TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Bulletin 1996-1998
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School of Communications and Theater
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
THEATER
Robert Hedley, Chair
Jan Silverman, Undergraduate Adviser
(215) 204-6840
The objective of the undergraduate curriculum in theater is to introduce students to the broad view of the theater as an important cultural institution and at the same time provide the opportunity to develop creative, cognitive, and communication skills.
Specifically, we aim to:
- offer essential training in theater and the related arts so that the student is prepared for further training and/or experience at the graduate and/or professional levels;
- provide the opportunity for the student to develop as high a level of cognitive and communications (reading, writing, speaking, movement) skills as the individual's own capacities permit;
- provide through the production program an arena for optimum development of social and living skills; and
- cultivate the enlargement of interests to the end that the students' potential for achievement, life enjoyment, and responsibility to a democratic and diverse society is vastly extended.
These objectives are facilitated by the University requirement that all undergraduate students complete a common Core of approximately 36 credits in addition to their major area. Further, the department requires study in one subject outside of theater to further encourage the enlargement of the student's interests.
In addition to the intensive classes in all disciplines, the department encourages workshop productions done by students, faculty, or staff. These opportunities augment participation in major productions and are a natural extension of classroom work.
The student's curriculum is intended to balance work within the Department of Theater and work in broad areas of education outside the department with practical experience in the many phases of theater production. The successful student can leave the program with a background of basic skills and information as well as practical experience in the theatrical discipline. The theater major provides an excellent educational opportunity for students, regardless of career objectives.
Faculty Advising
Advising is an important part of the education of students in Theater. Majors are first assigned to the Academic Advising Center and later to a faculty adviser. Students are encouraged to consult their adviser on academic matters, production experiences, and career objectives.
Requirements for the Degree
The Bachelor of Arts degree in theater is organized to provide theater core courses which each entering class takes together throughout their four year program and emphasis areas which can be selected.
The degree will be awarded to students who have met the following requirements:
- Graduation requirements of Temple University, including successful completion of the University Core Curriculum.
- Completion of the following required theater core courses with a grade of ³C² or better in each course:
Theater Core Courses
- 0119 Creativity: Basic 3 s.h.
- C110 Theater, the Collaborative Art 3 s.h.
- 0011 Introduction to Theater Process 3 s.h.
- 0027 Introduction to Acting 3 s.h.
- 0041 Technical Theater Production 3 s.h.
- 0243 Principles of Design 3 s.h.
- W303 The Classical Tradition 3 s.h.
- W304 The Romantic Tradition 3 s.h.
- 0305 Modern Directions 3 s.h.
- 0307 Seminar in Drama 3 s.h.
- 0335 Introduction to the Director's Art 3 s.h.
- 0100 Production Practicum (1 s.h. each semester the student is enrolled as a major) Up to 8 s.h.
- One course in art history (may also
satisfy the University Core Curriculum
Arts requirement) 3 s.h.
- One course in non-dramatic
literature 3 s.h.
- Exploratory concentration 12-16 s.h.
Four (3-4 s.h.) courses in any one department or four (3-4 s.h.) courses which constitute an interdisciplinary study planned with the student's adviser and approved by the Chair of the Department of Theater. The concentration may include the required course in art history or the required course in non-dramatic literature and one of the courses elected to satisfy the University Core Curriculum, except Composition C050.
- Completion of a minimum of 63 s.h. outside of theater.
- No more than 20 credits of work in the major field may be transferred from another institution.
- All theater majors must pass the placement tests in English and mathematics. A student who fails any one of these tests must successfully complete the required ELECT and mathematics course(s). Students must fulfill the library workbook requirement.
Suggested four-year course plans for the student entering with no high school deficiencies and passing the placement tests in English and mathematics:
General Theater Studies
First Year
First Semester
- 0119 Creativity: Basic
- C110 Theater, the Collaborative Art
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Composition C050 or R050 (Core)
- Mathematics A (Core)
- Elective
Second Semester
- 0027 Introduction to Acting
- 0011 Introduction to the Theater Process
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Intellectual Heritage X051 (Core)
- American Culture (Core)
- Mathematics B (Core)
Second Year
First Semester
- 0041 Technical Theater Production
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Theater or other elective
- Intellectual Heritage X052 (Core)
- Science A (Core)
- Elective
Second Semester
- 0243 Principles of Design
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Theater or other elective
- Theater or other elective
- Science B (Core)
- Art History (Theater Core)
Third Year
First Semester
- W303 The Classical Tradition
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Theater or other elective
- Language or International Studies (Core)
- Individual and Society (Core)
- Exploratory Concentration
Second Semester
- W304 The Romantic Tradition
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Theater or other elective
- Non-Dramatic Literature (Theater Core)
- Language or International Studies (Core)
- Exploratory Concentration
Fourth Year
First Semester
- 0305 Modern Directions
- 0335 Introduction to the Director's Art
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Exploratory Concentration
- Theater or other elective
- Elective
Second Semester
- 0307 Seminar in Drama
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Theater or other elective
- Exploratory Concentration
- Elective
- Elective
Acting Emphasis
First Year
First Semester
- 0119 Creativity: Basic
- C110 Theater, the Collaborative Art
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Composition C050 or R050 (Core)
- Mathematics A (Core)
- Elective
Second Semester
- 0027 Introduction to Acting
- 0011 Introduction to the Theater Process
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Intellectual Heritage X051 (Core)
- American Culture (Core)
- Mathematics B (Core)
Second Year
First Semester
- 0121 Voice and the Actor
- 0041 Technical Theater Production
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Intellectual Heritage X052 (Core)
- Science A (Core)
- Elective or Exploratory Concentration
Second Semester
- 0123 Basic Movement
- 0126 Basic Acting Technique
- 0243 Principles of Design
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Science B (Core)
- Art History (Theater Core)
Third Year
First Semester
- 0127 Speech for the Actor
- 0328 Stage Combat
- W303 The Classical Tradition
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Individual and Society (Core)
- Language or International Studies (Core)
Second Semester
- 0225 Intermediate Acting
- W304 The Romantic Tradition
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Non-Dramatic Literature (Theater Core)
- Language or International Studies (Core)
- Exploratory Concentration
Fourth Year
First Semester
- 0325 Advanced Acting
- 0305 Modern Directions
- 0335 Introduction to the Director's Art
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Exploratory Concentration
- Electives
Second Semester
- 0329 Theater as a Profession
- 0307 Seminar in Drama
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Exploratory Concentration
- Elective
- Elective
Design Emphasis
First Year
First Semester
- 0119 Creativity: Basic
- C110 Theater, the Collaborative Art
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Composition C050 or R050 (Core)
- Mathematics A (Core)
- Elective
Second Semester
- 0041 Technical Theater Production
- 0011 Introduction to the Theater Process
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Intellectual Heritage X051 (Core)
- American Culture (Core)
- Mathematics B (Core)
Second Year
First Semester
- 0025 Basic Acting
- 0100 Production Practicum
- 0351 Introduction to Lighting or
0373 Drawing and Rendering
- Intellectual Heritage X052 (Core)
- Science A (Core)
- Individual and Society (Core)
Second Semester
- 0243 Principles of Design
- 0352 Lighting Design I or
0378 Scene Design I or
0360 Costume Design I
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Theater or other elective
- Science B (Core)
- Art History (Theater Core)
Third Year
First semester
- W303 The Classical Tradition
- 0100 Production Practicum
- 0341 Technical Direction for the Theater or
0351 Introduction to Lighting Design or
0367 Costume Production and 0363 History of Costume
- Language or International Studies (Core)
Second Semester
- 0378 Scene Design I or
0352 Lighting Design I or
0368 Draping and Flat Pattern Drafting
- W304 The Romantic Tradition
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Non-Dramatic Literature (Theater Core)
- Language or International Studies (Core)
- Exploratory Concentration
Fourth Year
First Semester
- 0353 Lighting Design II or
0379 Scene Design II or
0361 Costume Design II
- 0305 Modern Directions
- 0335 Introduction to the Director's Art
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Exploratory Concentration
- Elective
Second Semester
- 0307 Seminar in Drama
- 0100 Production Practicum
- Theater or other elective
- Exploratory Concentration
- Exploratory Concentration
- Elective
Requirements for the
Minor in Theater
Required courses
- Theater: The Collaborative Art
- Introduction to the Theater Process
- Production Practicum (two semesters):
- Classical Tradition or Romantic Tradition or Modern Directions
- Plus three courses from the selection below for a total of 20 s.h.
The minor course studies should be developed with an adviser in the Department of Theater.
Additional courses for students interested in theater history and literature
- Classical Tradition
- Modern Directions
- History of Modern Scene Design
- Romantic Tradition
- Seminar in Drama
- History of Costume and Architectural Decor
Additional courses for students interested in theater performance
- Acting for Non-Majors
- Basic Acting II
- Basic Acting Technique
- Intermediate Acting
- Advanced Acting
- Voice and the Actor
- Basic Movement
- Voice/Speech for the Actor
- Movement for the Actor
Additional courses for students interested in theater design and technology
- Technical Theater Production
- Scene Painting
- Lighting for the Theater
- Costume Design I and II
- Technical Direction for the Theater
- Principles of Design
- Drawing and Rendering Technique
- Lighting Design I and II
- Scene Design I and II
Additional courses for students interested in theater producing/directing
- Technical Theater Production
- Stage Management
- Directing Practicum
- Acting for Non-Majors
- Introduction to the Director's Art
- Principles of Design
Transfer credits are not accepted for credit for the minor in theater. Students must
receive the permission of their adviser before starting in this program. Once the minor has been approved, students must follow the academic rules of the Department of Theater for all theater courses. Minor credit is not given for theater grades below C. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in the minor. Students with theater averages under 2.0 for more than two semesters will be dropped from the program. Students with averages under 2.0 may not begin the program.
Return to the list of programs.
This web version written by Mary England 8/96
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