The Wilson College Theater Minor combines an academic and performative study of theater to offer students with an abiding interest in the theater a way to combine courses over several disciplines into a concentrated minor. The minor focuses on both the academic study of theater—the critical study of drama and dramatic writing—and the performative study on theater—including introductory acting techniques, playwriting, and directing.

The Theater Minor not only teaches students the rudiments of these skills, but also teaches them how to think critically about dramatic text and performance, how to speak clearly and ably in a public forum, and how to express creative and critical thoughts in writing. Students also complete a significant independent project in theater wherein they must demonstrate their ability to conceive and organize a large directing, writing, or academic project.

For a listing of department courses in Theater, click here.

Required Courses:

THE 100: Techniques of Acting I (.5 credit)
THE 200: Techniques of Acting II (.5 credit)
THE 340: Independent Project in Theater (1 credit)

or ENG 345 Shakespeare’s Comedies and Histories

Besides the required courses, students must choose three courses from the following:

THE KP: Acting Pracitcum (for one credit total)
ENG 220: Creative Writing
ENG 320: Advanced Creative Writing
ENG 340: Independent Project in Creative Writing
       *NOTE: Only two of the above courses can be counted towards the minor.
ENG 232: Modern Drama
ENG 236/336: British Literature 1200-1700
FRN 334: Seventeenth Century French Theater and Thought
FRN 335: 19^th and 20^th Century Experiments in French Theater
DNC 151: Dance Technique
Dance Production/Orchesis (for one credit total)
MCM 110: Effective Speaking
MUS 116: Introduction to Music
THE 355: Internship

For the minor, a minimum of three of the courses must be completed at the 200-level or higher. Students who major in English and wish to minor in Theater may only count two English courses towards the minor. Students may also petition the program coordinator to have relevant topics courses at the 200 or 300 levels counted towards the minor.

“I love acting. It is so much more real than life.”
– Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, English playwright and author

For information about the college's Drama Club, click  here.

English and Mass Communications Home Page