The BA degree stresses the breadth of a liberal arts education in the belief that such study, combined with serious practical training and experience, offers the best preparation for a life in theater and screen.
Students complete the theater core. To organize their advance work within the major, students elect a course of study from four concentrations:
- Performance
- Design and Technical Theater
- Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12
- Theater Studies
Admissions
Entrance to the program is by audition/interview or portfolio review. Information about the audition process, including dates, can be found on the School of Theater website.
Admission to the university is determined by the Admissions Office. University-wide admissions policies can be found in the Undergraduate Admissions Policies section of this catalog.
Policies
For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 120
Mason Core
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Foundation Requirements | ||
Oral Communication | 3 | |
Information Technology | 3 | |
Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
ENGH 101 | Composition (Mason Core) 1 | 3 |
ENGH 302 | Advanced Composition (Mason Core) 1 | 3 |
Core Requirements | ||
Literature | 3 | |
Arts 2 | 3 | |
Natural Science 3 | 7 | |
Global History | 3 | |
Global Understanding | 3 | |
Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
Total Credits | 37 |
1 | Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGH 100 for ENGH 101. Students must attain a minimum grade of C in ENGH 100 or ENGH 101, as well as in ENGH 302, to fulfill degree requirements. |
2 | Course must fall outside the major. |
3 | Must include at least one laboratory science course. |
Major
Theater Core Requirements
Note: THR majors may not double count THR courses within the major. All THR courses count either towards the degree core or the concentration, but not both.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
THR 150 | Global Theater Histories I (Mason Core) | 3 |
THR 151 | Global Theater Histories II (Mason Core) | 3 |
THR 196 | Production Practicum | 1 |
THR 197 | Literary Management Practicum | 1 |
THR 198 | Construction or Admin Practicum | 1 |
THR 199 | Production Run Crew Practicum | 1 |
THR 201 | Stage Management | 3 |
THR 210 | Acting I (Mason Core) | 3 |
THR 230 | Fundamentals of Production (Mason Core) | 3 |
THR 300 | Voice and Speech | 3 |
THR 329 | Directing | 3 |
THR 350 | Script Analysis | 3 |
THR 411 | Great Film Directors (Mason Core) | 3 |
or THR 412 | Great Film Performances (Mason Core) | |
Movement | 3 | |
Select one course from the following: 3 | ||
Movement for Actors | ||
Advanced Movement for Actors | ||
Unarmed Stage Combat | ||
Movement in Musical Theater | ||
Synthesis | 3 | |
Advanced Studies in Directing/Dramaturgy (Mason Core) | ||
or THR 496 | Text in Production (Mason Core) | |
Design/Tech in the Discipline | 3 | |
Select one course from the following: 3 | ||
Introduction to Theatrical Design 2 | ||
Event Technical Production | ||
Lighting Stagecraft | ||
Sound Engineering | ||
Scene Painting | ||
Seminar in Technical Theater | ||
Makeup Design | ||
Writing in the Discipline | 3 | |
Select one course from the following: 3 | ||
Dramatic Theory and Criticism | ||
Playwriting I | ||
Screenplay Workshop | ||
Translation Adaptation for Stage Screen | ||
Dramatic Literature | 3 | |
Select one course from the following: 3 | ||
Dramatic Literature Seminar | ||
Advanced Studies in Theater History | ||
American Voices | ||
World Stages (Mason Core) 1 | ||
Contemporary Women Playwrights | ||
Total Credits | 46 |
1 | May fulfill either Mason Core Global Understanding requirement or dramatic literature requirement but not both. |
2 | Design & Tech concentration students must complete THR 240 for the Design/Tech in the Discipline requirement. |
3 | or with permission of Director |
Concentrations
Theater majors earning a BA in Theater must select one of the following concentrations:
Concentrations
- Concentration in Design and Technical Theater (DTT)
- Concentration in Performance (PFM)
- Concentration in Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12 (THEA)
- Concentration in Theater Studies (THST)
Concentration in Design and Technical Theater (DTT)
Provides a foundation of knowledge, technique, and experience in one or more areas of theater design and technology in preparation for advanced study and professional work in the field.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
THR 339 | Principles of Design | 3 |
Select 15 credits from the following: 1 | 15 | |
Production Practicum | ||
Literary Management Practicum | ||
Construction or Admin Practicum | ||
Production Run Crew Practicum | ||
Event Technical Production | ||
Lighting Stagecraft | ||
Sound Engineering | ||
Scene Painting | ||
Seminar in Technical Theater | ||
Drafting and Modeling | ||
History of Fashion and Dress | ||
Scenic Design | ||
Lighting Design | ||
Costume Design | ||
Sound Design | ||
Makeup Design | ||
Costume Technology | ||
Professional Presentation | ||
Advanced Sound Engineering | ||
Musical Theater Ensemble 2 | ||
Advanced Lighting Design | ||
Advanced Sound Design | ||
Advanced Practicum 2 | ||
Collaborative Lab Experience 2 | ||
Total Credits | 18 |
1 | or with permission of Director |
2 | Registration by audition/interview only. Students completing THR 428, THR 492, and THR 493 for the first time must register for 3 credits. Students repeating the course may elect to register for 1-3 credits. |
Concentration in Performance (PFM)
Designed for the serious student of acting with professional aspirations. Solid grounding in the fundamentals of performance analysis and basic training of the actor's instrument are complemented by a rigorous, sequential instruction in the various facets of the actor's craft.
At its core, the Performance Concentration is a blend of Modern and Classical actor training using a Stanislavski-grounded approach balanced with techniques for understanding texts written two hundred years before "motivation" and "characterization" entered the critical vocabulary. Rounding out the curriculum is specialized study in vocal production and movement technique. Matriculation in this program expresses a profound commitment to a rigorous intellectual, physical and emotional investigation of the discipline of performance over a two-year period. Professional development is enhanced with ongoing student progress reviews, support and advising from Performance Concentration faculty.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
THR 301 | Advanced Study in Voice | 3 |
THR 310 | Acting II | 3 |
Select 12 credits from the following: 1 | 12 | |
Production Practicum | ||
Literary Management Practicum | ||
Construction or Admin Practicum | ||
Production Run Crew Practicum | ||
Advanced Movement for Actors | ||
Unarmed Stage Combat | ||
Movement in Musical Theater | ||
Performance Studio | ||
Acting Shakespeare | ||
Advanced Studies in Directing | ||
Characterization | ||
Professional Presentation | ||
Advanced Stage Combat | ||
Acting for the Camera | ||
Advanced Performance Studio | ||
One-Person Show | ||
Performance: Process and Portfolio | ||
Audition Techniques: Stage and Camera | ||
Musical Theater Workshop | ||
Musical Theater Ensemble 2 | ||
Special Topics in Theater | ||
Advanced Practicum 2 | ||
Collaborative Lab Experience 2 | ||
Total Credits | 18 |
1 | or with permission of Director |
2 | Registration by audition/interview only. Students completing THR 428, THR 492, and THR 493 for the first time must register for 3 credits. Students repeating the course may elect to register for 1-3 credits. |
Concentration in Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12 (THEA)
Designed for students interested in pursuing theater education. Students pursuing a concentration in Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12 must:
- Maintain an overall GPA of 2.80 in all coursework completed at Mason and in course work at all institutions of higher learning combined.
- Earn no grade lower than a C in theater and professional education courses needed for graduation.
Upon completion of all required coursework students must complete 15 weeks of a full-time student teaching internship (THR 455 Theater Education Internship). Applications for placement, subject to approval of the unit, are submitted to the Field Placement Specialist in the College of Education and Human Development at the beginning of the previous semester. In addition, students must pass the VCLA before student teaching.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Core Courses | ||
THR 448 | Foundations of Theater Education | 3 |
THR 449 | Elementary Theater Education | 3 |
THR 450 | Secondary Theater Education | 3 |
EDRD 300 | Literacy in Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education | 3 |
EDUC 301 | Educating Diverse and Exceptional Learners | 3 |
EDUC 302 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
Six credits of | 6 | |
Theater Education Internship | ||
Total Credits | 24 |
Concentration in Theater Studies (THST)
Designed for the Theater generalist or the writer specializing in playwriting, screenwriting, production dramaturgy, season planning, theater criticism, and translation/adaptation for the stage. The Concentration in Theater Studies requires each student to work with a faculty advisor to craft an individualized course of study that challenges their development conceptually and creatively for a total of 18 credits of upper-division (300-400 level) THR courses. Concentration coursework may also include THR 196, THR 197, THR 198, and THR 199.
General Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BA students must use some/all general electives to complete a | 13-19 | |
Minor | ||
Double Major 1 | ||
Double Degree 1 | ||
Intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language | ||
Remaining electives 2 |
1 | Must be outside student's primary major field of study. |
2 | May be taken inside or outside of the department. All students are required to take a minimum of 45 credits of upper-division courses (300 and 400 level). |
Bachelors of Arts in Theatre Sample Plan of Study
The sample plan below is a recommended sequencing of courses based on pre-requisites and scheduling. This may not fit every student's needs and is a guideline, not a requirement. Students should confirm major requirements with their academic advisor and with PatriotWeb Degree Evaluation to ensure they enroll in the proper courses and are on track to graduate.
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
THR 150 | 3 | THR 151 | 3 |
THR 201 or 210 | 3 | THR 201 or 210 | 3 |
THR 230 | 3 | THR Concentration Course | 3 |
Mason Core (typically ENGH 101) | 3 | Mason Core (typically COMM 100 or 101) | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Quantitative Reasoning) | 3 | Mason Core (typically Literature) | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
THR 350 | 3 | THR 329 | 3 |
Movement or Design/Tech in the Discipline | 3 | THR Concentration Course | 3 |
THR 300 or THR Concentration course | 3 | Movement or Design/Tech in the Discipline | 3 |
Foreign Language or Minor | 3 | Foreign Language or Minor | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Arts - outside the major) | 3 | Mason Core (typically HIST 100 or 125) | 3 |
Practicum (THR 196, 197, 198 and 199 - must complete one of each) | 1 | Practicum (THR 196, 197, 198 and 199 - must complete one of each) | 1 |
16 | 16 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
Dramatic Literature or Writing in the Discipline | 3 | Dramatic Literature or Writing in the Discipline | 3 |
THR 300 or THR Concentration Course | 3 | Film Study or THR Concentration Course | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Lab science) | 4 | THR Concentration Course | 3 |
Foreign language or Minor | 3 | Foreign Language or Minor | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Information Technology) | 3 | Mason Core (typically Global Understanding) | 3 |
Practicum (THR 196, 197, 198 and 199 - must complete one of each) | 1 | ||
16 | 16 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
Synthesis or THR Concentration Course | 3 | Synthesis or THR Concentration Course | 3 |
Film Study or THR Concentration Course | 3 | Mason Core (typically ENGH 302) | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Non-lab Science) | 3 | General Elective or Credit towards Minor | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Social & Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | General Elective or Credit towards Minor | 3 |
Practicum (THR 196, 197, 198 and 199 - must complete one of each) | 1 | General Elective or Credit towards Minor | 1 |
13 | 13 | ||
Total Credits 120 |
Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://advising.gmu.edu/current-student/majors-at-mason/.
Concentration in Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
THR 150 | 3 | THR 151 | 3 |
THR 201 or 210 | 3 | THR 201 or 210 | 3 |
THR 230 | 3 | Mason Core (typically COMM 100 or 101) | 3 |
Mason Core (typically ENGH 101) | 3 | Mason Core (typically Arts - outside the major) | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Quantitative Reasoning) | 3 | Mason Core (typically Literature) | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
Movement or Design/Tech in the Discipline | 3 | EDRD 300 | 3 |
THR 300 | 3 | Movement or Design/Tech in the Discipline | 3 |
THR 350 | 3 | THR 329 | 3 |
Foreign Language or Minor | 3 | Foreign Language or Minor | 3 |
Mason Core (typically HIST 100 or 125) | 3 | Mason Core (typically Information Technology) | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
Dramatic Literature or Writing in the Discipline | 3 | Film Study or Synthesis | 3 |
EDUC 301 | 3 | Dramatic Literature or Writing in the Discipline | 3 |
Foreign Language or Minor | 3 | THR 448 | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Lab Science) | 4 | Foreign Language or Minor | 3 |
THR 198 | 1 | Mason Core (typically Non-Lab Science) | 3 |
14 | 15 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
Film Study or Synthesis | 3 | THR 450 | 3 |
THR 449 | 3 | THR 422 or 492 | 3 |
EDUC 302 | 3 | Mason Core (typically ENGH 302) | 3 |
Mason Core (typically Global Understanding) | 3 | Elective (or credits toward Minor) | 1-3 |
Mason Core (typically Social & Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | THR 455 (Note: All coursework must be completed before registering for THR 455, which is typically taken in the ninth semester) | 6-12 |
15 | 16-24 | ||
Total Credits 120-128 |
Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://advising.gmu.edu/current-student/majors-at-mason/.
Honors in the Major
Highly-qualified students who have completed 75 credits may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. Students apply for Honors in Theater by submitting to the Director (by November 15 or April 15) a two-page written statement outlining their reasons for pursuing advanced coursework and specific professional goals, along with the names of two Mason theater faculty members who have agreed to serve as references.
Students satisfy the honors course sequence by taking three honors-specific courses from their chosen concentration. They must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.50 and a GPA of 3.75 within the major.
Theater, BA/Arts Management, Accelerated MA
Overview
Academically strong undergraduates in Theater may apply to the accelerated Master’s Degree in Arts Management. If accepted, students will be able to earn a Theater, BA and an Arts Management, MA after satisfactory completion of 150 credits.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
BAM Pathway Admission Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Graduate Admission Policies section of this catalog.
Students are eligible to apply for this accelerated program once they have earned at least 60 undergraduate credits. After successfully completing 75 undergraduate credits, students must use at least 3 and no more than 12 credits of advanced standing courses (see below) to both complete the bachelor’s degree and begin the masters. An additional six credits may be held in reserve for the master’s degree, but cannot be used to complete the bachelors.
Important information on how to apply for this accelerated master's program can be found in the University’s Accelerated Master’s Application Guide.
Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements
Undergraduate students admitted to the accelerated master’s program pathway will be fully admitted into the MA program if they meet the following requirements, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition Form:
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.00
- Completion of specific undergraduate coursework
- Successfully meet Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and complete the application for graduation
- Minimum grade of B in each advanced standing course
- Submission of BAM Transition Form to Office of the University Registrar at the beginning of student’s final undergraduate semester
Accelerated Pathway Requirements
To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students in the Accelerated Pathway must choose from the following courses which can be taken as Advanced Standing or Reserve Graduate credit. A minimum grade of B is required.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits with a minimum grade of B in each) | ||
AMGT 602 | Seminar in Arts Management | 3 |
AMGT 601 | Fund Raising/Development I | 3 |
AMGT 604 | Public Relations and Marketing Strategies for the Arts I | 3 |
AMGT 605 | Finance and Budgeting for Arts I | 3 |
Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program | ||
AMGT 603 | The Arts in Society 1 | 3 |
AMGT 606 | Governance and Financial Management 2 | 3 |
- 1
Prerequisite: AMGT 602 Seminar in Arts Management
- 2
Prerequisite: AMGT 605 Finance and Budgeting for Arts I
For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees.