Theatre Arts - Acting & Directing Track, BS

Theatre Arts Programs

Overview

The Theatre Arts program at Bowie State University offers a Bachelor of Science degree, with tracks in Acting & Directing or Dance and Movement Studies; and for non-majors, the program offers a minor in theatre arts: Acting and Directing or Dance and Movement Studies.

The rigorous program is designed to offer training through a holistic approach including historical, theoretical, and experiential studies in acting, directing, stagecraft, dance, children’s theatre, and the fundamentals of theatre research and scholarship. Students train in the will explore their own creative processes and develop analytical and artistic skills necessary for successfully entering professional theatre and for succeeding in graduate studies. The program includes continuous assessment and evaluation throughout a student’s matriculation, which is incorporated through auditioning for seasonal productions, receiving performance reviews in classes and related to production work, and ending with a capstone seminar course that requires the submission of a cumulative portfolio and performance related activities. A mid-point evaluation of potential success in the program is also included and usually occurs when approximately sixty credits are acquired. Taking advantage of the University’s location and the abundance of community and professional theatre in surrounding areas, the faculty encourages students to participate in off-campus as well as on-campus auditions, productions and applied theatre. Doing so is developing their personal visions of theatre and dance as dynamic and diverse cultural elements of any society.

Mission

The purpose of the Theatre Arts program is to offer a liberal study of the discipline and prepare students for successful entrance into various types of theatre or dance employment, as well as advanced academic study. Through mentorship, practical training, and academic rigor, the program produces graduates with a unique artistic vision, a strong work ethic, and an appreciation for theatre as a dynamic cultural force.

Program Goals

1. Cultivate innovators and social justice practitioners in the performing arts through progressive academic theatre and dance studies.
2. Build community connections and partnerships that support the program.
3. Fostering artistic growth through academic rigor and the provision of professional opportunities.
4. Develop students into artistic and civic leaders on and off campus in theatre, art and society. 

Expected Student Outcomes and Competencies

Throughout the program of study and upon graduation, student should demonstrate the ability to

1. analyze a variety of performance and dramatic texts
2. synthesize and clearly articulate the collaborative work of theatre arts by connecting its
   1. history
   2. theories
   3. performance elements
   4. production processes
   5. dramatic literature
   6. technical areas (i.e., design, build, lighting, sound, dramaturgy)
   7. use of technology
3. effectively utilize voice and body as an instrument of performance
4. market self in the business of theatre and dance
5. communicate orally, kinesthetically, and graphically the universality of theater and dance as global and cultural expressions of humans
6. lead creative endeavors, such as staged performances, inclusive of contributing to planning processes resulting in those endeavors

Program Requirements

To successfully matriculate through and graduate from Theatre Arts, majors must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete the basic requirements of the University, as published in its various documents, and demonstrate satisfactory growth within the program.
2. Earn a minimum grade of “C” in courses taken in theatre and dance; otherwise, courses in question must be repeated.
3. Throughout matriculation, develop a comprehensive portfolio, which will be evaluated at the end of 60 credits and again in the senior capstone seminar. You must pass the portfolio review to graduate.
4. Fulfill all performance and crew assignments each semester, except where specific exemptions have been approved in advance (i.e., poor grades, lengthy illnesses, emergencies).
5. During matriculation in the program, accrue a minimum of 120 hours (30 hours per semester for 4 semesters) in performance and technical crew work.
6. Participate in at least three off-campus and four on campus auditions each year (winter and summer included).
7. Annually attend departmental and outside events in the areas of visual art, music and dance. Evidence of such attendance and/or participation will be required in the portfolio.
8. Take additional course or laboratory work in any area of study or competency where fundamental weaknesses may be found.
9. Complete a Senior Capstone Project

Description of Required Portfolio Reviews and Senior Capstone​:

• Sophomore/Junior Portfolio Assessment

This assessment is completed with an advisor at the midway point to graduation to ensure that a student is appropriately gathering evidence of participation in BSU Theatre auditions, involvement in BSU Theatre productions (120* hours of involvement is required before graduation), attendance and critical responses to theatrical/dance performances on and off campus, recorded performances and clips, photography from performances, creative and scholarly writing for theatre arts, generating theatrical/dance works; students must additionally show that they are building professional and auditioning materials such as headshots, resumes, and artist statements. (*Transfer students who complete four or fewer semesters of study at BSU will have a reduced requirement in production hours. Students entering as juniors must complete 60 hours and students entering as seniors must complete 30 hours.)            

•  Senior Portfolio Assessment

This assessment is incorporated within the Senior Seminar course required of Theatre Arts students and shall confirm complete evidence of the areas initially assessed at the Sophomore/Junior level. Materials in the portfolio should be organized for review and evaluation. We recommend that materials be gathered into a web-based format, such as a professional website, to make them useful for graduating students in their transition to their professional careers beyond the purposes of a cumulative review.

• Senior Capstone Project

This project is incorporated within the Senior Seminar course required of Theatre Arts students and shall demonstrate a student’s mastery of completing a significant creative, performative, or scholarly project in Theatre Arts. Capstone projects require participating in proposal, planning, researching, and execution activities, which may vary depending on a student’s specific project, but which must meet the guidelines and expectations established in the Senior Seminar course.

Acting & Directing Requirements (38 credits)

• THEA 261 - Stage Management 3 Credits
• THEA 304 - Children’s Theatre 3 Credits
• THEA 306 - Acting III (Realism) 3 Credits
• THEA 308 - Oral Training for the Actor 3 Credits
• THEA 407 - Play Directing I 3 Credits
• THEA 408 - Play Directing II 3 Credits
• THEA 410 - African American Performance and Theatre History 3 Credits

• or

• VCDM 408 - Visual Culture 3 Credits

• or

• MUSC 345 - Black American Music 3 Credits

• or

• MUSC 409 - Contemporary Black Music 3 Credits

•  

• Two of the following: 

• THEA 422 - Playwriting II 2 Credits
• VCDM 410 - Hip-Hop Studio 3 Credits
• VCDM 407 - African American Cinema 3 Credits

•  

• • One THEA  - Elective 3 Credits (200 or above): ​THEA 208 (Singing for the Stage), THEA 215 (Survey of Theatrical Music), THEA 250 (Modern Dance Innovations), THEA 300 (Choreography), THEA 307 (Creative Dramatics), THEA 310 (Acting for the Camera), THEA 315 (Global Dance), THEA 320 (Experimental Theatre), THEA 322 (Costume Design I), THEA 371 (Technical Production), THEA 406 (Acting IV: Musical Theatre), THEA 411 (Contemporary American Drama), THEA 421 (Playwriting I), THEA 441 (Scene Design), or THEA 499 (Independent Studio)

 

• One THEA - Elective 3 Credits (300 or above): THEA 300 (Choreography), THEA 307 (Creative Dramatics), THEA 310 (Acting for the Camera), THEA 315 (Global Dance), THEA 320 (Experimental Theatre), THEA 322 (Costume Design I), THEA 371 (Technical Production), THEA 406 (Acting IV: Musical Theatre), THEA 411 (Contemporary American Drama), THEA 421 (Playwriting I), THEA 441 (Scene Design), THEA 499 (Independent Study)

 

• One THEA  - Elective 3 Credits (400 or above): THEA 406 (Acting IV: Musical Theatre), THEA 411 (Contemporary American Drama), THEA 421 (Playwriting I), THEA 441 (Scene Design), THEA 499 (Independent Study)

 

• One FPA - Free Elective 2 Credits: ​ART 101 (2D-Design), ART 102 (3D-Design), ART 200 (African Art: Past and Present), MUSA 105 (University Choir), MUSA 106 (University Choir), MUSA 107 (Concert Band), MUSA 108 (Concert Band), MUSA 119 (Marching Band), MUSA 120 (Marching Band), MUSC 110 (Introduction to Electronic Music), MUSC 341 (Music of the African Diaspora), MUSC 345 (Black American Music), THEA 123 (Fundamentals of Modern Dance), THEA 105 (Introduction to Theatre), THEA 301 (Play Production), THEA 302 (Play Production) THEA 401 (Play Production), THEA 402 (Play Production), THEA 499 (Independent Study), VCDM 230 (Introduction to Computer Graphics), VCDM 360 (Digital Cinematography I), VCDM 370 (Screen Writing), VCDM 394 (History of Animation), VCDM 408 (Visual Culture) VCDM 407 (African American Cinema), VCDM 410 (Hip Hop Studio)

 

All Fine Arts, Theatre Arts and VCDMA majors in the DFPA must pass all major courses (ART, ENGL, VCDM, THEA, COMM, MGMT, MKTG, MUSC & THEA as applicable) w/grade of “C” or better; maintain a 2.0 GPA in major

 

 

Acting/Directing Sample 4-Year Plan