Theatre Major Study Away Advising Guide

The Global Education Office and the Department of Communication, Media, and Performance have compiled the following information for Theatre majors to assist in planning for a semester of study away. Students should let their Academic Advisor know as soon as possible about their plan to study away so they can help fit this experience into the student’s graduation plan.

Academic Planning Prior to Going Away

Successfully Complete the Following Courses Before Studying Away

To be eligible to study away, students in the Theatre major must successfully complete the following courses at Allegheny prior to studying away:

FS-101, FS-102 OR SWS-105 *wording TBD
THTR 110 – Introduction to Theatre
THTR 210 – Text and Performance
THTR 150 – Fundamentals of Performance
THTR 160 Introduction to Stage Production
At least two other courses satisfying requirements in the Core Sequence, Synthesis, and/or Electives.

When should I study away?

It is recommended that students in the theatre major should study away in the junior year. With significant planning, students opting to study away in their sophomore year or the fall semester of their senior year may be approved.

Allegheny’s graduation requirements state that a student’s final 16 semester credit hours before graduation must be taken in academic residence on campus, therefore study away during the second semester senior year is not allowed without the permission of the Dean’s Exemption Committee.

Plan Around Your Junior Seminar/Senior Project

THTR 582 – Theatre Junior Seminar is required of all majors. The junior seminar is usually taught in the fall. Some students are approved to take the course in the fall of their senior year.

THTR 600 – Comprehensive Seminar is required of all majors. This seminar prepares a student to complete their senior project. The course is usually taught in the spring semester. Accommodations will be made if a student is participating in an approved study away program.

THTR 610 – Senior Project is a one-semester course which must be completed in the student’s senior year.

Courses that Must Be Taken on Campus

The following courses in the Theatre major cannot be taken during a study-away program:

THTR 582 – Theatre Junior Seminar
THTR 600 – Comprehensive Seminar
THTR 610 – Senior Project

How Studying Away Counts Towards the Major

Before departure, students in the theatre major must review with their faculty adviser course offerings at the host institution that satisfy requirements in the major. Students are also encouraged to enroll in courses that are not taught at Allegheny but diversify their experience.

Up to 20 credits per semester or 32 credits per year can count toward the major.

Suggested Programs for Theatre Majors in the Theatre Department

The following is a highlighted list of sponsored study away programs that have approved coursework for the Theatre major:

Allegheny College’s Sponsored Study Away Programs The following are Allegheny Sponsored programs offering study away experiences for theatre students. Coursework completed will likely transfer for credit in the theatre major. Allegheny financial aid transfers in most cases.
Program Name	Distinguishing Features
USA: New York Arts Program	Internships in many of New York’s leading performing arts organizations, alongside advanced study in acting, film and media, and dance.
USA: The Philadelphia Center	Internships across Philadelphia in a variety of organizations, including performing arts venues, with continuing seminars taught by Center faculty.
Non-Sponsored Study Away Programs The following are independent programs offering study away experiences for theatre students. Coursework completed will likely transfer for credit in the theatre major. However, Allegheny financial aid cannot be used at any of these institutions.
Program Name	Distinguishing Features
England: BADA – British American Dramatic Academy in London	Advanced study in contemporary drama, Shakespeare, dramatic criticism, theatre history, and Black British theatre.
England: LAMDA – London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London	Semester-long study programs in classical acting.
Italy: Accademia dell’Arte	Semester and year-long programs in physical theatre, clown, and the commedia dell’arte.
Ireland: National Theatre School of Ireland – Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin	An intensive, practical approach to acting for advanced performers. Students spend the semester in Dublin, with occasional field trips to Belfast and London. Currently fall semester only.
USA: American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, CA	A semester-long actor training program affiliated with one of the United States’ leading regional theatres.
USA: Comedy Studies Center, Chicago	Advanced training in comic performance, improvisation, the history of comedy, and comic writing. Affiliated with The Second City and accredited by Columbia College Chicago.
USA: The National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Groton, Ct.	A semester-long conservatory which has traditionally focused on students from selective liberal arts colleges. Students are in residence on the Connecticut coast, with regular field trips to New York, New Haven, and Boston. Some semesters feature a week in London. Areas of focus include advanced acting, directing, playwriting, and musical theatre (performance and composition).
USA: Trinity/LaMama Performing Arts Program in New York City	Based at New York’s La Mama Experimental Theatre Club and affiliated with Trinity College. Semester study in movement, voice and acting, and dance, concurrent with internship experiences at performing arts venues across New York City.
Performing Arts Abroad	Theatre, film, dance, and music programs around the world, including the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, and South America.