Department of Theatre and Communication

The objectives of the Department of Theatre and Communication are to enhance the student’s and to explore new avenues in communication in its various practical and artistic forms, and to provide a background of knowledge and experience to help prepare the student for graduate or professional school and/or a career.

As the name suggests, the department offers a variety of degree programs and minors in theatre and communication, which include opportunities to study script writing, performance, and production as well as mass communication, electronic media, public relations, and strategic communication in leadership roles. Except for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in theatre, each degree plan requires a minor area of study, while the BFA degree includes enough elective hours that students can declare a minor, allowing each student to ‘create’ a degree plan that is as unique as they are. Likewise, the minors offered by the Department of Theatre and Communication are a great compliment to many of the degree programs offered by other areas of study at William Carey.

In addition to the academic offerings, the department offers many opportunities for students to participate in various aspects of theatre production as well as in speech and debate competitions.

Carey Dinner Theatre

Founded in 1975, Carey Dinner Theatre operates in the summer and presents two musical theatre productions. Auditions for prospective performers and interviews for prospective technicians are held each spring. Each member of the company receives a stipend.

Academic Policies

Each student completing a degree in the department must take a comprehensive examination in their final trimester of study. Although no specific score is required, completion of the exam is necessary for graduation.
At the end of the academic year, each student is evaluated to determine whether he/she will be allowed to continue in the degree program.
Each degree and minor requires a minimum grade of ‘C’ in each course within the program curriculum.
Prior to enrolling in courses required for a minor, the student must formally declare the minor and receive advisement from the appropriate program faculty in the Department of Theatre and Communication.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre is a professional degree with two unique emphases structured for students interested in pursuing a career in theatre for young audiences or script writing in its various forms, or for students entering a graduate program pursuant to a Master of Fine Arts degree. The BFA is offered with two areas of concentration: Theatre for Young Audiences and Script Writing.
- Admission requirement for the concentration in Theatre for Young Audiences: Student must submit a one-page narrative on the student’s interest in Theatre for Young Audiences along with an audition and/or portfolio review.
- Admission requirement for the concentration in Script Writing: Student must submit a selection of their writing. The selection should demonstrate the student’s abilities in writing dialogue (i.e., play, movie, commercial, podcast, video game, etc.).

Programs

Major

Minor