Degree Information

Degree Information

BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.)

MAJOR 

The Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production offers a B.A. in Theatre, Film, and Digital Production. The major focuses on three broad areas of theatre and film: literature, history, and criticism; performance, design, direction, and technology; and the elements of production. Students have the opportunity to write, perform, direct, and design. Four stages are available for rehearsals and performances: the 500-seat proscenium University Theatre, the 125-seat Studio Theatre in the Arts building with state-of-the-moment equipment for facilities, and the 125-seat Rehearsal Lab.  

Students are able to practice acting in faculty-directed shows, student productions, and class presentations. Special projects and studies are offered for advanced students to produce an original work or to study in more depth acting, directing, design, or playwriting.  

As part of the Theatre, Film, and Digital Production Department’s ongoing goal to provide a comprehensive and world-class program in the performing arts, a Film Making Track is offered for students who are primarily interested in pursuing the goal of becoming filmmakers. In addition to taking classes in filmmaking, screenwriting, acting, and technology, students will also take classes in literature and theory as requirements.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS 

The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Theatre, Film, and Digital Production are as follows: 

Lower-division requirements (9 units) 

  1. TFDP 099
  2. TFDP 020
  3. Either TFDP 010, TFDP 021, TFDP 022, TFDP 050, TFDP 50S, TFDP 066, or TFDP 067
TRACK 1: LITERATURE, HISTORY, CRITICISM, AND DRAMATURGY 

Upper-division requirements (40/44 units) 

1. Literature, History, Criticism requirement (20 units)

  • Literature, History, and Criticism emphasis (12 units): TFDP 100, TFDP120A, TFDP 120B 
    •  Eight (8) additional units from TFDP 121, TFDP 122, TFDP 123, TFDP 124A, TFDP 124B, TFDP 125 (E-Z), TFDP 127, TFDP 161, TFDP 177 or TFDP 177S, TFDP 191 (E-Z) 
  • Dramaturgy emphasis (12 units): TFDP 100, TFDP 120A, TFDP 120B
    • Eight (8) additional units from TFDP 103, TFDP 121, TFDP 122, TFDP 123, TFDP 124A, TFDP 124B, TFDP 125 (E-Z), TFDP 127, TFDP 161, TFDP 177 or TFDP 177S, TFDP 191 (E-Z) 

2. Twelve (12) elective units from TFDP 101, TFDP 102, TFDP 109, TFDP 110A, TFDP 115, TFDP 126A, TFDP 126B, TFDP 150A, TFDP 150B, TFDP 152, TFDP 164A/CRWT 164A, TFDP 167, TFDP 169, TFDP 185/MUS 185 or TFDP 185S/MUS 185S, TFDP 199

3. Production requirement (8/12 units)

  • Literature, History, and Criticism emphasis: Eight (8) units from TFDP170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174, or TFDP 175 
  • Dramaturgy emphasis: TFDP 174 four (4) units and eight (8) units from TFDP 170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, or TFDP 175 
TRACK 2: WRITING FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 

Upper-division requirements (44 units)

1. Literature, History, and Criticism (12 units) 

  • TFDP 120A, TFDP 120B (8 units)
  • Four (4) units from TFDP 122, TFDP 123, TFDP 124A, TFDP 124B, TFDP 125 (E-Z), TFDP 127, TFDP 191(E-Z) 

2. Writing for the Performing Arts (20 units)

  • TFDP 164A, TFDP 164B, TFDP 164C
  • TFDP 166A, TFDP 166B

3. Eight (8) elective units from TFDP 109, TFDP 110A, TFDP 114, TFDP 115, TFDP 150A, TFDP 150B, TFDP 152, TFDP 163, TFDP 165, TFDP 166C, TFDP 167, TFDP 169, TFDP 195, TFDP 198-I

4. Production requirement: Four (4) units from TFDP 170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174, or TFDP 175 

TRACK 3: FILM MAKING 

Upper-division requirements (40 units) 

1. Film Making (16 units) 

  • TFDP 155 and TFDP 153A or TFDP 154 (8 units)
  • Eight (8) additional units from TFDP 117, TFDP 130A, TFDP 130B, TFDP 142, TFDP 144, TFDP 151, TFDP 153B, TFDP 156A, TFDP 156B, TFDP 157, TFDP 159

2. Screenwriting four (4) units from TFDP 163

3. Sixteen (16) elective units from TFDP 100, TFDP 101, TFDP 109, TFDP 115, TFDP 120A, TFDP 120B, TFDP 122, TFDP 123, TFDP 133, TFDP 149, TFDP 150A, TFDP 150B, TFDP 152, TFDP 160, TFDP 161, TFDP 165, TFDP 167, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 177 or TFDP 177S, TFDP 180 (E-Z), TFDP 185/MUS 185 or TFDP 185S/MUS 185S, TFDP 191 (E-Z), TFDP 195, TFDP 198-I

4. Production requirement: Four (4) units from TFDP 170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174, or TFDP 175 

TRACK 4: ACTING AND DIRECTING 

Acting emphasis: you progress through a series of foundational acting courses, starting with your own individual instrument (body, imagination, feelings, voice, and spirit or energy) and the collaborative acting ensemble, then working towards the embodiment of characters in monologues and scenes. Thereafter you select from the advanced acting classes: TFDP 111A: Shakespeare & the Power of Language; TFDP 111B: Acting with Facts & Playing with Truth; TFDP 111C: Acting for the Camera; and TFDP 111D: The Business of Acting (for graduating seniors).  

Directing emphasis: you take introductory acting classes (as every director should understand what they are asking their performers to do), along with TFDP 150A: Directing (an introduction to directing for stage and screen, analyzing scripts and working with actors) and TFDP 150B: Directing (advanced directing for the stage, guidance for directing for projects such as PlayworksNew Works Festival and your independent work). *SPECIAL NOTE: Students wishing to direct for the screen (film, tv, new media) should consider TRACK 3: FILMMAKING.

Upper-division requirements (40-44 units) 

1. Acting/Directing (16 units) 

  • Acting emphasis: TFDP 109, TFDP 110A, TFDP 110B (12 units)
    • Four (4) additional units from TFDP 111A, TFDP 111B, TFDP 111C, TFDP 112 (E-Z), TFDP 113 (E-Z)
  • Directing emphasis: TFDP 109, TFDP150A, TFDP 150B (12 units)
    • Four (4) additional units from TFDP 110A, TFDP 112 (E-Z), TFDP 113 (E-Z), TFDP 117, TFDP 153A, TFDP 154

2. Literature History and Criticism (12 units)

  • TFDP 100, TFDP 120A, TFDP 120B

3. Electives (4) units from TFDP 066, TFDP 101, TFDP 110A, TFDP 110B, TFDP 111A, TFDP 111B, TFDP 111C, TFDP 111D, TFDP 112 (E-Z), TFDP 113 (E-Z), TFDP 115, TFDP 121, TFDP 122, TFDP 123, TFDP 124A, TFDP 124B, TFDP 125 (E-Z), TFDP 127, TFDP 136, TFDP 149, TFDP 150A, TFDP 150B, TFDP 152, TFDP 154, TFDP 155, TFDP 160, TFDP 161, TFDP 163, TFDP 185/MUS 185 or TFDP 185S/MUS 185S, TFDP 177 or TFDP 177S, TFDP 180 (E-Z), TFDP 191 (E-Z), TFDP 195, TFDP 198-I 

4. Production requirement (8-12) units from TFDP 170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174, or TFDP 175 

TRACK 5: PRODUCTION AND DESIGN 

Upper-division requirements (40-44 units) 

1. Twelve (12) units of Literature, History, and Criticism: TFDP 100, TFDP 120A, TFDP 120B

2. Twelve (12) units of Additional Requirements from TFDP 101, TFDP 103, TFDP 109, TFDP 121, TFDP 150A, TFDP 150B, TFDP 131, TFDP 132, TFDP 133, TFDP 135, TFDP 136, TFDP 138, TFDP 143, TFDP 145, TFDP 149, TFDP 153A, TFDP 154, TFDP 163, TFDP 164A/CRWT 164A, TFDP 166A

3. Electives eight (8) units from TFDP 115, TFDP 122, TFDP 124A, TFDP 125 (E-Z), TFDP 152, TFDP 161, TFDP 176/DNCE 128/ANTH 128/AST 128, TFDP 177 or TFDP 177S, TFDP 185/MUS 185 or TFDP 185S/MUS 185S, TFDP 180 (E-Z), TFDP 191 (E-Z), TFDP 195, TFDP 199

4. Production requirement eight (8) units from TFDP 170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174, or TFDP 175 

TRACK 6: GENERAL THEATRE, FILM, AND DIGITAL PRODUCTION

Upper-division requirements (40 units) 

1. Production and Design (16 units)

  • TFDP 101 (4 units)
  • Twelve (12) units from TFDP 131, TFDP 132, TFDP 133, TFDP 135, TFDP 136, TFDP 142, TFDP 143, TFDP 145, TFDP 149, TFDP 180 (E-Z)

2. Literature, History, and Criticism (12 units)

  • TFDP 100 (4 units)
  • Eight (8) units from TFDP 120A, TFDP 120B, TFDP 121, TFDP 122, TFDP 124A, TFDP 124B, TFDP 125 (E-Z), TFDP 161, TFDP 176/DNCE 128/ANTH 128/AST 128, TFDP 177 or TFDP 177S, TFDP 191 (E-Z)

3. Four (4 units) from TFDP 109, TFDP 115, TFDP 150A, TFDP 150B, TFDP 152, TFDP 160, TFDP 195, TFDP 198-I

4. Production requirement (8-12) units from TFDP 170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174, or TFDP 175

MINOR 

The minor in Theatre, Film, and Digital Production follows the structure of the major requirements by exposing students to each of the areas that are essential to the creation of theatre, with the opportunity to take an additional course for depth or more exposure. The inclusion of production courses TFDP 170, TFDP 171, TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174, and TFDP 175 gives the students the opportunity to put course work into the proper context and provides them with a practical understanding of the workings and problems of production. The minor in Theatre, Film, and Digital Production provides students with a basic understanding in major areas of study including performing arts literature, performance, and design. It also introduces the nonmajor to the discipline, providing breadth for those students majoring in unrelated disciplines. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR (20 UNITS) 
  • TFDP 100, TFDP 101, TFDP 109
  • Four (4) units from TFDP 170, TFDP 171,TFDP 172, TFDP 173, TFDP 174 or TFDP 175 
  • One 4-unit upper-division course selected from the department’s Literature, History, Criticism area or the Performance, Direction, Playwriting, Screenwriting, Design, and Theatre Technology area.