The B.A. Degree Program is designed to enrich the student’s aesthetic and intellectual needs in the areas of theatrical production, theatre history, literature and criticism, and to provide pre-professional training. As a lab for the formal training in the classroom, undergraduate students are required to participate in Department-sponsored production activities each semester. Theatre CSUN functions as the department’s formal producing organization. Eight or more full-length productions of dramas, musicals and operas are cast, rehearsed and mounted annually by faculty, staff, students and guest artists. These productions are available for student participants on an audition basis. All aspects of the Program are carefully coordinated with the theatre curriculum.

To obtain a B.A. Degree with a Major in Theatre, a student must have at least a 2.0 GPA in all Upper Division Theatre courses (including courses transferred from other institutions and applied toward the requirements in the Major) and must have taken at least 18 units of Upper Division Theatre courses in residence. Students may not receive credit for more than 72 units of Theatre courses (including courses transferred from other institutions and applied toward the requirements in the Major). Any exceptions to this limitation must be individually approved in writing by the student’s advisor and the Department Chair before registration will be allowed.

Production Participation

All Theatre Majors are required to complete 4 Upper Division Department production participations. Completed assignments should reflect the broad spectrum of theatre production areas, including, but not limited to acting, directing, scenery, costumes, properties, lighting, sound, makeup, technology, management and dramaturgy. Courses that require a production assignment as part of the course (TH 339, 361A, 361B, 362A, 362B, 363A, 363B, 367, 376, 382ABC, 383, 384, 390ABC, 459, 490ABC, 498B, 498C and 498D) will fulfill the production assignment for the semester during which the course is taken. TH 391 carries no unit credit, but validates production participation associated with above courses.

1. Program Entrance Requirement (3 units)

TH 110 Introduction to Theatre: Text, Drama, Performance (3)

2. Lower Division Required Courses (19 units)

TH 108A Acting I: Fundamentals (2)
TH 142M Theatre Movement I (2)
TH 143V Theatre Voice and Speech I (2)
TH 155 Color and Design for the Theatre (2)
TH 208A Acting II: Character and Text (2)
TH 222 Mapping World Theatre and Drama (3)

Choose 6 units from the following:

Note: Course work in this section must include 2 corequisite production participation activities

TH 261/A Fundamentals of Scenery and Properties Technology (2/1)
TH 262/A Fundamentals of Costume Technology (2/1)
TH 263/A Fundamentals of Lighting and Sound Technology (2/1)

3. Upper Division Required Courses (31 units)

TH 321A World Theatre and Drama I (3)
TH 321B World Theatre and Drama II (3)
TH 350 Cultural and Historical Perspectives for Theatre (3)
TH 381 Management Techniques for the Theatre (2)
TH 391 Production Practicum (0-0-0-0)
TH 444 Principles of Directing (3)

Choose a minimum of 3 units from the following:

TH 355 Principles of Stage Design (2)
TH 361A Intermediate Scenery and Properties Technology (2)
TH 361B Intermediate Scenic Art Techniques (2)
TH 362A Intermediate Costume Technology (2)
TH 362B Intermediate Costume Crafts (2)
TH 363A Intermediate Lighting Technology (2)
TH 363B Intermediate Sound Technology (2)
TH 367 Advanced Makeup (2)
TH 382A-C Theatre Management Practicum (1-3)

Choose 1 course from the following (3 units):

TH 422 Theatre and Drama of Greece and Rome (3)
TH 423 Theatre and Drama of the Middle Ages and Renaissance (3)
TH 424 Theatre and Drama of the 18th and 19th Centuries (3)
TH 425 Theatre and Drama of Europe and America from Naturalism to the Mid-20th Century (3)
TH 426 Contemporary Theatre and Drama of Europe and America (3)
TH 427 History of Costume (3)
TH 432 Theatre and Drama of the United States (3)
TH 433 The Musical Theatre in the United States (3)
TH 475 Theatre and Drama for Young Audiences (3)
TH 530 Theatre and Drama of Latin America (3)
TH 531 Theatre and Drama of Asia (3)
TH 535 Theatrical Theory and Criticism (3)

Upper Division Electives and/or Theatre Production Participation (12 Units)

TH 390 Theatre Production Participation (1-2-3)
or TH 490 Theatre Production Participation (1-2-3)
or Electives selected from any 300-, 400- or 500-level courses for which prerequisites have been met.

General Education

For Theatre majors, TH 110 counts for 3 units of GE in the Arts and Humanities section.

Total Units in the Major: 54

General Education Units 45 (doesn’t include TH 110)

Additional Units: 21

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120

If you would like more information about this program, please contact theatre@csun.edu.