2013-2014 University Catalog
Theater, BA
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Banner Code: AR-BA-THR
Performing Arts Building, Room A407
Phone: 703-993-1120
Web: theater.gmu.edu
Faculty
Ken Elston, Director
Professors: D’Andrea (Robinson Professor), Davis, McDonald
Heritage Professor: Keach
Associate Professors: Austin, Elston (director), Gero, Johnsen-Neshati, Kurtz
Term Associate Professor: Chew
Administrative Faculty (Instructional): Lechter, Murray
Adjunct Faculty: Cadby, Dunayer, Gaines, Gardner, Hurt, Lee, Maier, Nanni-Messegee, Wallace,Wilson
Program
The BA degree stresses the breadth of a liberal arts education in the belief that such study, combined with serious practical training and experience, offers the best preparation for a life in theater and screen. Entrance into the program is by interview and audition or portfolio review. Information about the audition, portfolio review and interview process, including dates, can be found on the School of Theater web page, theater.gmu.edu/admissions or by calling the School of Theater office at 703-993-1120. Admission to the University is determined by the Admissions Office.
Students electing to major in theater complete the theater core, which is a group of courses providing a broad introduction to the various theater arts and striving to create a shared body of knowledge within the department’s student population.
To organize their advanced work within the major, students select 24 credits of 300-400-level courses, chosen from any area of emphasis in Theater or students elect a course of study from four concentrations: Performance (Acting and Directing), Design and Technical Theater, Playwriting and Dramaturgy, or Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12. The department aims to prepare students for graduate study or entry into the profession through rigorous, concentrated, and individualized training; however, students are encouraged to maintain wide-ranging interests within the department and throughout the university’s extensive offerings.
Students seeking to earn a BA as a second bachelor’s degree, either concurrently or sequentially, must complete all theater degree requirements. Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in their major.
This undergraduate program offers students the option of applying to the accelerated master’s program in arts management. See Theater, BA/Arts Management, Accelerated MA for specific requirements.
Theater BA Concentrations
Theater majors may choose to complete their degree with 12 directed credits as a concentration in one or more of the following areas: Design and Technical Theater, Performance (Acting and Directing), Playwriting and Dramaturgy, or Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12. Students must earn a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA to complete a BA with a concentration.
Certification for Theater Education for Theater Theatre Arts PK-12
The Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12 concentration is approved by the Virginia State Department of Education and administered through the College of Education and Human Development, which is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Upon successful completion of all concentration requirements, degree conferral, achieving the minimum scores on the Praxis I and VCLA tests students may be eligible to apply for Virginia State Licensure.
Students must be formally accepted into the Teaching Theatre Arts PK-12 concentration. See Teaching Theatre Arts PK-12 concentration for a complete list of requirements.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one designated writing-intensive course in their major at the 300 level or above. Students seeking a BA in theater fulfill this requirement by successfully completing THR 350 or THR 482.
Course Work
The School of Theater offers all course work designated THR in the Courses section of this catalog.
Production Opportunities
Participation in Theater at Mason productions is expected of all declared majors.
All Theater majors must enroll in THR 191 four times during their course of study. It is a zero (0) credit class, graded S/NC, that is successfully completed by attending productions, guest lectures, workshops; participation in production load-in; and participation in production strike. Course is repeatable up two times in one semester.
Students must also earn four (4) practicum credits, one (1) credit for satisfactory completion (a minimum of 30 hours) of each of four (4) performance and production assignments in the major, including faculty or guest-directed Mason Players Mainstage and student-directed Studio productions.
All freshmen, first year transfer, and all new Theater majors will be assigned one (1) THR 198 credit and one (1) THR 199 credit during their first academic year.
Assignments for THR 196 and THR 197 will include a presentation of portfolio documents demonstrating a practical analysis of the role, design, or support position to subject area mentors.
- THR 196 assignments including actor, designer, assistant designer, stage manager, and assistant stage manager.
- THR 197 assignments include director, assistant director, dramaturg, master electrician, technical director, playwright, house management, and publicity.
- THR 198 assignments include scenery construction and painting, costume construction, electrician, and props.
- THR 199 assignments include stage crew, light board operator, sound board operator, wardrobe, and fly crew.
Unless registered for a Theater course approved as directly connected to production (i.e. THR 196-199, 492 or 495) all students (including non-Theater majors) electing to participate in a Theater at Mason production must register for THR 200 concurrent with participation.
Theater Honors Program
Highly qualified students who have completed 75 credits may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. Students apply for Honors in Theater by submitting to the Director (by November 15 or April 15) a two-page written statement outlining their reasons for pursuing advanced coursework and specific professional goals, along with the names of two Mason theater faculty members who have agreed to serve as references.
Students satisfy the honors course sequence by taking three Honors specific courses from their chosen concentration. They must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 and a GPA of 3.75 within the major.
Academic Policies
Please see College of Visual and Performing Arts academic policies. |