Major Requirements

The theater major is an integrated program of study, and each student develops an acquaintance with the art that is both broad and deep. The major, then, would not be appropriate for a student who wants to focus entirely on only one aspect of theater. Students with strong interest in both theater and other fields of study may find it worthwhile to plan a double major; in the past, theater majors have completed double majors in combination with many other departments and programs. Such an option requires careful planning but offers attractive possibilities for maximizing the benefits of Wesleyan's broad curriculum.

Each theater major selects an adviser from among the department faculty.

Requirements: The departmental requirements for the major are designed to ensure that students will have:

1. a broad overview of the field
2. a knowledge of many of its important traditions, basic literatures, and theoretical principles
3. an orientation to production practices in a variety of technical areas
4. experience in performing
5. a more advanced level of expertise in a least one of the theater sub-disciplines.

The following courses, or their direct equivalents, are required:

• THEA105 Basic Production Techniques
• THEA280 Script Analysis
• One course in theater design
• Two courses in theater history (normally THEA301 and THEA302; they do not need to be taken in sequence)
• One course in acting (normally THEA 245 )
• Two courses in dramatic literature, theory, criticism, and ethnography  in addition to the two courses in theater history
• One credit of Intermediate Technical Theater Practice (earned in .25 and .50 credit increments)
• Advanced practice or project (at least one credit, total earned after declaring major)
• A total of nine credits over the 200 level are required for the major, at least five of which must be earned within the Theater Department. No more than two credits earned in any single other program may be counted.

Honors in theater: Theater majors wishing to be considered for a degree with honors in theater must propose a project that will consist of either (1) a practical production-oriented unit of work in acting, directing, designing, or technical theater, accompanied by a thoughtful written essay or (2) a thesis in theater history, theory, or criticism, etc., equivalent to two credits of work. Proposals are submitted in the spring semester of the Junior year. The honors essay must be a substantial piece of expository writing and may take many possible formats. It comprises at least 30 pages of original text in addition to quotations, bibliography, and other apparatus. The thesis in history, theory, or criticism is proportionately longer.

The project and essay, or thesis, is evaluated by a committee consisting of the student's adviser, another member of the theater faculty, and a reader from the faculty of another department. High honors may only be awarded by vote of the department faculty. See pages 11-16 of the Theater Department Handbook for details.