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Theatre Track Major Requirements

Visual and Dramatic Arts
School of Humanities
Degree Requirements for BA in Visual & Dramatic Arts, Theatre Track

Single Major (13 courses required)

ARTS 225, Basic Drawing (ARTS 101 accepted as equivalent)
THEA 100, Theatre Technology or THEA 101, Costume/Clothing Construction
THEA 300, Introduction to Theatre Design or THEA 301, Acting I
THEA 303, Introduction to Theatre
THEA 331, Theatre Production-Crew

ARTS 388, Critical Studies for Studio Practice – This counts as 1 of the 2 elective courses in theory/criticism. Must be taken during Freshman, Sophomore, or concurrent in Junior year.

Six (6) elective courses in theatre (THEA), studio arts practice (ARTS), or film (FILM). May not include more than three (3) studio arts practice (ARTS) or film (FILM).
One (1) elective course in visual arts studio practice (ARTS), film production, history, or theory/criticism (FILM), dramatic literature (ENGL), or art history (HART). NOTE: Open selections qualified by course prerequisites. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with a Visual and Dramatic Arts faculty advisor.
Junior Field Trip (recommended)

NOTE: Open selections qualified by course prerequisites. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with a visual and dramatic arts faculty advisor.

Double Major (11 courses required)

ARTS 225, Basic Drawing (ARTS 101 accepted as equivalent)
THEA 100, Theatre Technology or THEA 101, Costume/Clothing Construction
THEA 300, Introduction to Theatre Design, or THEA 301 Acting I
THEA 303, Introduction to Theatre
THEA 331, Theatre Production-Crew
ARTS 388, Critical Studies for Studio Practice – This counts as 1 of the 2 elective courses in theory/criticism. Must be taken during Freshman, Sophomore, or concurrent in Junior year.
Four (4) elective courses in theatre (THEA), studio arts practice (ARTS), or film (FILM). May not include more than two (2) studio arts practice (ARTS) or film (FILM).
One (1) elective course in visual arts studio practice (ARTS), film production, history, or theory/criticism (FILM), dramatic literature (ENGL), or art history (HART). NOTE: Open selections qualified by course prerequisites. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with a Visual and Dramatic Arts faculty advisor.
Junior Field Trip (recommended)

NOTE: Open selections qualified by course prerequisites. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with a visual and performing arts faculty advisor.

Theatre track majors are strongly encouraged to explore arts-related courses offered in other departments that may enrich their theatre major, such as: philosophy, anthropology, science, history, cultural studies, language, writing, comparative studies, etc. Students should speak with their Visual and Dramatic Arts faculty advisor prior to enrolling.

The junior year field trip will be designed to help all VADA majors focus on the upcoming senior year of intensive production work. Trips may include local Houston alternative art, theatre, and film venues, museums, artist studios, and exhibitions as well as travel to destinations within the United States to visit significant arts sites and works.

Transfer Credit

No more than two courses may be transferred for the single or double major to satisfy degree requirements for BA in Visual and Dramatic Arts degree. The two transfer credit courses must be studio, film, or theatre practice courses required for all majors. Advanced placement credit may not be used by visual arts majors to fulfill department degree requirements.

Entering transfer students who are transferring coursework from another accredited college or university will be allowed to transfer their undergraduate art courses. Students must speak with the department chairman immediately upon transferring to Rice.

The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts will accept academic work completed in the Spring at NYU program and the National Theater Institute, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center program as transfer credit to fulfill major requirements (following university transfer credit guidelines).

See also Transfer Credit in the Information for Undergraduate Students section of the Rice University General Announcements.

Rice Theatre Program

Rice Theatre Program curriculum offers a solid foundation in all aspects of theatrical production from acting and directing to technology and design for students who wish to pursue a professional career in theatre or continue on to a graduate program. Theatre courses are also open to non-majors who want to gain a greater appreciation for the art of theatre.

There are two main-stage productions (one fall and one spring) and two student showcases offered each year in Hamman Hall--a 500-seat proscenium theatre facility. The department invites distinguished guest artists each year to direct and produce the two main-stage productions. Participation in productions is open to all students currently enrolled in theatre courses as well as students who have taken theatre courses as non-majors. The end of semester showcases feature the work of students currently enrolled in theatre courses.

Theatre Program faculty are actively involved in professional theatre and film locally, nationally, and internationally and actively pursue opportunities to involve advanced students in that work. In addition, advanced students are encouraged to apply for internship positions whenever possible. Rice students have been accepted in competitive internships such as The Alley Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and The Peter Hall Company. In addition, students are encouraged to study theatre abroad and transfer course credit back to Rice. Approval for transfer credit must be sought prior to enrollment in a study-abroad program by contacting the director of the Theatre Program.

In even number years, the Theatre Program, sponsored by the Alan and Shirley Grob Endowment for Shakespeare in Performance, hosts the Actors From the London Stage--one of the oldest established touring Shakespeare theater companies in the world--for a week-long residency of workshops, performances, and lectures. Each tour presents a full-length play by Shakespeare performed by five classically trained actors who come from such prestigious companies as the Royal Shakespeare Company; the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain; and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

Exhibitions, Lectures, and Arts Programs at Rice

The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts mounts several art and photography exhibitions and stage productions each year. In addition, exhibitions and related activities organized by the Rice University Art Gallery enrich the teaching program of the Department of Visual Arts as well as the larger university and Houston communities.

The department enjoys an ongoing close relationship with local theatres, museums, and galleries. The department offers opportunities for students to work and study with local art venues and alternative art spaces by way collaborative events and programs. The collections and exhibitions of local museums are often the subject of course lectures.

Lectures, symposia, and talks are sponsored by the department and are designed to bring local, national, and international scholars, actors, directors, critics, and studio artists to campus to speak on a broad range of topics and current interests.

National Theater Institute

The National Theater Institute is the educational arm of the renowned Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. The program is designed to complement a liberal arts education with three distinct study-away programs, all offering rigorous, risk-taking theater exploration. The semester long program at the O'Neill Center in Connecticut, the NTI Moscow Art Theater semester and the 7-week Theatermakers summer program confront the serious theater student with opportunities to discover new creative possibilities.

The National Theater Institute offers an extensive conservatory-based training program for the dedicated student. Distinguished master teaching artists guide the classes in courses in acting, directing, design, playwrighting, stage combat, voice and movement. The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts will accept academic work completed at the National Theater Institute as transfer credit to fulfill major requirements (following university transfer credit guidelines).