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2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog School of Theatre and Dance

Campus Box 5700

(309) 438-8783
FineArts.IllinoisState.edu

Director: Ann Haugo

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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 and Dance.

Course Finder

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Honors in Theatre and Dance

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 and Dance 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 and Dance contribute 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 and Dance.

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 and Dance. 

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, secondary 9-12 endorsement. The School strongly recommends that Theatre Teacher Education candidates complete an endorsement in a second teaching field. 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

21 total credit hours required
Required courses: 

  • THE 102 (1 credit hour)
  • THE 103 
  • THE 104
  • THE 110
  • THE 130
  • THE 160
  • THE 240

Additional Theatre (THE) electives to complete the 21 credit hours required

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 and Dance 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 and Dance. 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 and Dance 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)
  • DAN 261

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2023-05-22T08:43:29.675216-07:00 2023
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