Drama Major

Program Requirements

  • Total Units Required: 36 (12 courses)
  • Grade Requirement: Students must earn a grade of C- or better in all required and elective drama courses in order for them to apply toward major requirements.

Required Courses

Foundations Courses (9 Units):

DRAMA 2100Introduction to Theater Production3
DRAMA 2200Fundamentals of Acting3
or DRAMA 2202
Improvisation
or DRAMA 1191 Ampersand: Shakespear's Globe: All the World's a Stage and DRAMA 1192 Shakespeare's Globe
DRAMA 2304Introduction to Theater and Performance Studies3

Applications Courses (6 Units):

Two courses chosen from the following three options:

DRAMA 3104Costume Rendering and Design3
or DRAMA 3105
Stage Lighting
or DRAMA 3106
Scenic Design
or DRAMA 3400
Introduction to Playwriting
DRAMA 3204Fundamentals of Directing3
DRAMA 3309Performance and Culture3

If one of the above options is taken as part of a pathway, the other two applications must be completed to fulfill this requirement.

Historical Practice Courses (6 Units):

Two courses chosen from the following list:

DRAMA 3012 Theater Space in Historical Practice3
DRAMA 3013 Politics and Performance in Historical Practice3
DRAMA 3014 Body Language: Acting, Rhetorical Gesture, and Dance in Historical Perspective3
DRAMA 3015 Social Identity and Dramatic Character in Historical Practice3
DRAMA 3016 Blood and Magic: Special Effects in Historical Practice3

One Course in a Non-Western or Under-Represented U.S. Minority Cultural Tradition (3 Units)

AFAS 3040 A History of African American Theater3
CHINA 4670The Chinese Theater3
DRAMA 2203Black Theater Workshop3
DRAMA 3880Asian and Asian Diaspora Theatre3
JAPAN 4460The Japanese Theater3

Additional courses may fulfill this requirement. Please consult course listings each semester.

Elective Courses

Drama majors choose four electives (12 units) from one of eight pathways below: Drama General, Acting, Directing, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Scenic Design, Playwriting, or Theatre, Performance & Society. 

Drama General

3000-level or above DRAMA elective3
3000-level or above DRAMA elective3
4000-level DRAMA elective3
4000-level DRAMA elective3

These courses may not count toward other Drama major requirements.

Acting

DRAMA 3200Intermediate Acting3
DRAMA 3203Advanced Musical Theater3
or DRAMA 3205
Acting for the Camera
or DRAMA 4202
Theater for Social Change
or DRAMA 4910
Independent Study in Acting (leading role)
DRAMA 4200Acting Styles: Realism to Non-realism3
DRAMA 4201Advanced Acting3

Directing

DRAMA 3204Fundamentals of Directing3
DRAMA 3100Production Practicum (1 credit–technical crew or 1 credit–design assist)1
DRAMA 4920Practicum in Assistant Directing2
or DRAMA 3102
Practicum in Stage Management
DRAMA 4400Dramaturgy3
or DRAMA 3200
Intermediate Acting
DRAMA 4204Directing II3

Costume Design

DRAMA 3104Costume Rendering and Design3
DRAMA 3109Introduction to Costume Construction3
DRAMA 3100Production Practicum (1 credit–technical crew or 1 credit-design assist)1
DRAMA 3107History of Western Costume3
or DRAMA 4930
Independent Study in Technical Theater
DRAMA 4931Advanced Practicum in Technical Theater (2 credit–design)2

Lighting Design

DRAMA 3105Stage Lighting3
DRAMA 3100Production Practicum (1 credit–technical crew or 1 credit–design assist)1
DRAMA 4931Advanced Practicum in Technical Theater (2 credit–design)2
DRAMA 3101Digital Media for the Stage3
or DRAMA 3305
Immersive Story Studio
or DRAMA 4930
Independent Study in Technical Theater
DRAMA 4100Advanced Stage Lighting3
or DRAMA 4101
(Concert) Lighting Technology

Scenic Design

DRAMA 3106Scenic Design3
DRAMA 4102Advanced Scenic Design3
DRAMA 3100Production Practicum (1 credit–technical crew or 1 credit–design assist)1
DRAMA 4931Advanced Practicum in Technical Theater (2 credit–design)2
DRAMA 3305Immersive Story Studio3
or DRAMA 4930
Independent Study in Technical Theater

Playwriting

DRAMA 3400Introduction to Playwriting3
DRAMA 3301Devising, Adaptation, Docudrama3
or DRAMA 3500
Introduction to Screenwriting
or DRAMA 3304
Contemporary American Theater
DRAMA 4400Dramaturgy3
or DRAMA 4306
Dramatic Theory
DRAMA 4401Advanced Playwriting3

Theatre, Performance & Society*

DRAMA 3309Performance and Culture3
3000-level or above course in Theater History**3
3000-level or above course in Research Methodology**3
4000-level course in Dramatic or Performance Theory**3
*

At least two courses in the Theatre, Performance & Society pathway must be taken at the 4000 level.

**

Please consult course listings each semester for this designation.

Additional Information

A maximum of 3 credits earned outside of Arts & Sciences at Washington University (e.g., through transfer credit or study abroad) may be applied to the drama major, with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Drama.

Visit the Performing Arts page
for additional information about this program.

Contact Info

Phone:314-935-5858
Email:pad@wustl.edu
Website:http://pad.wustl.edu