Susquehanna University
BA in Theatre Performance

Selinsgrove, USA

DEGREE TYPE

DURATION

4 years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

EARLIEST START DATE

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

* November 1 — Early Action 1. November 15 — Early Decision. December 1 — Early Action 2. February 1 — Regular Decision admission application deadline; late applications welcome as space permits. March 1 — International Students

Key Summary

About : The BA in Theatre Performance provides students with comprehensive training in acting, directing, and production. Through practical workshops and performances, students hone their artistic skills and gain insights into the theatre industry. The program encourages collaboration and creativity, equipping graduates to pursue a variety of careers in the performing arts.

Career Outcomes : Graduates may explore careers in theatre, film, television, or education. Opportunities include roles as actors, directors, producers, and theatre educators. The program prepares students for both performance and behind-the-scenes work, fostering versatility in the competitive arts landscape.

Perform stories that define human nature

Take center stage at Susquehanna and beyond in our theatre performance major.

You’ll grow artistically as an actor. From the critical analysis of dramatic literature to authentic and powerful acting on stage, you’ll develop your craft beyond what you thought possible.

Explore characters that force you out of your comfort zone and learn something about yourself in the process. You’ll focus on the tools you need to improve your acting. Our intensive acting classes are supported by coursework in theatre history and dramatic theory, enhancing your performances. Adding one of our interdisciplinary minors, like arts administration and women’s studies, helps you gain a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.

In ways more broad-based than fine arts degrees, you’ll gain a better understanding of human communication and culture.

Opportunities abound

The department follows a professional model, preparing you for the environment you’ll step into after graduation. Shows are produced by developing the strength of the ensemble, which helps you build collaboration skills with your fellow theater practitioners.

Our students often begin performing on the main stage in their first semester.

There are four main stage productions each year, including a student-directed show and a major musical, and six-second stage productions
You’ll collaborate with the Department of Music on their annual opera program
We offer a second stage season-experimental, edgy, and fueled by students’ artistic desires

Our faculty will help you find the right internships in theaters across the country. You will develop your professional experience resume and build your network so you can pursue an advanced degree or employment opportunities in acting or related theater fields.

Requirements for Major

When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s), and the Academic Planning Tool.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

Susquehanna offers a major in theatre with three emphases: performance, production and design, and theatre studies. Majors complete university Central Curriculum requirements plus 52 semester hours of courses in one of the three theatre emphases. These include introductory courses and specific emphasis requirements. A grade of C- or better is required for any course to apply to the major or minor. Courses may count toward only one emphasis or minor. The department also expects theatre majors and minors to participate each semester in department theatre productions and activities supervised by department faculty.

Theatre Major Emphases

Students fulfill the university Central Curriculum requirements, participate fully in department productions and successfully complete the following courses:

24 Department Requirements

4 THEA-151 Acting Fundamentals
4 THEA-252 World Theatre 1
4 THEA-253 World Theatre 2
4 THEA-258 From Page to Stage
4 THEA-340 Stage Management and Theatre Operations
4 THEA-453 Dramatic Theory and Criticism

Students also choose one of the following options:

Option One: Performance Emphasis
Option Two: Production and Design Emphasis
Option Three: Theatre Studies Emphasis

28 Option One: Performance Emphasis

4 THEA-251 Acting II: Voice and Movement
4 THEA-351 Acting III: Period Styles
4 THEA-451 Directing
4 Four semester hours chosen from THEA-101 The Fall Musical, THEA-102 Student-directed Production, THEA-103 Acting Workshop, THEA-104 Advanced Acting Workshop, and THEA-105 Experimental Acting Workshop.
4 Four semester hours chosen from THEA-142 Stagecraft, THEA-143 Scenic Production, and THEA-144 Costume Technology.
8 Choose 8 semester hours from the following:
1 THEA-101 The Musical
1 THEA-102 Student-directed Production
1 THEA-103 Acting Workshop
1 THEA-104 Advanced Acting Workshop
1 THEA-105 Experimental Acting Workshop
4 THEA-152 Theatrical Design Fundamentals
4 THEA-240 Theatre and Violence
4 THEA-246 Scenic Design
4 THEA-254 African-American Theatre History
4 THEA-341 Costume Design
4 THEA-342 Stage Makeup
4 THEA-345 Lighting Design
4 THEA-452 Seminar in Theatre
- 1 THEA-101 The Musical
- 1 THEA-102 Student-directed Production
- 1 THEA-103 Acting Workshop
- 1 THEA-104 Advanced Acting Workshop
- 1 THEA-105 Experimental Acting Workshop
- 4 THEA-152 Theatrical Design Fundamentals
- 4 THEA-240 Theatre and Violence
- 4 THEA-246 Scenic Design
- 4 THEA-254 African-American Theatre History
- 4 THEA-341 Costume Design
- 4 THEA-342 Stage Makeup
- 4 THEA-345 Lighting Design
- 4 THEA-452 Seminar in Theatre

14 Electives

The remaining 14 semester hours may be chosen from the courses below:

4 THEA-142 Stagecraft or THEA-143 Scenic Production or THEA-144 Costume Technology
4 THEA-246 Scenic Design or THEA-345 Lighting Design
4 THEA-342 Stage Makeup or THEA-341 Costume Design
4 THEA-251 Acting II: Voice and Movement
4 THEA-260 The Choreopoem
4 THEA-451 Directing
4 THEA-452 Seminar in Theatre (repeatable once with department head approval)
1 THEA-502 Dramaturgy (repeatable once)
1 THEA-501 Production Lab (repeatable once)

No more than 4 semester hours from the following may be included: