Minor in Theatre Arts

The minor in Theatre Arts, offered through the College of Fine Arts (CFA) School of Theatre, is designed for students who want a comprehensive experience in theatrical performance, production, design, management, and dramatic literature.

Students minoring in Theatre Arts may, through coursework in the minor, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Aesthetic & Historical Interpretation; Communication; Diversity, Civic Engagement & Global Citizenship; and the Intellectual Toolkit.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the Theatre Minor program will:

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of theatre practice and its various components of directing, acting, design, and production.
• Demonstrate spoken and written critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills.

Requirements

Completion of the minor requires a 28-credit sequence of courses designed to provide students with a balanced and diverse theatre experience. The minor follows a sequence of an 11-credit theatre core, a 7-credit dramatic literature core, and 10 credits of theatre electives. Students choose a path of study depending on their own desire to explore the disciplines of performance, dramatic literature, or production/design.

Required Courses (18 cr)

Theatre Core (11 cr):

• CFA TH 101 Introduction to Aesthetics & Dramatic Literature (3 cr)
• CFA TH 102 Dramatic Literature 1: Greeks to 1850 (3 cr)
• CFA TH 120 Acting & Performance 1 (4 cr)
• CFA TH 149 Stagecraft for Theatre Minors (1 cr)

Dramatic Literature Core (7 cr):

MODERN DRAMATIC LITERATURE (CHOOSE ONE):

• CFA TH 201 Dramatic Literature 2: 1850 to 1950 (3 cr)
• CFA TH 202 Dramatic Literature 3: 1950 to 1990 (3 cr)

CLASSICAL DRAMATIC LITERATURE (CHOOSE ONE):

• CAS CL 224 Greek Drama (4 cr)
• CAS EN 363 Shakespeare I (4 cr)
• CAS EN 364 Shakespeare II (4 cr)
• CAS LR 354 Russian Theatre (4 cr)

Elective Courses (10 cr)

Theatre Minors may fulfill their 10-credit elective requirement with any combination of the courses listed below, as well as all other School of Theatre courses the student might be admitted into by permission of instructor or advisor.

Performance Electives:

• CFA TH 110 Speech Communications (4 cr)
• CFA TH 130 Movement for Theatre 1 (4 cr)
• CFA TH 140 Collaborative Theatre Ensemble (4 cr)
• CFA TH 220 Acting & Performance 2 (4 cr)
• PDP Dance and Fitness & Recreation courses

Design/Production Electives:

• CFA TH 151 Introduction to Design 1 (2 cr)
• CFA TH 152 Introduction to Design 3 (2 cr) (prereq: CFA TH 151)
• CFA TH 170 Methods of Scenic Construction (2 cr)
• CFA TH 182 Methods of Costume Construction (2 cr)
• CFA TH 194 Introduction to Stage Management (2 cr)
• CFA TH 263 Scene Design 1 (3 cr)
• CFA TH 275 Costume Design 1 (3 cr)
• CFA TH 283 Lighting Design 1 (3 cr)
• CFA TH 287 Sound Design 1 (3 cr)
• CFA TH 495 Production Management (2 cr)
• CFA TH 594 Theatre Management (2 cr)

Dramatic Literature Electives:

• CFA TH 201 Dramatic Literature 2: 1850 to 1950 (3 cr) (if not taken to fulfill Modern Dramatic Literature requirement)
• CFA TH 202 Dramatic Literature 3: 1950 to 1990 (3 cr) (if not taken to fulfill Modern Dramatic Literature requirement)
• CFA TH 401 Dramaturgical Methods & Investigations (3 cr)
• CFA TH 402 Contemporary Dramatic Literature: 1990 to Present (3 cr)
• CFA TH 505 Dramatic Criticism 1 (2 cr)
• CFA TH 506 Dramatic Criticism 2 (2 cr)
• CFA TH 555 History of Theatre 1 (2 cr)
• CFA TH 556 History of Theatre 2 (2 cr)

Experiential Electives:

Via audition/casting, or participation on an artistic or production team:

• CFA TH 197 Production (variable credit)
• CFA TH 198 Production (variable credit)
• CFA TH 248 Rehearsal & Performance 1 (variable credit)
• CFA TH 347 Rehearsal & Performance 2 (variable credit)
• CFA TH 447 Rehearsal & Performance 3 (variable credit)
• CFA TH 448 Rehearsal & Performance 4 (variable credit)

Other Sources for Elective Credit:

• International Baccalaureate or Advance Placement credits (variable)
• Theatre courses completed at an accredited college or university (variable)
• Theatre courses completed as part of a study abroad program (variable)
• Theatre-related courses offered in other Boston University schools/departments (variable)

Students wishing to apply credits toward the fulfillment of their minor in Theatre Arts via the other source options listed above must receive approval from the School of Theatre academic advisor.

With the permission of the minor advisor, students may count dramatic literature or performance-focused courses taken in other departments toward their Theatre minor.

For more information, please contact theatre@bu.edu.