Speech and Theatre, Bachelor of Arts
As a Speech and Theatre major, students pursuing the interdisciplinary B. A. in Speech and Theatre will have opportunities to grow and develop into strong artists equipped with a solid foundation of theatre professionalism in the context of a Christian environment. Students will gain hands-on experiences through theatre productions, workshops, field strips to plays within our region, master classes, and professional guest artists. The culmination of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity is at the heart of this program.
Other opportunities in theatre that BMC offers are the Alpha Psi Omega organization, which is a national dramatic fraternity that according to their website, “encourages dramatic production at every step in a person’s academic career.” BMC’s traveling Drama Team, IMPACT, is a scholarship opportunity available to all BMC students regardless of their major. IMPACT members have the opportunity to write, act and travel the region performing. Yearly auditions are held for IMPACT.
The required courses in the major are outlined below. Graduates with a B.A. in Speech and Theatre must successfully complete a comprehensive written and oral exam demonstrating familiarity with basic information in the Theatre Major Core, elective courses, and the student's final project. Students will take three semesters of Technical Theatre Production and have the option to complete an internship in the field of their major interest.
Speech and theatre courses are designed to meet the needs of students wishing to earn a major or minor as well as those who may just want to take elective hours in speech or theatre. They will be helpful for those who desire to explore a career in communications, theatre, or a related field, or who wish simply to sharpen their own performance skills. Any student may enroll in 100- and 200-level courses; students who are not working toward a minor in speech and theatre may enroll in the 300- and 400-level courses if prerequisites have been met and approval is given by the instructor.
Goals & Objectives: As Christians in the theatre arts, it is our goal to think of theatre as a way to worship the Lord by putting the focus on Jesus Christ and not ourselves. We desire to help prepare students to have a foundational experience in the theatre arts but develop a servant’s heart in as many aspects as possible.
We aim to do that by pursuing the following objectives:
- Create and maintain a worthwhile and thriving theatre program with academic integrity and a Biblical worldview.
- Offer a season of productions that prepare and expose students to develop the skills necessary to be working artists, whether they pursue a career in the theatre or not.
- Choose plays and musicals productions that provide a classical foundation in theatre arts and offer a variety of characters that explore the human condition.
- Develop and maintain opportunities to utilize theatre as a ministry that is thought-provoking and innovative.
- Educate our audience members about the mission and responsibilities of a Christian theatre program by aiming to balance the fallen condition of our world with the mission as Christians to share God’s grace.
Requirements
- Core Curriculum Requirements (see Core Curriculum Requirements for Degree--Bachelor of Arts)
- Electives
Major requirements
Total Credit Hours: 120