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This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.
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Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09
Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09
Bachelor of Arts in Drama
The requirements for the B.A. degree in Drama are designed to integrate the critical and historical study of drama with the study and experience of performance. A total of 60 units are required to obtain a B.A. degree in Drama. The major provides aesthetic and critical opportunities for students to develop special aptitudes. Students are encouraged to declare a major in their sophomore year.
SUGGESTED PREPARATION FOR THE MAJOR
Prospective majors in the first two years of study at Stanford are encouraged to take part in casting opportunities in department productions or independent undergraduate performing arts groups.
Recommended Preparatory Courses—Two years of a college-level foreign language.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Required Courses—60 units total for the major
A course may be listed in more than one area, however, each course can only satisfy one major requirement. There is no double credit for a course.
- Introductory Core Courses—16 units chosen from the following:
DRAMA 30. Introduction to Theatrical Design
DRAMA 34. Stage Management Techniques
DRAMA 101H. How Theater Thinks
DRAMA 101R. How Practice Practices (begins 2009-2010)
- Literature/History—16 units chosen from the following:
DRAMA 35. Introduction to Sound for the Theater
DRAMA 110. Identity, Diversity, and Aesthetics: The Institute for Diversity in the Arts
DRAMA 120A. Acting Fundamentals
DRAMA 120B. Fundamentals of Acting
DRAMA 121P. Acting: Period and Style
DRAMA 152. Beckett
DRAMA 160. Performance, Dance, and History
DRAMA 161R. Texts in History: Classics from Greece to Rome
DRAMA 162. Performance in the Text
DRAMA 170A. Concepts of Directing
DRAMA 170B. Advanced Directing
DRAMA 170P. Composing Performance
DRAMA 175. Bay Area Performance Platform: SFMOMA Project
DRAMA 176H. Dramaturgy Project: The Wasteland
DRAMA 177. Playwriting
DRAMA 178. Page to the Stage: Playwriting and Solo Performance
DRAMA 179F. Flor y Canto: Poetry Workshop
DRAMA 179G. Indigenous Identity in Diaspora: People of Color Art Practice in North America
DRAMA 201A,B,C,D. Honors Colloquium
DRAMA 219. Contemporary African American Drama: August Wilson, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Beyond
- Practical Courses—16 units chosen from the following:
DANCE: Any course with the subject code DANCE
DRAMA 20. Acting for Non-Majors
DRAMA 29. Theater Performance: Acting
DRAMA 32. Costume Construction
DRAMA 28. Makeup for the Stage
DRAMA 103. Beginning Improvising
DRAMA 104. Introduction to Sketch Comedy
DRAMA 120A. Acting Fundamentals
DRAMA 120B. Fundamentals of Acting
DRAMA 120D. Studio Performance
DRAMA 120V. Vocal Production and Audition
DRAMA 121C. Physical Characterization
DRAMA 121M. Movement and Character
DRAMA 121P. Acting: Period and Style
DRAMA 121S. Acting Shakespeare Project
DRAMA 131. Lighting Design
DRAMA 132. Costume Design
DRAMA 133. Stage Scenery Design
DRAMA 135. Sound Design
DRAMA 139. Stage Management Production Crew
DRAMA 170A. Concepts of Directing
DRAMA 170B. Advanced Directing
DRAMA 170P. Composing Performance
DRAMA 171. Undergraduate Theater Workshop
DRAMA 176P. Wasteland Practical
DRAMA 177. Playwriting
DRAMA 213. Stanford Improv Ensemble
DRAMA 231. Advanced Stage Lighting Design
DRAMA 232. Advanced Costume Design
DRAMA 233. Advanced Scene Design
DRAMA 234. Advanced Stage Management Project
- Production—12 units chosen from the following:
DRAMA 134. Stage Management Project (required)
Choose 2 courses (required):
DRAMA 39A. Theater Performance: Scenery and/or Property
DRAMA 39B. Theater Performance: Lighting/Sound
DRAMA 39C. Theater Performance: Costumes/Makeup
DRAMA 39D. Theater Performance: Prosser Stage Management
Choose any course(s) for remaining units:
DRAMA 9. Undergraduate Production Colloquium
DRAMA 22. Scene Work
DRAMA 29. Theater Performance: Acting
DRAMA 31. Introduction to Lighting and Production
DRAMA 32. Costume Construction
DRAMA 35. Introduction to Sound for the Theater
DRAMA 131. Lighting Design
DRAMA 132. Costume Design
DRAMA 133. Stage Scenery Design
DRAMA 133C. Autocad for Designer
DRAMA 139. Stage Management Production Crew
DRAMA 231. Advanced Stage Lighting Design
DRAMA 232. Advanced Costume Design
DRAMA 233. Advanced Scene Design
DRAMA 234. Advanced Stage Management Project
DRAMA 235.Advanced Sound Design
- Optional Senior Project—2 units
DRAMA 200. Senior Project
DRAMA 205. Senior Project: Acting
Work for this project normally begins in Spring Quarter of the junior year and is completed by the end of the senior year. The student has the option of writing an essay associated with the project. Students receive credit for senior projects through DRAMA 200 or DRAMA 205. Students pursuing senior projects should consult with both the undergraduate adviser and a faculty adviser in the project's specialty area early in the junior year. Students must petition for approval of senior projects through the department's undergraduate adviser. Projects are typically approved by department faculty at the end of Spring Quarter of the junior year or the end of Autumn Quarter of the senior year. The proposal should include an outline of the courses the student has taken and grades received in the area requirements, and should describe the courses in which the student plans to enroll as part of the project. It should describe in detail the purpose and methods involved in the project; a bibliography, if appropriate; and a 1-2 page abstract of the associated essay if an essay is part of the project.
HONORS PROGRAM
For a limited number of students, the department confers the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors in Drama. To be considered for departmental honors, students must meet the following requirements in addition to the other requirements of the Drama major:
- Application involves a written submission (including transcript) establishing the student's work-to-date in the department and outlining the area of research that the student wishes to pursue. No students are admitted to the honors program with a grade below 'B-' in any course that constitutes part of their Drama major.
- Students must complete the Drama core requirements by the end of their junior year, earlier if possible. Only in exceptional circumstances can this requirement be waived. Transfer from another university, extended overseas study, or temporary withdrawal from the major due to illness might constitute extenuating circumstances.
- Students must have completed half of the courses in their specialization by the end of their junior year.
- Students must complete 4 units in the Honors Colloquia (described below), beginning Spring Quarter of their junior year and continuing the following three regular quarters. Each quarter's colloquium is offered for 1 unit, S/NC. In extenuating circumstances (overseas study, for example), an honors program student may substitute other equivalent work for one quarter of the colloquium, with the approval of the honors adviser.
- GPA in courses counting towards the major must be 3.5 by the time of graduation.
- By the end of the seventh week of the quarter in which they plan to graduate, students in the honors program must submit an honors thesis (described below), to be read and evaluated by their thesis committee.
- On the basis of a student's work in the Drama core, in the area of specialization, on the senior project, in the honors colloquia, and on the honors thesis, the faculty determines and confers honors on graduating students who have successfully completed the honors program.
- Failure to meet any of these requirements, or to make satisfactory progress on the honors thesis, leads to dismissal from the honors program.
Honors Colloquia and Thesis—The honors colloquia aim to engage honors program students in important issues in the field focusing on the students' areas of specialization and research. The honors program adviser convenes the colloquia three times per quarter and sets the agenda for meetings and discussion. Students discuss their work in the department and present and discuss their research for their honors thesis. Student must enroll in DRAMA 202. Honors Thesis.
The honors thesis typically consists of a long essay (40-60 pages) presenting the student's research on an important issue or subject, determined by the student. The honors program adviser, the senior project adviser, and another faculty member constitute the student's honors thesis committee. They read and evaluate the thesis, and make recommendations to the faculty at large regarding its strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, students have the option of using their own senior project as a case study. In these situations, the honors thesis will critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the creative work. Generally, these essays tend to be shorter (about 20-25 pages) because the creative work constitutes one-half of the honors project.
Honors in Humanities—An honors program in Humanities is available for Drama majors who wish to supplement their major with related and carefully guided studies. See the "Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities" section of this bulletin for a description of the honors program. Students who enroll in this program may take HUMNTIES 160 and two seminars from 190-198 in fulfillment of the departmental elective requirement.
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