Liberal Studies - Theater Concentration

Parent Program: 
Overview & Highlights: 

The following courses are required for this concentration. The general education courses listed are only those required for this concentration. A total of 57 - 63 units are required for general education (not including the language requirement).

To discover more about the theater program, visit the theater department pages.

Degree Course Listings: 

General Education Requirements
BIOL 101LPrinciples of Biology4 units
HIST 150American Civilization4 units
LIT 180Introduction to Literature3 units
PE 120Dance Movement1 unit
PHYS 150LPhysical Science4 units
PHYS 150Earth Science3 units
PSY 120Introduction to Psychology3 units
Liberal Studies Required Courses
ART 300Art Fundamentals3 units
DRA 355Creative Drama3 units
HIST 440California History and Politics4 units
ENV 150Introduction to Environmental Studies4 units
LA 380Learning Communities1 unit
LANG 310First and Second Language Acquisition3 units
LANG 340Introduction to Linguistics3 units
LIT 465Literature for Children and Young Adults3 units
MATH 132Arithmetic and Data Analysis3 units
MATH 134Algebraic Thinking and Geometry3 units
MUS 305Music in the Classroom3 units
KIN 460Elementary Physical Education Methods3 units
PSY 350Child Development3 units
SOC 310Cultural Communities of California3 units
 OR 
SOC 410American Ethnicity and Pluralism3 units
Theater Concentration Required Courses
LIT 395Text and Performance3 units
DRA 350Acting3 units
DRA 360Directing and Staging Texts3 units
 Select one of the following: 
LIT 380World Theater: Roots to 18003 units
LIT 385World Theater: 1800 to Present*3 units
FOR A MINOR ADD:
DRA 115/315Drama Practicum: The Company2 units
DRA 370Auditioning1 unit
DRA 380Stage Make-Up1 unit
DRA 470Senior Thesis Performance2 units
 Select one of the following: 
LIT 380World Theater: Roots to 18003 units
LIT 415Shakespeare3 units

*Choose from this course if planning to complete a minor.

ART 300: Art Fundamentals (3 units)

  • This course is designed to introduce studio art, art history, art criticism and aesthetics to the future elementary school teacher. This class will provide a foundation for life-long learning within the art discipline. Competencies pertaining to art instruction will be developed through various art experiences based upon art education theory and practice.

BIOL 101L: Principles of Biology (4 units)

  • An examination of the cell, inheritance, ecology, human biology, the diversity of life and evolutionary theory. Emphasis is given to understanding central concepts and to the process of science. Attention is also given to the relationships between biology and Christian faith and practice. It provides foundational understandings for general education and liberal studies.

DRA 115/315: Drama Practicum: The Company (2 units)

  • As a member of the Company, the student participates in all aspects of production, specifically as it relates to the FPU performance season. Weekly sessions provide training and opportunities in dramaturgy, light design, set and costume design and construction, stagecraft, publicity, and arts administration. Students additionally take on roles as performers, as rehearsal assistants (stage managers, assistant directors, dramaturgs) and on production support crews, experiencing first-hand the artistic, interpretive and collaborative processes of moving a text from the page to the stage. Participation in the Company is based on an audition or interview with the theater program director.

DRA 350: Acting (3 units)

  • A study of basic acting theory with practical application in scene work. Particular attention is drawn to the connections between acting for the stage and the roles played in everyday life.

DRA 355: Creative Drama (3 units)

  • This course equips people to lead others in process-oriented creative drama activities, including theater games, group improvisation, storytelling and related performance forms.

DRA 360: Directing and Staging Texts (3 units)

  • A study of directing: basic organization, script analysis, directing theory and working with other theater artists. This course focuses on directing for the stage, both dramatic and non-dramatic texts and may include a component on directing for film. This course is useful for students interested in teaching drama; film production; or participating in educational, community or professional theater. Practical in-class directing experience involved.

DRA 370: Auditioning (1 unit)

  • Class lessons in auditioning technique including the presentation of several monologues.

DRA 380: Stage Make-Up (1 unit)

  • The study and execution of various theatrical make-up techniques.

DRA 470: Senior Thesis Performance (2 units)

  • The production and acting of a short play or series of scenes planned under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

ENV 150: Introduction to Environmental Studies (4 units)

  • An interdisciplinary study of the relationships between people and their environment. The use of natural resources, environmental degradation and human population are examined from ecological, social and religious perspectives.

HIST 150: American Civilization (4 units)

  • A study of the development of American culture and society from the colonial period to the present. Major themes and events are examined within the context of America's geography, religious and immigrant heritage and sociopolitical development. (This course meets the U.S. Constitution requirement for teaching credential candidates.)

HIST 440: California History and Politics (4 units)

  • California is often viewed as the "trendsetter" for the rest of the nation. This course seeks to explain why by acquainting students with the social, cultural, economic and political development of California from early settlement to the present. At the same time, it familiarizes them with the state's current political system and the politics that surround it. (Meets the California history and government requirement for teaching credential candidates.)

KIN 460: Elementary Physical Education Methods (3 units)

LA 380: Learning Communities (1 unit)

  • A seminar course with two hours per week of field experience that will focus on learning communities of elementary educational systems. The course will involve analysis and evaluation of classroom observations in relation to academic studies of the multiple subject programs.

LANG 310: First and Second Language Acquisition (3 units)

  • An introduction to the ways human beings acquire a first and second language and the conditions that support acquisition.

LANG 340: Introduction to Linguistics (3 units)

  • Language is studied as a system of systems including phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Students also discuss language universals and current usage standards.

LIT 180: Introduction to Literature (3 units)

  • A study of outstanding examples of the short story, novel, poetry and drama genres. Designed to introduce the student to the world of literature, to create an appreciation for it and to provide analytical tools for further study.

LIT 380: World Theater: Roots to 1800 (3 units)

  • A study of early forms of theater from Africa, South and Central America, Greece and Rome, India, and Japan, with attention to the role of religion in the making of early performance texts. Also explores European playtexts from the medieval to the neoclassical periods.

LIT 385: World Theater: 1800 to Present (3 units)

  • A study of performance texts of the 19th to the 21st centuries, drawn from various styles (e.g., realist, expressionist, absurdist, epic theater, protest theater, the musical, performance art, readers and chamber theater) and perspectives (e.g., national, colonial, post-colonial, ethnic, multicultural).

LIT 395: Text and Performance (3 units)

  • A study of performance as a critical tool for understanding human communication. The course will examine the components of performance including text, performer, audience and context.

LIT 415: Shakespeare (3 units)

  • A study of seven major plays, including comedies, tragedies and problem plays. Course includes analysis of historical background materials, literary criticism and film adaptations.

LIT 465: Literature for Children and Young Adults (3 units)

  • This course is a survey course in the literature for children from preschool through junior high school. The course is particularly designed to assist teachers and teacher candidates in the selection and use of literature in the classroom.

MATH 132: Arithmetic and Data Analysis (3 units)

  • This course is one of the two courses required for liberal studies majors intending to be elementary school teachers. The purpose of the course is to strengthen the students' conceptual understanding of the mathematics taught in the K-7 settings. Topics will include: numeration systems, a variety of algorithmic structures in arithmetic, simple set theory, probability, descriptive statistics, graphical interpretations of data, construction of appropriate graphical structures.

MATH 134: Algebraic Thinking and Geometry (3 units)

  • This course is one of the two courses required for liberal studies majors intending to be elementary school teachers. The purpose of the course is to strengthen the students' conceptual understanding of mathematics taught in the K-7 settings. Topics will include: the interplay of algebra and arithmetic, generalization of algorithms from arithmetic to algebra, functions and equations, the hierarchical ordering of operations, basic analytic geometry, elementary geometric ideas of area, perimeter, classification and spatial relationships.

MUS 305: Music in the Classroom (3 units)PE 120: Dance Movement (1 unit)

  • Music skills and effective means of teaching them are the subject of this class. A variety of approaches to teaching music, including the Kodaly method, will be explored. Students will learn the basics of reading and performing music. This course fulfills the requirement of the liberal studies major.

PE 120: Dance Movement (1 unit)

PHYS 105L: Physical Science (4 units)

  • An integrative study of the physical sciences, including the history and methods of science, the relationship of scientific truth and biblical truth and the relationship of modern technology to science and its consequences for society.

PHYS 150: Earth Science (3 units)

  • This course presents the concepts of the major geological processes affecting the physical earth and helps students appreciate the earth and understand environmental concerns. Exercises in mineral identification are also included.

PSY 120: Introduction to Psychology (3 units)

  • The objectives of this course are to present the student with an overview of the facts and issues of the discipline, to examine the relationship of psychology to religion and to explore the implications of the subject matter for how we live. Such topics as perception, learning, biofeedback, stress, normality, therapy and community are discussed.

PSY 350: Child Development (3 units)

  • A study of the development of the child from conception to adolescence. Topics of development, such as physical, intellectual, social, emotional and moral are studied.

SOC 310: Cultural Communities of California (3 units)

  • An examination of the folklore and historical background of the major "parallel" cultural (minority) groups in California, including but not limited to Native American, African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander and other Asian American populations. Though special attention is given to cultural groups students come into contact with, national and global, social and cultural issues are explored to enhance their understanding of the similarities and differences among the diverse groups in society. SOC 482 must be taken simultaneously if this is being used to meet a focus series requirement.

SOC 410: American Ethnicity and Pluralism (3 units)

  • A study of the history of immigration, racism, discrimination and assimilation in American society. The experiences of various ethnic groups in America from the nation's founding to the present are examined and the rise of pluralism as the current model for structuring ethnic diversity in American institutional life is explored. SOC 482 must be taken simultaneously if this course is being used to meet a Focus Series requirement.
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