Theatre Arts, B.A. Program (120 units)
Program Description
Through inclusive and rigorous creative inquiry, the Department of Theatre and Dance provides comprehensive training for performance, creativity, reflection, diversity, collaboration, mentorship, community engagement, and social justice.
Through a combination of core classes with a concentration, the program provides comprehensive pre-professional training in the areas of performance (Acting, Dance, Inclusive Performance (Applied Social Justice), and Musical Theatre) and production (Stage Technology and Design). Our primary goal is to develop artists whose performance skills and creativity are supported by a firm background in history, literature, and aesthetics. In an environment designed to encourage creativity and self-expression, students perform regularly in a variety of theatre and dance productions. The culmination requirement offers an opportunity to direct, choreograph, perform, write, intern, or design.
Theatre Arts program encourages majors to acquire a range of skills to expand their career options. Many have entered advanced studies in nationally recognized universities and conservatories. Some have chosen careers in teaching, while others have gone directly into theatre or dance performance. Alumni perform on professional stages around the world, including Broadway and Hollywood, where they have won Tony and Emmy Awards, as well as other professional recognitions. Employers in business and public service professions desire Theatre Arts graduates for their team skills, their imaginative approach to problems, and their ability to communicate creatively.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cal State East Bay will be able to:
- Perform for audiences, on stage or in other arenas and careers.
- Create performance that presents human issues in inclusive, exciting, original ways.
- Reflect on historical and contemporary works of theatre and dance from diverse cultures.
- Engage individuals and build community through meaningful theatre and dance experiences.
Career Opportunities
Actor/Actress • Box Office Manager • Business Agent • Choreographer • College Student Services Manager • Comedian • Corporate Officer • Costume Designer • Costume/Wardrobe Technician • Dancer • Director • Drama or Dance Teacher/Professor • Dramaturg • House Manager • Lighting Technician • Make-Up Artist/Specialist • Non-profit Manager • Playwright • Producer • Recreation Supervisor • Sales/Marketing Specialist • Set Decorator • Set Designer • Sound Technician • Stage Manager • Theatre Critic • Theatre Technician • Theatre Manager
Features
The Department of Theatre and Dance produces approximately 5-8 plays and dance concerts during the year. The selection of plays exposes students to acting, dance, design, directing, singing, stage management, and technical theatre suitable to a wide variety of styles, periods, and genres from Shakespeare to American Realism and from Greek Tragedy to Modern Drama.
The department features ensemble groups in the areas of Acting, Dance, Inclusive Performance, Musical Theatre, and Stage Technology/Design, providing access to a varied and challenging performance schedule. Sixteen department productions have toured to four European countries. Annually our tours travel in-state and across the country.
The department is fortunate to have excellent facilities including the 450 seat University Theatre; a scene shop equipped for traditional carpentry and MIG welding, including a full paint frame; a costume shop with ten sewing stations; a sixteen-station design/drafting studio with a separate digital lab; two theatre studio classrooms; green room; make-up room; dressing rooms with lockers and showers; and, a spacious Dance Studio.
Degree Requirements Unit-Outline
- A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:
- The major requirements consists of 47-53 units
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
- Free Electives may consist of 10-16 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).
Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.
Theatre Arts Major Requirements (47-53 units)
Core Coursework
Students must take all of the following courses for 20 units:
Core Production and Performance Coursework
Students must complete a minimum of 8 units from the following performance courses:
Concentrations
Theatre Arts majors are required to choose a concentration to fulfill their major requirements. Choose one (1) of the following:
Capstone Requirement
Senior-level students must take one of the following CAPSTONE courses for 1 unit to complete the major.
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