Students interested in Theatre & Dance are encouraged to meet with an advisor and declare the major early. Declared majors are able to enroll early in major-required classes that are in high demand.
Preparatory Subject Matter (24 Units)
Acting and Movement – complete 4 units total:
- DRA 21A, Fundamentals of Acting (4)
- DRA 40A, Beginning Modern Dance (2)
- DRA 40B, Intermediate Modern Dance (2)
- DRA 42A, Beginning Ballet (2)
- DRA 42B, Intermediate Ballet (2)
Complete both of the following two core courses:
- DRA 24, Visual Aspects of Dramatic Arts OR DRA 114, Theatre on Film (4)
- DRA 28, Entertainment Engineering & Management Stagecraft to Stage (4)
Complete any three history courses from the following:
- DRA 55, Contemporary Local, National, & Global Theatre, Dance & Performance (4)
- DRA 56A, History of Theatre and Dance I: Myth, Magic, and Madness (4)
- DRA 56B, History of Theatre and Dance II: Romance, Revenge, and Rebellion (4)
- DRA 56C, History of Theatre and Dance III: Sex, Society & the State (4)
Depth Subject Matter (42 Units)
Theatre History and Theory – complete 8 units:
- DRA 114, Theatre on Film (4)
- DRA 116, Design on Screen (4)
- DRA 142, History of Modern Dance (4)
- DRA 150, American Theatre and Drama (4)
- DRA 153, LatinX Theatre & Performance (4)
- DRA 155, Representing Race in Performance (4)
- DRA 155A, African American Dance and Culture (4)
- DRA 156A, Performance Analysis (4)
- DRA 158, Performance Studies Undergrad Seminar (4)
- DRA 159, Contemporary Experimental Performance, Theatre and Dance (4)
Theatre Principles and Design – complete 4 units:
- DRA 124A, Principles of Theatrical Design: Scenery (4)
- DRA 124B, Principles of Theatrical Design: Scenery (4)
- DRA 124C, Principles of Theatrical Design: Lighting (4) – Prerequisite: DRA 24
- DRA 124D, Principles of Theatrical Design: Costume (4)
- DRA 124E, Costume Design for Film (4)
- DRA 126, Principles of Performing Arts Stage Management (4) – Prerequisite: DRA 28
- DRA 126A, Topics in Entertainment Engineering (4) – Prerequisite: DRA 28
- DRA 128, Principles of Theatre Sound (4) – Prerequisite: DRA 24
Intermediate Acting and Movement – complete 4 units:
- DRA 120, Intermediate Acting/Gateway: The Actor’s Toolkit (4)
- DRA 141, Introduction to the Fundamentals of Movement (4)
- DRA 146A, Professional Track Modern Dance I (4) – consent of instructor
Composition – complete 4 units:
- DRA 127A, Principles of Directing (4)
- DRA 140A, Dance Composition (4) – complete one of the following: DRA 40A, 41A, 42A, or consent of instructor
- DRA 160A, Principles of Playwriting (4)
DRA 180s Required Theatre Laboratory Production and Crew Units (see below) – complete 12 units
- See section below "DRA 180s Series – Required Production Units"
Upper Division Electives – complete 8 units
- Electives include most, but not all, upper-division DRA courses.
- Electives may be DRA 185 Granada Artist-in-Residence courses unique every quarter.
- Courses that cannot count as electives include Theatre Laboratory Production and Crew courses (145, 180A–G) or 190s courses (internships, seminars, individual/group special study courses)
Senior Capstone Experience – must be completed during student’s LAST WINTER QUARTER:
- DRA 195, Senior Capstone Experience
DRA 180s Series – Required Production Units
Theatre Laboratory Production and Crew Units – complete 12 units:
10 units from THREE different areas from DRA 145, DRA 180A – G
2 units of 180D Crew
Courses in parentheses below are strongly recommended to prepare for specific production roles. 180 units are obtained by consent of the instructor. (1 unit = 30 hours of work/quarter.) Plan ahead and sign up early! Not every 180 position is offered every quarter. Meet with Company Managers to help plan for your 180s.
Complete 2 units of Crew:
- DRA 180D, Crew – Recommended: DRA 28
Complete 10 units total from any THREE areas:
- DRA 145, Pro Choreography Projects – DRA 140A/B/C or consent of instructor
- DRA 180A, Performance – Recommended: DRA 21A, 120, 122A, 122B, 135
- DRA 180B, Design – Recommended: DRA 124A, 124C, 124D, 130
- DRA 180C, Management, Directing, Production Team, or Dramaturgy – Recommended: DRA 28, 126, 127A
- DRA 180D, Crew – Recommended: DRA 28
- DRA 180E, Scenic Shop – Recommended: DRA 28, 124A, 130
- DRA 180F, Costume Shop – Recommended: DRA 28, 124D, 130
- DRA 180G, Lighting/Sound/Projection Shop – Recommended: DRA 28, 124C, 130, 142, 150
POTENTIAL PATHS TO TAKING 180s
Many of the DRA 180 courses have strongly recommended courses to provide students with valuable knowledge and experience that will help them in their roles.
180A: Performance
- DRA 21A (Fall) → DRA 120 (Winter) → DRA 180A
Check Theatre & Dance Department website for audition information
180B: Design
Scenic Design
- DRA 28 → DRA 124A → DRA 180B
Lighting Design
- DRA 28 → DRA 124C → DRA 180B
Sound Design
- DRA 28 → DRA 128 → DRA 180B
Costume Design
- DRA 28 → DRA 124D → DRA 180B
180C: Management and Production
Management
- DRA 28 → DRA 126 → DRA 180C
Direction
- DRA 28 → DRA 127A → DRA 180C
Choreography
- DRA 140A → DRA 140B → DRA 180C
180D: Crew
- DRA 28 → DRA 180D
180E: Scenic
- DRA 28 → DRA 180E, or
- DRA 28 → DRA 124A → DRA 130 → DRA 180E
180F: Costuming
- DRA 28 → DRA 180F, or
- DRA 28 → DRA 124D → DRA 180F
180G: Lighting/Sound/Projection
- DRA 28 → DRA 180G
*if students want more advanced work in a specific area they should follow the pathway below*
Lighting
- DRA 28 → DRA 130 → DRA 124C → DRA 180G
Sound
- DRA 28 → DRA 130 → DRA 128 → DRA 180G
Projection
- DRA 130, 124A, 124B, and 124C provide some projection information in their course content.
Honors
Students who are considering honors and are eligible should talk to faculty to enroll in DRA 194HA and DRA 194HB. The GPA threshold for honors changes every year. Current information about honors in the College of Letters & Science can be found on their website.