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Degree Requirements 2023-2024

The Theater Department currently offers both a Theater major with one (or more) concentrations, a Theater major without a concentration and two Theater minors.  There are three choices for concentrations within the major: performance, directing/dramaturgy/playwriting, and design/technical.

The Theater major with a concentration requires the following: The Theater core curriculum, three concentration courses, plus two Theater major electives (12 total courses). The Theater major with no concentration requires the following: The Theater core curriculum and two Theater major electives (9 total courses). The general Theater minor requires any five courses from our department and the Musical Theater minor requires five specified courses (see Theater minors).

Each concentration requires 8 Theater Practicum Units (THPs). The Theater major without a concentration requires 4 THP units. The Theater minors both require 3 THP practicum units. See Theater Practicum courses for specific course information and transfer requirements.

Graduation Skills

The Theater 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 DST 164, MAT 111, MAT 145, MAT 146, MAT 163, PHI 230, or PHY 119.

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

Theater Major

  • THR 228 – Introduction to Stagecraft
  • THR 229 – Theatrical Design
  • THR 232 – Acting
  • THR 250 – Script Analysis: Foundations of Theater
  • Three from the following:
    • THR 245 – Introduction to Pan-Asian Theater
    • THR 270 – Introduction to Black Theater
    • THR 273 – Latinx Theater and Performance
    • THR 361 – Theater Histories: Origins to 1800
    • THR 362 – Theater Histories: 1800 to the Present
  • Two elective courses from the following:
    • THR 226 – Movement for Theater
    • THR/FLM 230 – Scenic Painting: Painting for Stage, Film and Faux Application
    • THR 233 – Acting for the Camera
    • THR 235 – Skills of Musical Theater
    • THR 237 – Dance for Musical Theater
    • THR 245 – Introduction to Pan-Asian Theater
    • THR 255 – Introduction to Musical Theater
    • THR 265 – Computer Drafting for the Stage and Architecture
    • THR 270 – Introduction to Black Theater
    • THR 273 – Latinx Theater and Performance
    • THR 275 – Lighting and Sound for the Stage
    • THR 280 – Costumes and Makeup for Performance
    • THR 295 – Topics
    • THR/ENL 325 – Playwriting I
    • THR/ENL 326 – Playwriting II
    • THR 350 – Voice for Speech, Stage and Screen
    • THR 355 – Performing Shakespeare
    • THR 361 – Theater Histories: Origins to 1800
    • THR 362 – Theater Histories: 1800 to the Present
    • THR 365 – Advanced Acting
    • THR 366 – Stage Direction
    • THR 367 – New Methodologies of Stage Direction and Dramaturgy
    • THR 490 – Theater Keystone: Exploring Vocation & Artistic Practice
    • ENL 330 – Shakespeare
    • PWC 300 – Playwriting
    • PWC 310 – Topics in Playwriting
    • PWC 320 – Writing for Television
    • PWC 330 – Writing for Digital Media
  • The general Theater major requires four THP credits (Theater Practicum Units) in any area.

Theater Major with Concentration(s)

Theater majors with concentrations require an additional three courses, specified below. No course can be counted twice as a major requirement and a concentration requirement. A total of twelve courses are required for Theater majors with concentrations.

Theater majors with concentrations require eight THP credits: 1 performance, 1 stagecraft/crew, 1 lighting, 1 costuming, and the remaining four in any area.

Transfer students with concentrations should complete the following number of THPs based on their transfer standing: 6 for sophomores, 4 for juniors, and 2 for seniors. The areas in which these THPs are completed should be determined with an advisor.

Performance Concentration

Choose three from the following:

  • THR 226 – Movement for Theater
  • THR 350 – Voice for Stage, Speech, and Screen
  • THR 355 – Performing Shakespeare
  • THR 365 – Advanced Acting

Design/Technical Concentration

Choose three from the following:

  • THR/FLM 230 – Scenic Painting
  • THR 275 – Lighting and Sound for the Stage
  • THR 280 – Costumes and Makeup for Performance
  • THR 285 – Scenery Design

Directing/Dramaturgy/Playwriting Concentration

Choose three from the following:

  • THR/ENL 325 – Playwriting I
  • THR/ENL 326 – Playwriting II
  • THR 366 – Stage Direction
  • THR 367 – New Methodologies of Stage Direction & Dramaturgy
  • PWC 300 – Playwriting
  • PWC 310 – Topics in Playwriting
  • PWC 320 – Writing for Television
  • PWC 330 – Writing for Digital Media

Theater Minor

Any five courses offered in Theater or listed above under Theater major electives. The Theater minor requires three Theater Practicum Units (THPs) in any area.

Musical Theater Minor

Choose five from the following:

THR 232 – Acting

THR/MUS 235 – Skills of Musical Theater

THR 237 – Dance for Musical Theater

THR 255 – Introduction to Musical Theater

THR 365 – Advanced Acting

MUE 294 – Opera Workshop

 

Three theater practicum units (THPs) in any area.

Curricular Planning Information

First-years planning to major in Theater 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, 229, 230, 235, 237, 245, 255, 270, 275, 280, 295, 325, 361, and 362. Theater majors who are juniors or seniors may take THR 326, 350, 361, 362, 365, 366, 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 complete a substantial independent project of honors quality within the major. Honors candidates should meet with their departmental mentor during the spring semester of their junior year to develop a proposal for the honors project to be submitted by mid-April. The Theater Department will assign an honors project advisor to students submitting successful proposals.

Transfer Students

Transfer students should meet with a transfer advisor 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 courses at Augsburg. Students pursuing one of the three theater concentrations should complete eight practicum units to fulfill their major requirements. Students transferring with sophomore standing should complete a minimum of six practicum units within the department. Students transferring with junior standing should complete a minimum of four practicum units within the department.

Theater Practicum Units

Theater Practicum Units (THPs) involve practicum teaching and learning in the context of play productions and are required for the Theater Majors/Minors. Theater majors and minors will register for THPs and the THPs are taken for no credit with pass/no credit grading. Evaluation by the faculty mentor will be based on: 1) Successful and timely completion of the practicum area for which the student is registered; 2) Positive and professional attitude and work ethic demonstrated by the student; and 3) Demonstrated competency in the practicum area. The positive evaluation of each of the areas must be sufficient enough to lead to a minimum grade of C- in order to receive a P grade.

Theater Practicum Units require:

  • Consent and signature of instructor
  • Supervision by Theater faculty
  • A minimum of 25 hours of assessed participation by the student
  • Registration for THP in the semester the practicum is completed
  • THP course registration must meet the Registrar’s Office deadlines

Please Note:

  • THPs may be repeated
  • Crew work required for classes/coursework does not count toward practicum credits
  • Student employment hours do not count towards practicum credit

3 THP credits are given for large stage management projects and 2 THP credits are given for small stage management projects because of the extraordinary amount of time required of the student.

 

Theater Major THP (Theater Practicum Units) Requirements for Major, Minor, and Transfer students:

  • Theater majors without a concentration are required to complete 4 THPs in any area.
  • Theater majors with a concentration are required to complete 8 THP units in the following areas: 1 performance, 1 stagecraft/crew, 1 lighting, 1 costuming, and the remaining four in any area.
  • Transfer Theater majors in all three concentrations should complete the following number of THPs at Augsburg based on their transfer standing: 6 for Sophomores, 4 for Juniors, and 2 for Seniors. The areas in which these THPs are completed should be determined with an advisor.
  • All Theater minors are required to complete 3 THPs in any area.

Theater Practicum Courses – Groupings

Performance

  • THP 111/121/131/141/151 – Theater Practicum: Acting/Performance

Students who complete participation as an actor in one midterm and one final student directing project for THR 366 may be given one THP 151 credit.

Production

  • THP 112/122/132 – Theater Practicum: House Management
  • THP 113 – Theater Practicum: Sets
  • THP 123 – Theater Practicum: Costumes
  • THP 133 – Theater Practicum: Lights
  • THP 114/124/134 – Theater Practicum: Running Crew
  • THP 115/125/135 – Theater Practicum: Stage Management-Small Project
  • THP 116/126/136 – Theater Practicum: Stage Management-Large Project
  • THP 117/127/137 – Theater Practicum: Artistic

For a complete list of courses and descriptions, see the Course Description Search.