Our goal in the School of Theatre is to provide you with in-depth educational opportunities, both in the classroom and in our extensive production program.

Major in Theatre

Major Sequences

As a Theatre major you will pursue a specialized sequence in Acting, Dance, Dance Education, Design/Production, or Theatre Education. You can also opt to take the more broadly-based Theatre Studies sequence that features a nine-hour concentration in any of these areas:

Cinema Studies
Directing
Theatre History
Theatre Management
Creative Drama
Arts Technology

Theatre majors in all sequences take a broad-based core of classes and are encouraged to explore many aspects of this rich and varied art form. At the School of Theatre, we firmly believe that well-rounded and well-educated Theatre students not only become more creative artists but also substantially increase their chances for success in the professional world.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

As a Theatre or Dance major at Illinois State University you may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The major requirements for both degrees are the same. The B.A., however, requires that you complete three semesters of college-level foreign language courses. The B.S. degree requires a General Education Statistics course and an additional Mathematics, Science or Technology course.

The School of Theatre does not offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. We feel, however, that our programs provide the equivalent of B.F.A. training with the added advantage of a comprehensive liberal arts education.

Minors

Theatre
Dance Performance
Dance Education
Cinema Studies
Theatre Education

Minors in the School of Theatre are open to all Illinois State University students in good standing. To enroll in an education-sequence minor (Dance Education or Theatre Education) a student must first be enrolled in an education-sequence major.

Auditions and Scholarship Interviews

The major sequences in Acting, Dance and Dance Education require an audition for admittance. The Design/Production sequence requires a Portfolio Review for admittance. Your review or audition also counts as your departmental scholarship interview.

Students who wish to major in Theatre Education or Theatre Studies may simply declare that major on admittance to Illinois State University. An interview is required, however, for all students seeking departmental scholarship consideration. For School of Theatre guidelines, please visit Audition, Portfolio Review, & Scholarship Interview Guidelines.

Musical Theatre

The School of Music administers the Musical Theatre major, which is designed for students who wish to incorporate courses and production work in Music, Dance and Theatre into a single major emphasizing vocal performance for the stage. Musical Theatre is sometimes described as a major for "singers who also want to act"; the major requires four Acting courses, compared to the nine required Acting courses for Acting majors. For more information on this major please contact the School of Music.

Arts Technology

The major in Arts Technology is an interdisciplinary program within the College of Fine Arts. This major combines courses from Art, Music and Theatre and emphasizes the theory, design and application of computer technologies to the fine arts. For more information on this major, please visit the Arts Technology Web site.

Multidisciplinary Programs

In order to increase your breadth of experience—and your future employability—students pursuing a degree in Theatre Education or Dance Education are required to complete an education-sequence minor in another discipline. A typical major-minor combination would be a Theatre Education major and an English Education minor or a Dance Education major combined with a minor in Theatre Education or Physical Education.

Accreditation

The Illinois State University School of Theatre is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and is a member of the University/Resident Theatre Association.