Susquehanna University
BA in Theatre Studies

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 Studies provides students with a comprehensive understanding of theatre's role in society and its evolution over time. This programme emphasizes practical skills alongside critical analysis, ensuring graduates engage effectively with theatre practices and theories. Students will explore various forms of performance and develop their creativity through hands-on experiences in production and performance.

Career Outcomes : Graduates can pursue careers in fields like theatre production, direction, and playwriting. Opportunities also exist in arts management, education, and community arts initiatives. This degree lays a strong foundation for those interested in both the creative and administrative aspects of the theatre industry.

Education and innovation take the stage together

If you want theatre as the cornerstone of your undergrad experience, this academically rigorous, broad-based course of study is for you!

Connect fresh audiences to the power of theatre and re-invigorate seasoned participants with new works and exciting approaches to well-known plays.

Learn about theatrical theories, best practices, historical challenges, and the great artists and thinkers of yesterday who make today’s performances meaningful.

Classes range from acting to production and design courses. Combined with history and dramaturgical work, you’ll have a better understanding of human communication, culture, and the place theatre has in the world.

Follow your own path

Combining general theatre studies with your focused area of interest will help you prepare for graduate school or jobs in theatre outreach, education, and audience development. Adding one of our interdisciplinary minors, like women and gender studies and arts administration, help you gain a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.

Our students intern around the country in preparation for their professional careers-careers that have included work with The Blue Man Group, Playwrights Horizons, the Utah Opera Festival, and Walnut Street Theatre.

With more flexibility than the performance and production majors, theatre studies students take acting classes and perform, help manage the nuts and bolts of production, and publicize exciting new plays to the greater community while digging deep into the stories that make theatre important. Careers in dramaturgy, literary management, casting, patron services, or education await the student who chooses theatre studies.

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 Three: Theatre Studies Emphasis

4 THEA-254 African-American Theatre History
2 THEA-502 Dramaturgy
4 THEA-246 Theatrical Design Fundamentals
4 THEA-200 Introduction to Dramatic Literature or THEA-240 Theatre and Violence.
4 4 semester hours chosen from THEA-200 Introduction to Dramatic Literature or THEA-240 Theatre and Violence

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: