Learn More and ApplyPlaywriting (BFA)

The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Playwriting focuses on helping students explore and identify their voice and unique process of working as a writer in a variety of circumstances. The four-year curriculum provides students with the primary tools of dramatic writing and the space and opportunity to use them through a variety of classroom and workshop production experiences.

Program Requirements

Program Requirements	Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements	52
Major Requirements	164
Total hours required	216

Learning Outcomes

Core Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the historical and theoretical significance of a range of theatrical artists, works, and artistic approaches from antiquity to present.
• Synthesize and apply elements of their education and training to the preparation, rehearsal, and presentation of theatrical productions with discipline, respect, and maturity.
• Identify and explain their theatrical work in the context of the cultural and social impact of the arts.

Program Specific Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Create compelling dramatic texts that explore universal issues through detailed and specific characters and actions.
• Communicate their intentions to collaborators and be able to respond to and incorporate the responses of collaborators from all disciplines.
• Explain how their writing fits into contemporary and historical contexts.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down. 

Plan of Study Grid

First Year Program		Hours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110 or LSP 111	DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO	4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1	4
WRD 104	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1	4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120	QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2	4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200	SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE	4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Not Required
Senior Year
Capstone
Not Required

¹

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

²

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152, MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162, MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

• THE 204
• THE 205
• THE 206

Historical Inquiry (HI)

• 1 Course Required

Math and Computing (MC)

• Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

• 1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

• 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

• 1 Lab Course or 1 SWK Course Required​

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)  

• Not Required

Other

• Choose 1 course from the above learning domains as an elective

Notes

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.​​

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.  

Major Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

First Year		Hours
THE 212	INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE STUDIES	4
THE 210	SCRIPT ANALYSIS	4
THE 268	INTRODUCTION TO THE PRODUCTION PROCESS	4
THE 291	PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP I	4
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement)
THE 204	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
THE 205	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
THE 206	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew		6
TEC 107	THEATRE CREW
Second Year
THE 292	PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP II	4
THE 324	DRAMATIC THEORY	4
Principles of Design Sequence
THE 141	DESIGN WORKSHOP	4
THE 142	DESIGN WORKSHOP	4
Playwriting I Sequence
THE 227	PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 228	PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 229	PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 232	PLAYWRIGHT'S SEMINAR I	4
Dramatic Literature Electives: Select three courses in consultation with advisor		12
Third Year
THE 325	DRAMATIC CRITICISM	4
ENG 328	STUDIES IN SHAKESPEARE	4
Directing I Sequence
PRF 374	DIRECTING	4
PRF 375	DIRECTING	4
Playwriting II Sequence
THE 327	PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 328	PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 329	PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 332	PLAYWRIGHT'S SEMINAR II	4
Completion of Common Core: Select two of the following:		8
THE 143	DESIGN WORKSHOP
THE 293	PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP III
PRF 376	DIRECTING
Fourth Year
Capstone Sequence
THE 408	CAPSTONE:PREPARING FOR THE PROFESSION	4
THE 410	THEATRE STUDIES CAPSTONE	2
THE 412	PORTFOLIO PREPARATION	4
Playwriting III Sequence
THE 427	PLAYWRITING III	4
THE 428	PLAYWRITING III	4
THE 429	PLAYWRITING III	4
Topics in Playwriting Sequence
THE 430	TOPICS IN PLAYWRITING I	4
THE 431	TOPICS IN PLAYWRITING II	4
THE 432	TOPICS IN PLAYWRITING III	4
Select three English or Communication Electives in consultation with advisor		12
Production Practice III and/or Internship: Select three of the following:		12
THE 471	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
THE 472	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
THE 473	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
THE 490	THEATRE STUDIES INTERNSHIP

Open Electives

Open elective credit may also be required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.