Academics - Department Requirements for Degree Programs in Theatre Arts

Major in Theatre Arts–Liberal Arts B.S.

37 Credits
Required Courses: 22 cr. hrs.
CSTA 121 Acting I: Basic Techniques 3 cr.
CSTA 131 Design for the Theatre 3 cr.
CSTA 294 Sophomore Seminar: Theatre 3 cr.
CSTA 335 Directing I 3 cr.
CSTA 379 Internship 3-12 cr.
CSTA 484 Senior Portfolio Seminar in CSTA 1 cr.
Choose Two
CSTA 337 History of Theatre-Ancient to Medieval 3 cr.
CSTA 338 History of Theatre-Renaissance to 20th Century 3 cr.
CSTA 339 American Theatre 3 cr.

Performance Track 15 Credits
Required Courses: 9 cr. hrs.
CSTA 222 Voice and Articulation 3 cr.
CSTA 231 Stage Technology and Scene Painting 3 cr.
CSTA 332 Stage Costuming 3 cr.
Electives: 6 cr.
CSTA 221 Acting II: Characterization 3 cr.
CSTA 225 Musical Theatre Performance 3 cr.
CSTA 327 Children‚s Theatre and Puppetry 3 cr.
CSTA 334 Playwriting 3 cr.
CSTA 435 Directing II 3 cr.
Or approved substitution

Design/Tech Track 15 Credits
Required Courses: 12 cr. hrs.
CSTA 231 Stage Technology and Scene Painting 3 cr.
CSTA 332 Stage Costuming 3 cr.
CSTA 333 Stage Lighting 3 cr.
CSTA 432 Computer Aided Theatrical Design 3 cr.
Electives: 3 cr. hrs.
CSTA 234 Stage Management 3 cr.
CSTA 336 Fashion History 3 cr.
Or approved substitution

Management Track 15 Credits
Required Courses: 12 cr. hrs.
CSTA 231 Stage Technology and Scene Painting 3 cr.
Or CSTA 333 Stage Lighting 3 cr.
CSTA 234 Stage Management 3 cr.
CSTA 323 Arts Management 3 cr.
CSTA 432 Computer Aided Theatrical Design 3 cr.
Electives: 3 cr. hrs.
CSTA 334 Playwriting 3 cr.
CSTA 435 Directing II 3 cr.
Or approved substitution

Dramaturgy Track 15 Credits
Required Courses: 9 cr. hrs.
CSTA 230 Playwrights of Color 3 cr.
CSTA 334 Playwriting 3 cr.
CSTA 337 History of Theatre-Ancient to Medieval 3 cr.
Or CSTA 338 History of Theatre-Renaissance to 20th Century 3 cr.
Or CSTA 339 American Theatre 3 cr.
Electives: 6 cr. hrs.
CSTA 327 Children‚s Theatre and Puppetry 3 cr.
CSTA 301 History of Film 3 cr.
CSTA 336 Fashion History 3 cr.
ENGL 232 Contemporary Drama 3 cr.
Or approved substitution

Minor in Theatre Arts–Liberal Arts B.S.

24 Total Credits
Required: 15 cr. hrs.
CSTA 121 Acting I: Basic Techniques 3 cr.
CSTA 131 Design for the Theatre 3 cr.
Choose one
CSTA 231 Stage Technology and Scene Painting 3 cr.
Or CSTA 332 Stage Costuming 3 cr.
Or CSTA 333 Stage Lighting 3 cr.
Choose one
CSTA 337 History of Theatre-Ancient to Medieval 3 cr.
Or CSTA 338 History of Theatre-Renaissance to 20th Century 3 cr.
Or CSTA 339 American Theatre 3 cr.
CSTA 335 Directing I 3 cr.
General Electives: 9 cr. hrs.
CSTA 221 Acting II: Characterization 3 cr.
CSTA 222 Voice and Articulation 3 cr.
CSTA 225 Musical Theatre Performance 3 cr.
CSTA 230 Playwrights of Color 3 cr.
CSTA 231 Stage Technology and Scene Painting (if not chosen under required) 3 cr.
CSTA 232 Makeup for Theatre, Film, and Video 3 cr.
CSTA 234 Stage Management 3 cr.
CSTA 294 Sophomore Seminar: Theatre 3 cr.
CSTA 323 Arts Management 3 cr.
CSTA 327 Children‚s Theatre and Puppetry 3 cr.
CSTA 332 Stage Costuming 3 cr.
CSTA 333 Stage Lighting 3 cr.
CSTA 334 Playwriting 3 cr.
CSTA 336 Fashion History 3 cr.
CSTA 375 Theatre Practicum: Production 1 cr.
CSTA 376 Theatre Practicum: Design and Technology 1 cr.
CSTA 432 Computer Aided Theatrical Design 3 cr.
CSTA 435 Directing II 3 cr.
CSTA 499 Independent Study/Independent Research 1-3 cr.
Or Approved Substitution

A research/writing course experience is required in the major or another field; CSTA 294 Sophomore Seminar or another course approved by the department chair, will satisfy this requirement. A senior portfolio experience is required in the major or another field; CSTA 484, Senior Portfolio Seminar or another course approved by the department chair, will satisfy this requirement.

Musical Theatre Minor

24 Total Credits
Required Courses: 18 cr. hrs.
MUS 103 Class Voice 1 cr.
MUS 130 Music Theory and Ear Training I 4 cr.
MUS 131 Music Theory and Ear Training II 4 cr.
MUS 225 Voice for the Actor 1 cr.
SCTA 121 Acting I: Basic Techniques 3 cr.
SCTA 225 Musical Theatre Performance 3 cr.
SCTA 375 Theatre Practicum: Production 2 cr.
Directed Electives: 2 cr. hrs.
Select from the following:
DANC 107 Social Dance .5 cr.
DANC 110 Basic Jazz Dance .5 cr.
DANC 120 Fundamentals of Movement through Dance 1 cr.
DANC 150 Dance Improvisation 1 cr.
DANC 224 Ballet I 1 cr.
Electives: 4 cr. hrs.
Select from the following:
DANC 107 Social Dance .5 cr.
DANC 110 Basic Jazz Dance .5 cr.
DANC 224 Ballet I 1 cr.
DANC 260 Dance Repertory 1-3 cr.
SCTA 131 Design for the Theatre 3 cr.
A maximum of 3 credits from the following 3 courses may be applied toward electives:
SCTA 231 Stage Technology and Scene Painting 3 cr.
or SCTA 332 Stage Costuming
or SCTA 333 Stage Lighting
SCTA 221 Acting II: Characterization 3 cr.
SCTA 222 Voice and Articulation 3 cr.
SCTA 288 Career Development: Theatre Arts 1 cr.
SCTA 339 American Theatre 3 cr.
MUSA 127 Applied Voice (a maximum of 2 may be applied toward electives) 1 cr.
MUS 230 Music Theory and Ear Training III 4 cr.
MUS 340 Opera Techniques 3 cr.

Students majoring in Music or Speech (any emphasis) may not double count any course when completing the Musical Theatre Minor.
Speech Communication and Theatre Arts and Music majors should consult with an adviser and substitute other electives (from the list above) for those required in both their major and minor.

Internship: CSTA 379: COMMUNICATION STUDIES AND THEATRE ARTS INTERNSHIP

  1. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
    The Communication Studies and Theatre Arts internship is a program that places selected students in businesses, industries, or organizations to provide opportunities to practically apply their knowledge of and skill in speech, mass media, or theatre arts. Students may elect a 3-12 credit internship; only 4 credits can be counted in the major/minor. The intern's duties and responsibilities will be tailored to the needs of the sponsoring organization and the background of the student. The organizational supervisor, a department supervisor, and the intern will conduct periodic and final evaluations of the intern's progress and products. Prerequisite: consent of department internship supervisor and the dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
  2. OBJECTIVES OF THE INTERNSHIP:
    1. To provide students with practical experience in applying their knowledge and skills in communication, theatre arts, and mass media.
    2. To give students first hand understanding of career opportunities available to specialists in communication, theatre arts, and mass media.
    3. To serve businesses, organizations, theatres and groups by assisting in improving their communication practices.
  3. STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND PREPARATION:
    Student background and preparation will vary with the requirements and desires of the host organization and the interests of the student. The internship should, in almost all circumstances, be an upper division major or minor in the areas of speech, business communication, theatre, or mass communication. The internship director will thoroughly evaluate the prospective intern's academic preparation to assure that qualified students are accepted for the program.
  4. TIME AND CREDIT:
    The amount of time an intern would be expected to devote to the experience will be dependent upon the number of credits selected (from 3 to 12) and the nature of the work agreed upon by the supervisor, host organization, and intern. As a guide, interns will be expected to work a minimum of 45 hours per credit. Typically, these hours (ranging from 135 to 540) will be completed during the semester at a pace of from 9 to 36 hours per week during the 15 weeks of the semester. This pattern is only a guide, however, and other schedules may be approved to meet the needs of the student and the host organization. Once the schedule is approved, the student is expected to begin and end on established dates. Changes in schedule must be pre-approved by internship advisor. More than 45 hours per credit may also be required.
  5. TERMINATION OF INTERNSHIP:
    Both the CSTA Department and host organization have the right to release or dismiss an intern from his/her duties at any time. Interns are subject to the rules and regulations of the host organization. Further, interns have an ethical responsibility (1) to maintain confidentiality on specified organizational issues and (2) to assure anonymity when requested in any oral and/or written reports.
  6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST ORGANIZATION:
    To facilitate the student's learning and to enhance benefits to the host organization, the sponsoring group should provide the intern with:
    1. access to meetings, records, documents or equipment necessary for the intern to carry out his/her work assignments
    2. working space, office supplies or equipment needed in conducting his/her projects
    3. a representative of the organization to (a) supervise the intern (see suggestions in the following section) and (b) serve as a liaison between the intern and other members of the organization.
    4. The CSTA Department does not seek direct compensation for the interns at this stage of the program. Host organizations are viewed as providing an important learning opportunity for students. Equally important, however, the department believes that interns can offer significant benefits to organizations. Consequently, when possible, we hope the host organization could reimburse interns for transportation and other expenses directly related to on-the-job duties. Such arrangements will be negotiated at the time the intern is placed.
  7. PLACEMENT OF INTERNS:
    Interns are placed in positions relating to their professional career objective. The CSTA Department prepares students in such diverse areas as sales, personnel, public relations, mass communication, theatre, promotions, hospitality, management and others involving a great deal of oral communication. Because of this diversity, students seeking an internship often identify and make initial contact with prospective host organizations. These prospects and contacts should be discussed at a very early point with a faculty member in the CSTA Department who agrees to work with the intern. The faculty member may have referrals and may make initial contact. As soon as all parties (intern, faculty supervisor, and work supervisor) agree upon hours, duties, supervision, and other facets of the experience, a proposal is prepared by the intern. This proposal is signed by the parties and submitted to the Chair of the Department and subsequently the Dean of Arts and Sciences for approval. Upon approval, the student registers for CSTA 379.
  8. SUPERVISION OF INTERNS:
    The host organization should provide direct supervision of the intern. The faculty supervisor in the CSTA Department will maintain contact with both the intern and work supervisor. The role of the faculty supervisor is to develop and maintain an educational experience for the intern.
  9. EVALUATION OF INTERNS:
    On-going feedback and evaluation throughout the internship is to be expected. The work supervisor should provide such feedback regularly. The intern should ask for reactions. The faculty supervisor should see that feedback and evaluation is on-going. The student will submit weekly a journal describing what duties the intern performed, what was learned and how this relates to specific course theories/skills/concepts. With this report, the student will include a worklog signed by the work supervisor. As per the policy of the College of Arts and Sciences, the following is to be submitted at the conclusion of the internship:
    1. A summary of the work experience (THREE TO FOUR SINGLE-SPACED PAGES, AT MOST) written by the individual, to include an indication of the range, focus, and quality of the experience as well as a reaction to the experience.
    2. An evaluation by the academic supervisor of the work experience with regard to both the student's performance and the "agency" itself. The latter should be in terms of the validity and recommendation of this particular internship site, and
    3. An evaluation by the work supervisor as to the student's performance and learning in terms of skills, processes, concepts, understandings and/or attitudes.
    These items will be collected by the faculty supervisor and submitted to the Dean as soon after the internship as possible. The faculty supervisor will also recommend a satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade for the internship. The Dean will review these materials. A grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory will then be submitted to the registrar. The final paper (“a.” above) must include a brief (1 page maximum) description of the intern experience explicating duties/tasks/projects. The bulk of the paper should explain what was learned and how this learning applies to specific course concepts/theories/skills. The student is expected to illustrate knowledge gained in courses completed to date (as listed in proposal). The paper should conclude with a paragraph summarizing how the internship experience directly relates to career goals.

Internship Opportunities – Theatre students have worked in internship location throughout the area and in the Twin Cities. Some of the locations have been the Guthrie, Minnesota Opera, Park Square Theatre, The Jungle Theatre, The History Theatre, and The Phipps. Recently UWRF has started ongoing Internships with the Festival Theatre and the SOS Players. Please see your advisor for possible locations and opportunities.