Carthage offers majors in theatre, theatre performance, technical direction, theatrical costume design, and theatrical stage management, and minors in theatre and dance. To earn a bachelor’s degree from Carthage, students must complete the Carthage Core, Distribution Requirements, and the major requirements outlined below. Please note: Admission to the program is contingent on an audition.

Visit the dance website to see the dance minor requirements

Core Requirements (24 credits)
  • THR 2110 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)
  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
  • THR 2910 Play Production I: Stagecraft (4 credits)
  • THR 2920 Play Production II: Costumes and Makeup (4 credits)
  • THR 3010 Stage Management (4 credits)
  • THR 4010 Senior Seminar in Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
  • THR 0100 Theatre Service and Practice (two sections) (0 credits)
Choose Two (8 credits)
  • THR 3260 Premodern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3270 Classical Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3280 Modern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3290 Contemporary Theatre Survey (4 credits)
Choose One (2 credits)
  • THR 2390 Theatrical Lighting and Sound (4 credits)
  • THR 2940 Play Production IV: Scenic Painting (2 credits)
  • THR 2950 Play Production V: Advanced Makeup Techniques (2 credits)
  • THR 2960 Play Production VI: Draping and Pattern Making (2 credits)
  • THR 200T Approved Theatre Topics Course (2-4 credits)
Choose Two — Any Combination/Repeatable (2 credits)
  • THR 0200 Applied Technology Production (1 credit)
  • THR 0300 Applied Acting and Directing (1 credit)
  • THR 1200 Advanced Theatre Lab (1 credit)

Plus an additional 2, 4, 6, or 8 THR credits at at or above the 2000 level that does not require students to surpass the 44 credit limit of courses from a single academic unit.

Students pursuing teacher licensure in theatre must declare a general theatre major and a secondary education minor, and fulfill all requirements for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). In addition to fulfilling all secondary education minor requirements, the student must also take:

  • THR 2180 Theatre for Children (4 credits)
  • THR 4200 Methods and Materials in Teaching Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 4550 Directing (4 credits)

Students should consult with their advisor on the exact sequence of courses. 

Core Requirements (20 credits)
  • THR 2110 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)
  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
  • THR 2910 Play Production I: Stagecraft (4 credits)
  • THR 2920 Play Production II: Costumes and Make-Up (4 credits)
  • THR 4010 Senior Seminar in Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
  • THR 0100 Theatre Service and Practice (two sections) (0 credits)
30 Additional Credits
  • THR 0300 Applied Acting and Directing (two classes, 1 credit each)
  • THR 2630 Movement Techniques for Performers (2 credits)
  • THR 3280 Modern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3100 Voice for the Stage (4 credits)
  • THR 3110 Acting II: Character and Scene Study (4 credits)
  • THR 4110 Acting III: Periods and Styles (4 credits)
  • THR 4550 Directing (4 credits)
  • ENG 3110 Shakespeare (4 credits)
  • DNC Applied Dance (choose two 1-credit dance techniques)
Two Credits of the Following
  • THR 2620 Music Theatre Workshop (0-2 credits)
  • MUS 0200 Class Voice (1 credit, repeatable)
Core Requirements (20 credits)
  • THR 2110 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)

  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)

  • THR 2910 Play Production I: Stagecraft (4 credits)

  • THR 2920 Play Production II: Costumes and Makeup (4 credits)

  • THR 4010 Senior Seminar in Theatre (4 credits)

  • THR 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)

  • THR 0100 Theatre Service and Practice (two sections) (0 credits)

28 Additional Credits
  • THR 0200 Applied Technical Production (two one-credit sections) (2 credits)

  • THR 1200 Advanced Theatre Lab (two one-credit sections) (2 credits)

  • THR 2390 Theatrical Lighting and Sound (4 credits)

  • THR 2600 Theatrical Drafting Methods (4 credits)

  • THR 2940 Play Production IV: Scenic Painting (2 credits)

  • THR 3910 Advanced Play Production (2 credits)

  • THR 4600 Scenic Design (4 credits)

  • ART 1071 Foundations, Material: Objects + Spaces (4 credits)

  • ART 2000 Drawing I (4 credits)

Choose One (4 credits)
  • THR 3260 Premodern Theatre Survey (4 credits)

  • THR 3280 Modern Theatre Survey (4 credits)

  • THR 3600 History of Scenic and Lighting Design (4 credits)

  • THR 400T Topics in Theatre (approved topic) (4 credits)

Choose One (4 credits)
  • ENG 3110 Shakespeare (4 credits)

  • THR/ENG 400T Topics Course (approved topic) (4 credits)

Core Requirements (20 credits)
  • THR 2110 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)
  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
  • THR 2910 Play Production I: Stagecraft (4 credits)
  • THR 2920 Play Production II: Costumes and Makeup (4 credits)
  • THR 4010 Senior Seminar in Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
  • THR 0100 Theatre Service and Practice (two sections) (0 credits)
28 Additional Credits
  • THR 0200 Applied Technical Production (two 1-credit sections) (2 credits)
  • THR 1200 Advanced Theatre Lab (two one-credit sections) (2 credits)
  • THR 2950 Play Production V: Advanced Makeup Techniques (2 credits)
  • THR 2960 Play Production VI: Draping and Patternmaking (2 credits)
  • THR 3610 History of Clothing: Ancient Egypt to Modern (4 credits)
  • THR 4610 Costume Design (4 credits)
  • ART 1070 FOUNDATIONS, SURFACE: Images + Design (4 credits)
  • ART 1071 FOUNDATIONS, MATERIAL: Objects + Spaces (4 credits)
  • ART 2000 Drawing I (4 credits)
Choose Two (8 credits)
  • THR 3260 Premodern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3270 Classical Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3280 Modern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3290 Contemporary Theatre Survey (4 credits)
Core Requirements (20 credits)
  • THR 2110 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)
  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
  • THR 2910 Play Production I: Stagecraft (4 credits)
  • THR 2920 Play Production II: Costumes and Makeup (4 credits)
  • THR 4010 Senior Seminar in Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
  • THR 0100 Theatre Service and Practice (two sections)(0 credits)
20 Additional Credits
  • THR 0200 Applied Technical Production (two 1-credit sections) (2 credits)
  • THR 1200 Advanced Theatre Lab (two one-credit sections) (2 credits)
  • THR 3010 Stage Management (4 credits)
  • THR 4550 Directing (4 credits)
  • BUS 1110 Introduction To Business (4 credits)
  • CDM 1150 Human Communication (4 credits)
Four Credits from the Following
  • THR 400T Advanced Topic in Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 2390 Theatrical Lighting and Sound (4 credits)
  • THR 2940 Play Production IV: Scenic Painting (2 credits)
  • THR 2950 Play Production V: Advanced Makeup Techniques (2 credits)
  • THR 2960 Play Production VI: Draping and Patternmaking (2 credits)
Eight Credits from the Following
  • THR 3260 Premodern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3270 Classical Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3280 Modern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3290 Contemporary Theatre Survey (4 credits)

Core Requirements

  • THR 2110 Acting 1: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)
  • THR 2120 Acting and Directing One-Acts (4 credits)
  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
  • THR 2910 Stagecraft OR THR 2920 Costume Technology (4 credits)
  • THR 3000 Playwriting (4 credits)
  • THR 3020 Verbatim Theatre Techniques (4 credits)
  • THR 3210 Ensemble and Experimental Theatre/Dev. (4 credits)
  • THR 4010 Senior Seminar in Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
  • ENG 1160 Introduction to Literary Studies (4 credits)
  • ENG 2050 Creative Writing (4 credits)
  • ENG 3110 Shakespeare (4 credits)
  • ENG 4300 Seminar in Creative Writing (4 credits)
  • THR 0100 Service Hours Completion (0 credits)

Theatre Survey: Choose one course

  • THR 3280 Modern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3290 Contemporary Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 200T Survey of African American Theatre (4 credits)

English Electives: Choose two courses

  • ENG 3030 Major Texts in Critical Theory (4 credits)
  • ENG 3090 Literature of Diversity (4 credits)
  • ENG 3100 Literature and Gender (4 credits)
  • ENG 3140 Literature Genres (4 credits)
Core Requirements (8 credits)
  • THR 2110 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)
  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • THR 3260 Premodern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3270 Classical Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3280 Modern Theatre Survey (4 credits)
  • THR 3290 Contemporary Theatre Survey (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • THR 2910 Play Production I: Stagecraft (4 credits)
  • THR 2920 Play Production II: Costumes and Makeup (4 credits)

And eight additional THR credits and/or DNC credits.

Core Requirements (8 credits)
  • THR 2110 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting (4 credits)
  • THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
  • THR 2920 Play Production II: Costumes and Makeup (4 credits)
Emphasis (10 credits)
  • THR 0200 Applied Technical Production (1 credit)
  • THR 1200 Advanced Theatre Lab (1 credit)
  • THR 3610 History of Clothing: Ancient Egypt to Modern (4 credits)
  • THR 4610 Costume Design (4 credits)
Elective (2 credits)
  • THR 2950 Play Production V: Advanced Makeup Techniques (2 credits)
  • or THR 2960 Play Production IV: Draping and Patternmaking (2 credits)

Please see the department chair for details. Basic requirements are listed under All-College Programs in the catalog.

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.