COURSE CURRICULUM

The Theatre program at California State University, Sacramento requires a total of 48 units of coursework designed to provide students with a balanced education in theatre history, performance, production, and critical analysis. The curriculum is divided into lower division foundational courses, upper division advanced courses, and elective options that allow students to explore specialized areas of theatre practice. This structure helps students develop both academic knowledge and practical experience in performance and stage production.The required lower division courses total 18 units and introduce students to the basic foundations of theatre. Courses such as THEA 2 History of the Theatre: Ancient to Renaissance and THEA 3 Theatre History After 1660 explore the development of theatre from early civilizations to modern periods. Students also begin building performance skills through THEA 11 Acting Study I. Technical and backstage knowledge is introduced through courses including THEA 14 Stage Makeup and Costume Construction, THEA 16 Stagecraft, and THEA 20 Lighting. These courses help students understand the design, technical, and visual elements that support theatrical productions.The required upper division courses include 24 units and focus on advanced performance, analysis, and production experience. Courses such as THEA 100 Script Analysis teach students how to interpret dramatic texts, while THEA 102A Voice and Movement I and THEA 104 Acting Study II further develop acting techniques and stage presence. Students also study directing in THEA 107 Directing, where they learn how to guide performances and manage productions. Practical production work is included through THEA 120A Practicum in Technical Production and THEA 121 Rehearsal and Performance, which provide hands-on experience in theatre productions. The program concludes with THEA 190 Senior Production, where students apply their training in a final performance or production project.Students must also complete a multicultural theatre course such as THEA/WOMS 144 Women and Theatre: Staging Diversity, THEA 170 African American Theatre and Culture, THEA 173 Contemporary Chicano/Latino Theatre: Themes and Performance 1965-Present, or THEA 174 Multicultural Perspectives in American Theatre. A design course is also required, with options including THEA 123 Lighting and Set Design or THEA 131 Costume Design. In addition, students complete 6 units of electives, selecting from courses such as Voice and Movement II, Musical Theatre, Advanced Acting, Audition Technique, Acting Styles: Shakespeare, Puppetry, Children’s Theatre, Fieldwork, or Special Problems in Theatre. These electives allow students to expand their skills and focus on areas that match their artistic interests and career goals.