Overview
Our BA in Theatre Practices is designed to be personalized to you; we challenge students to create a path to the theatre profession that is authentic to your interests and your goals. And because you’ll learn alongside other creative and passionate students, you have a supportive and inspirational community to support you. Our respectful, ethical and accessible environment means you are allowed to express yourself in significant and meaningful ways.
We know that as artists, we have the potential to dream, imagine and engage the world through our craft. Our faculty teach theatre as a way of exploring and positively affecting society and the people in it.
Our personalized curriculum provides you with a comprehensive education in theatre practices while ensuring you develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, effective communication and a knack for collaboration. You’ll take a variety of courses and top it off with an opportunity to showcase your skills in a final capstone project of your choice.
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Faculty and Staff
Our inspirational faculty and staff make sure students feel welcome and empowered to think outside the box and explore all possibilities of making art at UWM. Visit the Peck School of the Arts directory to meet these artists, explore their biographies and engage with recent work.
Scholarships and Aid
Financial constraints shouldn’t hinder your artistic dreams. Our comprehensive range of scholarships and aid programs is designed to empower and support artists like you.
Study Abroad
We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate applicants must meet general University admission requirements in addition to specific program requirements found on the Peck School of the Arts apply page.
Undergraduate Advising
Academic advising is a collaborative process that empowers students to realize their maximum educational potential. Students are encouraged to visit the Peck School of the Arts Advising & Student Services page to meet with your advisor prior to each semester’s registration period. Advisors provide students with individualized appointments to assist with degree requirements, course selection, campus resources, college success strategies, graduation assessment, academic policies and more.
Laptop Requirement
Preparing for a future defined by digital technology is an important step in developing artists. Our digitally integrated curriculum helps you achieve a professional level with leading art-related software and practices.
Laptop ownership is strongly recommended for all students. However, it’s required for most majors. For more information, please visit the Peck School of the Arts admission page.
Advance to Major and Retention
Theatre faculty will assess students' academic and artistic growth through grade reports and/or individual conferences at the end of each semester. All Theatre majors who do not demonstrate a consistent level of artistic and academic improvement while maintaining a 2.5+ GPA overall with a 3.0+ GPA in their program may not advance and may be placed on probation. Failure to demonstrate improvement in subsequent semesters can result in academic probation or being dropped from the program.
Credits and Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Core Curriculum | 39 | |
| Theatre Department Core | 30 | |
| BA Track Requirements and Electives | 51 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Practices Curriculum
The BA degree in Theatre Practices requires a minimum of 120 credits - 39 credits in the University Core Curriculum, 48 credits in the Theatre department, and 33 credits of the student's choosing inside and/or outside of the department. Students who need background preparation courses in math, English, foreign language, and chemistry may need additional credits. BA Theatre majors are required to fulfill the department’s core, maintain a 2.75 GPA in the major, and earn a C grade or better in all Theatre Core courses.
BA Theatre students execute a capstone course project as a culminating demonstration of their learning. All capstones are evaluated through a presentation of research and/or portfolio process. Students also have an option to earn a Cultures and Communities (C&C) certificate.
University Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | ||
| Competencies 1 | ||
| Oral and Written Communication – Part A and Part B 2,3 | ||
| Quantitative Literacy (QL) – Part A and Part B 2,3 | ||
| Foreign Language 2,3 | ||
| Distribution Requirements 1 | ||
| Humanities 4 | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (Must include one lab) 5 | 6 | |
| Social Sciences 6 | 6 | |
| Cultural Diversity 2,7 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Credits in Peck School of the Arts 8,9 | 9 | |
| University Credits (outside of Theatre) 10 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
- 1
Learn more about the General Education Requirements.
- 2
Credits may be utilized in required curriculum areas.
- 3
Theatre students must complete the General Education Requirements (GER) in Oral and Written Communication competency (OWC), Quantitative Literacy competency (QL), and Foreign Language proficiency prior to enrolling in 310-level or above theatre courses.
- 4
If earning the C&C certificate, 3 credits must be an Area 2 C&C approved course.
- 5
If earning the C&C certificate, 3 credits must be an Area 5 C&C approved course.
- 6
If earning the C&C certificate, 3 credits must be an Area 3 or Area 5 C&C approved course.
- 7
If earning the C&C certificate, take THEATRE 150 to fulfill this requirement. If earning the A&SE certificate, take any 150 course in PSOA, outside of Theatre.
- 8
9 credits are required in 3 of the 4 other departments in PSOA, outside of the student's discipline: Art and Design, Dance, Music, Theatre, or Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres.
- 9
If earning the C&C or A&SE certificate, only 9 total credits are required. For the C&C certificate, 3 credits must be an Area 4 C&C approved course.
- 10
If earning the A&SE certificate, take ED POL 111 or ED POL 112.
Theatre Department Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| THEATRE 260 | Storytelling: | 3 |
| THEATRE 230 | Acting 2: Text and Performance | 3 |
| THEATRE 213 | Play Analysis | 3 |
| THEATRE 214 | Stagecraft (with lab) | 4 |
| THEATRE 225 | Costume Construction (with lab) | 2 |
| THEATRE 236 | Theatre Production and Design | 3 |
| THEATRE 275 | Performing Arts Management | 3 |
| THEATRE 305 | The Theatrical Experience: | 3 |
| THEATRE 321 | The Theatre: Beginnings Through Realism | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Theatre: Modern and Contemporary Period | ||
| Theatre in the Americas: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Theatre | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
BA Theatre Practices Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| THEATRE 204 | Theatre and Social Change | 3 |
| THEATRE 359 | Playwriting | 3 |
| THEATRE 380 | Stage Management | 3 |
| THEATRE 410 | Stage Directing | 3 |
| THEATRE 448 | How to be a Teaching Artist | 3 |
| THEATRE 465 | Theatre Capstone: BA Theatre Practices | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Electives
Electives are chosen from any department on campus in consideration of a student’s interests and in consultation with a student's PSOA and departmental advisors. A minimum of 33 credits is required to graduate.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| THEATRE 214 or THEATRE 225 | Stagecraft or Costume Construction | 2-4 |
| THEATRE 260 | Storytelling: | 3 |
| THEATRE 305 | The Theatrical Experience: | 3 |
| GER | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| THEATRE 213 | Play Analysis | 3 |
| THEATRE 214 or THEATRE 225 | Stagecraft or Costume Construction | 2-4 |
| THEATRE 230 | Acting 2: Text and Performance | 3 |
| GER | 6 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEATRE 236 | Theatre Production and Design | 3 |
| THEATRE 275 | Performing Arts Management | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| GER/PSOA | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| THEATRE 204 | Theatre and Social Change | 3 |
| THEATRE 321 | The Theatre: Beginnings Through Realism | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| GER/PSOA | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEATRE 324 or THEATRE 322 | Theatre in the Americas: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Theatre or The Theatre: Modern and Contemporary Period | 3 |
| THEATRE 380 | Stage Management | 3 |
| THEATRE 410 | Stage Directing | 3 |
| GER/PSOA | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GER/PSOA | 6 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEATRE 359 | Playwriting | 3 |
| THEATRE 448 | How to be a Teaching Artist | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| GER/PSOA | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| THEATRE 465 or THEATRE 472 | Theatre Capstone: BA Theatre Practices (subtitle) or Performance Capstone in Musical Theatre | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| GER/PSOA | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Theatre Practices, BA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Theatre Practices, BA program will be able to:
- Connect to the environment and cultural perspectives using a breadth of knowledge and skills and work within the discipline of theatre to create socially relevant artwork.
- Apply standard techniques to identify, examine, critique, and reflect on a wide variety of theatre texts and related media on a national and global scale.
- Generate high quality quantitative critical analysis and inquiry related to theatre through practiced technological skills, reasoning, listening, speaking, reading, performing, and writing.
- Express themselves in significant and meaningful ways within the discipline of theatre, and create opportunities to explore feelings, ideas, and perspectives as a reflective practitioner.
- Engage empathetically by exploring their own and others' worldview to create respectful, ethical, and accessible environments to create diverse works of theatre.
- Interpret, critique, and reflect on theatre works and production from a variety of critical perspectives and aesthetic viewpoints.
- Investigate, reflect on, and respond to social and political issues and conditions presented and explored in various productions, performances, works and processes.
- Create and/or participate in a work of theatre in a variety of contexts including conceptual pre-planning and design, production, direction, rehearsal, and performance.
- Build, design, construct, make and develop theatre craft.
Policies and Regulations
Academic Regulations
For information on University-wide Academic Action Policy and honors for scholarship, see Academic Policies.
Auditing Courses
No studio or performance courses may be audited.
Declaration of Submajor
In most instances, after two years of basic preparatory courses in the major, students choose an area of specialization within their respective departments, known as a submajor. Students must declare a submajor after they have accumulated 45 to 75 credits to assure completion of the appropriate curriculum requirements for graduation.
Grievance and Appeal Procedures
If you have concerns about a class or a grade, or if you’ve been dropped from a program and would like to appeal, follow the grievance procedures found under the resources section on the Peck School of the Arts Advising & Student Services page.
Independent Study
Under special conditions, juniors and seniors are permitted to take courses in independent study. For regulations on independent study, see the departmental advisor.
Program Changes
All program changes must be signed by the instructor and the Peck School of the Arts Office of Student Services. Certain other courses may also require this approval indicated in the semester's Schedule of Classes.
Second Bachelor's Degree Candidates
Students with good scholastic records who wish to earn a second bachelor's degree in the Peck School of the Arts must obtain the recommendation of the Peck School of the Arts department in which they wish to major before they can be accepted. Upon acceptance, students must earn in residence a minimum of 30 credits beyond the studies for the first degree and must satisfy all curriculum requirements.
Semester Credit Load
A full-time Peck School of the Arts student is one who takes a minimum of 12 credits per semester. Typically, Peck School of the Arts students are not permitted to carry more than 18 credits per semester. Students who have a 3.0+ cumulative GPA may, with the permission of the Peck School of the Arts Office of Student Services, carry up to 21 credits per semester.
Transfer Students
Transfer students from other universities and colleges or UWM units are accepted by the Peck School of the Arts provided they meet the UWM admissions criteria and have a 2.0+ cumulative GPA.
Honors in the Major
- Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.500 or greater in the major and the academic department's recommendation.
- High Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or greater and the academic department's recommendation.
- Departmental Honors are granted to students recommended by their academic department for Honors excellence in performance not reflected in the GPA.
- Dean's Honors are granted to students with major achievements in one or more of the arts.
College of the Arts and Architecture Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.