Program: Theatre - Davidson College - Modern Campus Catalog™

Distribution Requirements

Theatre 101, 121, 201, 221, 245, 250, 281, 335, 355, and 371 may be counted toward the fulfillment of the distribution requirement in fine arts.

Major Requirements

Ten courses as follows:

Theatre 121 or 201 or 221; Theatre 245, 250, 261 (English 261) or 281, 335, 355, and 371.
One of the following: Theatre 345, 362, 435, 436, or 455.
Any additional two Theatre courses at the 300 level or above. These two courses may not include independent studies, Theatre 401 (Theatre Practicum) or 499 (Honors Thesis).

Production Requirements for Majors and Minors

Theatre majors are required to work on three department productions for a minimum of twenty (20) hours per show in a capacity other than actor or director. One assignment must be in stage management. One assignment must be completed by the end of the junior year. A student who completes more than fifty (50) hours of work on any one production fulfills two of the three production requirements. A student who serves as the Production Stage Manager for a mainstage production and completes more than one hundred (100) hours on that show fulfills all three production requirements.

Theatre minors are required to work on one department production in a capacity other than actor or director for a minimum of thirty (30) hours.

Production can be in any of these roles: production stage manager, assistant stage manager, assistant to the designer, properties master, or any work approved by the department chair and the technical director.

Minor Requirements

Six courses, three of which must be taken at Davidson College, consisting of: Theatre 371; two courses from Theatre 201, 221, 245, 261 (English 261) or 281, 335, 355; three courses at either the 300 level or above, or 250; and the production requirement outlined above. Courses taken Pass/Fail may not be counted toward the minor.

Honors Requirements

A major desiring to become a candidate for honors in theatre must apply in writing to the department by May 1st of their junior year. Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.2 and a GPA of 3.5 in all course work taken in the major. To receive honors, a student must, in addition to maintaining this level of performance, receive a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis (499), and approval from the thesis committee. The honors program is comprised of eleven courses: Theatre 499 in addition to the ten major courses required of all majors. Theatre 499 requires the writing/production and defense of a thesis before an appointed committee.

Transfer Courses

The Theatre Department accepts up to five courses from other colleges and universities as credit toward the major. In no case will the department preapprove transfer credit. To be granted transfer credits to be applied to the major, students must demonstrate to the department that courses taken elsewhere are comparable to specific Davidson courses in content, contact hours, and rigor. At the conclusion of study abroad or study at another accredited U.S. institution, students should make their requests for transfer credit toward the major to the Theatre Department chair and submit for evaluation all relevant course materials.

Rationale for Course Numbering

100-level courses are open to students at all levels and are most appropriate for non-majors.

200-level courses offer more focused study of one particular aspect of theatre.

300-level courses are designed for theatre majors or high interest theatre students and involve significant independent research and creative activity; most are not recommended for first year students. Some 300 level courses do not have specific course prerequisites, but it is expected that students have some prior coursework or experience in theatre and/or literature and/or history.

400-level courses offer advanced study in some aspect of theatre, require significant independent research and creative activity, and all have 300-level courses as prerequisites.

Theatre