COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies at Kent State University provides students with a versatile and comprehensive foundation in theatre, integrating historical knowledge, theoretical perspectives, and practical skills. The program requires core courses that cover theatre history, acting, design, production, and capstone experiences, ensuring students develop both academic understanding and hands-on expertise. Students also select electives in design, management, and theatre to deepen their skills, along with writing-intensive courses to enhance communication abilities. The program includes three concentration options—General Studies, Performance, and Production—allowing students to tailor their education to individual goals. The General Studies concentration provides a balanced approach, combining dramatic literature, production, and performance work, with electives in acting, directing, stage management, design, and theatre history. Students gain practical experience through multiple practicum opportunities in design and technology, fostering professional readiness. The Performance concentration emphasizes acting and stagecraft, with required courses in movement, voice, scene study, and acting for the camera, complemented by electives in directing, musical theatre audition, stage combat, and professional performance practices. This prepares students for careers in acting, education, or performance-related fields. The Production concentration focuses on theatre design, technology, and management, requiring students to complete courses in lighting, costume, sound, scene design, stage management, and production practicum, with elective options in props, scenic painting, theatre management, presentation media, and fabrication. Across all concentrations, students participate in experiential learning opportunities, including multiple practicum courses, and fulfill Kent Core requirements in composition, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. With a minimum total of 120 credit hours, the program equips graduates with artistic, technical, and leadership skills applicable to diverse theatre careers, further education, or related creative industries. The curriculum emphasizes both individual creativity and collaborative competencies, ensuring students are well-prepared for professional success in theatre and performance arts.