Theatre
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Program Requirements
The BA in Theatre is an ideal degree for those who have multifaceted interests in theatre, are transfer students looking to complete a degree in a short period of time, and/or who have a passion for theatre but are unsure which area of study they want to focus their attention.
Students who apply for the BA in Theatre express interest in multiple areas which may include but are not limited to: Arts Administration, Design & Production, Directing, Dramaturgy, Performance, Playwriting, Theatre Education.
There is no formal audition for the BA in Theatre, however students interested in the degree are strongly encouraged to reach out to the Area Coordinator for more information.
Students must fulfill the Oakland University General Education Requirements, the General College of Arts and Sciences Requirements, the College of Arts & Sciences Exploratory Requirement, and the Major Requirements. Additionally, students must complete a sufficient number of free elective courses to meet the overall credit requirement for their degree. A minimum of 120 credits is required, although some degree programs may require a higher total credit count.
General Education Requirements
In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their General Education courses.
Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundations, Explorations, and Integration. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.
Requirements for the liberal arts major in Theatre, B.A.
The BA in Theatre degree is designed to be a comprehensive overview of Theatre Arts. Our theatre degree combines theoretical and hands-on theatrical training with a broad, versatile liberal education. No audition is required for this degree; however, we do ask that you please fill out an audition request form so that we can schedule a time to meet with you regarding the program. You can read more about the program here: BA Theatre Careers Page.
Requirements - Minimum of 43 credits
Only major courses in which a grade of at least C has been earned will count towards the major.
Foundation Courses
Acting Course
course Introduction to Acting (3)
Design, Production and Management Courses
History and Literature Courses
course Theatre History I (3)
Satisfies the General Education Requirement in the Arts Knowledge Exploration area.
course Theatre History II (3)
Satisfies the General Education Requirement in the Arts Knowledge Exploration area.
Theatre Studies
Choose 1 of the following courses:
Production Practica and Capstone - minimum of 4 credits
Students must complete 3 credits of Capstone coursework. All courses can be repeated.
Required Courses:
Plus 2 credits selected from:
course Performance Project (1)
course Design, Production and Management Project (1)
course Film Performance Project (1)
course Company Class (1)
*course Stage Manager Project (1)
*course Advanced Directing Project (1)
*course Advanced Performance Projects (1)
*course Advanced Design, Production and Management Project (1)
course Advanced Film Performance Project (1)
*course Dramaturgy/Assistant Director Project (1)
*course Classical Theatre Study in Greece (4)
*course Advanced Company Class (1)
*course Internship (1)
*also counts toward Capstone requirement
Theatre Elective Courses - 12 credits
Elective coursework chosen from the subject areas DAN, FLM, MUS, THA; course is excluded.
Non-Credit Requirements
Major Standing Interview
Students at the end of their second semester of study will meet with faculty to review their first year in the degree, goals, and academic interests moving forward. The student may also choose to present a performance and/or design sample of their work from the year.
Senior Interview
Students in their last semester are required to write about their experiences in the department over the course of their study-both as a student and a theatre artist. They meet with faculty to assess their growth as a scholar and artist during their time at Oakland University.
Applicable Minors
All Minors are applicable to this major with the exception of the following Minor(s): Child Welfare, International Orientation for EGR/CS, Theatre, and Sustainability Engineering.