School of Arts and Humanities
Visual and Performing Arts with Theatre Concentration (BA)
Students who complete the major in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) pursue an interdisciplinary study of the arts by completing a major core that includes courses in writing, interdisciplinary studies, professional development, historical context, theory, and practice. The VPA major culminates in a Senior Capstone. Students who are majoring in VPA can focus their studies by choosing from nine possible concentrations.
The Theatre concentration focuses student work in areas of theatre including: Acting, Stage Management, Technical Theatre, Design, Musical Theatre, Directing, Voice Over, Playwriting, Dance, and Production Ensemble. Additionally, students will develop knowledge in theatre history and literature.
Since the following catalog course descriptions are very general, students are urged to consult the detailed course descriptions available on the web site for the School of Arts and Humanities. At least one-half of the total semester credit hours for major requirements must be taken at UT Dallas.
Unless otherwise noted, courses in Visual and Performing Arts are open to all students in the University.
Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts with Theatre Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Fred I. Curchack, Thomas P. Riccio
Clinical Assistant Professor: Shelby Hibbs
Professor of Instruction: Kathy Lingo
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
And choose one course from the following:
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
COMM 1315 Public Speaking
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre3
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses
II. Major Requirements, Lower-Division: 6 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre3
3 semester credit hours from a THEA studio course, including:
THEA 1351 Acting 1
THEA 1352 Acting 2
THEA 2311 Topics in Theatre
THEA 2364 Musical Theatre Workshop
THEA 2371 Technical Theatre 1
THEA 2372 Improvisation
THEA 2373 Languages of the Body
THEA 2V71 Independent Study in Theatre
THEA 2350 Voice for the Actor
3 semester credit hours from a THEA/DANC/MUSI studio ensemble course
III. Major Requirements, Upper-Division: 39 semester credit hours
Major Core Courses: 15 semester credit hours
VPAS 3340 Writing in the Arts
VPAS 4389 Theory and Practice of the Visual and Performing Arts
VPAS 4390 Senior Capstone
or VPAS 4V99 Senior Honors in Visual and Performing Art
3 semester credit hours of upper-level Related Courses from the School of Arts and Humanities (excluding the THEA prefix)
Select 3 semester credit hours of Professional Development Courses from the following:
ARTS 3311 Contemporary Art Practices
ARTS 4310 Studies in Contemporary Exhibitions
COMM 4370 Communication and Leadership
COMM 4371 Communication and Professionalism
ENTP 3301 Innovation and Entrepreneurship
ISAH 4V50 Internship
VPAS 4310 Entertainment Law
Theatre Concentration Requirements: 24 semester credit hours
THEA 3323 Performance in Historical Context
THEA 3310 Theatre/Performance Ensemble
or 3 semester credit hours of THEA 3V10 Technical Theatre Practicum
3 semester credit hours from the following:
THEA 3342 Advanced Topics in Theatre
THEA 3324 Technical Theatre 2
3 semester credit hours from the following:
THEA 3380 Theatre and Literature
THEA 3352 Stage Management
or upper-division THEA course
3 semester credit hours of upper-level THEA courses
3 semester credit hours of 4000-level THEA courses
3 semester credit hours of upper-division THEA/DANC/MUSI courses
3 semester credit hours of upper-division Visual and Performing Arts elective
IV. Elective Requirements: 33 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 33 semester credit hours
Both upper- and lower-division courses may be used as electives, but students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to qualify for graduation. Students are encouraged to enroll in courses in other performance areas, such as dance and music.
Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of ARHM 1100.1
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
3. A required Preparatory course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours may be counted in Core Curriculum.