Studies in Theater at Carleton cover three main areas of theater: design and technical, acting and directing, and literature and criticism. Many of these courses are cross-listed with other departments.
We believe our majors should have a foundation in all the major areas of the theater as well as at least one area of expertise. The senior year comprehensive exercise is a project, usually a production, put together by the student according to his or her area of expertise. Comps may be individual productions involving non-majors or may be the product of collaboration between majors.
Our overall objective is to teach theater as a vital part of the liberal arts curriculum, and to prepare our students either to continue in theater or to succeed in the career of their choice.
Major Requirements – 68 Total Credits
Note: any single course may satisfy only one requirement.
Theater History and Theory Courses – Required 12 credits
Design and Technical Theater Course – Required 6 credits
- THEA 115: Principles of Design
- THEA 234: Lighting Design for the Performing Arts (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 237: Scenic Design for the Performing Arts
- THEA 238: Costume Design for the Performing Arts (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 256: Costume Construction (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 320: Live Performance and Digital Media (not offered 2025-26)
Practical Theater Courses – Required 18 credits
- CAMS 176: A Collective Art: Collaborative Creation in Film (not offered 2025-26)
- DANC 150: Contact Improvisation
- DANC 189: Music Theatre Practicum
- DANC 253: Movement for the Performer
- DANC 254: Jazz Dance: Roots and Grooves (not offered 2025-26)
- DANC 268: The Body as Choreographer
- THEA 110: Beginning Acting
- THEA 185: The Speaking Voice
- THEA 195: Acting Shakespeare (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 198: New Play Workshop
- THEA 199: Theater Practicum
- THEA 211: Intermediate Acting
- THEA 226: Avant-garde Theater and Performance (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 227: Theatre for Social Change (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 235: Introduction to Stage Combat (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 245: Directing (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 246: Playwriting
- THEA 317: Theatrical Storytelling (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 345: Devised Theater and Collective Creation (not offered 2025-26)
300-level Theater Courses – Required 18 credits
18 credits at the 300 level, at least six of which should be English 310 (additional courses may be added to this group as approved).
- THEA 314: Advanced Acting (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 317: Theatrical Storytelling (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 320: Live Performance and Digital Media (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 345: Devised Theater and Collective Creation (not offered 2025-26)
Literature, Criticism, or History Course – Required 6 credits
- CLAS 116: Greek Drama in Performance
- DANC 270: Performance As Ceremony
- ENGL 144: Shakespeare I
- ENGL 206: William Shakespeare: The Henriad (not offered 2025-26)
- ENGL 214: Revenge Tragedy
- ENGL 219: Global Shakespeare
- ENGL 244: Shakespeare I
- ENGL 258: Playwrights of Color: Taking the Stage (not offered 2025-26)
- ENGL 281.07: London Lives (26/WI)
- ENGL 282: Living London Program: London Theater
- ENGL 381.07: London Lives (26/WI)
- HIST 234: Constantinople, 1453: History, Experience, Narrative
- THEA 228: Performing Women (not offered 2025-26)
- THEA 255: August Wilson: History and the Blues (not offered 2025-26)
Players Production Course – Required 2 credits
- THEA 190: Carleton Players Production
Senior Integrative Exercise – Required 6 credits
- THEA 400: Integrative Exercise