Theatre Major & Minor

The theatre major at Southern Virginia University provides students with experience in creative and technical aspects of theatre, including acting, directing, playwriting, design and technical theatre. The major seeks to awaken and enhance students’ creative abilities in performing, writing and design as well as to develop skills needed to evaluate artistic works.

Learning Objectives

Students completing Southern Virginia’s theatre major are expected to acquire the following:

1. Basic knowledge of the theatre tradition in Western civilization. (History)
2. Basic knowledge of stagecraft. (Technical Theatre)
3. Basic knowledge of and skill in acting. (Acting)
4. In-depth knowledge of and advanced skill in either: (1) acting, directing and playwriting; or (2) technical theatre. (Production)

Program coordinator: Prof. Robert Stoddard

Major Requirements (41 credit hours)

Major Core (20 credit hours):

• THE 106 Stagecraft (GE) (3)
• THE 110 Introduction to Acting (GE) (3)
• THE 206 Introduction to Production Design (3)
• THE 215 Introduction to Theatre History (GE) (3)
• Applied Theatre (6 hours from THE 230R & 330R, with minimum of 2 hours from THE 330R)
  • THE 230R Applied Theatre I (1) 3 times
  • THE 330R Applied Theatre II (1) 3 times.
• THE 498 Senior Project (2)

Major Electives I: 3 credit hours from among the following:

• THE 340 Dramatic Literature of Western Civilization (3)
• ENG 340 Genre Studies: Dramatic Literature (3)

Major Electives II: an additional 18 credit hours from among the following:

• ENG 345 Studies in Shakespeare (3)
• THE 175R Topics in Theatre (1-3)
• THE 208 Scene Painting (3)
• THE 210 Intermediate Acting (3)
• THE 275R Topics in Theatre (1-3)
• THE 310 Advanced Acting: Musical Theatre (3)
• THE 313 Set Design (3)
• THE 314 Lighting Design (3)
• THE 331 Directing (3)
• THE/ENG 341 Playwriting (3)
• THE 345 Contemporary Dramatic Literature (3)
• THE 358 Theatre Makeup (3)
• THE 375R Topics in Theatre (1-3)
• THE 385R Directed Study in Theatre (1-3)
• THE 399R Theatre Practicum (1) up to three times
• THE 410 Advanced Acting: Period Styles (3)

Download the Theatre Major Checklist

Minor Requirements (22 credit hours)

Minor Core (13 credit hours):

• • THE 106 Stagecraft (GE) (3)
  • THE 110 Introduction to Acting (GE) (3)
  • THE 215 Introduction to Theatre History (GE) (3)
  • THE 230R Applied Theatre I (1) two times
  • THE 330R Applied Theatre II (1) two times.

Minor Electives: an additional 9 credit hours from among the major core or electives, excluding THE 399R and THE 498.

Download the Theatre Minor Checklist