A background in theatre, music, or art is most helpful but not required to be a successful theatre major. Performance experience can come from a variety of areas including high school theatre and musical performances, church plays, community theatres, etc.
Admission into the Major
Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students can declare a major by completing the Change of Major/Minor Application online under the Student tab of myBama.
Special Opportunities
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers various areas of study leading to the BA degree in theatre. These areas include acting, musical theatre, arts management and administration, design and technical production, and costume design and production. Please see the principal advisor in each of these areas for suggested courses.
The highly motivated student who seeks to be well prepared for either the profession or graduate education may choose to take more hours in the major than the specified 36. This plan of action is highly desirable and strongly advised, but is not required. If more than 42 hours are accrued in the major, the student will be exceeding the 120-credit-hour requirement for graduation by the number of hours taken over the single-subject 42-semester-hour limit.
Students earning the bachelor of arts (BA) degree with a major in theatre must complete all University, College and departmental degree requirements. These include the general education requirements, the following major requirements, all requirements for an approved minor and other sufficient credits to total a minimum of 120 applicable semester hours.
| Code and Title | Hours |
| TH 114 | Intro To The Theatre | 3 |
| TH 141 | Acting I | 3 |
| TH 191 | Practicum I | 1 |
| TH 220 or | Fundamentals of Stagecraft | 3 |
| TH 231 | Beginning Costume Construction |
| TH 291 | Practicum II | 1 |
| TH 361 or | Beginning Directing | 3 |
| TH 470 | Theatre Management |
| TH 391 | Practicum III | 1 |
| TH 451 | Hist Of The Theatre I | 3 |
| TH 452 | History Of The Theatre II | 3 |
| 1 |
| 14 |
| 36 |
| Total Hours | 36 |
Grade Point Average
A 2.0 grade point average in the major is required for completion of the degree. Please see the Grades and Grade Points section of this catalog for an explanation on grade point average calculations.
Upper-level Residency
A minimum of 12 hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be earned on this campus.
Ancillary Courses
The theatre major does not require ancillary courses (for exceptions, see Theatre Major: Musical Theatre Concentration section of this catalog).
Required Minor
The theatre major requires the completion of a minor (for exceptions, see Theatre Major: Musical Theatre Concentration section of this catalog).
Additional Major Requirements
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all University, College, major and minor requirements. However, each student must meet with an adviser in the major department for academic planning and to be approved for registration each semester. College advisers are also available for additional assistance with minor, College and University requirements.
Commercial theatre in NY, Chicago and LA, regional theatre, film and television, education, theme parks, cruise ships, scenery and costume studios, technical production companies.
Types of Jobs Accepted
film and television performance; production personnel in regional theatre; sales and technical personnel in production companies; high school educators; business and performance management; graduate school
Jobs of Experienced Alumni
executive director; NYC (Broadway Theatre); national Broadway tours; television and film acting; cruise ships, production and design positions at major regional theatres; production and design positions at major regional theme parks; university and high school educators; management at all levels in entertainment industry
Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center
