One of only a few programs of its kind in the country, UNH’s secondary theatre education option will prepare you to teach theatre and direct productions with students in kindergarten through 12th grade. You’ll study the history of theatre and directing, the elements of design and theatre technology, and methods of teaching in theatre. You’ll gain hands-on practical teaching experience with K-12 students. As you complete your studies, you will have the option to enter theatre education directly as a teaching artist at professional theatres, get NH Theatre Arts K-12 teacher undergraduate certification, or pursue a fifth-year master’s in teaching program through the UNH Education Department.
In addition to our award-winning faculty, the UNH Department of Theatre and Dance offers more than 25 performance opportunities every year in musicals, plays or dance concerts, including student productions. You’ll be able to pursue independent studies and be eligible to apply for R.E.A.C.H., financial assistance for students who participate in internships with professional theatre or dance organizations. Our theatre education courses provide multiple practical teaching experiences so that you know before the end of your senior year whether teaching K-12 suits your career goals. With the addition of undergraduate or graduate teacher certification, you’ll be well-positioned to pursue a career in teaching or youth theatre.
Department of Theater and Dance
Paul Creative Arts Center
University of New Hampshire
30 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2919
Fax: (603) 862-0298
Candidates interested in passing on their love of theatre to future generations will find that the secondary theatre education option offers practical and theoretical training for teachers. As one of a few programs in the country, UNH’s Secondary Theatre Education option boasts a robust offering with six courses specifically focused on how to teach theatre. Through comprehensive course and laboratory work, students obtain hands-on theatre teaching experience, so that by the time they reach graduation, they have spent significant hours working with the K-12 age group. Students are provided with extensive training and practical teaching experience specifically geared towards the goal of being a theatre teacher, either in a traditional classroom or as a teaching artist. As you complete your studies, you will have the option to enter theatre education directly as a teaching artist at professional theatres, you could plan from your first year to pursue NH Theatre Arts K-12 teacher undergraduate certification, or you could pursue a fifth-year master's in teaching program through the UNH Education Department. A master's degree can raise your salary significantly when entering the workforce. Whether pursuing the fifth year graduate certification program or entering the professional theatre education world directly after the undergraduate degree, students can expect to leave UNH prepared for the rigorous task of teaching.
Contact Raina Ames, Paul Creative Arts Center, (603) 862-3044.
In the freshman and sophomore years, students should enroll for at least two major and two Discovery courses per semester. The minimum grade requirement for major courses is C- per course. Any grade lower than C- will not count toward the major. Under department policy, students who complete both COMM 401 American Sign Language I and COMM 502 American Sign Language II satisfy the bachelor of arts language proficiency requirement. All majors must take courses in the following areas: performance, design/theatre technology and theory/history as well as fulfill between four and eight practicums and complete a capstone course. Although timing will vary with each option, it is strongly suggested that all introductory courses be taken prior to the end of the student's sophomore year. Students must also complete a digital portfolio that demonstrates fulfillment of student learning outcomes related to their area of study.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Theatre department majors may use one major-required course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
All UNH B.A. degrees require a minimum of 128 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| THDA 436 | History of Theatre I | 4 |
| THDA 438 | History of Theatre II | 4 |
| THDA 459 | Stagecraft | 4 |
| THDA 460 | Elements of Design | 4 |
| THDA 463 | Theatre Dance I | 4 |
| THDA 475 | Stage Makeup | 2 |
| THDA 551 | Acting I | 4 |
| THDA 589 | Practicum (A - D) 1 | 4-8 |
| THDA 624 | Theatre for Young Audiences | 4 |
| THDA 721 | Arts Integration | 4 |
| THDA 727 | Methods of Teaching Theatre 2 | 4 |
| THDA 729 | Community Oriented Drama Programs | 4 |
| THDA 741 | Directing | 4 |
| THDA 760 | Teacher Planning for Theatre | 4 |
| THDA 799 | Capstone Project ( must be taken in senior year) | 2 |
| Design/Theatre Technology | ||
| Select 4 credits of the following: | 4 | |
THDA 458 | Costume Construction | |
THDA 546 | Costume Design for the Theatre | |
THDA 548 | Stage Lighting Design and Execution | |
| Education | ||
| EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching 2 | 4 |
| Total Credits | 64-68 | |
Students are required to take at least one practicum for every semester they are a major in the Department of Theatre and Dance. In addition, each student must take each type of practicum at least once (Technical, Costume, Performance, Marketing and Promotion).
May be taken at the undergraduate level or the graduate level.
NOTE: It is understood that students will fulfill 20 internship contact hours with theatre students in their option area: elementary, middle, or high school. Projects for THDA 729 Community Oriented Drama Programs cannot count as internship hours. Students may fulfill this requirement through a variety of teaching opportunities with the department's outreach program (both during the school year and in the summer), or they may work with local schools teaching, coaching actors, assistant directing, choreographing, or in some other capacity as specifically arranged with their theatre adviser.
It also is understood that students involved in the above course curriculum in order to get state theatre arts certification must apply to either the UNH Department of Education or another university for acceptance into a fifth-year master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.) or master of education (M.Ed.) degree program that fulfills state requirements for certification.
In order to obtain state theatre arts certification, students must either know from their first year that they are pursuing undergraduate Theatre Arts teacher certification or they must apply to the UNH Department of Education or another university for acceptance into a fifth-year master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.) or masters of education (M.Ed.) degree program, which fulfills state requirements for certification. Students who are accepted into early graduate admission may take up to 12 credits toward the 32 credit masters while finishing their undergraduate degree. For further clarification regarding both undergraduate and graduate certification options, contact Raina Ames, Paul Creative Arts Center, (603) 862-3044, raina.ames@unh.edu.
The 4-year teacher licensure B.A. program includes the same requirements as the B.A. secondary theatre education option but with the following modifications.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 605 | Educational Perspectives in Critical Times | 4 |
| EDUC 694 | Courses in Supervised Teaching | 8 |
| EDUC 701 | Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives | 4 |
| EDUC 751A | Inclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners | 4 |
| or EDUC 751B | Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education: Literacies, Learning, and Transitions | |
| THDA 791 | Internship in Theatre and Dance | 2 |
The 5-year teacher licensure M.A.T. or M.Ed. Program includes the same requirements as the B.A. secondary theatre education option but with the following modifications:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 605 | Educational Perspectives in Critical Times 1 | 4 |
| EDUC 701/801 | Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives 2 | 4 |
| EDUC 751A/851A | Inclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners 2 | 4 |
| or EDUC 751B/851B | Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education: Literacies, Learning, and Transitions | |
| EDUC 900A | Internship and Seminar in Teaching | 6 |
| EDUC 901A | Internship and Seminar in Teaching | 6 |
| 8 credits from THDA 700-level or EDUC #700/800-level elective courses. 2 | 8 | |
Must be taken before the teaching internship.
Must be taken before the teaching internship. May be taken at the undergraduate level or the graduate level.
Core Student Learning Outcomes for the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre major: On completion of the B.A. in Theatre, students will:
Additional Student Learning Outcomes for Option in Secondary Theatre Education: In addition to the shared department learning outcomes for all THDA students, upon completion of the major with an Option in Secondary Theatre Education, students will:
Students may pursue undergraduate teacher certification in theatre or dance education. Students looking for a second major and/or a minor wouldn’t have time to do the undergraduate certification. However, students may pursue certification with a 5th year master’s degree through the Education department.
