The Theatre School's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Theatre Arts is our most flexible program and allows students to study and get experience in a variety of theatrical disciplines. The program is tailored toward students interested in pursuing careers in areas as diverse as directing, arts writing, educational outreach, literary management, arts administration or law.
Newly admitted Theatre Arts majors are automatically placed in the standard Theatre Arts curriculum, which includes all core and elective requirements for the BFA degree in Theatre Arts. After completing a minimum of two quarters of study at The Theatre School, students have the option of adding a concentration in either Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) or Directing.
With respect to the core and elective requirements, students must declare a concentration either in the standard concentration, which includes successful completion of all core requirements plus elective courses in theatre (26 credit hours), chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor. The requirements for those students who declare a concentration in either TYA or Directing include successful completion of all core requirements plus eight courses (or 32 credit hours) to fulfill the requirements of the concentration.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 52 |
| Major Requirements | 114 |
| Concentration Requirements | 26-32 |
| Total hours required | 192-198 |
Program Specific Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Read and interpret a theatrical text and apply research, imagination, and personalization to create a unique, insightful, and compelling approach to the production of the text.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history of theatrical literature and practice in the context of social and cultural development.
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.
| 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 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
- THE 205 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
- THE 206 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
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
| 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 | |
| THEATRE CREW | ||
| Second Year | ||
| THE 324 | DRAMATIC THEORY | 4 |
| Design Workshop Sequence | ||
| THE 141 | DESIGN WORKSHOP | 4 |
| THE 142 | DESIGN WORKSHOP | 4 |
| Performance Workshop Sequence | ||
| THE 292 | PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP II | 4 |
| THE 293 | PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP III | 4 |
| Dramatic Literature Electives: Select three courses in consultation with advisor | 12 | |
| Third Year | ||
| THE 143 | DESIGN WORKSHOP | 4 |
| THE 325 | DRAMATIC CRITICISM | 4 |
| Directing Sequence | ||
| PRF 374 | DIRECTING | 4 |
| PRF 375 | DIRECTING | 4 |
| PRF 376 | DIRECTING | 4 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Capstone Sequence | ||
| THE 408 | CAPSTONE:PREPARING FOR THE PROFESSION | 4 |
| THE 412 | PORTFOLIO PREPARATION | 4 |
| Production Practice/Internship: Select eight credits total in consultation with advisor | 8 | |
Theater Elective Requirements
In addition to the requirements above 24 credit hours of Theatre Electives must be completed, to be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor.
Standard Requirements
For Theater Arts Majors who do not pursue a Directing or Theater for Young Audiences concentration, 26 credit hours of open electives is also required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours. Courses should be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize these courses to pursue a minor or second major.
Concentration Requirements
Students pursuing a concentration must complete the requirements from one of the following concentrations: Theatre for Young Audiences or Directing.