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2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Theatre

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Fine Arts: Theatre (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Brightpoint Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Fine Arts: Theatre

Program description

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre that may be entered into during the third year. All freshman and transfer students entering the Department of Theatre are initially classified as Theatre Foundation students. After successfully completing the first two years of core theatre courses in their foundation areas of emphasis, students apply for admission into a specific degree program (B.F.A. or B.A.) in theatre. The B.A. is designed for students who want a program with a strong emphasis in theatre combined with a strong liberal arts component, and a minor (or other course of directed study) in an area other than theatre.

Student participation in both credit- and noncredit-bearing department activities will be required. Students matriculating in School of the Arts degree programs are bound by the policies and procedures stipulated in this bulletin and in any other current handbook or policy document adopted by the individual programs.

Because of the environment that exists in the Department of Theatre, all aspects of theatre as art, craft, business and education are experienced together. The curriculum immerses students in the practicalities of theatre. Throughout the four years, students work with voice, body and imagination; this practical application, combined with a strong liberal arts component and a minor (or course of directed study), offers a wide field of academic and human experience.

Career opportunities

For more than sixty-seven years, Theatre VCU has prepared students for careers in professional and academic theatre.  Hundreds of alumni scattered across the United States and Canada now successfully practice what they began as students at VCU. With 25 faculty and staff and a combined graduate and undergraduate student population averaging 280, Theatre VCU is one of the largest theatre training programs in the southeastern United States. 

The faculty of Theatre VCU are first and foremost educators who provide first-rate mentoring and instruction. They also serve as role models, practicing their craft as artists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. They work on the stage, TV and in films, author books in their disciplines, and hold elected offices in some of the nation’s most prestigious organizations. Collectively, the faculty and staff pride themselves on their ability to help bridge the gap between life as a student and life as a professional beyond VCU.

VCUarts celebrates the accomplishments of theatre alumni  online at http://arts.vcu.edu/theatre/who-we-are/alumni/.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Actors
  • Dramaturgs
  • Literary Managers
  • Playwrights
  • Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
  • Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
  • Teachers
  • Training and Development Managers
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Agent or Business Manager of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
  • Development Director
  • Drama Therapist
  • Literary Advisor/Editor
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Successful outcome on audition with VCU music faculty

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • Core only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.5 for Performance, 2.8 for Design/Tech
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Theatre

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Theatre

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Fine Arts: Theatre)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Apply to the John Tyler Pathways Program.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to Theatre through the career coach.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience Year 2
  • Review VCU Arts application information and schedule an audition date for prospective music transfer students.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue through ConnectVA or HandsOnRVA.
  • Attend an event sponsored by the Theatre department.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Apply to the John Tyler Pathways Program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to Theatre through the career coach.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Review VCU Arts application information and schedule an audition date for prospective music transfer students.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue through ConnectVA or HandsOnRVA.
  • Attend an event sponsored by the Theatre department.
  • Research housing for next year.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Theatre

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Fine Arts: Theatre)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning (or MTH 161 or MTH 263) MATH 131 3 General education
CST 131 Acting I THEA 111 3 Major
CST 145 Stagecraft THEA 112 3 Major
CST 210 Theatre Aesthetics THEA 211 3 Major
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
CST 132 Acting II THEA 213 3 Major
CST 149 Introduction to Makeup for the Theatre THEA 227 3 Major
CST 136 Theatre/Musical Theatre Workshop THEA 291 3 Major
History or PSY 230 Select 1: HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122, PSY 230 HIST or PSYC 304 3 General education
CST 111 Voice and Diction I THEA 201 3 Major
CST 147 Costume Construction THEA 102 3 Major
CST 160 Improvisation THEA 110 3 Major
CST 237 Movement I THEA 203 3 Major
Laboratory Science Laboratory science (select 1): BIO 101, CHM 101, PHY 101 VCU equivalent 4 General education
CST 211 Acting III THEA 214 3 Major
CST 112 Voice and Diction II THEA 202 3 Major
CST 238 Movement II THEA 204 3 Major
ENG ENG literature course (select 1): ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252 ENGL 3 General education
Transfer elective Select 1: PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211, PLS 135, PLS 241 VCU equivalent 3 General education
John Tyler credits transferred to VCU 62
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education
Select six credits of general education courses from the College of Humanities and Sciences 6 General education
THEA 100 Technical Production 1 Major
THEA 226 Desktop Audio/Video 2 Major
THEA 251 or THEA 252 Rehearsal and Performance 3 Major
THEA 307 History of the Theatre 3 Major
THEA 308 History of the Theatre 3 Major
THEA 385 Diverse Voices 3 Major
THEA 419 Professional Preparation (or CREA 350 or CREA 450) 3 Major
THEA 495 Senior Project Portfolio Review 1 Major
THEA Upper-level Theatre electives (300-400 level) 6 Major
Upper-level electives (200- or 400-level): consider a minor or second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 27 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58
Bachelor's degree total 120