Theatre Major

The theatre major at Saint Joseph's University nurtures creative expression and technical proficiency while fostering intellectual curiosity and cultural awareness. Students declare a concentration in musical theatre or theatre.

Goal 1: Develop creativity and voice. 

Outcome 1.1: Students will be able to create work that expresses their creativity and unique voices within theatre and the performing arts. 

Goal 2: Interpret theatre in support of creative work.

Outcome 2.1: Students will be able to analyze important aspects of the performing arts in written and oral work. 

Goal 3: Study the intersections of the performing arts with history and social practice.

Outcome 3.1: Students will be able to examine and analyze the relationships between theatre and history and culture, orally and in writing. 

Goal 4: Prepare students for entry into professional careers or graduate studies.

Outcome 4.1: Students will be able to demonstrate career preparation through experiential learning opportunities and individual projects that develop creative, technical, analytical, and/or problem-solving skills.

Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements

Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements.  See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.

First Year Course Requirements
ENG 101Craft of Language3
World History Course Area
HIS 101Globalization in World History3
or HIS 102 Movements in World History
or HIS 103 Empires in World History
Philosophy Requirements
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course.
Philosophy Level One3
Philosophy Level Two3
Theology & Religious Studies Requirements
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course.
Theology3
Religious Studies3
Diversity & INT 151 Requirements
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years
Diversity3
INT 151Inequality in American Society1
Math & Natural Science Requirements
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements.
Mathematics3-4
Natural Science4
Social Science Requirement3
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Non-Native Language Requirement3-4
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement.
Literature Requirement3
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement3
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Overlay Requirements
Writing-Intensive3
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition).
Mission-Overlay3
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science.
Total Hours47-49

Major Requirements

Students will complete the four Core courses listed below, and select one Concentration Option in Theatre or Musical Theatre. Refer to the Concentration Options tab for concentration requirements.

Core Courses:
MTF 161Introduction to Theatre3
MTF 162History of Broadway Musical3
MTF 263Acting I 13
MTF 496Senior Project3
Concentration Courses18
Total Hours30
1

MTF 263 Acting I may be replaced by MTF 163 Stagecraft or MTF 265 Directing for the Stage.

 
 

Free Electives

To be awarded a bachelor's degree at Saint Joseph's University, students must complete at least 120 total credits. As such, elective credits may be required in addition to Cornerstone Core Curriculum (CCC) and major requirements. Any credits necessary to reach at least 120 total credits outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives. Under the CCC, there are no fixed number of electives required. A student's total number of electives will vary based on major requirements, transfer credits, as well as math and language placement. 

Theatre and Film with Musical Theatre Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
Theology 3
ENG 101 Craft of Language 3
Non-Native Language 3-4
Philosophy Level One 3
INT 151 Inequality in American Society 1
MTF 161
Introduction to Theatre
or History of Broadway Musical
3
 Hours16-17
Spring
Literature 3
World History 3
Philosophy Level Two 3
Diversity 3
MTF 263 Acting I 3
 Hours15
Sophomore
Fall
Mathematics 3-4
Free Elective 3
Religious Studies 3
MTF 151 Music Fundamentals 3
MTF 162
History of Broadway Musical
or Introduction to Theatre
3
 Hours15-16
Spring
Fine & Performing Arts, Design & Creativity 3
Free Elective 3
Natural Science 3-4
MTF 261 Theatre Performance Practicum 3
MTF 251 Music Theory I 3
 Hours15-16
Junior
Fall
Electives or overlays 9
Free Elective 3
MTF 268 Musical Theatre Performance 3
 Hours15
Spring
Social Science 3
Electives or overlays 6
Free Elective 3
MTF 269 Musical Theatre Dance Styles 3
 Hours15
Senior
Fall
Additional Acting Course 3
Free Electives 12
 Hours15
Spring
MTF 496 Senior Project 3
Free Electives 12
 Hours15
 Total Hours121-124

Theatre and Film with Theatre Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
Theology 3
ENG 101 Craft of Language 3
Non-Native Language 3-4
Philosophy Level One 3
INT 151 Inequality in American Society 1
MTF 161
Introduction to Theatre
or History of Broadway Musical
3
 Hours16-17
Spring
Literature 3
World History 3
Philosophy Level Two 3
Diversity 3
MTF 263 Acting I 3
 Hours15
Sophomore
Fall
Mathematics 3-4
Free Elective 3
Religious Studies 3
MTF 264 Acting II 3
MTF 162
History of Broadway Musical
or Introduction to Theatre
3
 Hours15-16
Spring
Fine & Performing Arts, Design & Creativity 3
Free Elective 3
Natural Science 3-4
Practicum 3
MTF 265 Directing for the Stage 3
 Hours15-16
Junior
Fall
Electives or overlays 9
Free Elective 3
MTF 266 Theatre History 3
 Hours15
Spring
Social Science 3
Electives or overlays 6
Free Elective 3
MTF 267 Prod Design: Theatre & Film 3
 Hours15
Senior
Fall
MTF 363 Styles of Acting 3
Free Electives 12
 Hours15
Spring
MTF 496 Senior Project 3
Free Electives 12
 Hours15
 Total Hours121-124

Theatre Concentration

MTF 163Stagecraft3
or MTF 267 Prod Design: Theatre & Film
MTF 261Theatre Performance Practicum3
or MTF 262 Theatre Production Practicum
MTF 264Acting II3
MTF 265Directing for the Stage3
MTF 266Theatre History3
MTF 363Styles of Acting3
Total Hours18

Musical Theatre Concentration

MTF 151Music Fundamentals3
MTF 251Music Theory I3
MTF 261Theatre Performance Practicum3
MTF 264Acting II3
or MTF 363 Styles of Acting
MTF 268Musical Theatre Performance3
MTF 269Musical Theatre Dance Styles3
Total Hours18