Theatre Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Visual And Dramatic Arts and a Major Concentration in Theatre
Program Learning Outcomes for the Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a Major Concentration in Theatre
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a major concentration in Theatre, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to adapt and apply their foundational skills and knowledge in theatre design, direction, performance, sound, etc. to fulfill professionally and effectively a range of roles in an actual, hands-on, theatrical production.
- Demonstrate the ability to use critical thinking and analytical skills to analyze and evaluate a theatrical text, including being able to identify its structure and form, and to understand characters and specific scenes with the depth necessary for effective performance, scene study, and design.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in situations of performance, play analysis, and performance direction, which necessitates collaboration and communication amongst many contributing individuals.
- Understand theatre and performance broadly, and specific theatrical works or performances, within their historical, social, cultural, and political contexts.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a Major Concentration in Theatre
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Visual and Dramatic Arts must complete:
- A minimum of 11-13 courses (30-40 credit hours), depending on major concentration declared and whether or not the student is a single major or double major, to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 60 credit hours outside of major requirements.
- A minimum of 3-7 courses (9-21 credit hours), depending on major concentration declared, taken at the 300-level or above.
- A maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) of study abroad or transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- The requirements of a major concentration. When students declare the major in Visual and Dramatic Arts, students must additionally identify and declare one of three major concentrations, either in:
- Studio Art, or
- Film and Photography, or
- Theatre
It is possible for students to change their major concentration at any time, even after initially declaring the major. To do so, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Students pursuing the major concentration in Theatre are strongly encouraged to explore theatre-related courses offered in other departments that may enrich their selected major concentration, such as: philosophy, anthropology, science, history, cultural studies, language, writing, comparative studies, etc. Students should speak with their faculty advisor prior to enrolling.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor (or official certifier). Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| CODE | TITLE | CREDIT HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a major concentration in Theatre (for single majors) | 39 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a major concentration in Theatre (for double majors) 1 | 33 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts | 120 |
Degree Requirements
| CODE | TITLE | CREDIT HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Select 1 from the following: | 3 | |
| STAGE CRAFT | ||
| THEATRE TECHNOLOGY: COSTUME CONSTRUCTION | ||
| THEATRE TECHNOLOGY | ||
| THEA 300 | INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE DESIGN | 3 |
| or THEA 301 | ACTING I | |
| THEA 315 | THEATRE IN WESTERN CULTURE: A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION | 3 |
| THEA 331 | THEATRE PRODUCTION 2 | 3 |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Electives in Visual Arts, Film, Photography, or Theatre | ||
| Select 6 courses from Theatre (THEA), Studio Arts (ARTS), Photography (FOTO), or Film (FILM) course offerings. 3, 4 | 18 | |
| Electives in Dramatic or Film Theory/Criticism, Dramatic Literature, or Art History | ||
| Select 3 courses in dramatic or film theory or criticism, dramatic literature, or art history. 5 | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major and a Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a Major Concentration in Theatre (for single majors) | 39 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major and a Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a Major Concentration in Theatre (for double majors) | 33 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 81-87 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 |
Footnotes and Additional Information
* Includes coursework completed as distribution credit, FWIS, LPAP, upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), 60 hours outside of the major (if applicable), and any additional academic program requirements. The “hours outside of the major” requirement may include all of the above university requirements.
1. Double majors who drop the other major are required to meet the requirements listed for single majors.
2. THEA 331 Theatre Production - Crew. Each student must perform crew duties for at least one theatre production as part of the technical or design team.
3. Single majors may not include more than 3 courses (9 credit hours) from ARTS or FILM course offerings to satisfy this requirement.
4. Double majors must complete a total of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from Theatre (THEA), Studio Arts (ARTS), Photography (FOTO), or Film (FILM) course offerings. Double majors may not include more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) from ARTS or FILM course offerings to satisfy this requirement.
5. Elective courses that fulfill dramatic or film theory or criticism, dramatic literature, or art history should be selected in consultation with the theatre faculty advisor.
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a Major Concentration in Theatre
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: http://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in Visual and Dramatic Arts should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the major. The 2 transfer credit courses should be studio, film, photography, or theatre practice courses required for all majors.
- Transfer students who are transferring coursework from another accredited college or university should be allowed to transfer their undergraduate art courses. However, students must speak with the department chair or program advisor immediately upon transferring to Rice.
- Academic work completed in the Spring at NYU program or the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center will be accepted as transfer credit to fulfill major requirements (following university transfer credit guidelines).
- Transfer credit received via the articulation of advanced placement (AP) credit, international baccalaureate (IB) credit, or A-level credit will not be considered towards major requirements.
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.
For additional information, please see the Visual and Dramatic Arts website: https://arts.rice.edu/
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Visual and Dramatic Arts and a Major Concentration in Theatre
Suggested LPAP (Dance) Courses
Students pursuing the major concentration in Theatre are encouraged to take Lifetime Physical Activity Program (LPAP) courses to supplement and enhance their studies in theatre. Courses include (but not limited to):
| CODE | TITLE | CREDIT HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| LPAP 148 | DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY | 1 |
| LPAP 130 | CONTACT IMPROVISATION | 1 |
| LPAP 155 | INTRODUCTION TO BALLET | 1 |
| LPAP 133 | CAPOEIRA | 1 |
| LPAP 157 | JAZZ DANCE/HIP HOP | 1 |
Students should receive departmental approval and have already satisfied the LPAP graduation requirement before enrolling. Per university policy, students may not take more than four LPAP courses for credit.
ARTS 294 is recommended for students pursuing the major concentration in Theatre. The junior year field trip will be designed to help all visual and dramatic arts majors focus on the upcoming senior year of intensive work, and to get to know the Visual and Dramatic Arts faculty and staff. These are trips to cultural centers nationally and internationally, including visits to museums, galleries, artist studios, theaters, and meetings with creative professionals in the fields of film/photo, theater, and studio arts.
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Distinction in Research and Creative Work
Distinction in Research and Creative Work is a university award for select undergraduates, granted at commencement, which appears on the transcript and diploma. Students must apply within their department or program to be considered for the award, and a letter from a faculty member must support the application.
Eligibility for the award extends widely to include a variety of research, design, and other creative projects, as well as persistent dedication to research. Projects completed in part or entirely at other institutions or with community partners will be eligible for consideration.
Applicants must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 in courses completed at Rice.
Also, of further note: The award will be granted only to projects that produce a concrete outcome – e.g. an essay, invention, design, art exhibition, project or performance, or musical composition – and demonstrate commitment and/or achievement above and beyond the norm. Students who complete senior theses, senior design projects, or other required senior capstone projects shall not qualify automatically for consideration for this university distinction.
For the Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts, the application for Distinction in Research and Creative Work must include:
- application form, including portfolio;
- overall GPA of 3.30;
- a written artist statement;
- letter of support from a Visual and Dramatic Arts faculty member;
- public exhibition, screening, publication, or performance that includes a lecture or artist talk component by applicant;
- two-page description of how the project meets the requirements of Distinction.
The department requires exceptional evidence of success, as defined by completion of a project (body of artwork, film, theatrical design work, etc.). Support through the application process is available through the department – e.g. workshops, seminars and individual meetings with faculty mentors.
Contact the department or look online for deadline dates. No electronic submissions accepted. Please note that your project does not have to be already completed to apply for Distinction (all final materials will be due in Spring 2018). The department selects a very limited number of students for this university academic honor.
Exhibitions, Lectures, and Arts Programs at Rice
The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts mounts several art and photography exhibitions and stage productions each year. In addition, exhibitions and related activities organized by the Rice University Art Gallery enrich the teaching program of the Visual and Dramatic Arts department, as well as the larger university and Houston communities.
The department enjoys an ongoing close relationship with local theatres, museums, and galleries. The department offers opportunities for students to work and study with local art venues and alternative art spaces by way collaborative events and programs. The collections and exhibitions of local museums are often the subject of course lectures.
Lectures, symposia, and talks are sponsored by the department and are designed to bring local, national, and international scholars, actors, directors, critics, and studio artists to campus to speak on a broad range of topics and current interests.
Rice Film Program
Rice's film program works in concert with the Visual and Dramatic Arts department's academic mission to enrich students’ undergraduate experience. Film and media studies students are provided state-of-the-art screening facilities to examine and study the historical and methodological aspects of movies from around the world in celluloid and 4K Digital Cinema Projection with Dolby Digital Sound. Film production students can showcase their work during the academic year on our silver screen in recently renovated projection facilities.
During the academic year, Rice Cinema screens films from around the world—foreign features, shorts, documentaries, and animation—as part of our ongoing partnership with the diverse cultural communities of the City of Houston. Film at Rice reaches beyond the university’s hedges to create, engage, and encourage scholarly thought and dialog on the many issues that impact our world. Internationally known filmmakers who have appeared on our campus over the years include Werner Herzog, Rakhshan Banietemad, Atom Egoyan, Shirin Neshat, Martin Scorsese, Andy Warhol, George Lucas, and Dennis Hopper.
Rice Theatre Program
The Rice Theatre Program curriculum offers a solid foundation in all aspects of theatrical production from acting and directing to technology and design for students who wish to pursue a professional career in theatre or continue on to a graduate program. Theatre courses also are open to non-majors who want to gain a greater appreciation for the art of theatre.
There are two main-stage productions (one fall and one spring) and the possibility of two student showcases offered each year in Hamman Hall, a 450-seat proscenium theatre facility. The department invites distinguished guest artists each semester to direct and produce the two main-stage productions. Participation in productions is open to all students.
Theatre Program faculty are actively involved in professional theatre and film locally, nationally, and internationally and actively pursue opportunities to involve advanced students in that work. In addition, advanced students are encouraged to apply for internship positions whenever possible. Rice students have been accepted in competitive internships at theatres such as The Alley Theatre, Houston Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. In addition, students are encouraged to study theatre abroad and transfer course credit back to Rice. Approval for transfer credit must be sought prior to enrollment in a study-abroad program by contacting the director of the Theatre Program.
In even numbered years, the Theatre Program, sponsored by the Alan and Shirley Grob Endowment for Shakespeare in Performance, hosts the Actors From the London Stage, one of the oldest established touring Shakespeare theatre companies in the world for a week-long residency of workshops, performances, and lectures. Each tour presents a full-length play by Shakespeare performed by five classically trained actors who come from such prestigious companies as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
National Theater Institute
The National Theater Institute is the educational arm of the renowned Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. The program is designed to complement a liberal arts education with three distinct study-away programs, all offering rigorous, risk-taking theater exploration. The semester long program at the O’Neill Center in Connecticut, the NTI Moscow Art Theater semester, and the seven-week Theatermakers summer program confront the serious theater student with opportunities to discover new creative possibilities.
The National Theater Institute offers an extensive conservatory-based training program for the dedicated student. Distinguished master teaching artists guide the classes in courses in acting, directing, design, playwriting, stage combat, voice, and movement. The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts will accept academic work completed at the National Theater Institute as transfer credit to fulfill major requirements (following university transfer credit guidelines).
See https://humanities.rice.edu/student-life for tables of fellowships, prizes, and internships/practica that may be relevant to this major.