Degrees

General Theatre Core Courses

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Theatre Arts must complete a total of 39 semester hours of theatre study in addition to the University General Education requirements. The course requirements for the Theatre Arts major are detailed below. 

The comprehensive scope of these courses allows students the opportunity to explore the primary areas of theatre including performance, design, production, and producing as well as history and dramatic literature.

An important part your theatre studies at Bradley University is your exploration of theatre history and dramatic literature. The Department of Theatre Arts has had a long history of offering a comprehensive study in this area.Your knowledge of these key areas will inform all your work in theatre - from acting to designing.

In addition to the three-class sequence of History of Theatre & Drama (THE 336, 337, 338) which chronologically explores the topic from antiquity to the present day, students take courses that expand the breadth of their understanding of theory, history, dramatic literature, and the understanding of their significance of to the art form. Introduction to the Theatre (THE 131) offers a comprehensive view of the art of theatre, the role of the artists in the collaborative process, and a brief overview of the major historical periods and theories. Creative Processes (THE121) is an in depth study of dramatic literature through script analysis, a first exploration into the major theories of drama as well as an introduction into global theatre and the collaborative process. Finally, Global Encounters in Theatre (THE 439) engages you in the study of non-western forms of theatre, directly related to our mission to explore global traditions of theatre.

To support the production program, Theatre Arts majors are enroll in 3 hours of Practicum (THE 107, 108, 207, 208, 307, 308, 407, and 408) during their time at Bradley. These courses are a laboratory where you apply skills learned in the classroom to practical problems. Individuals are assigned to one (1) production a semester and rotate through the various crews and studios to enhance their practical theatre experiences. Each section of Practicum is .5 credit hours so majors are required to enroll in a section each semester they are in residence on campus. This allows you to spread their practicum assignments over six semesters, thereby giving them more time in a semester to successfully complete academic requirements for their other courses as well as participate in Study Abroad opportunities without having to double up on Practicum assignments. Multiple sections are offered each semester to allow for flexibility in scheduling shop hours. Transfer students are evaluated on an individual basis and given waivers for Practicum as needed to insure they graduate in a timely manner. Students can also petition to have major performance roles cover up to 1 credit hour of Practicum. Offering Practicum in this way gives students more opportunity for leadership roles in the production process.