The Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre
Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.
General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units
See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.
- THEA 353 is an approved GE Capstone substitution.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .
Literacy Requirement:
See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must complete the GE Written Communication (A2) requirement before you may register for a WP course.
Course Requirements for the Major: 55 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.
Laptop Requirement
To complete this program, the student must have the use of a laptop computer. Please consult with the department for current hardware and software requirements. Students qualify to receive special education discounts on computers and software sold through the Associated Students Bookstore (an Apple authorized campus store). For some programs, in an effort to lower student expenses, bundles consisting of a specially priced Apple laptop computer with the program's required software will be made available at the beginning of each academic year through the Associated Students Bookstore. This laptop computer package is expected to serve the student for the entire length of the program.
Degree Program Core: 38 units
13 courses required:
| SUBJ NUM |
Title |
Sustainable |
Units |
Semester Offered |
Course Flags |
|
MUSC 219
|
Fundamentals of Music
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3.0
|
FS
|
|
|
Students are given instruction in basic music theory, ear training, sight singing, piano skills, and rhythm. The fundamentals of music theory are translated to basic score reading/playing. 3 hours discussion.
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THEA 135
|
Musical Theatre Dance
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2.0
|
SP
|
|
|
This course is designed for the theatre or dance student interested in studying representative dance techniques which are used in musical theatre productions. Because musical theatre dance incorporates a wide range of purposes and styles, the dances studied will reflect that diversity. 4 hours activity.
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THEA 150
|
Foundations of Drama
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3.0
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FA
|
|
Prerequisites: Declared Theatre or Musical Theatre major or minor.
This course introduces students to the field of theatre as both art and business. Students engage with inspirational readings about the nature of theatre as well as learning about trends within the industry for jobs and training beyond the BA level. Students develop tools for job seeking as well as engaging with critical explorations on what the nature of theater in the 21st century is. 3 hours lecture.
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THEA 160
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Foundations of Acting
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3.0
|
FS
|
|
Prerequisites: Declared Theatre or Musical Theatre major or minor.
This studio course introduces the basic principles and practices of acting craft in the areas of script analysis, movement, voice/speech, acting technique, and rehearsal methods. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity.
|
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THEA 170
|
Foundations of Design
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3.0
|
FS
|
|
Prerequisites: Declared Theatre or Musical Theatre major or minor.
This studio course introduces the basic principles and practices of theatre design in the areas of script analysis, scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity.
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THEA 230
|
Movement for Actors
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3.0
|
FS
|
|
|
Development of movement techniques for performance. A course for majors in Theatre and Music. Open to interested non-majors. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity.
|
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THEA 240
|
Voice for Performance
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3.0
|
FS
|
|
|
A beginning course in voice and diction, the principal aim of which is to increase the clarity and expressiveness of each student's "natural" speaking voice. An essential program of study and practice for performers, but equally valuable to anyone whose career aspirations require effective vocal communication. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity.
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THEA 250
|
Textual Analysis for Production
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3.0
|
FA
|
|
Prerequisites: For Theatre and Musical Theatre majors: THEA 150; for Theatre minors and all others: THEA 110.
A course in the principles and methods employed by directors, designers, and actors to comprehend dramatic literature as scripts for theatrical performance. 3 hours lecture.
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THEA 260
|
Intermediate Acting
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3.0
|
FS
|
|
Prerequisites: THEA 150, THEA 230, THEA 240; either THEA 160 or THEA 112H, or permission of the instructor.
An extension of the work begun in THEA 160 to enhance students' understanding and skill in the areas of analysis, creative imagination and believable theatrical behavior. Through exercises, guided improvisations, discussions, journal writing and scene work, students develop a personal methodology of approach to the problems of acting. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity.
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THEA 352
|
History of Theatre I
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3.0
|
FA
|
|
Prerequisites: THEA 150, THEA 160, THEA 170, THEA 250.
This course is a survey of the theoretical and historical trends in performance from the ancient world to the advent of realism in the 19th century. Students discover key moments in the theatre history as well as signature scripts which represent the theatrical world of antiquity to Western Europe in this time frame. Students focus on the intersections of popular culture, political and social trends, and theatre through antiquity, the medieval period, the Renaissance, Neoclassicism, and Realism. 3 hours lecture.
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THEA 353
|
History of Theatre II
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3.0
|
SP
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GW
|
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, THEA 250
This course is a survey of the theoretical and historical trends in performance from the 19th century to the contemporary period. Students discover key moments in theatre history as well as signature scripts which represent the theatrical world of America and Western Europe in this time frame. Students engage in critical written and oral discourse about the nature of theatres, dramaturgy, and history. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors.
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THEA 354
|
The Literature of Musical Theatre
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3.0
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SP
|
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|
Through careful reading and study of major works in the Musical Theatre canon, this course examines this unique art form and the cultural factors that influenced its creation and evolution as well as the aspects of our contemporary society that are influenced by it. 3 hours lecture.
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THEA 361
|
Musical Theatre Styles
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3.0
|
FA
|
|
Prerequisites: THEA 250, THEA 260.
Further classroom study and practice of various approaches to the problems of acting in musical theatre. Special emphasis is given to the analysis of music and lyrics and the challenges of acting the song. Topics and focus of this course rotate in alternate years. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.
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Technical Theatre Practica: 2 units
2 units selected from:
| SUBJ NUM |
Title |
Sustainable |
Units |
Semester Offered |
Course Flags |
|
THEA 204
|
Costume Practice I
|
|
1.0
|
FS
|
|
|
Applied study of costume and makeup practices through participaton in costume construction and on wardrobe and makeup crews for department productions or other approved activities. 2 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.
|
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THEA 205
|
Scene/Light Practice I
|
|
1.0
|
FS
|
|
|
Applied study of scenic, lighting, and other technical theatre practices through participation in scenery construction and painting, and on lighting, sound, and stage crews for department productions or other approved activities. 2 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.
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THEA 206
|
Production Assistant I
|
|
1.0
|
FS
|
|
Prerequisites: Audition or permission of instructor.
Applied study of theatre production practices through participation in a department production as an assistant stage manager or as an assistant to the director or designer or other approved activity. 1 hour activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.
|
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THEA 306
|
Production Assistant II
|
|
1.0
|
FS
|
|
Prerequisites: Audition or permission of instructor.
Applied study of theatre production practices through participation in a department production as a stage manager or as an assistant director or assistant designer or other approved activity. 3 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.
|
Electives: 15 units
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses as follows:
Theatre
3 units selected from:
Any upper-division Theatre course.
Dance Electives
6 units selected from:
| SUBJ NUM |
Title |
Sustainable |
Units |
Semester Offered |
Course Flags |
|
THEA 231
|
Beginning Ballet
|
|
2.0
|
FA
|
|
|
This course is designed for the student who is interested in learning the basic traditional techniques of ballet in musical theatre, with the possibility of advancing into an intermediate level. 4 hours activity.
|
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THEA 232
|
Beginning Tap Dance
|
|
2.0
|
FA
|
|
|
This course is designed for the student who is interested in learning the basic traditional forms of tap dance in musical theatre, with the possibility of advancing into an intermediate level. 4 hours activity.
|
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THEA 233
|
Beginning Jazz Dance
|
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2.0
|
SP
|
|
|
This course is designed for the student who is interested in learning the basic traditional forms of jazz dance in musical theatre, with the possibility of advancing into an intermediate level. 4 hours activity.
|
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THEA 234
|
Beginning Modern Dance
|
|
2.0
|
SP
|
|
|
This course is designed for the student who is interested in learning basic traditional forms of modern dance in musical theatre. 4 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 4.0 units.
|
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THEA 331
|
Intermediate Ballet
|
|
2.0
|
SP
|
|
Prerequisites: THEA 231 or permission of instructor.
This course is designed for the musical theatre student who has achieved an intermediate level of technique in ballet and is interested in maintaining a more advanced level. 4 hours activity.
|
|
THEA 332
|
Intermediate Tap Dance
|
|
2.0
|
FA
|
|
Prerequisites: THEA 232 or permission of instructor.
This course is for the musical theatre student who has achieved an intermediate level of technique in tap dance and is interested in maintaining a more advanced level. 4 hours activity.
|
|
THEA 333
|
Intermediate Jazz Dance
|
|
2.0
|
FA
|
|
Prerequisites: THEA 233 or permission of instructor.
This course is designed for the musical theatre student who has achieved an intermediate level of technique in jazz dance and is interested in maintaining a more advanced level. 4 hours activity.
|
|
THEA 382
|
Seminar in Choreography
|
|
2.0
|
SP
|
|
Prerequisites: THEA 112 or THEA 160, THEA 203 or THEA 303, or instructor's permission.
A theoretic and applied study of the basic elements of choreography, including historical context, composition and dramatic focus. Practical application of choreographic principles with emphasis on stage productions. 1 hour seminar, 2 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 4.0 units.
|
Vocal Music
6 units selected from:
| SUBJ NUM |
Title |
Sustainable |
Units |
Semester Offered |
Course Flags |
|
MUSC 110F
|
Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Voice
|
|
1.0
|
FS
|
|
|
See above. 3 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units.
|
|
MUSC 217
|
Beginning Voice
|
|
1.0
|
INQ
|
|
Prerequisites: Faculty permission.
Basic principles of singing. Correct breathing, posture, and tone production appropriate for musical theatre and other popular music genres. Repertoire and recital performance stressed as pupil progresses. 2 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.
|
Note: No more than 6 total units of practicum electives allowed.
| SUBJ NUM |
Title |
Sustainable |
Units |
Semester Offered |
Course Flags |
|
MUSC 310F
|
Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Voice
|
|
1.0
|
FS
|
|
|
See above. 3 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units.
|
Electives Requirement:
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Special Musical Theatre Requirements
1. In the annual spring auditions, each student must demonstrate appropriate competence in the major before a faculty committee. Consult with an advisor for format and standards upon admission to the degree program.
2. Students must participate in auditions for all theatre productions or make portfolio presentations.
Grading Requirement:
All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.
Advising Requirement:
Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.
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