Requirements for the Theater Studies Major
In addition to satisfying the general college requirements, students majoring in theater studies must complete 47 semester-hours of course work in the TFMS department. Following is a list of required and elective courses that satisfy the theater studies major. Courses are four semester-hours, unless otherwise noted; those courses marked with an asterisk should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
1. All of the following:
*TFMS 170: Stagecraft
*TFMS 171: Elements of Theatrical Design
*TFMS 200: Theater in History
*TFMS 220: Introduction to Film and Media Studies
*TFMS 230: Acting I
*TFMS 250: Movement I
TFMS 300: Modern Theater
TFMS 371: Production Lab (1 semester-hour): Majors must complete a minimum of four semester-hours
2. One of the following:
TFMS 251: Introduction to Traditional African Dance
TFMS 255: Modern Dance I (3 semester-hours)
TFMS 260: Topics in Dance/Movement (3-4 semester-hours)
TFMS 350: Movement II
TFMS 355: Modern Dance II (3 semester-hours)
TFMS 360: Dance Improvisation and Composition
TFMS 460: Advanced Topics in Dance/Movement (3-4 semester-hours)
3. One of the following:
TFMS 310: Shakespeare
TFMS 315: Japanese Film
TFMS 325: Documentary Practices
TFMS 420: Mediated Bodies: Gender, Race, and Class on Stage and Screen
4. One of the following:
TFMS 340: Directing
TFMS 345: Writing for Stage and Screen
TFMS 374: Lighting Design
TFMS 375: Costume Design
TFMS 376: Scene Design
5. Senior Experience. This requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways:
a) Four additional semester-hours of course work taken from the 400-level course offerings in theater, film, and media studies; or
b) TFMS 493/494: St. Mary's Project: With the approval of the department chair, this requirement may be satisfied by completing eight semester-hours of the St. Mary's Project in any discipline or cross-disciplinary study area.
6. Theater productions. Satisfactory work on at least three major productions
7. St. Mary's Project (SMP):
A St. Mary's Project (SMP) in theater studies is a two-semester, eight-credit independent, original course of study in theater arts. The project may be scholarly (e.g. a written thesis or research paper) or artistic (e.g. directing, acting, design, dance performance or choreography, playwriting, film/video making) in nature, but all projects must address reciprocity between theory and praxis and should encompass an appropriate range of liberal arts disciplines. Projects must receive the prior approval of a faculty member in TFMS. All projects will lead to some form of public presentation. Students undertaking an SMP in theater studies must submit a formal proposal that will fulfill the College and department guidelines for an SMP to their mentor no later than the eighth week of the semester preceding the academic year during which the work will begin. In other words, this deadline will occur during your junior year.
Please take special note: SMP proposals in directing for the main stage. For those proposing an SMP in directing for the main stage, final proposals are due for circulation to the entire department faculty on the first day of the first week of classes of the spring semester preceding the academic year during which the work will begin. Additionally, a student proposing an SMP in directing for the main stage must have secured a faculty mentor during the fall semester preceding submission of the final proposal. In other words, these deadlines will occur during your junior year.
Click here for the guidelines and application procedures for proposing a St. Mary's Project in TFMS.
8. Theater productions and practicum credit:
Theater studies majors must complete satisfactory work on at least three major productions for which they may receive one to two practicum credits (TFMS 290/490) on each production. (Note: TFMS 290/490 may not be counted toward satisfying requirements for the major.)
Practicum credit: Practicum credit can be earned through participation in all facets of production, from performing to technical work (scenic, lighting, costume, and properties design, stage management, crew, directing, choreography). A minimum of 50 hours of work is required for one practicum credit. A maximum of two practicum credits may be earned on any one production. A maximum of 12 practicum credits may be applied toward graduation and be figured into a student's GPA. (Note: TFMS 290/490 do not satisfy the Arts component of the General Education Requirement.)
Students may not receive practicum credit for work on non-main stage (e.g. White Room) productions, unless directed by a faculty member or guest artist. Students may receive credit for such work by proposing and satisfactorily completing an SMP or an Independent Study in TFMS.
9. TFMS 371: Production Lab (Required Majors Shop Hours):
Theater studies majors must complete 30 shop hours per semester as assigned by the technical director in consultation with the resident designer in the following areas: technical theater, stage management, production crews, house management, maintenance (facilities and equipment), inventory, or others as specified. In order to receive credit for their shop hours, students must enroll in Production Lab (TFMS 371) each semester. This course will accrue one credit per semester, and students will be graded for their work. Theater studies majors must complete a minimum of four semester-hours. In addition to the 30 shop hours, all theater studies majors must participate fully in two light-hangs before any credit will be awarded.
Shop hours and assigned positions will be established by the end of the second week of each semester, and the work schedule posted on the scene shop door (MH 166) and on the bulletin board outside the Box Office.
Prospective theater studies majors are encouraged to participate on production crews and to log their shop hours on the appropriate forms. Upon declaration of the major, these hours will be converted to required shop hours, not to exceed 30 per semester.
10. Participation on run crew:
Students are required to participate on at least one run crew in order to satisfy the requirements for the theater studies major. Students may elect to satisfy this requirement as part of the required shop hours or as practicum credit.
Click here for a recommended framework for completing the requirements of the theater studies major in TFMS.
