Jul 12, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Theatre, B.F.A. (Theatre Studies Emphasis)


The B.F.A. degree in theatre with an emphasis in theatre studies reflects a commitment to theatre training within the context of liberal education. Based on the division’s philosophy that an understanding of and experience with the actor’s process are essential to education and training in all areas of theatre, all undergraduate theatre majors focus on foundational actor training during the first two years of their program of study. In their junior and senior years, theatre studies students fulfill requirements in directing, playwriting and critical studies courses. With the approval of their theatre advisor, students also choose 11 hours of upper-level elective courses among those offered in acting, directing, playwriting, stage management, design, or critical studies.

SMU Degree Requirements

An SMU undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and must include completion of the University’s Common Curriculum , one major and a combination of electives and/or other majors or minors. Completion of certain majors requires more than 120 hours to finish the degree. The credit hours within this curriculum are distributed as follows:

Requirements for the Theatre Studies Emphasis


Text Analysis (3 Credit Hours)


Critical Studies (6 Credit Hours)


  • 6 credit hours to be chosen from THEA 4381 , THEA 4382 , THEA 3383 , THEA 3384 , THEA 3385 , and Directed Studies courses that include a component of critical analysis, literary theory, literature, text analysis, theatre history, or any of these in combination with acting, playwriting, directing, design, or stage management. Other courses may be considered for inclusion as necessary. Directed Studies courses will need the approval/signature of the Head of Theatre Studies prior to registration.

Theatre Electives (11 Credit Hours)


  • Any 9 credit hours of theatre studies classes subject to approval by theatre studies faculty, with advising interviews on an “as needed” basis
  • Additional 2 credit hours of THEA classes

Total for the Major Only: 75 Credit Hours