Learning Outcomes

1. Students will develop the ability to think critically by producing text analysis of playscripts as well as written critiques of department productions.  They will demonstrate skills in preparing text analysis from the various viewpoints of all theatre collaborators.
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the collaborative process as an important aspect of the artistic process in theatrical performances.
3. Students will develop an artistic process by demonstrating the knowledge, vocabulary, and application of training and skills presented in classroom production projects and/or departmental theatre productions.
4. Students will demonstrate a general knowledge of significant developments in the history of western theatre and drama through the investigation of plays, playwrights, actors, productions, and the physical development of theatres from the time of the Ancient Greeks to the present.

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:

1. Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
2. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a USC campus.

Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, Cardiovascular Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Economics, Environmental Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

Requirements (120 hours)

¹

Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

²

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

³

The Dramatic Literature requirement may apply towards fulfillment of the cognate or minor.

⁴

Students may choose to complete the general major in Theatre (31 hours), or they may choose to complete a concentration in Design and Technology or in Performance (40 hours).

⁵

All Theatre lab courses maybe repeated for credit. THEA 120 and THEA 121 are required Laboratory credits. THEA 120 must be completed within the first year of declaring the Theatre major.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Theatre, B.A.

Theatre, B.A. Design and Technology

Theatre, B.A. Performance

Theatre, B.A.

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.

⁴

Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁵

The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement.

⁶

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

⁷

The Dramatic Literature courses may apply towards fulfillment of the cognate, in which case the student would replace two cognate courses with approved electives in the four-year sequence in order to reach minimum hours to graduate. The total number of approved electives required depends on selection of a cognate (12 hours) or a minor (18 hours) and if the student chooses to apply the Dramatic Literature courses to the cognate.

⁸

The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.

Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Theatre, B.A. Design and Technology

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.

⁴

Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁵

The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement.

⁶

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

⁷

Students in the Design and Technology Concentration must select five courses from the following: THEA 380, 425, 452, 453, 489, 530, 550, 552, 553, 555, 556, 557, 558, 582, 583, 588, 589

⁸

The Dramatic Literature courses may apply towards fulfillment of the cognate, in which case the student would replace two cognate courses with approved electives in the four-year sequence in order to reach minimum hours to graduate. The total number of approved electives required depends on selection of a cognate (12 hours) or a minor (18 hours) and if the student chooses to apply the Dramatic Literature courses to the cognate.

⁹

The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.

Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Theatre, B.A. Performance

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.

⁴

Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁵

The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement.

⁶

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

⁷

Students in the Performance Concentration must select one course from the following: THEA 440, 442, 444, 450, 527, 540, 563, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 581, 586, 587, 599

⁸

The Dramatic Literature courses may apply towards fulfillment of the cognate, in which case the student would replace two cognate courses with approved electives in the four-year sequence in order to reach minimum hours to graduate. The total number of approved electives required depends on selection of a cognate (12 hours) or a minor (18 hours) and if the student chooses to apply the Dramatic Literature courses to the cognate.

⁹

The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.

Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.