Department of Theatre

Department Information

Mission

The Theatre Department’s mission is to train students for the professional theatre and entertainment industry within the context of a first-rate liberal arts education.  We emphasize training the “whole artist” so that students are prepared to pursue a variety of fields that require creative and critical thinking as well as the ability to multi-task and work collaboratively on projects. The department also provides high quality theatre programming for the campus and larger state community, including opportunities to see challenging, vibrant works that are new to the state of Alabama and, at times, even the Southeast region.

General Education

All students seeking an undergraduate degree at UM must complete a core General Education curriculum that includes courses in English, history, mathematics, the natural sciences, social sciences, fine arts, oral and written communication, and personal development.

The minimum requirements can be found in the General Education Credit Hour Requirements section of the Undergraduate Academic Policies  section in this Bulletin.

Auditions

Each regular semester all UM Theatre majors (B.A., B.S., and BFA) must either audition or interview for a design, management, or technical student crew position for theatre productions even if they are not available for casting or technical positions. Two or more unexcused absences from these required auditions may result in a student’s removal from the Theatre degree program. 

Incoming students must apply for all BFA degree concentrations. Incoming B.A./B.S. students do not need to audition. However, all students in BFA degree programs must formally submit an advancing portfolio review or audition during the fourth semester at UM for first-time students, the second semester at UM for transfer students. To continue the BFA degree track students cannot submit more than two unsuccessful advancing applications. 

Students are encouraged to audition for BFA degree concentrations by the sophomore year so that they can pursue an appropriate degree track that will advance them toward graduation in a timely manner. Acceptance into the BFA programs after the sophomore year may extend a student’s time toward graduation.

Curriculum Information

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science

In addition to completing the General Education core, the B.A./B.S. Theatre curriculum requires 38 credit hours of theatre courses. A total of 120 hours is required to graduate with a B.A./B.S. in Theatre. The B.A./B.S. in Theatre provides exposure to all areas of the department and prepares students for a variety of career paths, including work in the entertainment industry. However, this degree best serves students interested in a double major, minor or elective courses who intend to graduate in four years without taking extensive additional coursework. All Theatre majors (B.A./B.S.) are expected to audition for and actively participate in departmental productions and must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to participate in productions that are not class assignments.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Students may pursue a BFA Theatre degree with a concentration in Acting, Design/Technology, or Musical Theatre. The BFA is a pre-professional degree for students intending to commit to the pursuit of a career in the entertainment industry as undergraduates. BFA students fulfill the university’s liberal arts requirements but take all their additional coursework in theatre and their specific concentration.

Minors

Minors are offered in Arts Administration  and Theatre .

Courses in Theatre

• Courses of Instruction  

Programs

Major(s)

• •  Theatre, Acting, BFA
• •  Theatre, B.A.
• •  Theatre, B.S.
• •  Theatre, Design/Technology, BFA
• •  Theatre, Musical Theatre, BFA

Minor(s)

• •  Arts Administration Minor
• •  Theatre Minor