Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) in Theatre
 

Contacts

Department of Communication
Performance Studies Design & Production
Dr. Frank Miller Todd Studebaker
404-413-5621 404-413-5660
frnklin2001@yahoo.com joutas@langate.gsu.edu
College of Arts and Sciences
Linda Roberts
404-651-2291
aaaler@langate.gsu.edu

Georgia State University's Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) program in theatre. is unique in its focus on theatre as a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural art form. Unlike most traditional B.A. programs, the B.I.S. brings together a wide variety of courses that reflect the diversity of theatre around the world. The program prepares students for professional careers in theatre while also giving them greater options for advanced studies in numerous fields, including theatre, film, creative writing and interior design.

The newly renovated Alumni Hall theatre, an intimate 200-seat proscenium house, serves the Georgia State downtown community with cutting-edge technology and a diverse, stimulating repertoire of classic, contemporary and student-written plays. From musical theatre to performance art to the U.S. premieres of acclaimed international works, the productions showcase student actors, designers and technicians in some of the region's most fascinating theatrical work.

Students can choose between two university created theatre concentrations --on in performance; the other in design and production --or create individualized programs (pending faculty approval) to pursue theatre studies from the perspective that best suits them.

  • The performance studies concentration combines practical work in acting, directing and/or playwriting with studies of theatre history, performance theory, filmmaking, literary theory, African-American studies and women's studies.
  • The design and production concentration gives students unparalleled opportunities forexploration of theatrical and other art forms along with interior design and the latest in digitaltechnology for use in the creative process.
The B.I.S. is flexible enough to allow students to focus their studies within the two programconcentrations in a variety of areas, including:

  1. African-American Theatre
  2. Computer-Aided Design
  3. Cross-cultural Studies
  4. Acting
  5. Lighting and Design
  6. Performance Studies
  7. Writing for Stage and Screen
  8. Stage Management
  9. Drama and Literature
  10. Women's Theatre

• The program offers students numerous production opportunities, both on-and off-stage, including chances to choreograph, direct and design sets, lights, costumes, sound and props while still an undergraduate, with production work under: Georgia's oldest-student run producing organization, the Players of Georgia State University; the faculty-run University Theatre; the Black Student Theatre Ensemble; the GSU Dance Ensemble; and the Latin dance group Salsa.

• Located in the heart of Atlanta's thriving theatrical community, the program also offers students numerous opportunities for internships with professional companies. Students have worked with such local theatres as Actor's Express, the Alliance Theatre, Dad's Garage, Jewish Theatre of the South, PushPush Theater, Theatre Gael and Whole World Theater. GSU alumna are also the founders of TwinHead Theatre, currently performing at the Eyedrum Gallery.

oDesign and production students have the chance to develop their talents under faculty mentorship with design assignments not available in many other university theatre programs. In the past students have designed sets and costumes for The Laramie Project and done lights and costumes for the U.S. premiere of RM Vaughn's The Monster Trilogy.

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) in Theatre

Degree Requirements

General Requirements
In addition to completing Areas A-E of the basic core curriculum, students who select the BIS in Theatre must take the following requirements in areas F-J. After havingadvisement from a member of the Theatre faculty, each student will choose a concentration: Performance Studies or Design & Production. The requirements for each Theatre concentration include coursework for the student’s major field of study (G. Concentration) as well as the student’s minor (H. Allied Field).

  • Additional courses from departments/schools/institutes must be taken to complete a minimum of 120 semester hours exclusive of 1000/2000 level physical education or military science courses.
  • A minimum of 39 semester hours in courses numbered 3000 or above must be completed in residence at Georgia State University with an average or “C” or better.
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies ­ Theatre
F. Courses appropriate to the major (18 hrs)

These courses are required for all BIS in Theatre students, regardless of concentration.

Required ­ (12 hrs)

  • THEA 1010 THEATRICAL DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (4 hrs)
  • THEA 2000 THEARE WORKSHOP (Must be repeated 2 times)
  • THEA 2210 ACTING I
  • LANGUAGE 1002
Select two ­ (6 hrs)

(Be sure to take prerequisites for desired Allied Field courses if not already taken for Areas A-E)

  • ART 1010 DRAWING I
  • ART 1020 DRAWING II
  • ART 1030 TWO-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN
  • ART 1040 THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN
  • AH 1700 SURVEY OF ART I
  • AH 1750 SURVEY OF ART II
  • ENGL 2120 BRITISH LITERATURE
  • ENGL 2130 INTRO TO AMERICAN LIT
  • ENGL 2140 INTRO TO LITERARY STUDIES
  • FILM 1010 FILM AESTHETICS & ANALYSIS
  • FILM 2700 HISTORY OF MOTION PICTURES
  • SPCH 1010 VOICE & ARTICULATION

PERFORMANCE STUDIES

G. Concentration (27-28 hrs)

Required ­ (9 hrs)

  • THEA 3100 PLAY ANALYSIS
  • THEA 4070 WESTERN THEATRE HISTORY or THEA 4080 NON-WESTERN THEATRE HISTORY
  • THEA 4950 SENIOR COLLABORATIVE SEMINAR
Select two ­ (6 hrs)

  • THEA 3210 ACTING II
  • THEA 4210 ACTING STYLES
  • THEA 4850 DIRECTING
Select four ­ (12-13 hrs)

  • FILM 4000 ACTING FOR THE CAMERA (4 hrs)
  • FILM 4310 FEATURE SCREENWRITING
  • FILM 4320 FEATURE SCREENWRITING II
  • FILM 3300 DRAMATIC WRITING
  • SPCH 3000 PHOENTICS
  • PHIL 4830 PHILOSOPHY OF ART
  • FOLK 3000 AMERICAN FOLKLORE
H. Allied Field -Theory and Literature (15 hrs)
Required ­ (3 hrs)

• THEA 4760 PERFORMANCE THEORY & PRACTICE

Note: Each student will need to select two courses from one of the sub-areas here and one from each of the other two.

Select one or two ­ (3 or 6 hrs)

  • AAS 4650 AFRICAN AMERICAN THEATER
  • AAS 4900 AFRICAN AMERICANS IN FILM
  • AAS 4766 AFRICA AND HOLLYWOOD
Select one or two ­ (3 or 6 hrs)

  • ENGL 3280 ENGLISH DRAMA
  • ENGL 3150A INTRO TO CREATIVE WRIT-POETRY
  • ENGL 3150B INTRO TO CREATIVE WRIT-FICTION
  • ENGL 3160 NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES or ENGL 3170 POETIC TECHNIQUES
  • ENGL 3860 AMERICAN DRAMA
  • ENGL 3930 MODERN DRAMA
  • ENGL 4130 SHAKESPEARE: EARLY WORKS
  • ENGL 4140 SHAKESEPARE: LATER WORKS
  • ENGL 3250 TOPICS IN CONTEMPORARY THEORY
  • ENGL 3260 STUDIES IN POPULAR CULTURE
  • ENGL 3890 CONTEMP AMER ETHNIC LIT
    • ENGL 4310A SR. SEM: WORKSHOP IN POETRY or
    • ENGL 4310B SR. SEM: WORKSHOP IN FICTION
  • ENGL 4200 SPECIAL TOPICS (ADVISOR APPROVAL REQUIRED WHERE APPROPRIATE

Select one or two ­ (3 or 6 hrs)

  • WST 4170 GENDER AND PERFORMANCE
  • WST 3960 AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE BY WOMEN
  • WST 3980 WOMEN’S LITERATURE I
  • WST 3990 WOMEN’S LITERATURE II
J. Electives (12 hrs)

12 hours at 3000 level or above, including THEA 4980

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

G. Concentration (27 hrs)

Required ­ (24 hrs)

  • THEA 3100 PLAY ANALYSIS
  • THEA 4070 WESTERN THEATRE HISTORY orTHEA 4080 NON-WESTERN THEATRE HISTORY
  • THEA 4950 SENIOR COLLABORATIVE SEMINAR
  • THEA 4860 SPECIAL TOPICS: TECH THEATRE II
  • THEA 4860 SPECIAL TOPICS: STAGE MANAGEMENT
  • PHIL 4830 PHILOSOPHY OF ART
  • ID 3000 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING I
  • Courses taken at other institutions with advisor's approval (e.g., scenography, scene painting, costume design, sound design)
Choose one ­ (3 hrs, see note below)

  • FILM 3000 LIGHTING DESIGN FOR THEATRE, FILM & TELEVISION
  • ID 3100 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING II
  • ID 4250 COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING AND DESIGN (2 hrs)
  • ID 4350 THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING AND DESIGN (2 hrs)
Note: If ID 4250 or ID 4350 is chosen to fulfill this requirement, the degree program will be one hour short of the 27 hours required in the area of concentration; students wishing to take either of these courses should add an additional course (either a 2 or 3 hour course from this menu of options).

H. Allied Field ­ Art and Design (15-16 hrs)

Choose five ­ (15-16 hrs)

  • DP 3100 DRAWING & COMPOSITION (4 hrs)
  • SCUL 3000 SCULPTURE I
  • SCUL 3100 SCULPTURE II
  • TEXT 3000 FIBERS, COLORS, DYES & DYING
  • TEXT 3100 SURFACE DESIGN I
  • TEXT 3300 THREE-DIMENSIONAL FIBER STRUCTURES
  • ID 4100 LIGHTING
J. Electives (12 hrs)

12 hours at 3000 level or above, including THEA 4980

Additional Information

For additional information about the Theatre Major, contact Todd Studebaker at (404) 413-5660.

You may want to check out some sites on theatre resources:

For information on upcoming productions at Georgia State University, contact the The Players of Georgia State University office at (404) 413-5604.

Other theatre related links:

"All the world's a stage...and in time, one plays many parts."
-William Shakespeare