Contact
Eric S. Kildow
Associate Professor & Theatre Director
330-675-8829
ekildow@kent.edu
Eric S. Kildow
Associate Professor & Theatre Director
330-675-8829
ekildow@kent.edu
黑料网's Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies offers students a comprehensive education in the theory, history, and practice of theatre. The program provides a balanced approach, blending academic exploration of theatre with practical, hands-on experiences in performance, production, and stage management. Students engage with a wide range of theatrical styles and genres, from classical works to contemporary theatre, while also developing critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills. Through coursework, performances, and internships, students gain a deep understanding of the cultural, social, and historical significance of theatre. Graduates are prepared for careers in theatre production, education, arts administration, and other creative industries, as well as further study in graduate programs.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies gives students an opportunity for study in all aspects of theatre and its relationship to other liberal arts studies. This program serves students who seek a wider range of possibilities to fulfill individual creative goals, whether as theatre artists, scholars, educators and/or contributors in related fields. Students receive thorough grounding in theatre history and theory and learn imaginative and critical thinking, the process of making theatre and leadership skills.
The Theatre Studies major comprises the following concentrations:
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
THEA 11100 | MAKING THEATRE: CULTURE AND PRACTICE | 2 |
THEA 11303 | THE ART OF ACTING | 3 |
THEA 11722 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION I: SCENERY, STAGECRAFT AND SOUND | 2 |
THEA 11723 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY I: SCENERY | 1 |
THEA 11724 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY II: PROPS AND SCENIC ART | 1 |
THEA 11732 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION II: COSTUMES, LIGHTING AND PROJECTIONS | 2 |
THEA 11733 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY III: COSTUMES | 1 |
THEA 11734 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY IV: LIGHTING, SOUND AND PROJECTIONS | 1 |
THEA 21111 | SCRIPT ANALYSIS | 3 |
THEA 22092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) 1 | 6 |
or THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM II: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) | |
THEA 31110 | HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA I | 3 |
THEA 31111 | HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA II | 3 |
THEA 41999 | CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) | 3 |
Concentration Elective (not from students' declared concentration) | 3 | |
Writing-Intensive Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
DAN 47163 | DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 2 | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 2 | |
THEA 41620 | HISTORY OF PERIOD STYLES FOR THEATRE DESIGNERS (WIC) 2 | |
Theatre Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
DAN 47163 | DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 2 | |
THEA 41010 | THEATRE AND SOCIAL CHANGE | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41113 | THEATRE IN A MULTICULTURAL AMERICA (DIVD) | |
THEA 41115 | LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD) | |
THEA 41130 | THEATRE AND DRAMA IN AMERICA | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 2 | |
THEA 41191 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR: THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THEORY 1 | |
THEA 41620 | HISTORY OF PERIOD STYLES FOR THEATRE DESIGNERS (WIC) 2 | |
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
6 | ||
3 | ||
9 | ||
6 | ||
6-7 | ||
6 | ||
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) | 19 | |
Concentrations | ||
Choose from the following: | 21 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
Course is repeatable for credit.
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
THEA 21303 | ACTING PROCESS | 3 |
THEA 31303 | CHARACTER AND SCENE STUDY I | 3 |
THEA 31304 | CHARACTER AND SCENE STUDY II | 3 |
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 12 | |
THEA 21016 | MAKEUP FOR STAGE AND SCREEN | |
THEA 21700 | MOVEMENT I | |
THEA 21800 | VOICE I | |
THEA 22192 | PRACTICUM I: PERFORMANCE (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 31401 | DIRECTING | |
THEA 31701 | MOVEMENT II | |
THEA 31801 | VOICE II | |
THEA 41095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE 2 | |
THEA 41301 | ACTING FOR THE CAMERA I | |
THEA 41302 | ACTING FOR THE CAMERA II | |
THEA 41305 | PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: PERFORMANCE | |
THEA 41308 | MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITION | |
THEA 41529 | ADVANCED WIG AND MAKEUP TECHNIQUES-STAGE AND SCREEN | |
THEA 41702 | MOVEMENT AND DANCE FOR ACTORS | |
THEA 42192 | PRACTICUM II: PERFORMANCE (ELR) | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
Course is repeatable for credit.
THEA 41095 should be taken in variable performance seminars.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 21 | |
THEA 21016 | MAKEUP FOR STAGE AND SCREEN | |
THEA 21521 | THEATRICAL DRAFTING | |
THEA 21522 | LIGHTING DESIGN | |
THEA 21523 | COSTUME TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21524 | COSTUME DESIGN | |
THEA 21526 | BASIC COSTUME CONSTRUCTION | |
THEA 21528 | SOUND AND PROJECTION DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21621 | SCENE PAINTING | |
THEA 21622 | SCENE DESIGN | |
THEA 21736 | STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 22092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 22192 | PRACTICUM I: PERFORMANCE (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 22292 | PRACTICUM I:THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 31526 | FLAT PATTERNING FOR THEATRE | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41027 | ADVANCED PLAYWRITING 1 | |
THEA 41095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE 1, 3 | |
THEA 41130 | THEATRE AND DRAMA IN AMERICA | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 2 | |
THEA 41191 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR: THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THEORY 1 | |
THEA 41306 | PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 41531 | THEATRICAL RIGGING | |
THEA 41540 | DRAPING FOR THE THEATRE I | |
THEA 41560 | THEATRE FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 41736 | PRODUCTION AND STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM II: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 42192 | PRACTICUM II: PERFORMANCE (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 42292 | PRACTICUM II: THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) 1 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
Course is repeatable for credit.
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
THEA 41095 should be taken in variable production seminars.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 21 | |
DAN 47156 | DANCE PRODUCTION | |
THEA 20202 | MUSIC THEORY FOR MUSICAL THEATRE I | |
THEA 20203 | MUSIC THEORY FOR MUSICAL THEATRE II | |
THEA 21521 | THEATRICAL DRAFTING | |
THEA 21522 | LIGHTING DESIGN | |
THEA 21523 | COSTUME TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21528 | SOUND AND PROJECTION DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21736 | STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 22092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 22292 | PRACTICUM I:THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 31401 | DIRECTING | |
THEA 41095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE 2 | |
THEA 41096 | INDEPENDENT STUDY IN THEATRE | |
THEA 41191 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR: THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THEORY 1 | |
THEA 41306 | PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 41420 | THEATRICAL DRAFTING II | |
THEA 41440 | SHOP MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 41523 | SOUND DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY I | |
THEA 41525 | PROPS AND CRAFTS | |
THEA 41527 | SOUND DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY II | |
THEA 41528 | THEATRE SOUND REINFORCEMENT | |
THEA 41726 | THEATRE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 41734 | COSTUME PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 41736 | PRODUCTION AND STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM II: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 42292 | PRACTICUM II: THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) 1 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
Course is repeatable for credit.
THEA 41095 should be taken in variable management seminars.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
THEA 40091 | VARIABLE TOPICS SEMINAR: DEVISING THEATRE | 3 |
THEA 41010 | THEATRE AND SOCIAL CHANGE | 3 |
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 15 | |
DAN 47063 | DANCE HISTORY I | |
DAN 47163 | DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 22092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) | |
THEA 22192 | PRACTICUM I: PERFORMANCE (ELR) 2 | |
THEA 22292 | PRACTICUM I:THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) | |
THEA 31401 | DIRECTING | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41027 | ADVANCED PLAYWRITING 2 | |
THEA 41095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE 2 | |
THEA 41113 | THEATRE IN A MULTICULTURAL AMERICA (DIVD) | |
THEA 41115 | LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD) | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 41191 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR: THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THEORY | |
THEA 41401 | ADVANCED DIRECTING | |
THEA 41620 | HISTORY OF PERIOD STYLES FOR THEATRE DESIGNERS (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM II: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) | |
THEA 42192 | PRACTICUM II: PERFORMANCE (ELR) 2 | |
THEA 42292 | PRACTICUM II: THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
Course is repeatable for credit.
Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.500 | 2.000 |
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Semester One | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
THEA 11100 | MAKING THEATRE: CULTURE AND PRACTICE | 2 | |
THEA 11303 | THE ART OF ACTING | 3 | |
UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 | |
Fundamentals of Production Elective | 2 | ||
Fundamentals of Production Laboratories | 2 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 16 | ||
Semester Two | |||
THEA 22092 or THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) or PRACTICUM II: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) | 3 | |
Fundamentals of Production Elective | 2 | ||
Fundamentals of Production Laboratories | 2 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
General Elective | 2 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Three | |||
THEA 21111 | SCRIPT ANALYSIS | 3 | |
THEA 22092 or THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) or PRACTICUM II: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) | 3 | |
Concentration Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
General Elective | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Four | |||
Concentration Elective/Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
General Elective | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Five | |||
! | THEA 31110 | HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA I | 3 |
Concentration Elective/Requirement | 3 | ||
Concentration Elective (not from students' declared concentration) | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
General Elective | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Six | |||
! | THEA 31111 | HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA II | 3 |
Concentration Elective/Requirement | 3 | ||
Theatre Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Seven | |||
THEA 41999 | CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) | 3 | |
or Kent Core Requirement | |||
Concentration Elective | 3 | ||
Theatre Elective | 3 | ||
General Electives | 6 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Eight | |||
THEA 41999 | CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) | 3 | |
or Kent Core Requirement | |||
Concentration Electives | 6 | ||
Writing-Intensive Elective | 3 | ||
General Elective | 2 | ||
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
The B.A. degree in Theatre Studies is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).
Graduates of Kent State鈥檚 B.A. Degree in Theatre Studies are well-prepared for careers in performance, directing, production, and arts management. The program鈥檚 comprehensive curriculum emphasizes the study of theatre history, theory, and practice, equipping students with the skills to analyze, create, and critique theatrical works. Graduates often pursue roles as actors, directors, stage managers, and theatre educators, contributing to the performing arts, cultural organizations, and educational institutions.
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