Overview

Temple Theaters has established itself as one of the finest theater training programs in the nation. The faculty are accomplished professionals and scholars who generously offer their expertise and great passion for the craft and creation of theater. As a theater department in the culturally rich city of Philadelphia, Temple University's Department of Theater is immersed in and among some of the most important regional and national theaters in the country.

The production program is at the center of the pedagogy, serving as a creative laboratory for experiential learning across disciplines. Temple Theaters offers a full season of productions each year, bringing exciting, contemporary theater to a diverse audience. Temple Theaters has been noted for premiering many new works for Philadelphians as well as producing vital stagings of classic works. Past productions have included big musicals - Sunday in the Park with George, Ragtime, Spring Awakening; classic dramas - Romeo and Juliet, Our Town, Enemy of the People; new American plays - The Brother/Sister Plays, Reggie Hoops, Blood at the Root; and original devised works - In Conflict and Odd Girl Out.

Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Theater are advised to select courses that will best prepare them to succeed in the future. Toward this end, students may select courses according to their particular interests through the Theater Studies Sequence or choose from one of the following three optional concentrations:

• Acting;
• Design and Production; or,
• Directing.

The successful theater student graduates from our program with excellent communication and collaboration skills, a broad-based and substantive liberal arts background, developed abilities within the discipline of theater, a peerless commitment to achieving and appreciating artistic excellence, and a passion for life-long learning that will enable success in a wide variety of future endeavors. Our alumni are not only successful artists in theater and all of the entertainment industries, but they are also leaders in many other fields. We strive to graduate well-educated and enlightened "Citizen Artists" who possess the creative capacity and commitment to make a difference in the quality of community life regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.

Special Admissions Information

An audition is required for acceptance into the Acting Concentration (see audition information). Acceptance into the Design and Production Concentration and the Directing Concentration requires an interview with the Head of the Area.

Theater Studies Sequence

The Theater Studies Sequence prepares students to enter graduate programs or pursue careers in theater, other entertainment industries, or other fields. It is within this sequence that entrepreneurial students, the student who wishes to explore future interdisciplinary linkages, or those most interested in playwriting, might best fit. The student who follows the Theater Studies Sequence may select any courses offered by the department as long as required prerequisites are completed with applicable proficiencies as indicated in some courses by a grade of C or better.

Theater Studies Sequence students must complete the Theater Foundation Courses. However, they are encouraged to meet with a Theater Department faculty member to discuss their goals and what selection of courses might best prepare them to achieve their professional aspirations after graduation.

Acting Concentration

The Acting Concentration prepares students to enter graduate acting programs or pursue professional careers in theater, television and film. The coursework provides the highest caliber of training possible within the context of a liberal arts education, so students can thrive either in a graduate conservatory program or in the profession. Through intensive and varied classes in acting, combined with experiential work in minimalist to full-scale productions, students develop the skills needed for creative communication and artistic leadership—tools they will need to pursue their professional goals.

Notes:

1. In order for the student to progress to the next level of study, prerequisites for admission to some classes are required.
2. A student is not officially a part of the Acting Concentration until successfully auditioning before the Acting Faculty. These auditions are held every semester and are announced in advance by the Head of Undergraduate Acting.
3. Some Voice, Movement, Speech, and Acting classes may be repeated for credit.
4. Performance courses are available to those students electing the Acting Concentration and to other students in the department who meet the prerequisite requirements.
5. Certification officials from the Society of Fight Directors are invited to the final projects of Swordplay for the Actor classes, and some students receive certification in various combat specialties.

Design and Production Concentration

The Design and Production Concentration prepares students to enter graduate Design or Production programs or to pursue professional careers in theater, television and film. The coursework provides the highest caliber of training possibilities within the context of a liberal arts education, so students can thrive either in a graduate conservatory program or in the profession. Through intensive and varied classes in design and production, combined with experiential hands-on work with creative teams for full-scale and minimalist productions, students develop the skills needed for creative communication and artistic leadership—tools they will need to pursue their professional goals.

Note: In order for the student to progress to the next level of study, prerequisites for admission to some classes are required.

Directing Concentration

The Directing Concentration prepares students to enter graduate directing programs or pursue professional careers in theater, television and film. The coursework provides the highest caliber of training possible within the context of a liberal arts education, so students can thrive either in a graduate conservatory program or in the profession. Through intensive and varied classes combined with experiential work in minimalist to full-scale productions, students develop the skills needed for creative communication and artistic leadership—tools they will need to pursue their professional goals.

Note: Admission to the Directing concentration is highly selective. To be admitted to the concentration, a student must:

• Have completed the following coursework: THTR 1003 Creativity: Basic, THTR 1096 Introduction to Theater Process, THTR 1231 Acting I, THTR 1411 Welcome Backstage, and THTR 2411 Introduction to Design.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. To continue in the concentration, student must maintain this GPA to graduation.
• Meet with the Head of Directing to review the application process.
• Prepare a personal portfolio and a list of plays. Notify the Head of Directing that portfolio is ready, and send the list.
• Complete the portfolio review and interview.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: CA-THTR-BA

Accreditation

The Theater Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and is a member of the University Resident Theater Association (U/RTA). These affiliations characterize it as amongst an elite group of highly-recognized Theater Programs. The Theater Department was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 25 theater programs in the nation.

Accelerated Program

The +1 accelerated program allows students to earn a BA in Theater and an MEd in Secondary Education with a Concentration in English Education by taking graduate-level courses in their junior and senior year, thus leaving only 19 credits of graduate work in the final year after earning the BA degree. Learn more about the accelerated program.

Contact Information

Department Office
Tomlinson Theater, Room 209
215-204-8414

Fred Duer, MFA, Chair
Tomlinson Theater, Room 210A
215-204-2804
fmduer@temple.edu

Peter Reynolds, MFA, Assistant Chair
Tomlinson Theater, Room 210B
215-204-8628
peterr@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Theater.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Requirements

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and by satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 credit hours. Students must complete:

• University requirements: All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
• There will be no requirement to take the GenEd Arts course if all of the following courses are completed with a C- or better: THTR 1003, THTR 1096 and THTR 1231. If the student changes majors before completing all three courses, s/he must complete a GenEd Arts course to satisfy the requirement for General Education.
• All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed below and identified with the code "WI".
• Students must complete Theater Department foundation courses with a grade of C or better in each course.
• No more than 20 credits of work in the major field may be transferred from another institution. Students must complete at least 16 semester hours in Theater courses at Temple University.
• All Theater majors must take placement tests in English and mathematics. If a student places into ENG 0701 or MATH 0701 or MATH 0702, these courses must be completed prior to taking the General Education requirement for English and Quantitative Literacy.

Theater Foundation Courses

¹

The 9 semester hours of the required elective concentration may be in any one department, preferably in the Arts or an interdisciplinary study approved by the Theater Department advisor or chair.

²

The concentration may include the required course in art history or the required course in non-dramatic literature. It may not include ENG 0802, ENG 0812, or ENG 0902.

Acting Concentration

Required Courses in addition to the Foundation Courses

For students who transfer from other departments, schools and universities, there are several alternative routes to fulfill the Acting Concentration that can be discussed with your Theater advisor and/or the head of the Acting Program.

Design and Production Concentration

Required Courses in addition to the Foundation Courses

Note: The concentration must total a minimum of 35 semester hours beyond the Foundation Courses.

Directing Concentration

Additional Courses Required for the Directing Concentration

Suggested Academic Plans

Please note that these are suggested academic plans. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Arts in Theater (General)

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

GenEd Arts (GA) Waiver: Completion of THTR 1003, THTR 1096 and THTR 1231.

²

Students must select an Art History course. For questions or recommendations, students should see their advisor.

Bachelor of Arts in Theater with Concentration in Acting

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

GenEd Arts (GA) Waiver: Completion of THTR 1003, THTR 1096 and THTR 1231.

²

Students must select an Art History course. For questions or recommendations, students should see their advisor.

Bachelor of Arts in Theater with Concentration in Design and Production

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

GenEd Arts (GA) Waiver: Completion of THTR 1003, THTR 1096 and THTR 1231.

²

Students must select an Art History course. For questions or recommendations, students should see their advisor.

Bachelor of Arts in Theater with Concentration in Directing

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

GenEd Arts (GA) Waiver: Completion of THTR 1003, THTR 1096 and THTR 1231.

²

Students must select an Art History course. For questions or recommendations, students should see their advisor.

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated program may be of interest to students in the Theater BA:

College of Education and Human Development

• Secondary Education MEd with English Education concentration