Department of Theatre & Dance

Location: 101 Theatre Arts Building, 409.880.8037

Chair: Judith Sebesta

The Department of Theatre & Dance at Lamar University is a cohesive and dynamic program in which the faculty and staff provide personalized instruction and mentorship for student growth. We develop imaginative, well-rounded students with critical thinking skills, creativity, and a passion for life-long learning. With diverse, process-oriented opportunities, including practical experience, students develop competitive and marketable skills in theatre and dance performance, production, and pedagogy. We encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, foster professionalism and artistic integrity, and embrace and cultivate diversity, while serving as a cultural resource for the University, the community, the state, and beyond.

This department provides a well-balanced curriculum for both theatre and dance students that prepares students to enter professional careers, teaching professions, or other fields. Lamar University stages serve as laboratories for training, and students can participate in all phases of our production program, including a wide range of theatrical works and dance concerts. Two student organizations – Alpha Psi Omega and the Lamar Dance Association – provide further opportunities and experiences. All majors are required to attend monthly meetings as well as all departmental productions, and to participate in post-show strikes for productions/concerts in their area. The department participates in both the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and the American College Dance Festival. A variety of departmental and college endowed scholarships, as well as assistantships, are available to majors.

Degrees Offered

Theatre and Dance Degree Plans

Theatre:
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre (leading to Teacher Certification)
Bachelor of Science in Theatre
Bachelor of Science in Theatre (leading to Teacher Certification)

Dance:
Bachelor of Science in Dance* (leading to Teacher certification)
Bachelor of Science in Dance*
Bachelor of Arts in Dance*
(*Degree program phased out effective Spring 2012, contact advisor)

We also offer a minor in both theatre and dance.

Requirements for Theatre Majors

New students and transfers should refer to the catalog for admission requirements to the university and should consult the departmental handbook available on the department’s website for all policies and requirements. No audition or interview is necessary for admittance to the theatre major. New students and transfers must enroll in THEA 1101 and continue through that list of workshop courses for six semesters while they are enrolled at Lamar. Minors must enroll in four semesters of THEA workshops. A theatre course with a grade of “D” or lower will not apply toward graduation requirement for either the major or the minor.

Bachelor of Science — Theatre Total Min. Hours: 121

Bachelor of Science — Theatre  (leading to Teacher Certification) – Total Min. Hours: 123

Bachelor of Arts — Theatre Total Min. Hours: 120

Bachelor of Arts — Theatre (leading to Teacher Certification) – Total Min. Hours: 123

Theatre Minor (25 hours)

Requirements for Dance Majors

New students and transfers should refer to the catalog for admission requirements to the university and should consult the departmental handbook available on the department’s website for all policies and requirements. No audition or interview is necessary for admittance to the dance major; however, all students must attend placement audition prior to the semester of admittance so that faculty can determine the student’s level of technique.

The dance division offers three programs of study. A student choosing a public school teaching career should follow the Bachelor of Science teacher certification program which leads to certification to teach dance plus an approved additional teaching field at the secondary level. A student selecting the non-certification Bachelor of Science degree is working and learning toward teaching in the private dance sector or becoming a dance entrepreneur. Students who elect to pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree are working and learning toward a professional performing or choreographing career in dance, teaching in the private dance sector, or continuing their dance studies through graduate school.

A minimum grade of “C” must be earned in each of the dance theory courses; a minimum grade of “B” must be earned in each of the dance studio courses. Those students pursuing the teacher certification program must enroll in a minimum of one dance technique class (ballet, modern, jazz or tap) each semester. Those pursuing the non-certified programs must enroll in a minimum of two dance technique classes (ballet, modern, jazz or tap) each semester.

Bachelor of Science — Dance* (leading to Teacher Certification) – Total Min. Hours: 130

Bachelor of Science — Dance* Total Min. Hours: 120

Bachelor of Arts — Dance* Total Min. Hours: 120
(*Degree program phased out effective Spring 2012, contact advisor)

Dance Minor (24 hours)