Theatre and Dance

Return to: School of the Arts

Faculty

Don T. Sandley, Chair, Professor
Eric E. Olson, Professor
Laura S. Byland, Associate Professor
Mark J. Castle, Associate Professor
David J. Glenn, Assistant Professor
J. Clayton Winters, Assistant Professor

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

The Department of Theatre and Dance in the School of the Arts offers a major in theatre leading to a bachelor of arts degree and a major in musical theatre leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree. Much of the training is accomplished by practical experience that also provides cultural and intellectual stimuli to campus and community life. These activities include main-stage theatre productions, experimental plays, workshops, visiting artists, and sponsorship of many theatre productions. Students seeking admission to either the B.A. in theatre or the B.F.A. in musical theatre degree programs should contact the theatre and dance department to arrange for an audition and interview.

Theatre students are required to complete oral examinations each spring semester covering the prescribed reading list. Students will also display a current portfolio at the end of the spring semester and upon approval will be advanced to the next level courses.

The department also offers minors in dance and theatre and, in cooperation with the Department of Art and the Division of Music, offers an interdisciplinary minor in the arts. In cooperation with the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, the department also offers a minor in film production.

Accreditation

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

University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements

See University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements  in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses. General Education Requirements are detailed in the individual degree tables, with some exceptions. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, consult the University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements  section for a list of applicable courses. Students may count one semester of DANC 100 , DANC 101 , DANC 102 , DANC 201 , DANC 202 , DANC 211 , DANC 212 , DANC 221 , or  DANC 222  for one general education physical activity course, but only if the course is not also required for the student’s major or minor. Theatre minors majoring in fields outside the School of the Arts  may substitute THEA 101  and THEA 102  for THEA 200 - Theatre Appreciation (2)  to satisfy, in part, their general education fine arts requirement.

Programs

• Musical Theatre Major, B.F.A.
• Theatre Major, B.A.

• Dance Minor
• Theatre Minor

• Film Production Interdisciplinary Minor (Theatre and Dance)
• Minor in the Arts (Theatre and Dance)

Courses

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

• THEA 101 - Introduction to Theatre I (1)
• THEA 102 - Introduction to Theatre II (1)
• THEA 175 - Freshman Acting Workshop (1)
• THEA 200 - Theatre Appreciation (2)
• THEA 201 - Theatre Production (0-1)
• THEA 212 - Acting I (3)
• THEA 242 - Fundamentals of Design (3)
• THEA 243 - Stagecraft (3)
• THEA 312 - Acting II (3)
• THEA 313 - Acting III (3)
• THEA 316 - Auditioning and Professional Development (2)
• THEA 322 - Beginning Directing (3)
• THEA 323 - Advanced Directing (3)
• THEA 324 - Directing for Theatre for Young Audience (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 375 - Acting Workshop (1)
• THEA 380 - History of Fashion and Costume (3)
• 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 - Creative Drama (3)
• THEA 424 - Theatre Internship (3)
• THEA 434 - American Musical Theatre History (2)
• THEA 443 - Computer Aided Design (3)
• THEA 450 - Capstone Course (3)
• THEA 455 - Directed Studies in Theatre (3)

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

Return to: School of the Arts