Theater Arts B.A.

Information and Policies

Introduction

The Theater Arts B.A. combines drama, dance, critical studies, and theater design/technology to offer students an intensive program of theater as a unified field. The program stresses the interrelation of all disciplines as essential to the successful practice of the theater arts in the 21st century. Graduates of the University of California, Santa Cruz program typically pursue careers in professional theater and dance companies, in film and television, and in teaching at all levels—from university to high school to grade school. Many students go on to higher degrees at prestigious national programs. Others engage in careers in arts administration, dramatic writing, and related fields.

The lower-division curriculum requires a range of practical work in various areas and an interdisciplinary exposure to critical and historical studies. At the upper-division level, students are given the opportunity to focus on one or more areas of interest in limited-enrollment studios. At the same time, they are asked to expand their theoretical perspectives through confrontation with performance theory and focused coursework in critical studies. The impact of digital and new media on theater is also integrated into the curriculum.

A wealth of production opportunities is available to students. This includes major productions directed by faculty or distinguished visiting artists each quarter, productions directed or choreographed by students, and faculty-directed workshops. Undergraduate students are also given the opportunity to see their own writing, choreography, or developing concepts put into production in department-sponsored productions. Although majors are given preference in studio courses, most courses and productions welcome non-majors. Opportunities to study and perform non-Western as well as Euro-American traditions are also a significant part of the program.

The stage and studio spaces available to students of theater arts allow for a breadth of training and performance opportunities. The Theater Arts Center contains a 500-seat thrust stage; a state-of-the-art experimental theater; a 200-seat proscenium theater; acting, directing, design and dance studios; costume, scene, and properties shops; a sound recording room; and a computer lab. Also, located at the base of the campus is our 150-seat Barn Theater.

Library holdings in theater literature and history are extensive, including journals in current theater, design/technology, and dance and a large image, audio, and video collection.

Program Learning Outcomes

Our program stresses dance, design, and drama as essential disciplines in the successful practice of theater arts in the contemporary world.

Graduates from the Theater Arts B.A. program should demonstrate the following:

1. Foundations of Performance. Students should be able to identify and apply basic theatrical techniques in dance, design, and drama.
2. Theatrical histories and theories. Students should be able to recognize and analyze performance works within the general culture and historical period that produced them.
3. Performance experience. Students should be able to translate theater arts concepts into performance, participating in any theatrical endeavor with the rigor, discipline, and imagination necessary to make a meaningful contribution.
4. Research proficiency. Students should be able to formulate personal research questions that expand their knowledge of theater arts, conducting independent research into the history and theory of at least one area of interest.
5. Creative practice. Students should be able to use theatrical practices and performance experiences to conceive, design, realize, and reflect on new performance projects.
6. Appreciation of diversity. Students should be able to recognize and appreciate a wide variety of approaches, cultures, and styles in both past and contemporary performance practice.
7. Communication and critical thinking. Students should be able to use critical vocabularies to communicate clearly about theater arts in written and oral forms.
8. Collaborative skills. Students should be able to work confidently and effectively in groups on a common project.

Academic Advising for the Program

General information about the theater arts major and minor and the dance minor is available on the Theater Arts program website. Students are also strongly encouraged to consult early with the theater arts advisor to create an academic plan for the major or a minor far in advance of declaration, as early as the summer before beginning at the university. An academic plan is required as part of the declaration process. Please use Navigate Slug Success to make an advising appointment. You may also contact the theater arts academic advisor by emailing theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu (preferred) or calling (831) 459-2974.

Transfer students, please also see the How to Declare a Major and the Transfer Information and Policy sections below.

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

Students planning to pursue the theater arts major are not required to audition, submit a portfolio, or complete specific major preparation courses for consideration of admission to UC Santa Cruz.

While not required for admission, it is highly recommended that transfer students complete as many general education requirements as possible before coming to UC Santa Cruz in order to ensure timely graduation. Students may also complete courses that are articulated specifically to UC Santa Cruz lower-division theater arts degree courses before coming to UCSC. Please consult with the theater arts academic advisor for more information.

Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students

Transfer students are strongly advised to meet with the theater arts academic advisor prior to enrolling in classes their first quarter to create an academic plan and discuss course selection. Advising appointments may be made through Navigate Slug Success once students are matriculated, or by email (theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu) before that time. 

Transfer students may petition to have equivalent lower-division courses taken at other schools count toward lower-division major or minor requirements and should consult with the theater arts academic advisor about this possibility before enrolling in order to avoid repeating coursework unnecessarily. 

As stated in the How to Declare a Major section, transfer students may declare the major upon entering UC Santa Cruz and are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, even if they have not completed any theater arts courses prior to transferring to UC Santa Cruz. Transfer students entering as juniors must declare a major by the deadline in their second quarter, as required by the university.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification and Declaration

Revised: 09/08/22.

Students Admitted as Frosh/Four-Year Students

Students who begin UC Santa Cruz as frosh/four-year students must pass three classes as part of the declaration process (Transfer Students skip this section).

One course from:

Plus two additional courses chosen from two of the following three categories:

Theater design and technology

Acting

Practice-based dance

Students who start UC Santa Cruz as frosh are encouraged to complete the three declaration qualification courses as early in their studies as possible so that they may declare the major no later than their sixth quarter, as required by the university.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are eligible to declare as early as their first quarter even if they have not completed any theater arts courses prior to transferring to UC Santa Cruz.

All Students

If non-course requirements remain incomplete by the campus deadline (in their sixth quarter for students admitted as frosh, and in their second quarter for transfer students), the student must be allowed to declare the major by the declaration deadline in their next academic term (excluding summer) without appeal.

How to Declare a Major

Transfer Students

Transfer students entering as juniors are required by the university to declare a major no later than the major declaration deadline in their second quarter on campus and are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Transfer students entering as juniors may declare the theater arts major as early as their first quarter on campus, even if they have not completed any theater arts courses prior to transferring to UC Santa Cruz, by completing these steps:

1. Meet with the theater arts academic advisor to make an academic plan (advising appointments are scheduled through Navigate Slug Success).
2. Meet with a theater arts faculty mentor (assigned by the academic advisor during an advising meeting).
3. Submit a Petition for Major/Minor form by the deadline in your second quarter (or earlier if you have completed the above steps before your deadline quarter).

To access the form, log into MyUCSC, go to your Student Homepage and select the Undergraduate Student eForms tile > Petition for Major/Minor. If using a mobile device, be sure to select Full Site Login when logging into MyUCSC. 

Transfer students should also read the notes in the Transfer Information and Policy section.

Students Admitted as Frosh/Four-Year Students

Students who enter UC Santa Cruz as frosh are required by the university to declare the major no later than the major declaration deadline in their sixth term by completing these steps:

1. Meet with the theater arts academic advisor to make an academic plan (advising appointments are scheduled through Navigate Slug Success.
2. Meet with a theater arts faculty mentor (assigned by the academic advisor during an advising meeting).
3. Successfully complete three lower-division courses from the list specified above (students may begin taking these classes before completing steps 1 and 2 above).

Submit a Petition for Major/Minor form by the deadline in your sixth quarter (or earlier if you have completed the above steps before your deadline quarter). To access the form, log into MyUCSC, go to your Student Homepage and select the Undergraduate Student eForms tile > Petition for Major/Minor. If using a mobile device, be sure to select Full Site Login when logging into MyUCSC.

Appeal Process

Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting a letter to the chair of the Department of Performance, Play & Design within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and college of the decision. Students should submit their appeal via email to theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu.

Letter Grade Policy

This program does not have a letter grade policy aside from the university's Pass/No Pass limit and minimum grade requirement (more information is available on the Pass/No Pass website). 

Study Abroad

There are many opportunities for students to study abroad, potentially fulfilling major or minor requirements. Credits earned through study abroad programs or off-campus programs are considered on a case-by-case basis by the department faculty. Please consult with the theater arts academic advisor about this process.

It is important to learn about requirements and deadlines as early as possible from the Study Abroad/Global Learning office and then to carefully plan with major/minor and college advisors. Some required courses at UC Santa Cruz are only offered in certain quarters, for example; therefore, careful planning is essential. 

Please read more about study abroad opportunities on the Global Learning website.

Requirements and Planners

Course Requirements

The theater arts major requires 41 lower-division credits comprised of eight courses, including six credits of course THEA 50. The major also requires 40 upper-division credits comprised of eight courses (inclusive of a senior seminar course, THEA 185). One course must be taken to fulfill the Production Requirement. Majors may organize their studies around an area of interest in accordance with the requirements outlined below.

Credits earned via a study abroad program, such as the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), or other off-campus programs are considered on a case-by-case basis by the department chair. Students should consult with their major/minor and college advisors as early as possible before planning studies outside of UC Santa Cruz. Please read more about study abroad opportunities on the Global Learning website.

Lower-Division Courses

One of the following courses:

Plus all of the following courses:

One of the following practice-based dance courses:

Plus the following course (three times):

Plus one lower-division elective course

Any lower-division 5-credit THEA course may be used to fulfill the lower-division elective requirement as long as it is not being used to fulfill another requirement. Exception: THEA 55A, Barnstorm, a 5-credit class, may be used to fulfill both the lower-division elective requirement and the Production Requirement.

Upper-Division Courses

Revised: 09/06/22.

Eight upper-division courses must be taken as part of the major, as specified here:

The following course:

Plus two studio courses chosen from:

Plus two history/theory/critical studies courses, chosen from:

Plus two upper-division elective courses:

One or both classes used to fulfill the upper-division elective requirements may be chosen from any of the courses listed in the upper-division studio section, the upper-division history/theory/critical studies section, or the Production Requirement section (excluding the lower-division THEA 55A) as long as they are not being used to fulfill another requirement (unless they are repeatable for credit, in which case they may be used more than once).

Courses that may be used to fulfill the theater arts Production Requirement:

Theater arts majors must take one class to fulfill the major's Production Requirement. Classes which may be used to fulfill the Production Requirement are the lower-division THEA 55A (this could also be used to fulfill the major's lower-division elective requirement), or any of the following upper-division classes: THEA 151, THEA 151A, THEA 151I, THEA 155, THEA 137, THEA 137A, THEA 139 (these classes may also be used to fulfill one or both of the the major's two upper-division elective requirements).

The Production Requirement is separate from the three required enrollments in the 2-credit class THEA 50, Fundamentals of Theater Production. Enrollment in production classes is by audition or interview process; therefore, it is important that students begin trying to fulfill the requirement as early as possible as it cannot be predicted when they will be cast or chosen to participate. Contact the theater arts advisor for information. Details can also be found in the Theater Arts Undergraduate Handbook.

Plus this comprehensive requirement course:

The following courses DO NOT satisfy theater arts major requirements:

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement. The DC Requirement in Theater Arts B.A. is met by completion of the required courses:

Comprehensive Requirement

Planners

The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.

Below are planners for frosh and junior transfer students.

Please note that LD = lower division (courses numbered 1–99), and UD = upper division (courses numbered 100–199).

Current course offerings can be found on the Theater Arts website.

Four-Year Frosh Planner

The specific courses shown in this four-year planner satisfy the IM and TA general education (GE) requirements. Other courses taken to fulfill major requirements may fulfill additional GE requirements. Students must satisfy all university requirements, including GE requirements. Students should consult their college advising office with any questions about GEs or other university requirements.

Theater Arts majors must take one class to fulfill the Production Requirement. Classes which may be used to fulfill the Production Requirement are the lower-division production class THEA 55A (this could also be used to fulfill the major's lower-division elective requirement), or one of the upper-division production classes THEA 151, THEA 151A, THEA 151I, THEA 155, THEA 137, THEA 137A, THEA 139 (these upper-division production classes may also be used to fulfill one or both of the the major's two upper-division elective requirements). The Production Requirement is separate from the three required enrollments in the 2-credit class THEA 50, Fundamentals of Theater Production. Enrollment in production classes is by audition or interview process; therefore, it is important that students begin trying to fulfill the requirement as early as possible as it cannot be predicted when they will be cast or chosen to participate. Contact the theater arts advisor for information. Details can also be found in the Theater Arts Undergraduate Handbook.

Two-Year Transfer Planner

The specific courses shown in this four-year planner satisfy the IM and TA general education (GE) requirements. Other courses taken to fulfill major requirements may fulfill additional GE requirements. Students must satisfy all university requirements, including GE requirements. Students should consult their college advising office with any questions about GEs or other university requirements.

Theater arts majors must take one class to fulfill the Production Requirement. Classes which may be used to fulfill the Production Requirement are the lower-division production class THEA 55A (this could also be used to fulfill the major's lower-division elective requirement), or one of the upper-division production classes THEA 151, THEA 151A, THEA 151I, THEA 155, THEA 137, THEA 137A, THEA 139 (these upper-division production classes may also be used to fulfill one or both of the the major's two upper-division elective requirements). The Production Requirement is separate from the three required enrollments in the 2-credit class THEA 50, Fundamentals of Theater Production. Enrollment in production classes is by audition or interview process; therefore, it is important that students begin trying to fulfill the requirement as early as possible as it cannot be predicted when they will be cast or chosen to participate. Contact the Theater arts advisor for information. Details can also be found in the Theater Arts Undergraduate Handbook.