
Contact
Eric S. Kildow
Associate Professor & Theatre Director
330-675-8829
ekildow@kent.edu
Eric S. Kildow
Associate Professor & Theatre Director
330-675-8829
ekildow@kent.edu
Kent State University's Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies offers students a comprehensive education in the theory, history, and practice of theatre. The program provides a balanced approach, blending academic exploration of theatre with practical, hands-on experiences in performance, production, and stage management. Students engage with a wide range of theatrical styles and genres, from classical works to contemporary theatre, while also developing critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills. Through coursework, performances, and internships, students gain a deep understanding of the cultural, social, and historical significance of theatre. Graduates are prepared for careers in theatre production, education, arts administration, and other creative industries, as well as further study in graduate programs.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies gives students an opportunity for study in all aspects of theatre and its relationship to other liberal arts studies. This program serves students who seek a wider range of possibilities to fulfill individual creative goals, whether as theatre artists, scholars, educators and/or contributors in related fields. Students receive thorough grounding in theatre history and theory and learn imaginative and critical thinking, the process of making theatre and leadership skills.
The Theatre Studies major comprises the following concentrations:
In addition, students in the Theatre Studies major must declare another major or a minor at Kent State.
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.
Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.
Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab
Graduates of this program will be able to:
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Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
THEA 11100 | MAKING THEATRE: CULTURE AND PRACTICE | 2 |
THEA 11303 | THE ART OF ACTING | 3 |
or THEA 21303 | ACTING PROCESS | |
THEA 11725 | FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION | 3 |
THEA 31030 | GLOBAL THEATRE HISTORIES | 3 |
THEA 41115 | LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD) | 3 |
or THEA 41130 | THEATRE AND DRAMA IN AMERICA | |
THEA 41999 | CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) | 3 |
THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) | 3 |
Design Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
THEA 21522 | LIGHTING DESIGN | |
THEA 21524 | COSTUME DESIGN | |
THEA 21528 | SOUND AND PROJECTION DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21622 | SCENE DESIGN | |
THEA 21736 | STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
Design and Management Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
THEA 21522 | LIGHTING DESIGN | |
THEA 21524 | COSTUME DESIGN | |
THEA 21528 | SOUND AND PROJECTION DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21622 | SCENE DESIGN | |
THEA 21736 | STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 41522 | DESIGN STUDIO: LIGHTING | |
THEA 41523 | SOUND DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY I | |
THEA 41524 | DESIGN STUDIO: COSTUME | |
THEA 41528 | THEATRE SOUND REINFORCEMENT | |
THEA 41622 | DESIGN STUDIO: SCENERY | |
THEA 41726 | THEATRE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 41736 | PRODUCTION AND STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 42040 | SHOP MANAGEMENT | |
Theatre Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
DAN 47163 | DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 41010 | THEATRE AND SOCIAL CHANGE | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41113 | THEATRE IN A MULTICULTURAL AMERICA (DIVD) | |
THEA 41115 | LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD) | |
THEA 41130 | THEATRE AND DRAMA IN AMERICA | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 41191 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR: THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THEORY 2 | |
THEA 41620 | HISTORY OF PERIOD STYLES FOR THEATRE DESIGNERS (WIC) 1 | |
Writing-Intensive Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
DAN 47163 | DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 41620 | HISTORY OF PERIOD STYLES FOR THEATRE DESIGNERS (WIC) 1 | |
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) | 9 | |
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) | 6 | |
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 | |
Kent Core Additional | 6 | |
Minor or Another Major Requirement and General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) | 30 | |
Concentrations | ||
Choose from the following: | 21 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
Course is repeatable for credit.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 21 | |
THEA 21522 | LIGHTING DESIGN | |
THEA 21523 | COSTUME TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21524 | COSTUME DESIGN | |
THEA 21528 | SOUND AND PROJECTION DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21621 | SCENE PAINTING | |
THEA 21622 | SCENE DESIGN | |
THEA 21700 | MOVEMENT I | |
THEA 21736 | STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 21800 | VOICE I | |
THEA 31303 | CHARACTER AND SCENE STUDY I | |
THEA 31304 | CHARACTER AND SCENE STUDY II | |
THEA 31401 | DIRECTING | |
THEA 31526 | FLAT PATTERNING FOR THEATRE | |
THEA 41010 | THEATRE AND SOCIAL CHANGE | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41027 | ADVANCED PLAYWRITING 2 | |
THEA 41095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE 2, 3 | |
THEA 41096 | INDEPENDENT STUDY IN THEATRE 2 | |
THEA 41115 | LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD) | |
THEA 41130 | THEATRE AND DRAMA IN AMERICA | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 41301 | ACTING FOR THE CAMERA I | |
THEA 41302 | ACTING FOR THE CAMERA II | |
THEA 41305 | PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: PERFORMANCE | |
THEA 41306 | PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 41308 | MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITION 2 | |
THEA 41521 | ADVANCED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY I | |
THEA 41522 | DESIGN STUDIO: LIGHTING | |
THEA 41523 | SOUND DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY I | |
THEA 41524 | DESIGN STUDIO: COSTUME | |
THEA 41525 | PROPS AND CRAFTS | |
THEA 41528 | THEATRE SOUND REINFORCEMENT | |
THEA 41540 | DRAPING FOR THE THEATRE I | |
THEA 41560 | THEATRE FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 41620 | HISTORY OF PERIOD STYLES FOR THEATRE DESIGNERS (WIC) 1 | |
THEA 41622 | DESIGN STUDIO: SCENERY | |
THEA 41625 | HISTORY OF COSTUME AND TEXTILES FOR THEATRE | |
THEA 41703 | STAGE COMBAT 2 | |
THEA 41726 | THEATRE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 41736 | PRODUCTION AND STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 42040 | SHOP MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) 2 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
Course is repeatable for credit. THEA 41308 may be taken a maximum two times (maximum 6 credit hours) toward the program.
THEA 41095 can be taken in variable seminars.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
THEA 21700 | MOVEMENT I | 3 |
or THEA 21800 | VOICE I | |
THEA 31303 | CHARACTER AND SCENE STUDY I | 3 |
THEA 31304 | CHARACTER AND SCENE STUDY II | 3 |
THEA 41301 | ACTING FOR THE CAMERA I | 3 |
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 9 | |
THEA 21700 | MOVEMENT I | |
THEA 21800 | VOICE I | |
THEA 31401 | DIRECTING | |
THEA 41095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE 1,2 | |
THEA 41302 | ACTING FOR THE CAMERA II | |
THEA 41305 | PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: PERFORMANCE | |
THEA 41308 | MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITION 2 | |
THEA 41703 | STAGE COMBAT 2 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
THEA 41095 should be taken in variable performance seminars.
Course is repeatable for credit. THEA 41308 may be taken a maximum two times (maximum 6 credit hours) toward the program.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 21 | |
THEA 11521 | GRAPHICS FOR THE THEATRE | |
THEA 21522 | LIGHTING DESIGN | |
THEA 21523 | COSTUME TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21524 | COSTUME DESIGN | |
THEA 21526 | BASIC COSTUME CONSTRUCTION | |
THEA 21528 | SOUND AND PROJECTION DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 21621 | SCENE PAINTING | |
THEA 21622 | SCENE DESIGN | |
THEA 21736 | STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 22192 | PRACTICUM I: PERFORMANCE (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 22292 | PRACTICUM I:THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 31526 | FLAT PATTERNING FOR THEATRE | |
THEA 41026 | PLAYWRITING (WIC) 1, 2 | |
THEA 41027 | ADVANCED PLAYWRITING 1 | |
THEA 41095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE 1, 3 | |
THEA 41130 | THEATRE AND DRAMA IN AMERICA | |
THEA 41140 | AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY (WIC) 2 | |
THEA 41191 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR: THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THEORY 1 | |
THEA 41306 | PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 41521 | ADVANCED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY I | |
THEA 41522 | DESIGN STUDIO: LIGHTING | |
THEA 41524 | DESIGN STUDIO: COSTUME | |
THEA 41525 | PROPS AND CRAFTS | |
THEA 41528 | THEATRE SOUND REINFORCEMENT | |
THEA 41540 | DRAPING FOR THE THEATRE I | |
THEA 41560 | THEATRE FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY | |
THEA 41622 | DESIGN STUDIO: SCENERY | |
THEA 41625 | HISTORY OF COSTUME AND TEXTILES FOR THEATRE | |
THEA 41726 | THEATRE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 41736 | PRODUCTION AND STAGE MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 42040 | SHOP MANAGEMENT | |
THEA 42062 | PRESENTATION MEDIA | |
THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 42192 | PRACTICUM II: PERFORMANCE (ELR) 1 | |
THEA 42292 | PRACTICUM II: THEATRE MANAGEMENT (ELR) 1 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
Course is repeatable for credit.
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
THEA 41095 should be taken in variable production seminars.
Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.500 | 2.000 |
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Semester One | Credits | |
---|---|---|
THEA 11100 | MAKING THEATRE: CULTURE AND PRACTICE | 2 |
THEA 11303 or THEA 21303 | THE ART OF ACTING or ACTING PROCESS | 3 |
UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Two | ||
THEA 11725 | FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION | 3 |
Concentration Requirement or Elective | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Three | ||
Design Elective | 3 | |
Concentration Requirement or Elective | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Minor or Another Major Requirement or General Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Four | ||
Design and Management Elective | 3 | |
Concentration Requirement or Elective | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Minor or Another Major Requirement or General Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Five | ||
THEA 31030 or THEA 41130 | GLOBAL THEATRE HISTORIES or THEATRE AND DRAMA IN AMERICA | 3 |
THEA 42092 | PRACTICUM: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (ELR) | 3 |
Concentration Requirement or Elective | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Minor or Another Major Requirement or General Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Six | ||
THEA 31030 or THEA 41115 | GLOBAL THEATRE HISTORIES or LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD) | 3 |
Concentration Requirement or Elective | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Minor or Another Major Requirement or General Electives | 6 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Seven | ||
Writing-Intensive Elective | 3 | |
Concentration Requirement or Elective | 3 | |
Minor or Another Major Requirement or General Electives | 9 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Eight | ||
THEA 41999 | CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) | 3 |
Theatre Elective | 3 | |
Concentration Requirement or Elective | 3 | |
Minor or Another Major Requirement or General Electives | 6 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
The B.A. degree in Theatre Studies is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).
Graduates of Kent State’s B.A. Degree in Theatre Studies are well-prepared for careers in performance, directing, production, and arts management. The program’s comprehensive curriculum emphasizes the study of theatre history, theory, and practice, equipping students with the skills to analyze, create, and critique theatrical works. Graduates often pursue roles as actors, directors, stage managers, and theatre educators, contributing to the performing arts, cultural organizations, and educational institutions.
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