, THR 350 Voice for Speech, Stage, and Screen

Theater Major Electives:
Select and complete two of the courses listed above under Theater Major Electives. Within the performance concentration, a course can count as a theater major elective only if NOT taken to satisfy a performance concentration requirement or elective.

Ten production practicum units (THP)–See Practicum Units

Directing/Dramaturgy/Playwriting Concentration
This concentration within the theater curriculum is designed to serve students hoping to pursue graduate studies in theater (MA/PhD and MFA) and/or professional work as a director, dramaturg, or playwright. Students choosing this concentration will enroll in the nine core theater major courses taken by all theater majors plus the requirements and electives listed below. Students in the directing/dramaturgy concentration are encouraged to consult with their adviser when selecting electives. Advisers will assist students in identifying the year and semester elective courses are offered.

To fulfill this concentration:
Thirteen THR courses—nine required core courses, one directing/dramaturgy/playwriting concentration requirement, one directing/dramaturgy/playwriting concentration elective, two theater major electives, plus 10 theater practicum units taken as THP courses.

Directing/Dramaturgy/Playwriting Concentration Requirement:
THR/ENL 325 Playwriting

Directing/Dramaturgy/Playwriting Concentration Electives:
Select and complete one of the following:
THR/ENL 326 Playwriting II
THR 425 New Methodologies of Stage Direction and Dramaturgy
ENL 221 Expository Writing about the Arts and Popular Culture

Theater Major Electives:
Select and complete two of the courses listed above under theater major electives. Within the directing/dramaturgy/playwriting concentration, a course can count as a theater major elective only if NOT taken to satisfy a directing/dramaturgy/playwriting concentration requirement or elective.

Ten production practicum units (THP)–See Practicum Units

Specific practicum requirements:
Serve as stage manager on main-stage show Dramaturg one main-stage show

Design/Technical Concentration
This concentration within the theater curriculum is designed to serve students hoping to pursue graduate studies in theater (MA/PhD and MFA) and/or professional work as a theater designer or technician. Students choosing this concentration will enroll in the nine core theater major courses taken by all theater majors plus the requirements and electives listed below. Students in the design/technical concentration are encouraged to consult with their adviser when selecting electives. Advisers will assist students in identifying the year and semester elective courses are offered.

To fulfill this concentration:
Thirteen THR courses–nine required core courses, one design/technical concentration requirement, one design/technical concentration elective, two theater major electives, plus 10 theater practicum units taken as THP courses.

Design/Technical Concentration Requirement:
Select and complete one of the following: THR 275 Lighting and Sound for the Stage, THR 280 Costumes and Makeup for Performance

Design/Technical Concentration Electives:
Select and complete one of the following: THR/FLM 230 Scene Painting for Stage and Film, THR 265 Computer Drafting for the Stage and Architecture

Theater Major Electives:
Select and complete two of the courses listed above under theater major electives. Within the design/technology concentration, a course can count as a theater major elective only if NOT taken to satisfy a design/technology concentration requirement or elective.

Ten production practicum units (THP)–See Practicum Units

Curricular Planning Information
First-years planning to major in theater arts should complete THR 228, 232, and 250 during their first year. Students who are second-year, third-year, or fourth-year majors may choose from the following courses, depending on their concentration and courses offered: THR 226, 230, 235, 237, 245, 255, 270, 275, 280, 295, and 325. Theater majors who are juniors or seniors may take THR 328, 361, 362, 366, 326, 350, 365, 425, and 495. Note: While many courses are offered annually, some courses are offered alternate years only and others are offered only on an occasional basis.

Departmental Honors
Designed to encourage overall excellence as well as outstanding achievement on a specific project of special interest to the student. Departmental Honors students must maintain a 3.75 GPA in the major and a 3.60 GPA overall and, as part of their major, complete a substantial independent project of honors quality. Honors candidates should meet with their departmental adviser early spring semester of their junior year to develop a proposal for the honors project to be submitted by the first week of April. The theater department will assign an honors project adviser to students submitting successful proposals.

Transfer Students
Transfer students should meet with a transfer adviser upon acceptance to determine what credits taken at another institution will transfer into the major. The majority of theater core classes should, however, be taken at Augsburg. Additionally, transfers are required to take a minimum of three upper division theater arts courses. Ten practicum units are also required; a minimum of five need to be completed within the department. Transfers must also complete a minimum of five THP credits within the department.

Theater Arts Minors
The Theater Arts Department offers six minors: musical theater, performance, design/technical, film/performance, theater history and criticism dramaturgy, and a general theater arts minor.

Please note: ALL theater arts minors are required to complete five theater practicum units (THP credits) in any of the three areas (acting/performance, production, or artistic/production management).

Musical Theater Minor (5 courses):
Four Required Courses:
THR 232 Acting
THR/MUE 235 Skills of Musical Theater
THR 255 Introduction to Musical Theater
THR 237 Dance for Musical Theater

Take one of the following: THR 365 Advanced Acting MUE 294/494 Opera Workshop

Performance Minor (5 courses):
Two Required Courses: THR 232 Acting THR 250 Script Analysis

Take three of the following:
THR 116 Creative Drama
THR 222 Introduction to Theater
THR 226 Movement for the Theater
THR 350 Voice for Stage, Speech, and Screen
THR 365 Advanced Acting
THR 495 Theater Topics

Design/Technical Minor (5 courses):
One Required Course: THR 328 Theatrical Design

Take four of the following:
THR 228 Stagecraft
THR 250 Script Analysis
THR/FLM 230 Scene Painting
THR/FLM 275 Lighting and Sound for the Stage
THR/ART 280 Costumes and Makeup for Performance

Film/Performance Minor (5 courses):
Two Required Courses: THR 323 Acting, THR 233 Acting for the Camera

Take three of the following:
THR 226 Movement for the Theater
ENL 241 Introduction to Cinema Arts
THR 350 Voice for Stage, Speech, and Screen
THR 365 Advanced Acting

Theater History and Criticism Dramaturgy Minor (5 courses):

Four Required Courses:
THR 250 Script Analysis: Foundations of Theater
THR 325 Playwriting
THR 361 Theater History Criticism I
THR 362 Theater History Criticism II

Take one of the following: THR 299 Directed Study in Dramaturgy, THR 299 Directed Study in Theater History and Criticism

Theater Arts Minor (5 courses):

Four Required Courses:
THR 250 Script Analysis: Foundations of Theater
THR 232 Acting
THR 362 Theater History Criticism II
THR 366 Stage Direction

Take one of the following: THR 228 Introduction to Stagecraft THR 328 Theatrical Design