Dramatic Arts (B.A.)
At-a-Glance
Minimum hours required for major: 42
Minimum hours required for minor: 22
The major in Dramatic Arts is designed to enable students to study theatre for the purpose of entering the professional theatre, preparing for graduate work with the expectation of teaching, or building a base which is useful in association with the fields of recreation, public relations, community development, and human communication.
Theatre at Cleveland State is viewed in the liberal-arts tradition as being part of the cultural heritage of our civilization. In both its practice and its content, theatre is relevant to 21st-century life in all phases. Through classes and strong production orientation, students with this major can expect improvement in oral expression; motor skills; increased understanding of themselves and others; and illumination of major social, political, philosophical, moral, and psychological issues.
Major-Field Requirements
All Dramatic Arts majors are required to successfully complete a minimum of 42 credit hours consisting of the core curriculum (23 hours) and one specialization track (19 to 26 hours).
Core Curriculum to be completed by graduation:
- DRA 101 Production Practicum (6 credits with a minimum of 2 hours each in technical and performance activity)
- DRA 211 History of the Theatre I (3 credits)
- DRA 212 History of the Theatre II (3 credits)
- DRA 213 History of the Theatre III (3 credits)
- DRA 225 Principles of Acting (4 credits)
- DRA 491 Comprehensive Exam (4 credits)
TOTAL 23 credit hours
Specialization tracks:
The specialization tracks are designed to offer the student the main areas of concentration demanded by professional theatre or expected of the modern academician.
The acting track focuses on acting skills while emphasizing the relation of acting to the ancillary disciplines that directly affect the actor. An actor should know and understand the work of the director and the various designers and artisans of the "technical theatre" in order to meet the challenges of a professional career or graduate education.
- DRA 200 Intro to Tech Theatre (4 credits)
- DRA 321 Voice and Movement (4 credits)
- DRA 325 Intermediate Acting (4 credits)
- DRA 331 Principles of Directing (4 credits)
- DRA 381 Theatre Organization and Management (4 credits)
- DRA 425 Advanced Acting (4 credits)
TOTAL 24 credit hours
The successful director is one who is able to make informed decisions about every aspect of production from acting and design to movement and staging. The emphasis on directing courses augments a broad range of necessary skills courses needed to pursue an academic or professional career.
- DRA 200 Intro to Tech Theatre (4 credits)
- DRA 300 Stage Management (3 credits) or
DRA 301 Lighting Design (3 credits) or
DRA 351 Theatre Makeup (3 credits) or
DRA 352 Creative Dramatics (3 credits) - DRA 325 Intermediate Acting (4 credits) or
DRA 425 Advanced Acting (4 credits) or
DRA 461(ENG 305) Playwriting (4 credits) - DRA 331 Principles of Directing (4 credits)
- DRA 332 Advanced Directing (4 credits)
TOTAL 19 credit hours
A designer needs to know the various collaborations necessary to the creative process. A successful will understand the actor's and director's process in order to successfully create and communicate his or her ideas. Practical experience and a portfolio are essentials for both the professional theatre and admission to a graduate program in technical theatre.
- DRA 200 Introduction to Technical Theatre (3 credits)
- DRA 301 Lighting Design (3 credits)
- DRA 331 Principles of Directing (4 credits)
Subtotal: 11 credit hours
- DRA 391 Costume History & Design (3 credits)
- DRA 496 Construction & Drafting IS (3 credits)
- DRA 496 Millinery and Accessories IS (2 credits)
Costume Subtotal: 8 credit hours
- DRA 371 Scene Design I (4 credits)
- DRA 372 Scene Design II (4 credits)
Scene Design Subtotal: 8 credit hours
TOTAL Technical Theatre Track 19 to 21 credit hours
"Playwrights who know nothing of the practical aspects of the theatre are writing for the closet not the stage." --George Bernard Shaw. This major track, designed in collaboration with Creative Writing, will be a unique program focusing on plays in performance.
- DRA 200 Intro to Tech Theatre (4 credits)
- ENG 303 Creative Writing (4 credits)
- DRA 321 (ENG 351) Contemporary Theatre (4 credits)
- DRA 331 Principles of Directing (4 credits)
- DRA 461 (ENG 305) Playwriting (4 credits)
TOTAL 20 credit hours
5. Dramatic Arts Content for Teaching track:
This track is designed for students contemplating a career in teaching at the elementary, middle-school, or high-school levels. This course of study is to be completed before commencing a Post-baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program in the College of Education and Human Services. (See note below.)
- DRA 200 Introduction to Technical Theatre (4 credits)
- DRA 300 Stage Management (3 credits) or
DRA 391 Costume History & Design (3 credits) - DRA 331 Principles of Directing (4 credits)
- DRA 352 Creative Dramatics (3 credits)
- DRA 353 Children's Theatre (3 credits) or
DRA 354 Puppet Production (3 credits) - DRA 381 Theatre Organization and Management (4 credits)
TOTAL 21 credit hours
Note: Students wishing to pursue a career teaching dramatic arts should investigate the certification or licensing requirements of the state in which they would like to teach. Post-baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Programs are available through the College of Education and Human Services, which offers a variety of teacher preparation programs for college graduates who have had little or no professional training in education. While most of these programs lead to licensure, most of the course work they require cannot be applied to a graduate degree. The course work in the professional education track is designed to fulfill licensing requirements for a teacher of the arts in Ohio in the coming years. Currently no undergraduate program for teaching theatre exists in the College of Education and Human Services at Cleveland State.
Drama Minor
Requirements
Minimum Total
22 credit hours total (minimum):
- DRA 101 Production Practicum (2 credits)
- DRA 200 Introduction to Technical Theatre (3 credits)
- DRA 211 Theatre History I (3 credits) or
DRA 212 Theatre History II (3 credits) or
DRA 213 Theatre History III (3 credits) - DRA 225 Principles of Acting (4 credits)
From the following groups (at least one from each group) for a total of 12 hours:
Group A
- DRA 300 Stage Management (3 credits)
- DRA 301 Lighting Design (3 credits)
- DRA 351 Theatre Makeup (3 credits)
- DRA 371 Scene Design I (4 credits)
- DRA 391 Costume History and Design (3 credits)
Group B
- DRA 216 African American Theatre (3 credits)
- DRA 321 Contemporary Drama (4 credits)
- DRA 381 Theatre Organization and Management (4 credits)
- DRA 451 Theatre Criticism (4 credits)
Group C
- DRA 325 Intermediate Acting (4 credits)
- DRA 326 Voice and Movement (4 credits)
- DRA 331 Principles of Directing (4 credits)
- DRA 354 Puppet Production (3 credits)
- DRA 461 Playwriting (4 credits)