The B.F.A. with a major in Theatre prepares students for a broad range of opportunities including performance, teaching, arts administration, and many non-arts based careers such as sales, training and development, and management.  The Theatre program at VSU offers numerous productions throughout the year, providing students with significant performance experience. Theatre graduates learn a host of life skills including collaboration, working to deadlines, self-discipline, patience, perseverance, analytical skills, and critical thinking.

Valdosta State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre. 

Core Impacts (See VSU Core Curriculum) .............................................................................. 42 hours

Core Field of Study ............................................................................................ 18 hours

THEA 1000 Voice and Diction (3 hours)
THEA 1100 Theatre Appreciation (3 hours)
THEA 1120 Introduction to Theatrical Design (3 hours)
THEA 2750 Basic Technical Theatre and Stage Lighting (3 hours)
THEA 1800 Acting I (3 hours)
THEA 2900 Play Analysis for Production (3 hours)

Senior College Curriculum............................................................................................ 23 hours

THEA 2730 Introduction to Theatrical Makeup, Wig, and Costume Technology (2 hours)
THEA 3740 Theatre Management (3 hours)
THEA 3750 Costume History (3 hours)
THEA 3710 Theatre Performance or THEA 3711 Laboratory Theatre Performance (1 hour)
THEA 3720 Theatre Production (1 hour)
THEA 3880 Theatre History I (3 hours)
THEA 3890 Theatre History II (3 hours)
THEA 4790 Portfolio and Resume Presentation (2 hours)

Select one of the following (2 hours):

DANC 1600 Fundamentals of Ballet
DANC 2800 Jazz Dance I 

Select one of the following (3 hours):

THEA 3760 Lighting Design
THEA 3765 Sound Design
THEA 3770 Costume Design
THEA 3780 Scene Design 

Musical Theatre Track ............................................................................................. 31 hours

MUSC 1000 Fundamentals of Music (2 hours)
DANC 1900 Tap Dance I (2 hours)
DANC 1610 Ballet I (2 hours)
DANC 2910 Social Dance (1 hour)
DANC 3800 Jazz Dance II (3 hours)
THEA 2800 Acting II (3 hours)
THEA 2810 Basic Stage Movement (2 hours)
THEA 3021 Sight Singing and Aural Training in Musical Theatre I (1 hour)
THEA 3031 Sight Singing and Aural Training in Musical Theatre II (1 hour)
THEA 3200 Audition Techniques (1 hour)
THEA 3950 Fundamentals of Play Directing (3 hours)
THEA 4810 Musical Theatre Technique (2 hours)

Select one of the following not taken in senior college curriculum (2 hours):

DANC 1600 Fundamentals of Ballet
DANC 2800 Jazz Dance I

Theatre Voice: Take 4 hours of the following: 

THEA 3020 Theatre Voice (1 hour)
THEA 4020 Advanced Theatre Voice (1 hour)

Take two hours of the following (2 hours):

THEA 3710 Theatre Performance
THEA 3711 Laboratory Theatre Performance

Total Hours in Major.................................................................................................... 72 hours 

Elective Hours................................................................................................................ 6 hours

Total Hours in Program................................................................................................ 120 hours

Audition Requirements   

All students who intend to pursue the B.F.A. with a major in Theatre in the Musical Theatre track must audition for the purpose of admission to the track. Auditions are regularly hosted on campus and at regional recruiting events.

Students must be accepted into a track no later than their second consecutive semester in the major.

All students admitted to either the musical theatre or performance tracks are required to audition for theatre productions every semester. Exceptions for extenuating circumstances must be requested in writing at least two weeks prior to the scheduled auditions. Failure to meet these conditions will require students to audition for readmission to the appropriate track.

GPA Requirement

Students entering the University must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better in order to continue as Theatre and Dance majors. If in any given semester a student's overall GPA falls below 2.0, the student will have one semester (fall or spring) to bring it back up to or above 2.0. If the overall GPA remains below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student will be required to change majors or will automatically be transferred to an undeclared major status.

Students changing majors from another program within the University must also have at least a 2.0 overall GPA to transfer to the Theatre or Dance major, and they will be subject to the same maintenance requirements already described.

Skills you will learn 

As a major in the Theatre program you will:

  • develop critical thinking, problem-solving, planning and organizational skills.
  • collaboration and teamwork.
  • work within deadlines.
  • develop perseverance, self-discipline, and patience while developing physical stamina and creative skills.
  • strengthen and refine their acting, technical, management, and vocal techniques before entering the professional world. 
  • develop a broad understanding of music, literature, history, and other artistic disciplines to help connect and convey ideas in performance and production.     
  •                   

Sample careers for Theatre graduates

Employment opportunities for Theatre graduates include:

  • Arts Administrator
  • Lighting Designer
  • Costume Designer 
  • Scenic Designer
  • Technical Director
  • Stage Manager
  • Actor
  • Playwright or Script Writer
  • Producer
  • Director
  • Technician
  • Event Planner
  • Project Manager
  • Puppeteer
  • Stunt Performer
  • Educator
  • Combat Choreographer