The Theatre Arts program educates students to become theatre artists and leaders in the field. Students are expected to learn about a variety of disciplines of theatre, including acting, directing, playwriting, and stagecraft. Students are encouraged to think critically, learn about themselves, explore their artistic passions, and engage in the global community.
The Theatre Arts program operates with local theatres and film production partners, as well as the other local colleges. These partnerships provide students with exciting opportunities to gain practical experience while completing their studies in a liberal arts setting. Theatre students will develop specialized knowledge and skills as artists and scholars. The program nurtures the growth of independent, responsible, creative, and well-educated theatre artists prepared to pursue the art at the graduate or professional level.
The Theatre Arts Program offers a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, or a Minor in Theatre
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to identify and understand the responsibilities of actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and technicians.
- Students will have the understanding of the complexity of the human condition. The awareness will be gained through thinking critically about the elements of dramatic texts and the elements of theatrical production.
- Students will know major movements and key theatre artists in the development of theatre.
- Students will demonstrate in writing their ability to research and think critically and creatively.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
42 Semester Credit Hours
Core Requirements
- THEA 120 – Introduction to Theatre (3)
- THEA 121 – Acting I (3)
- THEA 150 – Fundamentals of Production (3)
- THEA 330 – Directing (3)
- THEA 450 – Senior Seminar (3)
Technical Theatre Emphasis Must take 3 courses from the following:
- THEA 141 – Costuming and Make-up for the Stage (OCTC) (3)
- THEA 250 – Stage Electrics (3)
- THEA 260 – Stagecraft (3)
- THEA 320 – Stage Management (3)
- THEA 360 – Sound Design and Technology (3)
Performance Emphasis Must take 3 courses from the following:
- THEA 323 – Acting II
- THEA 423 – Acting III
- THEA 425 – Acting IV
- THEA 335 – Improv I
- THEA 421 – Improv II
- THEA 233 – Movement
- THEA 241 – Dance for Musical Theatre
Must take Applied Theatre 3 times for a minimum of 3 hours
- THEA 310 – Applied Theatre (1-3)
Must take 1 course from the following:
- DRM 381 – History of Drama (Brescia) (3)
- THEA 325 – History of Theatre (3)
Must take 1 course from the following:
- ENG 203 – Introduction to Drama (Brescia) (3)
- ENG 360 – Introduction to Shakespeare (Brescia) (3)
- ENGL 315 – Drama (3)
- THEA 230 – Playscript Analysis (3)
Must take an additional 3 courses from the following:
- BA 101 or MGT 306 – Introduction to Business OR Management Concepts (Brescia) (3)
- BA 261 – Principles of Marketing (3)
- ENGL 204 or ENG 301 – Creative Writing Survey OR Creative Writing (Brescia) (3)
- ENG 432 – Shakespeare (Brescia) (3)
- MUS 360 – History of Musical Theater (3)
- THEA 224 – Auditions (3) *
- THEA 233 – Movement (3) *
- THEA 241 – Dance for Musical Theatre (3) *
- THEA 244 – Building a Play (3)
- THEA 320 – Stage Management (3) *
- THEA 323 – Acting II (3) *
- THEA 324 – Children’s Theatre (3)
- THEA 335 – Improvisation for the Theatre I (3) *
- THEA 344 – Page to Stage Workshop (3)
- THEA 350 – Theatre Internship (3)
- THEA 360 – Sound Design and Technology (3) *
- THEA 370 – Ancient Tales and Travel: Greek and Roman Literature (3)
- THEA 390 – Backstage on Broadway: The New York City Tour (3)
- THEA 420 – Independent Study/Theatre (3)
- THEA 421 – Improvisation for the Theatre II (3) *
- THEA 423 – Acting III (3) *
- THEA 425 – Acting IV (3) *
- THEA 430 – Special Topics/Theatre (3)
*If not already taken for Emphasis Requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree
48 Semester Credit Hours
Core Requirements
- THEA 120 – Introduction to Theatre (3)
- THEA 121 – Acting I (3)
- THEA 150 – Fundamentals of Production (3)
- THEA 330 – Directing (3)
- THEA 450 – Senior Seminar (3)
Technical Theatre Emphasis Must take 3 courses from the following:
- THEA 141 – Costuming and Make-up for the Stage (OCTC) (3)
- THEA 250 – Stage Electrics (3)
- THEA 260 – Stagecraft (3)
- THEA 320 – Stage Management (3)
- THEA 360 – Sound Design and Technology (3)
Performance Emphasis Must take 3 courses from the following:
- THEA 323 – Acting II (3)
- THEA 423 – Acting III (3)
- THEA 425 – Acting IV (3)
- THEA 335 – Improv I (3)
- THEA 421 – Improv II (3)
- THEA 233 – Movement (3)
- THEA 241 – Dance for Musical Theatre (3)
- THEA 224 – Auditions (3)
THEA 323 Acting – II (3)
Must take Applied Theatre 3 times for a minimum of 3 hours
- THEA 310 – Applied Theatre (1-3)
Must take 1 course from the following:
- DRM 381 – History of Drama (Brescia) (3)
- THEA 325 – History of Theatre (3)
Must take 1 course from the following:
- ENG 203 – Introduction to Drama (Brescia) (3)
- ENG 360 – Introduction to Shakespeare (Brescia) (3)
- ENGL 315 – Drama (3)
- THEA 230 – Playscript Analysis (3)
Must take 2 of the following:
- BIO 113 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics (3)
- BIO 123 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology (3)
- PHYS 102 – Physics and the Arts (3)
- PSY 201 – Human Development (3)
- PSY 301 – Personality Theories (3)
- PSY 303 – Social Psychology (3)
- PSY 306 – Abnormal Psychology (3)
Supporting Requirements
Must take an additional 3 courses from the following:
- BA 101 or MGT 306 – Introduction to Business or Management Concepts (Brescia) (3)
- BA 261 – Principles of Marketing (3)
- ENGL 302 or ENG 301 – Creative Writing Survey or Creative Writing (Brescia), (3)
- ENG 432 – Shakespeare (Brescia) (3)
- MUS 360 – History of Musical Theatre (3)
- THEA 224 – Auditions (3)
- THEA 233 – Movement (3)
- THEA 241 – Dance for Musical Theatre (3)
- THEA 244 – Building a Play (3)
- THEA 320 – Stage Management (3)
- THEA 323 – Acting II (3)
- THEA 324 – Children’s Theatre (3)
- THEA 335 – Improvisation for the Theatre (3)
- THEA 344 – Page to State Workshop (3)
- THEA 350 – Internship (3)
- THEA 360 – Sound Design and Technology (3)
- THEA 370 – Ancient Tales and Travel: Greek and Roman Literature (3)
- THEA 390 – Backstage on Broadway: The New York City Tour (3)
- THEA 420 – Independent Study/Theatre (3)
- THEA 421 – Improvisation for the Theatre II (3)
- THEA 423 – Acting III (3)
- THEA 425 – Acting IV (3)
- THEA 430 – Special Topics (3)
Sample Four-Year Plan for BA/BS in Theatre Arts Performance Emphasis
| Year One | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. | |
| ENGL 100 | 3 | CL 101 | 1 | |
| THEA 121 | 3 | ENGL 102 | 3 | |
| THEA 310 | 1 | THEA 120 | 3 | |
| THEA 150 | 3 | Elective (Theatre) | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | |
| KW 101 | 0 | Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |||
Year Two | ||||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. | |
| THEA 323 | 3 | THEA 230 | 3 | |
| THEA 310 | 1 | THEA 335 | 3 | |
| Elective (Theatre) | 3 | Elective (Theatre) | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course Nat Science w/Lab | 4 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |||
Year Three | ||||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | |||
| THEA 310 | 1 | Spring Semester: | Hrs. | |
| THEA 325 | 3 | THEA 330 | 3 | |
| THEA 425 | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | Semester Hours | 15 | |
Year Four | ||||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. | |
| Elective (Note: for BS in Theatre replace 6 credits of electives with two | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective of these courses BIO 113, 123, PHYS 102, PSY 201, 301, 303, or 306) | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | THEA 450 | 3 | |
| THEA 310 | 1 | Semester Hours | 12 | |
| Semester Hours | 13 | Total Program Hours | 120 | |
Sample Four-Year Plan for BA/BS in Theatre Arts Technical Emphasis
| Year One | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. | |
| ENGL 100 | 3 | CL 101 | 1 | |
| THEA 121 | 3 | ENGL 102 | 3 | |
| THEA 310 | 1 | THEA 120 | 3 | |
| THEA 150 | 3 | Elective (Theatre) | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | Semester Hours | 16 | |
Year Two | ||||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | |||
| THEA 250 | 3 | Spring Semester: | Hrs. | |
| THEA 310 | 1 | THEA 230 | 3 | |
| Elective (Theatre) | 3 | THEA 360 | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | Elective (Theatre) | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course Nat Science w/Lab | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | Semester Hours | 16 | |
Year Three | ||||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. | |
| THEA 310 | 1 | THEA 330 | 3 | |
| THEA 325 | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| THEA 320 | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |||
Year Four | ||||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. | |
| Elective (Note: for BS in Theatre replace 6 credits of electives with two | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective of these courses BIO 113, 123, PHYS 102, PSY 201, 301, 303, or 306) | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | THEA 450 | 3 | |
| THEA 310 | 1 | Semester Hours | 12 | |
| Semester Hours | 13 | Total Program Hours | 120 | |
At least one course taken above must be multi-cultural or a separate multi-cultural course is required.
Brescia University (BU) Course Exchange Program
- DRM 321 – Readers Theatre (3)
- DRM 325 – Oral Interpretation (3)
- DRM 381 – History of Drama (3)
- ENG 203 – Introduction to Drama (3)
- ENG 301-4 – Creative Writing (3)
- ENG 360 – Introduction to Shakespeare (3)
- ENG 432 – Shakespeare (3)
- MGT 306 – Management Concepts (3)
- MKT 307 – Marketing Concepts (3)
Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) Courses for Theatre Exchange Program:
- THA 126 – Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (3)
- THA 141 – Costuming and Make-up for the Stage (3)
- THA 150 – Fundamentals of Production (3)
- THA 250 – Stage Electrics (3)
- THEA 260 – Stagecraft (3)
See Brescia or OCTC Course Catalogs for course descriptions.
Theatre Minor
21 Semester Credit Hours
Minor Requirements
- THEA 260 – Stagecraft (3)
- THEA 120 – Introduction to Theatre (3)
- THEA 121 – Acting I (3)
- THEA 310 – Applied Theatre (must repeat minimum (3) times) (1-3)
Pick 3 of the following supporting courses:
- BA 101 or MGT 306 – Introduction to Business OR Management Concepts (Brescia) (3)
- BA 261 – Principles of Marketing (3)
- ENGL 204 or ENG 301 – Creative Writing Survey OR Creative Writing (Brescia) (3)
- ENG 432 – Shakespeare (Brescia) (3)
- MUS 360 – History of Musical Theater (3)
- THEA 224 – Auditions (3)
- THEA 233 – Movement (3)
- THEA 241 – Dance for Musical Theatre (3)
- THEA 244 – Building a Play (3)
- THEA 320 – Stage Management (3)
- THEA 323 – Acting II (3)
- THEA 324 – Children’s Theatre (3)
- THEA 335 – Improvisation for the Theatre I (3)
- THEA 344 – Page to Stage Workshop (3)
- THEA 350 – Theatre Internship (3)
- THEA 360 – Sound Design and Technology (3)
- THEA 370 – Ancient Tales and Travel: Greek and Roman Literature (3)
- THEA 390 – Backstage on Broadway: The New York City Tour (3)
- THEA 420 – Independent Study/Theatre (3)
- THEA 421 – Improvisation for the Theatre II (3)
- THEA 423 – Acting III (3)
- THEA 425 – Acting IV (3)
- THEA 430 – Special Topics/Theatre (3)