Faculty
Todd Dicken, M.F.A.
Senior Lecturer
Bliss Hall 1026
330.941.1857
twdicken@ysu.edu
Katherine Garlick, M.F.A.
Associate Professor
Bliss Hall 1016
330.941.1852
kngarlick@ysu.edu
About the Major
YSU’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Theatre Studies is a professional and flexible course of study that combines a major emphasis in theatre, grounded in theory and practice, with a traditional liberal arts education. The comprehensive curriculum offers courses in acting, directing, stage management and production, design technology, film studies, video production, and playwriting. The curriculum allows students to explore the world of professional theatre from multiple perspectives and to augment their studies with a Minor or Certificate in a field of their choice (e.g., Graphic + Interactive Design Minor, Certificate in Audio and Music Production, Entrepreneurship Minor).
Students may pursue a multi-faceted curriculum, choose an established emphasis within the B.A. in Theatre Studies—which includes Acting/Directing or Tech/Design—or combine interests through the flexibility that the liberal arts degree offers. Students may also choose to enroll in the separate Film/Video Studies Track of the B.A. in Theatre Studies, which has its own dedicated curriculum that prepares students for careers as film makers, video game designers, videographers, and more in a variety of industries. Students learn actively through multiple experiences with filming production and editing. These highly engaged internship opportunities augment a creative and progressive curriculum.
Our alumni may be seen regionally, nationally, and internationally across the theatre and entertainment industries. Our graduates are found on stage and screen—from Tony Award-winning Hadestown to Days of Our Lives—and receiving nominations and awards from The Tonys to The GRAMMYS®. Our dynamic programs also empower our alumni to become successful directors, designers, choreographers, and more at the national level, including at the Great Lakes Theatre Festival and similar venues. Our students hone their artistic and technical abilities and also develop a range of other valuable transferable proficiencies. They earn degrees in areas about which they are passionate, and their skills are applicable to careers in numerous professions across the theatre and entertainment industries and more.
Contact Information
To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, professional development and careers, performances, faculty, and students, visit University Theatre or contact us at 330.941.3810.
To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330.941.2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to learn about your interests, talk with you about our programs, and become an important part of your future.
Grade of "C" or better is required for all major and minor courses. Courses cannot be taken "CR/NC".
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Any Gen Ed Math (Recommended MATH 2623) | 3 | |
| Art and Humanities (2 courses) Included in Major | 0 | |
| Natural Science (2 courses, 1 with lab) | 7 | |
| Social Science (2 courses) | 6 | |
| General Education Electives | 9 | |
Any Gen Ed Course (3 s.h.) | ||
Any Gen Ed Course (3 s.h.) | ||
Any Gen Ed Course (3 s.h.) | ||
| Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| FNLG 1501 | Conversational Foreign Language 1 | 3 |
| FNLG 1502 | Conversational Foreign Language 2 | 3 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| THTR 1512 | Survey of Broadway: The American Musical *Art and Humanities Requirement | 3 |
| THTR 1559 | Production Design for Stage and Screen | 3 |
| THTR 1560 | Introduction to Theatre *Art and Humanities Requirement | 3 |
| THTR 1561 | Stagecraft | 3 |
| THTR 1563 | Costume Construction and Craft | 3 |
| THTR 1585 | Acting 1: Fundamentals | 3 |
| THTR 2600 | Theatre Participation (must be repeated 3 times for a total of 3 s.h.) | 3 |
| THTR 2640 | Theatre History | 3 |
| THTR 2661 | Introduction to Stage Management | 3 |
| THTR 3700 | Theatre Participation 2 (must be repeated four times for a total of 4 s.h.) | 4 |
| THTR 3701 | Professional Preparation | 3 |
| THTR 3768 | Script Analysis for Stage and Screen | 3 |
| THTR 4898 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Theatre Electives: Select 24 s.h. (21 s.h. must be 3700 or above) | 24 | |
| Movement Elective | 1 | |
| Select One (DNCE 1540, DNCE 1570, DNCE 1571, DNCE 1572, KSS 1514, KSS 1550, KSS 1552) | ||
| Minor (12 s.h. total, 4 s.h. of which must by 2600 or above, 6 s.h. of which must be 3700 or above) | 12 | |
| Electives to reach 120 | 5 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| THTR 1559 | Production Design for Stage and Screen | 3 |
| THTR 1560 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| THTR 1585 | Acting 1: Fundamentals | 3 |
| THTR 2600 | Theatre Participation | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 14-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| THTR 1561 | Stagecraft | 3 |
| THTR 2600 | Theatre Participation | 1 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Any Gen Ed Math | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THTR 1563 | Costume Construction and Craft | 3 |
| THTR 2600 | Theatre Participation | 1 |
| THTR 3768 | Script Analysis for Stage and Screen | 3 |
| FNLG 1550 | Elementary Foreign Language | 4 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| THTR 2640 | Theatre History | 3 |
| THTR 3700 | Theatre Participation 2 | 1 |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| FNLG 2600 | Intermediate Foreign Language | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THTR 2661 | Introduction to Stage Management | 3 |
| THTR 3700 | Theatre Participation 2 | 1 |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Any Gen Ed Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| THTR 3700 | Theatre Participation 2 | 1 |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science + Lab | 4 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Any Gen Ed Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THTR 1512 | Survey of Broadway: The American Musical | 3 |
| THTR 3700 | Theatre Participation 2 | 1 |
| THTR 3701 | Professional Preparation | 3 |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| Movement Elective | 1 | |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| THTR 4898 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| Select 1 Theatre Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Any Gen Ed Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
Learning Outcomes
- Public Performances: Students will competently create and present public theatre events, either as performers, designers, or technicians.
- Knowledge of History and Cultural Dimensions: Students will explain the history and cultural influences of and upon the institution of theatre throughout the ages.
- Informed Assessments of Quality: Students will critically evaluate works of theatre.
- Critical Thinking: Students will define a desired goal in creating a work of theatre and devise a plan to achieve that goal.