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theater Degree: Bachelor of Arts
The Department of Theater and Dance offers degrees on the undergraduate level: a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater, and the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater with four different emphases. Both degrees provide a strong background in theater arts and dramatic literature and ample opportunities for participation in play production and workshop activities in three campus theaters. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is designed to prepare professionally oriented students for a career in theater. Students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program pursue an emphasis in acting. The Bachelor of Arts in Theater offers students the opportunity to pursue an emphasis in Design, Directing, Playwriting or Theater Studies.
The department also offers both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the graduate level.
Bachelor of Arts
Students in the Bachelor of Arts program may focus on any one area or a combination of the areas outlined below. Many lower division requirements for all emphases are similar. Students move into more specialized courses in their area during the second year. The University also has general education requirements which must be satisfied before the completion of the degree. The major who enters the department as a freshman can complete a bachelor's degree in four years. Students who transfer to the department from another school or another UCSB department should contact the Department of Theater and Dance office before or at the time of transfer to determine the courses that will be needed to satisfy the requirements for their bachelor's degree. Students attending other schools who plan to transfer to UCSB Theater and Dance are invited to contact the Theater and Dance office for information concerning lower-division requirements that they could complete and transfer to UCSB.
Design
The Theatrical Design emphasis is a specialization for students who want intensive and practical training in theatrical design and production. Objectives include preparation for work in professional, regional and academic theatre or for entry into a M.F.A. program. Students who wish to enter the program should schedule an interview with a faculty designer where they will discuss requirements and outline an individual course of study. In addition to core theater courses, students in this program will select beginning and advanced courses in scenic, lighting, and costume design and construction along with related electives in costume history, advanced stage crafts, scene painting and theatre history.
Directing
The Directing emphasis is limited in enrollment and intended to provide serious experience of the director's function in today's theatre. Career opportunities include a sound preparation for an M.F.A. in directing, which in turn may lead to a professional career in the field, and sufficient experience to enable the student to direct on various levels, including secondary school, college and community theatre. A single course, Thtr 152, is available for major and non-major students who would like a general sense of the directorial process. [Before enrolling in Theater 152 or 152B, the student must have completed all lower-division requirements, including 29 A-B-C-D.] (see requirements for list of courses). Transfer students who enroll at the junior level may, at the discretion of the department, make up some of the prerequisites while they take the 152 series. Note: Students in the directing program are advised to take Art 1 and Music 15 for fulfillment of the general education requirement in the fine arts area.
Playwriting
The Playwriting emphasis at UCSB consists of a series of core courses open to both beginning and advanced writers. These courses focus on writing dialogue, creating characters, mastering story structure, and developing one's own original voice. In addition to courses focusing on the essentials of Playwriting, the Playwriting program also offers courses in Solo Performance and Adaptation. During the spring quarter, students have the opportunity to see their work fully produced in the UCSB New Plays Festival as part of our department's Mainstage season. For more information about how to enroll in specific Playwriting courses, please contact the Undergraduate Advisor in Theater and Dance at theaterdance-ugradadv@theaterdance.ucsb.edu.
Theater Studies
The program in dramatic literature and theory offers majors the opportunity to pursue advanced study of drama in its literary, aesthetic, social, and historical contexts. The program provides a thorough academic experience of drama as a humanistic discipline and serves as excellent preparation for graduate study or for further practical training and work in the field. In addition to the core courses, students in the programs take all six of the Dramatic Literature courses and one senior seminar. These may be supplemented with course offerings from other departments in dramatic literature in the original language or translation.
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Pentecost, 2005
| Advising |
For initial counseling, contact the department undergraduate advisor, who will also assign each student to a faculty advisor. Future counseling will be handled by the department undergraduate advisor and the faculty advisor. |
| Corwin Awards |
| In 1975, a yearly playwriting competition with cash awards was established by the late Sherrill C. Corwin, then chairman of the board of Metropolitan Theatres Corporation. Prizes are given in several categories including best full-length play, best one-act play, best full-length screen play, best short film or television script, and original choreography. Information about the competition is available from the departmental office. |
| Mask & Scroll |
Mask and Scroll is an organization representing undergraduate drama students. It sponsors theatre related activities and serves as a communication link with the department. |
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