Theatre & Dance

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Faculty

Mark J. Castle, Chair, Professor
Laura S. Byland, Professor
Don T. Sandley, Professor
David J. Glenn, Associate Professor
Chelsea R. Nicholson, Assistant Professor
Mary T. Gurney, Instructor

Accreditation

The Samford University theatre program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Musical Theatre Major (B.F.A.) 
Theatre Major (B.A.) 
Theatre Major w/a Conc in Acting & Directing (B.A.)  
Theatre Major w/a Conc in Production Design and Technology (B.A.)  
Theatre for Youth Major: Performance and Teaching Artistry (B.F.A.)  

Minors
Dance Minor 
Theatre Minor  

Interdisciplinary Minor
Film Production Interdisciplinary Minor* 
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The Department of Theatre and Dance has five challenging, innovative, interdisciplinary degree programs to prepare students for careers and vocations in the arts. We aspire to be a leader in undergraduate theatre and dance education with a commitment to the artist as a community partner and contributor. Training is accomplished by practical and lecture/lab classroom experiences that prepare the student for the professional world. At the core of the department’s mission is a commitment to character, ethics, and artistic excellence.

As part of the theatre and dance experience at Samford, School of the Arts students share an innovative curriculum, Catalyst, which is designed for the next generation of artists. The new course structure provides a collaborative and multi-disciplinary environment for students to prepare for today’s job market while developing skills to fulfill meaningful vocations. The program culminates in an immersive senior Catalyst project, providing a professional-level experience.

The department offers a major in theatre, with optional concentrations in acting and directing and production design and technology, each leading to a bachelor of arts degree. The department also offers two majors leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree: musical theatre and theatre for youth: performance and teaching artistry. Additionally, the department offers minors in dance, film production*, and theatre.
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*The film production minor is offered in cooperation with the Department of Communication and Media .

Grade Restrictions

No grade below D in music courses (MUSA, MUSC) which are required for the musical theatre major or the theatre for youth: performance and teaching artistry major will count toward fulfillment of degree requirements. Additionally, no grade below C- is allowed in courses required for advancement to the next course in the sequence (e.g., MUSC 1941, MUSC 1942). If a grade lower than C- is earned, the course must be successfully repeated. See the program tables for sequenced courses or consult your advisor.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview  in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Programs

• Musical Theatre Major (B.F.A.)
• Theatre for Youth Major: Performance and Teaching Artistry (B.F.A.)
• Theatre Major (B.A.)
• Theatre Major w/a Conc in Acting & Directing (B.A.)
• Theatre Major w/a Conc in Production Design and Technology (B.A.)

• Dance Minor
• Theatre Minor

Courses

• DANC 100 - Ballet Fundamentals (1)
• DANC 101 - Ballet I (2)
• DANC 102 - Ballet II (2)
• DANC 103 - Ballet III (1)
• DANC 201 - Jazz I (2)
• DANC 202 - Jazz II (2)
• DANC 210 - Dance Performance (0-1)
• DANC 211 - Tap Dance I (2)
• DANC 212 - Tap Dance II (2)
• DANC 213 - Tap Dance III (1)
• DANC 221 - Modern Dance I (2)
• DANC 222 - Modern Dance II (2)
• DANC 303 - Jazz III (1)
• DANC 360 - Company Dance (2)
• DANC 401 - Choreography (2)
• DANC 410 - Dance History (3)
• DANC 450 - Dance Pedagogy (2)
• DANC 451 - Musical Theatre Dance I (2)
• DANC 452 - Musical Theatre Dance II (2)

• THEA 101 - Introduction to Theatre I (1)
• THEA 102 - Introduction to Theatre II (1)
• THEA 112 - Beginning Acting (2)
• THEA 113 - Intermediate Acting (3)
• THEA 175 - Freshman Acting Workshop (1)
• THEA 201 - Theatre Production (0-1)
• THEA 242 - Fundamentals of Design (3)
• THEA 243 - Stagecraft (3)
• THEA 312 - Acting Methods (3)
• THEA 313 - Acting Styles (3)
• THEA 322 - Beginning Directing (3)
• THEA 323 - Advanced Directing (3)
• THEA 324 - Directing for Theatre for Young Audiences (3)
• THEA 330 - Theatre History and Literature I (3)
• THEA 332 - Theatre History and Literature II (3)
• THEA 341 - Set Design (3)
• THEA 342 - Scenic Art for the Theatre (3)
• THEA 343 - Lighting Design (3)
• THEA 344 - Makeup Design (3)
• THEA 345 - Costume Design (3)
• THEA 346 - Sound Design (3)
• THEA 347 - Stage Management (3)
• THEA 350 - Business of the Arts (2)
• THEA 360 - Creative Drama (3)
• THEA 361 - Theatre for Youth Tour (2)
• THEA 362 - Theatre for Youth Community Engagement (1)
• THEA 363 - Introduction to Puppetry (3)
• THEA 370 - Stage Combat (3)
• THEA 375 - Acting Workshop (1)
• THEA 380 - History of Fashion and Costume (3)
• THEA 391 - Theatre for Youth Ensemble (0-1)
• THEA 393 - Collaborative Theatre: Using Imagination, Commitment, and Risk-Taking to Devise Original Work (1)
• THEA 394 - Musical Theatre Ensemble (0-1)
• THEA 395 - Improv Ensemble (1)
• THEA 396 - Studio Ensemble (1)
• THEA 397 - Acting Ensemble (0-1)
• THEA 398 - Technical Theatre Ensemble (0-1)
• THEA 414 - Playwriting (3)
• THEA 415 - Advanced Playwriting (3)
• THEA 424 - Theatre Internship (3)
• THEA 443 - Computer Aided Design (3)
• THEA 450 - Capstone Course (3)
• THEA 455 - Directed Studies in Theatre (3)
• THEA 463 - Theatre for Youth Curriculum Development (3)
• THEA 464 - Theatre for Youth History and Literature (3)

• FLMT 310 - Screenwriting (3)
• FLMT 371 - Acting for the Camera (3)