Course Requirements

THEATER COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Learning Goals

Theater and film are creative and collaborative arts in which true excellence is achieved through hands-on experience. Our students can explore their craft by choosing concentrations in ACTING, MUSICAL THEATER, DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, or FILMMAKING, all within a dynamic liberal arts curriculum that provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Self-designed majors in other areas of theater such as directing or playwriting can be created in consultation with faculty. As part of a strong, interdisciplinary Department of Fine Arts, our students also benefit from exposure to visual art, music, and new digital media perspectives.

Each year, the Rutgers University–Camden Theater Program presents a full season of plays and musicals that creates learning opportunities in every area of production from design work and stage management to acting and directing. Ground-breaking, fully supported productions range from Shakespearian tragedies to modern classics and musicals. Student-generated work is highly encouraged and showcased annually in the Student-Directed One Act Play Festival.

CORE CURRICULUM FOR ACTING, MUSICAL THEATER, AND DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATIONS (25 credits)

* The Filmmaking track curriculum is listed separately

50:965:123 Voice for the Stage (3)
50:965:124 Movement for the Stage (3)
50:965:202 Play Reading and Analysis (3)
50:965:241 Stagecraft (3)
50:965:271 Acting I (3)
50:965:302 Practicum/Crew Call in Technical Theater (BA)
- - At least three credits required.
50:965:496 Senior Project (BA)
- - At least one credit required.
50:965:380 History of Theater I (3)
50:965:381 Modern Drama (3)

ACTING CONCENTRATION (21 credits)

The Acting Concentration enables students to hone their craft in classes taught by seasoned theatrical professionals. Performance opportunities abound in the Rutgers–Camden Theater season, which includes three mainstage productions as well as student-directed and student-created work.

50:965:371 Acting II (3)
50:965:372 Acting for Film (3) or 50:965:373 Improvisational Theater (3)
50:965:471 Acting III (3)

Select at least one additional three-credit Literature and History elective, two additional three-credit Theater Practice electives, and one additional three-credit Design and Technology elective.

MUSICAL THEATER CONCENTRATION (21 credits)

The Musical Theater Concentration provides students with well-rounded training in acting, dance, and singing, complemented by a thorough general background in all areas of theater and performance opportunities in department-presented musicals.

50:700:131 Singing for the Stage (3)
50:203:201 Musical Theater Dance (3)
50:965:308 American Musical Theater (3)
50:965:371 Acting II (3)

At least one additional three-credit dance course is required

At least three credits of Applied Voice (50:701:169 Voice I or higher) are required:

Select at least one additional three-credit 300 or 400 level theater elective from any category.

Highly recommended:
50:700:161-162 Basic Musicianship I, II (2, 2)

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATION (21 credits)

Students enrolled in the Design and Technology Concentration complete coursework in all areas of theatrical design taught by our faculty and outstanding professionals active in their fields. In addition, the Rutgers–Camden Theater season provides many opportunities for designers, theater technicians, and stage managers.

50:965:242 Stagecraft II (3)
50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
50:965:314 Scenic Design (3)
50:965:362 Costume Design (3)
50:965:382 Lighting Design (3)
50:965:361 Survey of Costume History (3)

At least three additional credits of:
50:965:302 Practicum/Crew Call in Technical Theater (BA)

Highly Recommended:
50:082:101 Introduction to Art History I (3)
50:082:102 Introduction to Art History II (3)

LITERATURE AND HISTORY ELECTIVES

50:965:308 American Musical Theater (3)
50:965:309 American Theater (3)
50:965:310 Experimental Theater (3)
50:350:331 Shakespeare I (3)
50:350:332 Shakespeare II (3)
50:965:345 Theater and Film in Europe (3)
50:965:361 Survey of Costume History (3)

THEATER PRACTICE ELECTIVES

50:203:201 Musical Theater Dance (3)
50:965:227 Jazz Dance (3)
50:203:249 Ballet I (3)
50:965:301 Performance (BA)
50:965:303 Actor Director Workshop (BA)
50:965:318 Playwriting I (3)
50:965:319 Playwriting II (3)
50:965:320 Directing I (3)
50:965:321 Directing II (3)
50:965:322 Directing for Film (3)
50:965:363 Educational/Children’s Theater (3)
50:965:371 Acting II (3)
50:965:372 Acting for Film (3)
50:965:373 Improvisational Theater (3)
50:965:471 Acting III (3)

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY ELECTIVES

50:965:242 Stagecraft II (3)
50:965:270 Stage Makeup (3)
50:965:302 Practicum/Crew Call in Technical Theater (BA)
50:965:314 Scenic Design (3)
50:965:362 Costume Design (3)
50:965:382 Lighting Design (3)

THEATER MINOR (18 CREDITS)

Literature and History (6 credits)
Select two courses from this area, at least one of which must me from the 300 or 400 level.
Theater Practice and/or Design and Technology (9 credits)
Select three courses from either of these areas, at least two of which must be from the 300 or 400 level.
Further Study (3 credits)
Select one additional theater course in consultation with your adviser.

FILMMAKING CONCENTRATION (45 Credits)

The filmmaking concentration is a unique collaboration between film and theater that builds on the program’s strengths and resources in both areas. Filmmaking students take a series of production courses that focus on diverse genres and techniques in filmmaking and include documentary, fiction, experimental, and film for theater productions. Filmmaking students also take theater courses specializing in acting, directing, lighting, and production design. The concentration culminates in a senior film project where students collaborate with filmmakers, actors, and designers within the program.

COURSES REQUIRED (27 CREDITS)

50:354:390 Intro to Film Studies or 50:354:20 The Art of Film
50:965:125 Introduction to Video and Film
50:965:225 Video and Film Production
50:965:325 Advanced Video and Film Production
50:965:425 Post-Production
50:354:395 Screenwriting or 50:965:318 Playwriting
50:965:320 Directing I or 50:965:271 Acting I
50:965: 382 Lighting Design or 50:965:314 Scenic Design or 50:965:241 Stagecraft
50:965:459 Senior Project

AT LEAST THREE COURSES (9 CREDITS) FROM THE FOLLOWING:

50:354:300 History of Film I
50:354:301 History of Film II
50:354:20 The Art of Film
50:354:350 Major Filmmakers
50:354:391 to 394 Special Topics in Film
50:354:396 to 399 Special Topics in Film Genres
50:965:345 Theater and Film in Europe
50:354:310 Literature and Film
50:354:315 American Film
50:354:320 World Cinema