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Department of Theatre and Dance

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Undergraduate ProgramGraduate ProgramCourse DescriptionsFaculty

 

About the Program

This department supervises the following degree programs:

        • Bachelor of Arts in Dance
        • Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts
        • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts
        • Master of Arts in Theatre Arts
        • Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts
        • Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts with a major in Theatre

The department is an accredited program of the National Association of Schools of Theatre and sponsors a major season of plays in the University Theatre, a season of student-directed plays in the Laboratory Theatre, a summer repertory season of plays, and various workshops. In addition, the Department of Theatre and Dance sponsors chapters of Alpha Psi Omega (national theatre honorary), Chi Tau Epsilon (national dance honorary), and the United States Institute of Theatre Technology.

The department is an institutional member of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, the Texas Nonprofit Theatre Inc., the Southwest Theatre and Film Association, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the United States Institute of Theatre Technology, and the American College Dance Festival Association. Back to Top

 

Undergraduate Program

Theatre productionGrades below C in required courses of theatre and dance majors and minors are not acceptable in fulfillment of degree requirements. Transfer students must complete the following minimum numbers of credit hours of major or minor courses in residence at Texas Tech: B.A. theatre majors, 15 hours; B.F.A. theatre majors, 30 hours; B.A. dance majors, 15 hours; theatre or dance minors, 6 hours.

 

Bachelor of Arts

Theatre Arts Major.The minimum number of hours required for the B.A. in Theatre Arts is 120, at least 40 of which must be at the junior and senior levels. Students seeking the B.A. degree with a major in theatre arts must complete the following requirements in addition to those required by the university and the College of Visual and Performing Arts: THA 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1301, 1303, 2302, 3105, 3303, 3304, 3305, 3308, 3309, 4300, 4302, 4308, two hours of dance, and 3 hours of theatre arts electives for a total of 43 hours.

Dance Major. Students accepted to Texas Tech University who wish to seek a B.A. degree in dance must also audition for the dance program. Auditions are held every spring semester and consist of prospective students learning and performing movement in three different technical styles; solos will not be seen. Acceptance to Texas Tech University does not ensure admission as a dance major. The minimum number of hours required for the B.A. in Dance is 120, at least 40 of which must be at the junior and senior levels. Students seeking the B.A. degree with a major in dance must complete the following requirements in addition to those required by the university and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Major Requirements: DAN 1100 (3 semesters); 4 credit hours from: 1103, 3103, 4103; 4 credit hours from: 1105, 3105, 4105; 4 credit hours from: 1109, 3109, 4109; 2 additional credit hours from: 3103, 4103, 3105, 4105, 3109, 4109; 2202; 3208; 3301; 3309; 3313; 4210; THA 3304; 6-9 credit hours from: DAN 1101, 1106, 1108, 1206, 3000, 3101, 4000, 4202, 4208, 4301; and 3 credit hours from: MUAP 1113, MUHL 3304, 3308, 3310, 4321, MUSI 2301, THA 1104, 1303, 2302, 2306, 3303, 3305, 3308, 3309, 4208, VPA 3301.

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Students seeking preprofessional training leading to a B.F. A. degree in theatre arts major in either acting or design/technology must be admitted to the B.F. A. program by audition and interview. Students usually audition for the program at the end of their third long semester and are admitted at the discretion of the faculty. Continuation in the program is dependent upon annual review and the faculty’s assessment of the student’s timely progress. Students whose progress is found unsatisfactory will be placed on programmatic probation.

Students on programmatic probation who fail to improve will be removed from the program. The minimum number of hours required for B.F.A. theatre majors is 127, at least 40 of which must be at the junior and senior levels. Note that some of the following courses must be completed before entering the B.F.A. program; students should consult staff and faculty advisors for details.

Core Theatre Requirements (39 hours)

THA 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1303, 2101, 2302, 3104, 3105, 3303, 3304, 3305, 3308, 3309, 4208, 4300, 4302, 4303.

Acting Courses (47 hours)

THA 1301, 1302, 2312, 3105 (two times additional to core), 3302, 3306, 3307, 3310, 3322, 3332. In addition, students must complete 18 hours from the following: THA 1301 (repeated), 1302 (repeated), 2306, 2312 (repeated), 3302 (repeated), 3306 (repeated), 3307 (repeated), 3322 (repeated), 3332 (repeated), 4000, 4303 (repeated), 4308; DAN 1100, 1101, 1103, 1105, 1106, 1109, 1206, 2202, 3000, 3101, 3103, 3105, 3109, 3208, 3313, 4103, 4105, 4109, 4301; MUAP (voice) 1001, 1002, 1113, 1114, 2001, 2002, 3001, 3002.

Design/Technology Courses (47 hours)

THA 2306, 3306, 3307, 4336, 4337, 4108 (twice), 4309 (twice), 4310 and 4311; ART 1303, 2304. Also 12 hours must be selected from THA 3100, 3101, 3102, 3103, 4000, 4308, 4309, 4310, 4311, 4336 (repeated), 4337 (repeated); ADM 3312; AGSM 2303; ART 1302, 1310, 2303, 2311, 3323; or PHYS 1406.

 

Theatre and Dance Minors

Students working toward one of the four minors in theatre or dance must complete a minimum of 18-22 hours. Hours applied to the minor area of study may not include courses used to fulfill requirements in the student’s major. Because each minor takes at least four long semesters to complete, students should begin the minor in theatre or dance as early as possible in their academic career. Prospective minors should meet with the theatre and dance advisor as soon as possible for course information regarding prerequisites, availability, etc. Specific course requirements are as follows:

Dance Minor. Students who wish to minor in dance must also audition for the dance program. Auditions are held every spring semester and consist of prospective students learning and performing movement in three different technique styles. Solos will not be seen. Acceptance to Texas Tech does not ensure admission as a dance minor. Students accepted as a dance minor must complete the following 18 credit hours: DAN 1100 (2 semesters); 2 credit hours from DAN 1103, 3103, 4103; 2 credit hours from DAN 1105, 3105, 4105; 2 credit hours from DAN 1109, 3109, 4109; DAN 2202; DAN 3208; DAN 3309; and DAN 3313.

Theatre Arts Minor – General. Students completing a theatre arts – general minor must complete 18 credit hours of courses, including THA 1303, 2302, 4300; 3 courses from the following with no course counted more than once: THA 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 3105, or 1 hour from any DAN course; either THA 3308 or 3309; and either THA 3303, 3304, or 3305.

Theatre Arts Minor – Acting. Students completing a theatre arts – acting minor must complete 22 credit hours, including THA 1301; THA 1302; THA 1303; THA 2302; THA 2312; THA 3105; THA 3310; and either THA 3302, 3322, or 3332.

Theatre Arts Minor – Design. Students completing a theatre arts – design minor must complete 21 credit hours, including THA 1303, 3303, 3304, 3305, 4336, and two courses from among THA 4309, 4310, and 4311.

 

Teacher Education

Students desiring all-level certification in theatre arts must include the following courses within their overall degree plan: THA 1301, 1303, 2101, 2302, 3303, 3304, 3305, 3308, 3309, 4302, and one 3-hour theatre arts elective. Students desiring secondary certification in dance must include the following courses within their overall degree plan: DAN 1100 (twice), 2202, 3103, 3105, 3109, 3208, 3301, 3309, 3313, 4103, 4105, 4109, 4210, 4301 (or VPA 3301), and THA 3304. The overall degree plan for the B.F.A. or B.A. degree in theatre arts and for the B.A. degree in dance constitutes the academic major for purposes of recommendation for teacher certification.

Curriculum Tables

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Graduate Program

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts degree in Theatre Arts requires a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate. Completion of the M.A. degree requires a thesis and a final exam.

 

Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts degree is a terminal professional degree that provides for intensive concentration in performance and pedagogy, design, playwriting, or arts administration. A minimum of 60 hours is required beyond the baccalaureate. Completion of the M.F.A. degree requires a thesis or a thesis project. In the case of performance and pedagogy and design candidates, the thesis project is based on a performance or production project accomplished during their program. In the case of playwriting candidates, the thesis is based on a script that is produced during their program.

 

Ph.D. in Fine Arts

The department participates with the faculties in art, music, and philosophy in a multidisciplinary program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Fine Arts. This degree is detailed in the catalog section that introduces the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The residence requirement for the fine arts doctoral program is fulfilled by satisfactory completion of 18 semester hours of graduate coursework during one 12-month period.

Concentrations. Doctoral students whose major area is theatre can choose two of the following fields of concentration: acting and directing; design; history, theory, and criticism; arts administration; and playwriting. Work towards the degree is both scholarly and practical, requires a minimum of 60 semester hours at the graduate level beyond the master’s degree, includes a rigorous comprehensive examination, and culminates in a dissertation requirement that allows a choice of several avenues of research.

Admission. Applicants for the Ph.D. program with the major area of theatre must have completed a master’s degree or its equivalent in theatre or a related field. Applicants must meet minimum Graduate School requirements, be recommended by the faculty, and be approved by the Graduate Committee within the college.

For admission to any graduate program in theatre, the applicant must fulfill all requirements of the Graduate School as well as departmental requirements (contact graduate advisor in the department). All incoming students must take a diagnostic examination at the start of the fall term. This will provide a basis for faculty decisions about any leveling courses that may be required and credits that may be transferred. After this examination, a degree plan must be decided upon and filed; master’s students must file during their first term and doctoral students should file before the end of the second term.

To be educated practically as well as academically, all graduate students are expected to participate actively in the department’s production program.Back to Top

 

Course Descriptions

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Faculty

Click here to view alphabetical listing of all TTU faculty and their academic credentials.

Frederick B. Christoffel, M.F.A., Chairperson

Professors: Bert, Christoffel, Marks
Associate Professors: Bilkey, Chansky, Donahue, Durham, Gelber, Merz
Assistant Professors: Bush, Duffy, Hermann, Modirzadeh
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