Overview
The Theatre and Performing Arts program:
- Utilizes a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum.
- Focuses on undergraduate experiences, high impact learning, interdisciplinary and cross-community collaboration, and exceptional professional preparation and training.
- Engages in collaborative, innovative practices in both classroom and production settings.
- Empowers students to take an active role in an interconnected system of artistic community engagement and creative momentum.
- Is dedicated to individualized student-centered programming that is ambitious, relevant, and rigorous.
ISU Theatre impacts hundreds of students from majors throughout the university in our classes, productions and studios. Our students are compassionate, enthusiastic, aware, ambitious, dependable, dedicated, disciplined and generous. The Theatre and Performing Arts program offers a wide variety of courses that support the student’s individual interests and specialization.
The major in performing arts offers the undergraduate student a cross-disciplinary core including 26 credits in three categories: Theatre, Music and Dance. Students also select a 21-22 credit emphasis in one or more of the following areas of focus:
- Acting/Directing
- Dance
- Musical Theatre
- Theatrical Design and Technology
Additional professional development occurs within two required professional internships in which students can practice the skills and passions developed throughout their individualized plans of study. Preparation for these internships include various impactful experiences in theatre and the performing arts here at Iowa State. This work is vital for students to gain a practical understanding of the rigors of the field.
ISU Theatre and Performing Arts focuses solely on the undergraduate student artist, offering students many opportunities to participate in production experiences throughout the academic year. Students implement the theories and principles explored in the classroom with experiential learning though public performances. These productions vary in scope, taking place in the 435-seat proscenium space at Fisher Theatre as well as in other intimate and “found” venues both on and off campus. Performing arts majors must maintain a 2.0 GPA to participate in production activities. Scholarships and employment opportunities are available to both incoming and current students on a yearly basis. All areas of ISU Theatre and Performing Arts, including classes and productions, are open to all students regardless of major. Visit here to learn about scholarships and all of the ways to get involved with Theatre and the Performing Arts at ISU.
In addition to building a solid foundation in theatre, Performing Arts graduates enter the world as empathetic members of their community prepared to engage in civic life and meet the challenges of the work force or graduate school with strong skills in leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students should be able to:
- Recognize the ways in which theatre and performing arts can reflect and change communities and culture.
- Apply collaboration principles to the creation of performing arts.
- Analyze dramatic literature and performances from dramaturgical, performative, sensory, aesthetic, and community perspectives.
- Organize and integrate resources - including human (self and others), technology, and systems - to solve abstract and practical problems.
- Compare and critique performing arts theory, practice, literature, design, performance, and one's own process and work within cultural and historical contexts.
Bachelor of Arts - Performing Arts Major (Perf)
As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated below for the major.
LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.
Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity) and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.
All performing arts majors must complete both the performing arts core and at least one of the emphases listed below. A Minimum GPA of 2.00 in both the major core and the chosen emphasis is required to graduate.
The Core for the Performing Arts Major (26 credits)
| MUSIC 1010 | Fundamentals of Music | 2 |
| THTRE 1060 | Introduction to the Performing Arts | 3 |
| or THTRE 1100 | Theatre and Society | |
| or MUSIC 1020 | Introduction to Music Listening | |
| THTRE 2500 | Technical Theatre Practicum | 2 |
| THTRE 2510 | Acting Foundations | 3 |
| THTRE 2550 | Introduction to Theatrical Production | 4 |
| THTRE 2630 | Script Analysis | 3 |
| PERF 1050 | Performing Arts Seminar (Six semesters required at .5 credits per semester) | 3 |
| Performing Arts Internship (2 professional internships required) | ||
or THTRE 4990 | Theatre Internship | |
| PERF 4010 | Performing Arts Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Choose four credits of DANCE from the following: | 4 | |
| Modern Dance I | ||
| Ballet I | ||
| Jazz I | ||
| Tap Dance I | ||
| Ballroom Dance I | ||
| Fundamentals and Methods of Social and World Dance | ||
| Modern Dance Composition | ||
| Modern Dance II | ||
| Modern Dance III | ||
| Ballet II | ||
| Ballet III | ||
| Jazz II | ||
| Yoga Movement | ||
| Dance Appreciation | ||
| Sound and Movement | ||
| History and Philosophy of Dance | ||
| Advanced Studies in Dance | ||
| Teaching Children's Dance | ||
| Methods of Teaching Dance | ||
| Teaching Dance Technique and Composition | ||
| Total Credits | 26 | |
Emphasis in Acting/Directing (22 Credits)
| MUSIC 1250 | Class Voice (1 semester of MUSIC 1250 or 118A required) | 1 |
| or MUSIC 1180A | Applied Music: Non-majors: Voice | |
| THTRE 1510 | Actor's Voice and Movement | 3 |
| THTRE 3930 | Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop | |
| THTRE 4550 | Directing | 3 |
| THTRE 4650 | Theatre History: Ancient to 19th Century | 3 |
| THTRE 4660 | Theatre History: 19th Century to Present | 3 |
| Choose 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Acting: Contemporary Scene Study | ||
| Puppetry Design and Performance | ||
| Acting for the Camera | ||
| Acting: Period Styles | ||
| Creative Writing: Playwriting | ||
| Advanced Directing | ||
| Seminar: Acting Techniques | ||
| Seminar: Acting Styles | ||
| Seminar: Arts Management | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Emphasis in Theatrical Design and Technology (21 credits)
| THTRE 4550 | Directing | 3 |
| THTRE 4650 | Theatre History: Ancient to 19th Century | 3 |
| THTRE 4660 | Theatre History: 19th Century to Present | 3 |
| Choose 12 Credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Costume Design | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Scenic Design | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Lighting Design | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Sound Design | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Stagecraft | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Costume Draping and Patterning | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Advanced Makeup | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Stage Management | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Technical Direction | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Arts Management | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Scenic Painting | ||
| Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop: Costume Construction | ||
| Seminar: Design and Technical Theatre | ||
| Seminar: Arts Management | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Emphasis in Musical Theatre (22 credits)
| MUSIC 1250 | Class Voice (4 semesters of MUSIC 1180A and/or 125 required) | 1 |
| or MUSIC 1180A | Applied Music: Non-majors: Voice | |
| THTRE 3540 | Musical Theatre History and Performance | 3 |
| THTRE 3550 | Musical Theatre Auditions and Performance | 3 |
| THTRE 4650 | Theatre History: Ancient to 19th Century | 3 |
| or THTRE 4660 | Theatre History: 19th Century to Present | |
| Choose 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Actor's Voice and Movement | ||
| Acting: Contemporary Scene Study | ||
| Puppetry Design and Performance | ||
| Acting for the Camera | ||
THTRE 3930 | Studies in Theatre Design and Production Workshop | |
| Acting: Period Styles | ||
| Directing | ||
| Advanced Directing | ||
| Seminar: Musical Theatre | ||
| Seminar: Acting Techniques | ||
| Seminar: Acting Styles | ||
| Seminar: Arts Management | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Emphasis in Dance (21 credits)
| DANCE 3600 | History and Philosophy of Dance | 3 |
| 12 Credits of DANCE in addition to DANCE 3600 and the six taken in the PERF core. At least 6 credits must be 3000+. | 12 | |
| 6 credits of 3000+ credits in THEATRE. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Suggested Four year plans for Performing Arts majors
Listed below are example pathways for completing the Performing Arts major. Students will work with their academic adviser to navigate their pathway through the curriculum requirements.
Performing Arts B.A. - Emphasis in Acting/Directing
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| THTRE 2510 | 3 | PERF 1050 | R | ||
| THTRE 2550 | 4 | THTRE 1510 | 3 | ||
| PERF 1050 | R | THTRE 2630 | 3 | ||
| THTRE 1060 | 3 | THTRE 2500 | 1 | ||
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | MUSIC 1010 | 2 | ||
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ENGL 2500 | 3 | ||
| Dance Elective | 1 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| Dance Elective | 1 | ||||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PERF 1050 | R | PERF 1050 | R | PERF 3100 | R |
| MUSIC 1180A or 1250 | 1 | THTRE 3510 (or other 3000+ Acting class) | 3 | ||
| THTRE 2500 | 1 | Dance Class | 1 | ||
| Dance Class | 1 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| THTRE 3930 | General Education Requirement | 3 | |||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 2 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | ||||
| LAS 2030 | 1 | ||||
| 12 | 16 | 0 | |||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PERF 1050 | R | PERF 1050 | R | PERF 3100 | R |
| THTRE 4550 | 3 | THTRE 4660 | 3 | ||
| THTRE 4650 | 3 | Dance Class Elective | 1 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| Dance Elective | 1 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | 0 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| PERF 4010 | 2 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| THTRE 4510 (or other 3000+ acting/directing course) | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 12 | ||||
| Total Credits: 117 | |||||
Performing Arts - B.A. - Emphasis in Theatrical Design/Technology
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| PERF 1050 | R | PERF 1050 | R | ||
| THTRE 2510 | 3 | THTRE 2630 | 3 | ||
| THTRE 2550 | 4 | ENGL 2500 | 3 | ||
| LIB 1600 | 1 | MUSIC 1010 | 2 | ||
| THTRE 1060 | 3 | THTRE 2500 | 1 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PERF 1050 | R | PERF 1050 | R | PERF 3100 | R |
| DANCE 2700 (Or other Dance course) | 3 | DANCE 3600 | 3 | ||
| THTRE 3930 (any 3930) | 3 | THTRE 3930A (or other 3000+ THTRE Design/Tech course) | 3 | ||
| THTRE 2500 | 1 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 2 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||||
| LAS 2030 | 1 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | 0 | |||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PERF 1050 | R | PERF 1050 | R | PERF 3100 | R |
| THTRE 4550 | 3 | THTRE 3930B (Or other 3000+ THTRE Design/Tech Class) | 3 | ||
| THTRE 4650 | 3 | THTRE 3930 | |||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 0 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| PERF 4010 | 2 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||||
| Total Credits: 119 | |||||
Performing Arts - B.A. - Emphasis in Musical Theatre
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| THTRE 2510 | 3 | PERF 1050 | R | ||
| THTRE 2550 | 4 | THTRE 2630 | 3 | ||
| PERF 1050 | R | THTRE 2500 | 1 | ||
| THTRE 1060 | 3 | MUSIC 1180A | 1 | ||
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | MUSIC 1010 | 2 | ||
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ENGL 2500 | 3 | ||
| MUSIC 1180A | 1 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| Dance Elective | 1 | Dance Elective | 1 | ||
| THTRE 1510 (or other Acting/Directing course) | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 17 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PERF 1050 | R | PERF 1050 | R | PERF 3100 | R |
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | Dance Class | 1 | ||
| THTRE 2500 | 1 | THTRE 3550 | 3 | ||
| Dance Class | 1 | MUSIC 1180A | 1 | ||
| THTRE 3540 | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 2 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| MUSIC 1180A | 1 | ||||
| LAS 2030 | 1 | ||||
| 15 | 14 | 0 | |||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PERF 1050 | R | PERF 1050 | R | PERF 3100 | R |
| THTRE 4550 (or other 3000+ Acting/Directing Course) | 3 | Dance Class Elective | 1 | ||
| THTRE 4650 | 3 | THTRE 3510 (Or other 3000+ THTRE Acting/Directing Course) | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| Dance Elective | 1 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 16 | 0 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| PERF 4010 | 2 | General Education Requirement | 3 | ||
| THTRE 3520 (or other THTRE 3000+ course from degree requirements) | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| THTRE 4510 (or other 3000+ acting/directing course) | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||||
| 3000+ Elective | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 12 | ||||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||||
Please see the Department advisors for more information about suggested Four Year Plans for the Emphases in Dance. Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) and a three-credit course in International Perspectives. Consult the catalogue for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how these two courses can be applied to your graduation plan.
Performing Arts Minor
To complete the minor in Performing Arts, students must take at least 15 credits of either Theatre or Performing Arts courses. Six credits must be 3000 level or higher. THTRE 2240, 2500, 2900, 3010, 4690, 4900, and 4990 do not count toward the Performing Arts minor. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college or university requirement. The following classes are required:
| Performing Arts Seminar (3 semesters) | ||
| THTRE 2550 | Introduction to Theatrical Production | 4 |
| THTRE 2630 | Script Analysis | 3 |