The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Dramaturgy/Criticism focuses on helping students explore their critical thinking and writing skills for a variety of applications within theatre and other art forms. The four-year curriculum provides students with primary tools – script analysis, dramatic theory and new play development – and opportunity for practical application of those tools in our production process.
Students learn from a distinguished and award-winning faculty of professional dramaturgists, directors and arts writers both in the classroom and through individual guidance and advising. Students receive formal and informal feedback from faculty through continual evaluation of their work and portfolio presentations.
First Year. The first year curriculum is taken in collaboration with other theatre studies students and is an immersion into the culture of theatrical production and literature. Students’ coursework includes script analysis, theatre history and acting to facilitate critical thinking and a physical understanding of the theatrical process. Students also participate in three production assignments in various areas of production.
Second Year. Students move into the specific dramaturgy curriculum and focus on the historical precedent of dramaturgy and an introduction to production dramaturgy and educational outreach. Students also take coursework in design or technical areas as well as courses in English, literature and communication. Students participate in the production season as dramaturgs and assistant production dramaturgs.
Third Year. Students continue to hone their thinking and writing skills through both dramatic theory and journalistic criticism courses. Students also explore the production process through directing coursework and can engage in elective theatre, English or communication coursework. Students can continue to participate in the production season as production dramaturgs and participate in two formal portfolio evaluations.
Fourth Year. The fourth year is a transition year, both further developing students’ abilities and preparing students to enter the profession. Coursework includes study of various career and networking opportunities, practical application of the students’ skills, and elective coursework in the individual area of interest. Students continue to participate in the production season as production dramaturgs and are placed in a professional internship of their choosing.
Graduate Showcase. At the end of each year, The Theatre School hosts an event to showcase the work of our graduating students. Under the guidance of the faculty, graduating students prepare a showcase exhibit of their portfolio – which is presented in Chicago for artistic directors and other members of the theatre, film and television industries. The Graduate Showcase includes alumni networking events to introduce and connect our graduates to our large alumni network.
Liberal Studies. In addition to the dramaturgy/dramatic criticism training curriculum, students complete 52 quarterly credit hours (13 courses) in liberal studies. Courses are taken in theatre history, English composition and rhetoric, quantitative reasoning, philosophy, religion, lab or quantitative sciences, world history, multiculturalism and electives. These liberal studies courses are scheduled during the first three years of the program.
Evaluation. Every student receives quarterly evaluation and feedback from the faculty each year. Students’ evaluations are based on discipline, collaboration, professional potential and progress in the program. Based on this evaluation, students are continued from year to year at the invitation of the faculty. There are no pre-determined limits on the number of students returning to theatre studies programs. An invitation to return to the third year of a theatre studies program is for the duration of the respective program provided that all academic requirements are met, and that professional discipline is acceptable.
