Skip to main content
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Research
  • Illinois State University Home
  • Student Life
  • Athletics
  • About

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog School of Theatre, Dance and Film

FineArts.IllinoisState.edu

  1. Home
  2. Catalog
  3. Undergraduate
  4. 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - Theatre and Dance

Admission/Retention Requirements

All students who intend to pursue the Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance, or Dance Teacher Education Sequences are required to participate in an audition for admission. Students intending to pursue the Production Design and Technology Sequence must participate in a portfolio review/interview for admission. Information concerning an admission audition or a portfolio review/interview is available online from the School of Theatre, Dance and Film.

Course Finder

  • View Dance Courses
  • View Theatre and Film Courses
  • View All Courses

Honors in Theatre, Dance and Film

The Honors Program seeks to facilitate customized learning for Honors students in their disciplines by offering the opportunity for students to engage in Honors education and to have Honors Learning Experiences in upper division courses.  Honors students may choose to focus their Honors Learning in their major and pursue the Honors in the Major designation, which is awarded at graduation.  Learn more about  Honors in the Major .

Major >

  • Theatre

Minors >

  • Theatre
  • Film Studies
  • Stage Combat
  • Dance

Theatre, Dance and Film Programs

Degrees Offered: B.A., B.S.

Sequences >

  • Acting
  • Dance
  • Dance Teacher Education
  • Musical Theatre
  • Production Design and Technology
  • Film and Digital Media
  • Theatre Studies
  • Theatre Teacher Education

Interdisciplinary Minors

The School of Theatre, Dance and Film contributes to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. 

Major in Theatre

Students in the Theatre major must complete one of the following sequences.

Acting Sequence

The Acting Sequence prepares students with a liberal arts education, as well as the rigorous training to be on-stage or on-camera, and to be a creative collaborating with others.

View Acting Sequence Course Requirements

Dance Sequence

Continuation in this sequence after the freshman year is by consent of the Dance faculty. Information concerning admission auditions is available from the School of Theatre, Dance and Film.

View Dance Sequence Course Requirements

Dance Teacher Education Sequence

This sequence is part of entitlement program leading to a professional educator license, secondary 9-12 endorsement. 100 clock hours minimum of pre-student teaching clinical experiences is required. The School strongly recommends Dance Teacher Education candidates to complete an endorsement in a second teaching field if planning to teach in a high school setting. Information concerning admission auditions is available from the School of Theatre, Dance and Film. 

Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education

View Dance Teacher Education Sequence Course Requirements

Musical Theatre Sequence

The Musical Theatre Sequence trains students in the art and craft of acting and allied skills in musical theatre. The curriculum for this sequence includes courses in acting, dance, and music Students have the opportunity to practice and hone their craft in acting and musical theatre performance through the School of Theatre and Dance production program, with additional support for musicals provided by the School of Music.

View Musical Theatre Sequence Course Requirements

Production Design and Technology Sequence

The Production Design and Technology sequence prepares students with a liberal arts education, as well as training in costume design, lighting, stagecraft, stage management, make-up, and sound design as it relates to theatrical productions.

View Production Design and Technology Sequence Course Requirements

Film and Digital Media Sequence

The Film and Digital Media curriculum integrates creative hands-on experience with fundamental education in film aesthetics, history, and theory. The interdisciplinary program provides a variety of courses in related fields including theatre, film, video, and arts technology. Students have great flexibility to choose courses tailored to their career interests, such as critical studies, film and video production, directing, and screenwriting.

View Film and Digital Media Sequence Course Requirements

Theatre Studies Sequence

The Theatre Studies curriculum provides students with a broad-based, hands-on education in theatre within the context of a liberal arts degree. After completing a strong core of theatre courses, students have the flexibility to choose specialty courses based in the following areas:

  • stage directing
  • playwriting
  • theatre history
  • creative drama and puppetry
  • integrated performance
  • theatre management
  • film studies

View Theatre Studies Sequence Course Requirements

Theatre Teacher Education Sequence

This sequence is part of an entitlement program leading to a professional educator license, K-12 endorsement. The School strongly recommends that Theatre Teacher Education candidates complete an endorsement in a second teaching field. If a Theatre Teacher Education major has a second major in Acting or Production Design and Technology, the timeline to graduation will be impacted by a minimum one additional semester.  For Theatre Teacher Education students double majoring in Musical Theatre, the timelime to graduation will be impacted by at minimum one additional academic year. For Theatre Teacher Education students double majoring in any other major, the timeline to graduation will be impacted and the student should consult with academic advisors and program coordinators to look at a realistic timeline to complete the multiple majors.

Theatre Teacher Education students must maintain grades of B or better in all Theatre Teacher Education courses and C or better in all Theatre courses. A 3.0 cumulative and major GPA is essential for both admission and retention in the Theatre Teacher Education sequence.  Their progress will be evaluated each semester to ensure their success.  If a student's cummulative or major GPA falls below 3.0, they will have the opportunity to improve their grades before registering for additional Theatre Teacher Education courses.   They may repeat Theatre Teacher Education Major courses once to achieve the necessary minimum grade. It is important to complete the prerequisite courses with the required minimum grade before advancing to the next course in the series.

incoming transfer students should retake any Theatre Teacher Education courses in which they earned below a B, and any Theatre course in which they earned below a C, to align with program standards. As Theatre Teacher Education and Theatre courses are not offered every semester, it is important to enroll in them as they become available.

Students who need additional support in meeting these criteria will be placed on probation and provided with guidance to improve their performance. if a student is place on probation more than once, they may need to reconsider their path within the Theatre Teacher Education major. Our goal is to support them in acheiving their academic and professional aspirations in theatre education.

In order to provide teacher candidates with current information and meet required standards, all undergraduate Theatre Teacher Education courses (THE 185, THE 280, THE 285, THE 385) have a longevity of seven (7) years. The Theatre Teacher Education Program reserves the right to not accept any course older than seven years to fulfill the requirements of the program. If a course has been taken beyond a seven year period, the course may not count towards the Theatre Teacher Education degree.

Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education

View Theatre Teacher Education Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Theatre

18 total credit hours required
Required courses: 

  • THE 103 
  • THE 104

Additional Theatre (THE) electives to complete the 18 credit hours required

  • THE 102
  • THE 105
  • THE 110
  • THE 130
  • THE 152
  • THE 153
  • THE 154
  • THE 160
  • THE 176A01
  • THE 215
  • THE 237
  • THE 240
  • THE 251
  • THE 261
  • THE 262
  • THE 268
  • THE 275A01
  • THE 281
  • THE 300
  • THE 325
  • THE 330
  • THE 331
  • THE 334
  • THE 335
  • THE 342
  • THE 344
  • THE 345
  • THE 348
  • THE 349
  • THE 351
  • THE 354
  • THE 361
  • THE 376
  • THE 377
  • THE 378
  • THE 379

Minor in Film Studies

18 total credit hours required
Required courses:

  • THE 170
  • THE 370
  • THE 371

9 additional credit hours from:

  • ART 252
  • HIS 337
  • COM 306 or THE 306
  • THE 171
  • THE 176A02
  • THE 271
  • THE 273
  • THE 275A02
  • THE 368
  • COM 350 or THE 350

Minor in Stage Combat 

All students interested in pursuing a Minor in Stage Combat must be accepted into the School of Theatre and Dance by passing a performance audition. The number of students admitted each year is limited and is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Students must be proficient in Acting, Voice and Movement in order to be placed in the initial combat course. Students must also have a minimum of five semesters of college work remaining to satisfy the sequencing requirements of this minor. Additional information regarding application forms and auditions for the Minor in Stage Combat is available at the School of Theatre, Dance and Film website.

24 hours in Theatre required 

Required courses

  • THE 110
  • THE 210
  • THE 224
  • THE 256
  • THE 324a01
  • THE 324a02
  • THE 324a03
  • THE 324a04

Minor in Dance

Students wishing to be admitted to the Minor in Dance must apply and audition through the School of Theatre, Dance and Film. The number of students admitted each year is limited and is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Additional information regarding application forms and auditions for the Minor in Dance is available at the School of Theatre, Dance and Film website. Students must have a minimum of six semesters of college work remaining to satisfy the sequencing requirements of this minor. Students in this minor must be sufficiently proficient in ballet, jazz, and modern dance to be placed in the 200-level technique courses by audition. This minor may require more hours than listed for students with studio deficiencies.

24 total credit hours required
Required courses: 

  • DAN 112
  • DAN 125
  • DAN 205
  • DAN 207
  • DAN 219
  • DAN 305
  • DAN 319
  • DAN 372
  • DAN 373
  • THE 102 (1 credit hour)
  • THE 261

Commonly Used Links

Illinois State

  • Milner Library
  • Technology Support Center
  • Maps and Directions
  • Search/A-Z
  • Academic Calendar
  • Safety and Security
  • Download ISU Mobile Apps

Students

  • My.IllinoisState.edu
  • Student Jobs
  • Catalog
  • Canvas
  • Undocumented Students, DACA, or Dreamers
  • Veterans and Military Services

Alumni

  • Alumni Association
  • Redbird Gear
  • Events
  • Magazine
  • Traditions

Faculty and Staff

  • Work at Illinois State
  • iPeople
  • Email and Office 365
  • Center for Integrated Professional Development
  • Shared Governance and Administration

© 2025 Illinois State University, Normal, IL USA | Contact Us

Privacy Statement | Cookie Statement | Identity Standards | Appropriate Use Policy | IBHE Online Complaint System | ISU Complaint Resolution | Accessibility | CARES Act Reporting

  • I. S. U. Facebook
  • I. S. U. Twitter
  • I. S. U. Instagram
  • I. S. U. Youtube
  • I. S. U. LinkedIn
  • I. S. U. TikTok
2025-05-14T11:34:22.265914936-07:00 2025
Closing menu Closing Menu
  • Close Menu
  • My
  • Contact
  • A to Z
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Research
  • Student Life
  • Athletics
  • About Us
  • Apply
  • Visit

Getting Started

  • Incoming Freshman
  • Transfer Students
  • Graduate Students
  • International Students
  • Out of State Students
  • Military Veterans
  • Returning to ISU
  • Homeschooled Students

Non-traditional

  • En Español
  • Undocumented Students
  • Visiting Students
  • Second Bachelor's Degree
  • Parents and Families
  • Academics Overview
  • Academic Support
  • Majors
  • Minors
  • Graduate Programs
  • Pre-Professional
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Research Overview
  • Milner Library
  • Redbird Scholar
  • Student Life Overview
  • Housing
  • Dining
  • Student Organizations
  • Athletics Overview
  • GoRedbirds.com
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Administration
  • Our Community
  • Metrics of Excellence
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Traditions
  • Facility and Space Use
  • Learn How to Apply
  • What You Need Before You Apply
  • Deadlines
  • Fee and Waiver
  • Check Your Application Status
  • Disciplinary and Criminal Activity Disclosures
  • International Application Information
  • Schedule a Visit
  • Department Meetings
  • Driving Directions
  • Open House
  • Group Visits

University Resources

  • My Illinois State
  • Map
  • News
  • Events
  • Giving
Closing menu Closing Menu
OU Login