Overview
Our BA in Theatre Education is designed for students to earn a K-12 theatre license in four years as an undergraduate student or in two years as a post-baccalaureate student.
You’ll focus on theatre as a cultural, educational and humanitarian art form. Our curriculum trains you to use and demonstrate high impact practices in a variety of classrooms. Through immersion in creative and collaborative processes, you’ll build professional capacity through arts-infused experiences. Through our deep connections with schools and cultural institutions in urban communities and beyond, you’ll be well prepared to make and teach accessible theatrical arts for all students.
Request Info | Visit | Apply
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.
Post-Baccalaureate applicants must first apply to the Peck School of the Arts and meet 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
Students will take core classes during their first 3-4 semesters and then apply to the professional licensure program. To be accepted, students must have demonstrated a clear professional disposition towards theatre education, have taken at least 45 credits including THEATRE 448 with a grade of “B” or better and pass a criminal background check (CBC).
Entrance to the program gives students access to theatre teaching methods courses, field work and student teaching.
Credits and Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Core Curriculum | 39 | |
| Theatre Department Core | 30 | |
| BA Theatre Education Track Requirements | 41 | |
| Electives | 10 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
BA Theatre Education Requirements
The minimum number of credits required to complete the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education is 120. 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. K-12 Theatre Education students complete their capstone experience through student teaching. All capstones and student teaching are evaluated through a presentation of research and/or portfolio process.
The Theatre Education track prepares students to be urban educators in Wisconsin classrooms, grades K-12. They are expected to earn a 2.5 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA within the major and earn a C grade or better in all Theatre Core courses. On successful completion of all degree requirements, Theatre Education students are recommended for #1325 Theatre licensure in the State of Wisconsin.
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 | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (Must include one lab) | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | 6 | |
| Cultural Diversity 4 | 0 | |
| Electives | ||
| Credits in Peck School of the Arts 5 | 9 | |
| University Credits (outside of Theatre) 6 | 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
Should be met by one of the following ACT 31 approved courses: AIS 203, ANTHRO 213, HIST 263, and will count toward 3 credits of Social Science.
- 5
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.
- 6
The 3 required School of Education courses (listed below) could fulfill 9 of these credits allowing 9 additional credits of electives. See your advisor for more information.
Theatre Department Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| THEATRE 260 | Storytelling: 1 | 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 |
| THEATRE 322 | The Theatre: Modern and Contemporary Period | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Theatre Education Track Requirements and Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required School of Education Courses 2 | ||
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development | 3 |
| CURRINS 545 | Reading in the Content Areas: Middle, Junior, and Senior High School | 3 |
| or CURRINS 343 | Teaching of Reading | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Exceptional Individual | ||
| Inclusion for Secondary Educators: Humanities, the Arts, Foreign Language | ||
| Child, Learner, Disabilities | ||
| Required Theatre Education Courses | ||
| THEATRE 204 | Theatre and Social Change | 3 |
| THEATRE 359 | Playwriting | 3 |
| THEATRE 360 | Theatre Practices: (with the special topic "TYA"; must take 4 times for 4 credits total) | 4 |
| THEATRE 410 | Stage Directing | 3 |
| THEATRE 448 | How to be a Teaching Artist | 3 |
| THEATRE 473 | Theatre in Elementary Education | 3 |
| THEATRE 474 | Theatre in Secondary Education | 3 |
| THEATRE 475 | Rehearsal and Performance: 3 | 4 |
| THEATRE 484 | Field Work in Theatre | 3 |
| THEATRE 485 | Elementary Level Student Teaching in Theatre | 6 |
| THEATRE 486 | Secondary Student Teaching in Theatre | 6 |
| Theatre Education Electives 4 | 10 | |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
- 1
Satisfies the DPI Communication requirement.
- 2
Can be completed as part of the University Core.
- 3
Course taken twice for 4 credits.
- 4
Additional courses in Theatre and Education - see your PSOA and Theatre advisors for recommendations.
K-12 Teacher Certification and Licensing
This degree prepares students to teach the arts in schools and community settings with a path to WI teacher licensure. Once admitted, students can apply to their intended arts education program which includes a criminal background check. Courses which include clinical or field experience or internships, require a criminal background check and negative Tuberculosis (TB) test result for placement in a field experience. Students are responsible for obtaining the information necessary to become knowledgeable about the requirements below and plan their studies accordingly. Please refer to the Credits and Courses section and connect with the PSOA Advising & Student Services Office for further information.
Communication Competency
A grade of C or higher in: COMMUN 101 or COMMUN 103 (or THEATRE 260 for Theatre majors).
The communicative abilities of students remain under constant review as a factor for retention in the program. Students experiencing communication difficulty may be remanded for remedial work. Students who have satisfactorily completed an interpersonal course at another college or university may request an evaluation of their communication status through the Department of Communication.
Developmental Reading Course
All teachers of special subjects (e.g., music, art, theatre) wishing to be certified by the State of Wisconsin (K-12) must complete one course in developmental reading (CURRINS) with a C or better.
Human Learning and Development
Students must demonstrate an understanding of how pupils grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas. Completion of an approved course in Ed Psych with a C or better meets this requirement.
ACT 31
Students must have knowledge of the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian tribes and bands located in Wisconsin to meet the ACT 31 requirement. Successful completion of ANTHRO 213, ENGLISH 276 or ACT 31 workshop through UWM Continuing Education or other approved courses meet this requirement.
Exceptional Education
Students must complete a course in exceptional education with a C or better to be eligible for a license.
Certification
Students are required to keep a portfolio of evidence to document satisfaction of PI 34 teaching standards. Portfolio content is defined, evaluated, and reviewed by individual programs. Successful completion of K-12 required classes with a C or better and a recommendation of program faculty are required before admission to student teaching. Students are also required to meet a 3.0+ GPA on specific content knowledge coursework or pass the content test (Praxis II) prior to student teaching.
Student Teaching
Eligibility for student teaching is determined by admission to the Peck School of the Arts program, departmental recommendation, completion of all prerequisite courses and fulfillment of any departmental requirements.
In general, education methods courses are not transferable from other institutions. These courses must be taken in residence. Other criteria include removal of all incompletes in required courses, compliance with the Human Relations Requirement, satisfactory class standing, negative TB test passing Criminal Background Check, recommendation by the department, and submission of the student teacher application. Specific dates and directions for applying are available from each program by request.
Teacher's License Applications
Students eligible for graduation are not automatically recommended for certification to the State Department of Public Instruction. They must first be approved for certification by their departments.
After all requirements have been met for the undergraduate degree with Teacher Certification or the post-baccalaureate degree certification program and the departmental approval is obtained and the degree is posted, a student may apply to the WI Department of Public Instruction for a state teacher's license.
The Department of Public Instruction conducts a criminal record check of each applicant for a teaching license, like that used for admission to the arts education program. Based on this information, an applicant may be denied a license even if recommended for certification by UWM.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| THEATRE 214 or THEATRE 225 | Stagecraft or Costume Construction | 4 |
| THEATRE 260 | Storytelling: | 3 |
| THEATRE 305 | The Theatrical Experience: | 3 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| THEATRE 230 | Acting 2: Text and Performance | 3 |
| THEATRE 213 | Play Analysis | 3 |
| THEATRE 225 or THEATRE 214 | Costume Construction or Stagecraft | 2 |
| THEATRE 475 | Rehearsal and Performance: | 2 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEATRE 236 | Theatre Production and Design | 3 |
| THEATRE 275 | Performing Arts Management | 3 |
| THEATRE 360 | Theatre Practices: | 1 |
| THEATRE 448 | How to be a Teaching Artist | 3 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| THEATRE 204 | Theatre and Social Change | 3 |
| THEATRE 321 | The Theatre: Beginnings Through Realism | 3 |
| THEATRE 360 | Theatre Practices: | 1 |
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development | 3 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEATRE 322 | The Theatre: Modern and Contemporary Period | 3 |
| THEATRE 410 | Stage Directing | 3 |
| THEATRE 473 | Theatre in Elementary Education | 3 |
| THEATRE 360 | Theatre Practices: | 1 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| THEATRE 474 | Theatre in Secondary Education | 3 |
| THEATRE 475 | Rehearsal and Performance: | 2 |
| THEATRE 360 | Theatre Practices: | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Exceptional Individual | ||
| Inclusion for Secondary Educators: Humanities, the Arts, Foreign Language | ||
| Child, Learner, Disabilities | ||
| Electives/University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEATRE 202 | Theatre Practicum (or Elective/University Core) | 1 |
| THEATRE 359 | Playwriting | 3 |
| THEATRE 484 | Field Work in Theatre | 3 |
| CURRINS 545 | Reading in the Content Areas: Middle, Junior, and Senior High School | 3 |
| Electives/University Core | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| THEATRE 485 | Elementary Level Student Teaching in Theatre | 6 |
| THEATRE 486 | Secondary Student Teaching in Theatre | 6 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Theatre Practices, BA: Theatre Education Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Theatre Practices, BA: Theatre Education program will be able to:
- Identify, describe, and employ central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline of theatre and drama to create learning experiences that make this subject matter meaningful for pupils.
- Translate their knowledge into appropriate instructional activities and lessons for their students.
- Evaluate the effect of their choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community, and others who seek out opportunities to grow professionally.
- Engage in ongoing reflection and assessment, leading to improving professional practice.
- Be accountable for student learning and development by engaging in professional activities grounded in best practices and professional standards.
- Have the knowledge of how children with broad ranges of ability learn and provide pupils with instruction that supports their intellectual, social, and personal development. This includes cognition, language, socio-emotional development, and gross and fine motor skills.
- Identify the unique potential of individual learners, appreciating the role of the students’ cultures and communities in shaping their development, optimizing learning.
- Adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities by viewing all children and youth as integral and contributing members of the larger educational environment.
- Assess the expertise of, and work collaboratively with other professionals, agency representatives, and families to determine appropriate learning environments and supportive services for their students. This process is grounded in an understanding of socio-cultural and economic factors and graduates can differentiate between cultural and socioeconomic differences and disabilities.
- Employ a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology to encourage children’s development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills. Graduates know their goals and will articulate and reach them using a repertoire of approaches that are consistent with the profession.
- Apply information regarding individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
- Create a safe learning environment in which difference is regarded as an asset and related issues are appropriately discussed and mediated.
- Provide emotional and behavioral support in a highly skilled, positive, and respectful manner.
- Engage in effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as instructional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom through respect for students’ first languages and effect strategies to support English language learning.
- Organize and plan systematic instruction based upon knowledge of theatre subject matter, pupils, the community, and curriculum goals. Graduates will draw strategically on a range of well-developed curriculum resources and instructional methods to ensure that pupils meet standards at a rigorous pace and level. Achievement gaps and curriculum shortcomings will be consciously addressed through careful and strategic planning and instruction.
- Utilize formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of pupils. Graduates will be able to base their professional decisions on continuous assessment of their students through reflective and evaluative analysis that considers the effect of their practice on others and change approaches when goals are not met.
- Foster relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well-being, acting with integrity and fairness in an ethical manner.
- Focus on theatre as a cultural, educational, and humanitarian art form.
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.