Recommended Course/Seminar Sequence for Theater Majors/Minors

Sequences recommended for

First Year | Sophomore | Junior | Senior

Requirements for Course Majors, Course Minors, Honors Majors, and Honors Minors are available here. Additional information on course schedules for upcoming semesters is available on the bulletin boards outside the Theater Department Office (LPAC 013) and in the Academic Catalog. Please direct any further questions to Jean Tierno, Administrative Assistant for the Theater Department at x8149 or jtierno1@swarthmore.edu. This information is subject to change.

NB: The recommended program for the first three years is the same for course and honors majors.

The following courses can be taken without prerequisite: THEA 002A, 003, 004A, 004B, 004C, 004D, 004E, 006, 008, 021, 022, 025. See courses without prerequisite.

THEA 002A, 003, 004, 015, 021, and 022 should be completed by the end of the sophomore year by all students applying for course or honors majors, particularly those planning a semester abroad. 

Production Ensemble (Theater 022) or Special Projects in Design (Theater 034) are required of all majors and course minors in the Department.  Exact prerequisites for Theater 022/034 vary according to the student's area of emphasis in the Department.  Theater 022 or 034 can be repeated up to three times using other advanced course numbers. Theater 022 is sometimes available to first years by audition. If not taken in Freshman year - Theater 022 or Theater 034 - is recommended sophomore year for students considering study abroad in their junior year

A 100-level Theater Seminar must be completed before the end of the junior year in order to enroll in Senior Company (Theater 099), particularly in the case of honors majors.  Exceptions are only made in the case of those planning junior semesters abroad.

Course and honors minors may petition to enroll in Senior Company (Theater 099) if they have completed requirements for the minor as well as a sequence in acting, directing, design, or playwriting/dramaturgy by the end of the junior year.

Students wishing to study abroad should see the chair of the deparatment as early as possible regarding their plans.  The programs of Theater majors usually benefit greatly from study abroad in the Spring of the Sophomore year or Fall of the Junior year. 

Majors with an emphasis in directing in particular generally need to be on campus during the Spring of their junior year in order to complete their requirements and should anticipate this in their plans for study abroad.  Study abroad in the Spring semester of the sophomore year is usually both necessary and desirable for directing students.

Approval of honors majors and minors is conditional upon the student being in good academic standing at the end of the junior year.  Honors majors or minors doing production thesis work should notify the chair of any possible change in their honors program no later than the end of the junior year.

Comprehensive written and oral exams for course majors are given in the Spring semester of the senior year. The written comprehensive examination is based on the work of the Senior Company class, and constitutes the final graded work for the course.

SPECIAL NOTE: Honors majors or minors approved for production thesis work are required to obtain ADVANCE APPROVAL from their major advisors BEFORE COMMITTING TO ANY EXTRACURRICULAR OR OFF-CAMPUS production work in the junior or senior years. 

Recommended sequence (starting with class of 2016):

First Year:

Acting I (002A), Fall or Spring semester*

Any course in design (003 or 004 sequence), Fall or Spring semester*

Production Dramaturgy (021), Fall semester*

Production Ensemble (022), Fall semester* (by audition; open to first-year students) 

* indicates requirements for all course and honors majors in Theater.

Sophomore Year:

Performance Theory & Practice (015), Fall Semester* (counts for Writing Intensive Course Credit in the Humanities)

Production Dramaturgy (021), Fall semester*

Playwriting Workshop (006), or Solo Performance (025)

Production Ensemble (022), Fall semester*, or Special Project in Design (034), Fall or Spring Semester

If not taken in Freshman year - Theater 022 or 034 recommended here for students considering study abroad in their junior year. THEA 002A, 003/004, 015, 021, and 022 should be completed by the end of the sophomore year by all students applying for course or honors majors, particularly those planning a semester abroad.

NB: Theater majors planning a semester abroad should plan to do so in the Spring of the Sophomore year or the Fall of the Junior year.

* indicates requirements for all course and honors majors in Theater.

Junior Year: 

Playwriting Workshop (006), or Solo Performance (025), or Directing I (035) - 1 credit of this list

Performance Theory & Practice (015), Fall Semester*

Production Ensemble (022), Fall semester* (if not taken in previously)

Special Project in Design (034), Fall or Spring Semester

Theater Seminar (100-level) Spring semester* (counts for Writing Intensive Course Credit in the Humanities)

Completion of a sequence in acting, directing, design, playwriting, or production dramaturgy must take place by the end of Junior year.* 

Completion of the technical/crew hours requirement must take place by the end of Junior year.

All course and honors majors must complete one of the sequences of courses in acting, directing, design, playwriting, or production dramaturgy by the end of the junior year in order to enroll in Senior Company.

NB: A seminar is required for all Theater majors and honors minors and should be taken in the Junior year.

* indicates requirements for all course and honors majors in Theater.

Senior Year:

Senior Company (099), Fall semester* 

Comprehensive written and oral exams for course majors are given in the Spring semester of the senior year. The written comprehensive examination is based on the work of the Senior Company class, and constitutes the final graded work for the course.

NB: Honors Majors add at least one credit of thesis project work each semester of the senior year.

* indicates requirements for all course and honors majors in Theater.