Minor in Theatre

Program Learning Outcomes for the Minor in Theatre

Upon completing the minor in Theatre, students will be able to:

1. Apply skills and knowledge of theatre to produce or perform in a theatrical production.
2. Analyze and evaluate a theatrical text for effective performance or design.
3. Interpret theatre and performance, and specific theatrical works and performances, within historical, social, cultural, and political contexts.

Requirements for the Minor in Theatre

Students pursuing the minor in Theatre must complete:

• A minimum of 6 courses (minimum of 18 credit hours) to satisfy minor requirements.
• A maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this minor. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the minor’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the Program Director. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the minor's Official Certifier). Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Minor Requirements 

Footnotes and Additional Information

Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements

Elective Requirements

To fulfill the remaining Theatre minor requirements, students must complete a total of 2 elective courses (6 credit hours) from the following advisor-directed electives relevant to the theatre and dramatic arts.

Policies for the Minor in Theatre

Program Restrictions and Exclusions

Students pursuing the minor in Theatre should be aware of the following program restriction:

• As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, i.) students may declare their intent to pursue a minor only after they have first declared a major, and ii.) students may not major and minor in the same subject.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities. 

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the minor in Theatre should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guidelines:

• No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the minor.

• Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis. 

Distribution Credit Information

The determination of distribution credit eligibility is done initially as part of the new course creation process. Additionally, as part of an annual roll call coordinated each Spring by the Office of the Registrar, course distribution credit eligibility is routinely reviewed and reaffirmed by the Dean’s Offices of each of the academic schools.  

Faculty and leadership in the academic schools are responsible for ensuring that the courses identified as distribution-credit-eligible meet the criteria as set in the General Announcements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet graduation requirements by completing coursework designated as distribution-credit-eligible at the time of course registration. 

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Theatre website: https://theatre.rice.edu/

Opportunities for the Minor in Theatre

Academic Honors

The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.

Distinction in Research and Creative Work

For the Theatre minor, the application for Distinction in Research and Creative Work must include:

1. an application form, including a theatrical resume;
2. a written artist statement;
3. a letter of support from a Theatre faculty member;
4. a public performance, film, or production; 
5. a two-page description of how the performance or production meets the requirements of Distinction.

The department requires exceptional evidence of success, as defined by completion of a project (film, theatrical design work, etc.). Support through the application process is available through the department – e.g. workshops, seminars and individual meetings with faculty mentors.

Contact the Program Director or consult the Theatre Program website for submission due dates. No electronic submissions accepted. Please note that your project does not have to be completed at the time of submission for the Distinction, but it must be finalized by the conclusion of the Spring Semester. The department recommends a very limited number of students for this academic honor.

For additional information on the Distinction in Research and Creative Work award, please see the relevant University Honors page, available here.

THEA 294: Field Trip

THEA 294, Theatre Junior Field Trip (1 credit hour), is recommended for students pursuing the Theatre minor. These are trips to cultural centers nationally and internationally, including visits to theatres and meetings with creative professionals in the field of theatre.

National Theatre Institute

The National Theatre Institute (NTI) is the educational arm of the renowned Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Waterbeach, CT. The program is designed to complement a liberal arts education with three distinct study-away, conservatory programs in areas such as acting, directing, design, playwriting, stage combat, voice, and movement. Students accepted to the NTI’s prestigious domestic and international courses then apply through the Rice Study Abroad Office. They are eligible to receive transfer credit for their studies, which will be accepted for the Theatre minor.

Internships

Theatre Program faculty are actively involved in professional theatre and film locally, nationally, and internationally and actively pursue opportunities to involve advanced students in that work. In addition, advanced students are encouraged to apply for internship positions whenever possible. Rice students have been accepted in competitive internships at theatres such as The Alley Theatre, Houston Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. In addition, students are encouraged to study theatre abroad and transfer course credit back to Rice. Approval for transfer credit must be sought prior to enrollment in a study-abroad program by contacting the director of the Theatre Program.

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Theatre website: https://theatre.rice.edu/

See https://humanities.rice.edu/student-life for tables of fellowships, prizes, and internships/practica that may be relevant to this minor.