Theatre Arts Minor
Description. The Theatre Arts minor is structured to give students an overview of drama and theatre, in terms of history, performance and criticism. The curriculum involves the student in both the practical and theoretical aspects of the theatre process. The minor offers ample opportunities for students to apply their skills on stage and/or backstage.
In addition, the Theatre Arts minor affords opportunities to enhance creativity, time management and communication skills that are useful in virtually any professional area. John Jay College’s proximity to Lincoln Center and New York City’s theatrical district provides students with access to performing arts libraries, organizations, theatres, and internships.
The Theatre Arts minor concludes with a 3–credit 300–level theatre course or capstone project chosen by the student, under the guidance of a member of the theatre faculty. This project will provide the student with the opportunity to demonstrate acquired proficiency in an area of performance, production, criticism, and/or scholarship.
A successful Theatre Arts minor will:
- Know what is meant by Theatre, in particular what distinguishes it from drama and film.
- Develop a general understanding and appreciation of major periods of theatre history and major pieces of dramatic literature with perspectives in western and nonwestern traditions and gender and ethnic identities.
- Identify the characteristics of the major theatre genres, and know how each of these genres and styles has engendered distinctive forms of playwriting, acting, directing, and theatrical design.
- Enhance critical thinking and writing skills through literary analysis of important dramatic works of classical and contemporary drama.
- Acquire the ability to analyze scripts and critically assess those elements that contribute the theatre process.
- Apply drama–based skills in non–theatrical environments, for example business, law, criminal justice settings, healthcare, and education.
- Acquire cultural capital through exposure to professional theatre in the New York City area
Credits. 18
Minor coordinator. Professor Seth Baumrin, Department of Communication and Theatre Arts (212.237.8130, sbaumrin@jjay.cuny.edu)
Experiential learning opportunities. Courses in the Theatre Arts Minor provide a broad range of experiential learning opportunities to further develop voice, diction, improvisation, spontaneity, performing and directing skills. Sophomores and above may take acting training, which focuses on the preparation of scenes and monologues. Students at all levels can participate in departmental plays where they can work as actors, or stage managers, or take up production roles such as costuming, make-up or other backstage roles in the Black Box or main theater productions.
Additional information. Students who started the minor in September 2020 or after must follow the curriculum listed here. For students who enrolled prior to that, please see the Undergraduate Bulletin 2019-20 for the older curricular requirements.
Part One. Foundations
Required
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Two. Theory and Practice
Select two
Total Credit Hours: 6
Part Three. Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
Select two
Total Credit Hours: 6
Part Four. Upper–Level Requirement
Select one
Total Credit Hours: 3
Total Credit Hours: 18