Department Information

and
Typical Discipline-Specific Academic Degree and Qualifications¹
of faculty within

Theatre

General Description of the Department

The goal of the theatre program is to provide intensive theatre training through classes and productions conducted with professional theatre discipline and the highest possible aesthetic standards. In addition to completion of course work, theatre majors are required to participate in all of the major productions presented while the student is enrolled in the Theatre Program.

Degrees offered

The Theatre and Speech Communication Department offers these programs:

BA in Theatre

BFA in Theatre

Terminal Degree² for each discipline taught in Theatre

DOA, Ph.D. in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft for all Theory courses

MFA in Theatre for all Performance courses

Related Disciplines³

Acting (50.0506) - all courses

Directing and Theatrical Production (50.0507) - all courses

Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (50.0502) - all courses

Visual and Performing Arts (50.0101) - all courses

Related Disciplines³ for specific courses

Cinematography and Film/Video Production (50.0602) - TPP 3310, 3311, 4600, 4601

Film/Cinema Studies (50.0601) - TPP 3310, 3311, 4600, 4601

Other Teaching Qualifications (Description of Required Academic Degree and Justifications⁴ for the programs in Theatre)

Consideration of other teaching qualifications in lieu of academic credentials is made on a case-by-case basis and accepted in special cases where evidence of exceptional industry experience, research or other qualifications can be documented and are directly applicable to the course being taught.

^1	Whenever instructors are not credentialed by their advanced degree or by an approved CIP relationship, they must be credentialed through a narrative justification of the instructor’s qualifications to teach this/these course(s). Such credentialing is based on the proposed instructor’s academic and professional preparation; diplomas, certificates, or relevant licensures; publications and presentations in the field; honors, awards, and professional recognitions; and other demonstrated competencies, skills, and experiences which the instructor brings to the University. These must be clearly tied to the specific courses to be taught and should establish beyond doubt that the instructor is qualified to teach the specific courses they are to be assigned. The Office of the Provost reviews all such justifications and where the justifications warrant the instructor’s teaching the courses proposed, it will either approve the justification for the appropriate period (seven years for full-time faculty members, or four years for part-time faculty members) or employ one of two additional clearance categories beyond the advanced degree and related-discipline categories which it may use to credential some instructors where their accomplishments warrant this: Active Research Clearance in the Discipline or Active Artistic/Special Talent Clearance in the Discipline
^2	The level and discipline of the terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., MS, MFA, doctorate) that is required to teach graduate courses in the discipline
^3	For each discipline, all strongly-related degree(s) and/or equivalent names for the discipline (include level) that would also be appropriate for teaching at the graduate level
^4	(1)The appropriate academic degrees and justifications for each related degree above if not obvious; (2) the justification for why the terminal degree is not a doctorate in a discipline, e.g., specific examples of best practice in the discipline and accrediting association language; and (3) any other criteria used to determine appropriate academic qualifications to teach specialty courses in the program.

Current as of 3/11/11