Program Overview

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Theatre Arts Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)

The Theatre Arts major at Oregon State University 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.

Program Overview

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.

Learning Outcomes

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.

Requirements

• C- or higher is required in all courses for the major with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
• Required Core courses include:
  • TA 144: PLAYREADING (take two times)
  • TA 147: INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE
  • TA 244: SCENE CRAFTS
  • TA 247: STAGE MAKEUP
  • TA 248: FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING I
  • TA 344: PLAYSCRIPT ANALYSIS
  • TA 444: THEORY AND CRITICISM OF THEATRE ARTS
• Focus Area I: Select 15 credits from the following courses
  • TA 330: HISTORY OF THE THEATRE
  • TA 331: HISTORY OF THE THEATRE
  • TA 332: HISTORY OF THE THEATRE
  • TA 360: MULTICULTURAL AMERICAN THEATRE
  • TA 401: RESEARCH
  • TA 402: INDEPENDENT STUDY
  • TA 405: READING AND CONFERENCE
  • TA 407: SEMINAR
• Focus Area II: Select 21 credits from courses in any of the following categories
  • Design and Technical Theatre
    • TA 121: ORAL INTERPRETATION I
    • TA 242: VISUAL PRINCIPLES OF THEATRE
    • TA 243: PRINCIPLES OF COSTUMING FOR THE STAGE
    • TA 245: STAGE LIGHTING
    • TA 346: SCENE AND STAGE DESIGN
    • TA 443: COSTUME DESIGN
    • TA 451: INTRODUCTION TO ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • Performance
    • TA 249: FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING II
    • TA 321: ADVANCED ORAL INTERPRETATION
    • TA 348: ADVANCED ACTING: REALISM
    • TA 349: ADVANCED ACTING: STYLES
    • TA 351: PRINCIPLES OF PLAYWRITING
    • TA 352: PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP
    • TA 354: FUNDS PLAY DIRECTION
  • Topics in Theatre Arts
    • TA 416: TOPICS IN THEATRE ARTS
  • Special Studies in Design, Technical, and Performance
    • TA 406: PROJECTS
    • TA 410: THEATRE ARTS INTERNSHIP
    • TA 408: WORKSHOP
    • TA 450: STUDIO: THEATRE ARTS
• Additional Requirements
  • Remaining Bacc Core, BA/BS Requirements and General Electives
  • Total Credits: 180

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.
• Participate in a major or minor role in a Main Stage or Lab Theatre production.

Major Code

The Major Code for the Theatre Arts Undergraduate Major is 041.

Degree Plans

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.

Theatre Arts BS

The plan of study grid for the Theatre Arts BS is as follows:

• First Year
  • Fall: TA 147, TA 247, Bacc Core: Mathematics, Bacc Core: Speech, Bacc Core
  • Winter: TA 144, CS 101, MTH 111Z, HHS 231, Bacc Core
  • Spring: TA 144, TA 244, CLA Core, WR 121Z, BS Science
• Second Year
  • Fall: TA 248, MTH 245, Bacc Core, Bacc Core, Bacc Core
  • Winter: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, CLA Core, Bacc Core, Elective
  • Spring: TA 344, Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, CLA Core, Bacc Core
• Third Year
  • Fall: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, CLA Core, Bacc Core, Bacc Core
  • Winter: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, Bacc Core, Bacc Core, Bacc Core
  • Spring: TA 444, CLA Core, Bacc Core, Elective, Elective
• Fourth Year
  • Fall: Focus Area 2, Elective, Elective, Elective, Elective
  • Winter: Focus Area 2, Elective, Elective, Elective
  • Spring: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, Elective, Elective, Elective

Theatre Arts BA

The plan of study grid for the Theatre Arts BA is as follows:

• First Year
  • Fall: TA 147, TA 247, HHS 231, Language 111, Bacc Core: Speech
  • Winter: TA 144, Language 112, Bacc Core: Mathematics, WR 121Z, Bacc Core
  • Spring: TA 144, TA 244, Language 113, CLA Core, Bacc Core
• Second Year
  • Fall: TA 248, Language 211, Bacc Core, Bacc Core, Bacc Core
  • Winter: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, Language 212, CLA Core, Bacc Core
  • Spring: TA 344, Focus Area 2, Language 213, Bacc Core, Bacc Core
• Third Year
  • Fall: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, CLA Core, Bacc Core, Bacc Core
  • Winter: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, Bacc Core, Bacc Core, Bacc Core
  • Spring: TA 444, CLA Core, Bacc Core, Elective, Elective
• Fourth Year
  • Fall: Focus Area 2, Elective, Elective, Elective
  • Winter: Focus Area 2, Elective, Elective, Elective
  • Spring: Focus Area 1, Focus Area 1, Focus Area 2, Elective, Elective

Location

This program is available at the following location: Corvallis.