Theatre B.A. and B.G.S. students work intensively on acquiring theatre skills and knowledge in classrooms, studios, and laboratories.
The Performance concentration prepares theatre majors toward a career as a professional performer. Through small-class studio courses and department productions, our program provides talented performing artists with a basic foundation in acting, movement, voice and speech, improvisation, and musical theatre.
The Theatre, Culture and Society concentration prepares students for careers that require critical, analytical, and historical foundations in the liberal arts, while providing courses in acting, directing and design as well as participation in University Theatre production. Our program provides emerging scholars with basic knowledge and research tools for understanding the social and cultural significance of theatre and performance.
Both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) in Theatre require 40 hours. The primary distinctions between the B.A. and the B.G.S. degree are the foreign language requirement (required of the B.A. but not the B.G.S.) and 18 hours junior/senior concentration or minor (required for the B.G.S but not the B.A.).
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
There are no major admission requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. in Theatre.
Students considering a theatre major should enroll in THR 106 and THR 101 and complete all 100- and 200-level courses in the first 2 years of study. It is imperative that theatre students earn practicum credit (THR 101, THR 201, THR 301) early in their careers at KU.
Requirements for the B.A. and B.G.S. Major
Both the B.A. and B.G.S. require 40 hours. The distinction between the B.G.S. degree and the B.A. degree is found in College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirements.
The following 40 hours are required: (40 hours)
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
THR 101 | Theatre Practicum I | 1 |
THR 106 | Acting I | 3 |
THR 201 | Theatre Practicum II | 1 |
THR 206 | Acting II | 3 |
THR 212 | Beginning Voice and Speech for Actors | 3 |
THR 213 | Movement I: The Acting Instrument | 3 |
THR 215 | Approaching Design | 3 |
THR 308 | Script Analysis | 3 |
| 4 |
| Scenic Production | |
| Costume Production | |
| Lighting Production | |
| 1 |
| Theatre Practicum III | |
| Stage Management and Assistant Direction | |
| 6 |
| History of Theatre | |
| History of Theatre II | |
| History of U.S. Theatre and Drama | |
| 9 |
THR 560 | Collaborative Production | 3 |
or THR 498 | Honors Directed Study in Theatre |
or THR 499 | Directed Study in Theatre |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
MAJOR HOURS
Satisfied by 40 hours of major courses.
MAJOR HOURS IN RESIDENCE
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
MAJOR JUNIOR/SENIOR HOURS
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
MAJOR JUNIOR/SENIOR GRADUATION GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Sample 4-year plans for the BA degree in Theatre can be found here: Theatre BA, or by using the left-side navigation.
Sample 4-year plans for the BGS degree in Theatre can be found here: Theatre BGS, or by using the left-side navigation.
Departmental Honors
An undergraduate interested in honors in theatre must present a written declaration of intention to the department's honors coordinator as early as possible in the junior or senior year. The following are required:
- A grade-point average at the time of declaration and at graduation of at least 3.5 in theatre courses.
- 3-6 hours of THR 498
Honors Seminar. Enrollment in this course must be approved by the honors coordinator. Students in the honors seminar work under the direction of one instructor for each semester. The instructor conducts an examination at the end of each semester's work and assigns a grade. Credit only is given to students who complete the work assigned for any semester but do not complete the requirements for honors. Students may change area of interest or instructor at the beginning of a semester with the consent of the honors coordinator.