Advising Students in Theatre & Dance

Considerations for Students Intending to Major in the Arts

Theatre and Dance Department Pre-requisites and Pre-registration

Most courses in Theatre and Dance require pre-requisites and pre-registration. Two weeks prior to registration, the Department holds an open majors meeting where any students interested in taking theatre courses in the coming semester, may sign up. Students who cannot attend the meeting are urged to contact the appropriate professor or Rosemary McLaughlin, the chair of the Theatre and Dance Department, to have their names added to the course lists. Pre-registration does not guarantee a space in a class. When demand for a given class exceeds spaces available, priority will generally be given on the basis of year (from senior to first year) and academic commitment (major—minor—non-major).

Students intending to major in theatre are strongly advised in their first year to take the following courses which are required before taking most intermediate and advanced classes in all disciplines.

• THEA 101 (formerly 15) Art Of The Play
• THEA 120 (formerly 25) Into to Theatre Tech
• THEA 135 (formerly 35) Intro To Acting And Directing

While some (THEA 101 (formerly 15), THEA 120 (formerly 25), THEA 135 (formerly 35), THEA 220 (formerly 26) Design, THEA 255 (formerly 55) Playwriting) are offered every semester, most courses are offered only in the fall or spring semester, and some in alternate years. Certain classes must be taken in sequence. Theatre History, for example, has three components: 210 (formerly 109), 310 (formerly110) and 311 (formerly 111).  Those interested in doing the London semester and/or directing a show need to pay special attention to when courses are offered.

In the Fall of Sophomore  year, students are strongly advised to take:

• THEA 210 (formerly109 ) Theatre History I
• THEA 220 (formerly 26) Intro to Design

In the Spring, those interested in directing should take

• THEA 245 (formerly 45) Intermediate Directing

Students interested in choreography are advised to begin by taking

• DAN 101 (formerly 2) Beginning/Intermediate Movement Studies or
• DAN 201 (formerly 62) Intermediate Movement Studies prior to taking
• DAN 322 (formerly 123) Choreography and Performance Studies

First year (and upper level) students involved in production work may register for Theatre Practice courses:

• THEA 302 – Formerly 180 – Theatre Practice: Shop Technician (0-1)
• THEA 305 – Formerly 184 – Theatre Practice: Acting (0-1)
• THEA 300 – Formerly 185 – Theatre Practice (0-2)
• THEA 303 – Formerly 186 – Theatre Practice: Design (0-1)
• THEA 304 – Formerly 187 – Theatre Practice: Stage Management (0-1)
• THEA 306 – Formerly 188 – Theatre Practice: Dance (0-1)

Students interested in any particular area of theatre are encouraged to contact the appropriate member of the faculty.