The Certificate in Theatre may be completed by any University of Wisconsin–Madison undergraduate student who is not a declared Theatre major. This certificate program offers students the ability to develop knowledge and skills in an area of theatre discipline.
Theatre is a collaborative art form with many varied disciplines and talents working together to create a unified piece of art. The Certificate in Theatre is designed to be flexible enough for a student to pursue an individualized focus of study in an area of their interest. For example, a student may pursue an acting focus, a technical theatre focus, a costuming focus, a scenic design focus, or a stage management focus. Or, a student may meet with the theatre advisor to create a custom focus that supplements and bolsters their primary degree path.
All current UW-Madison undergraduates are eligible to complete the certificate, with the exception of students completing the Theatre and Drama major.
To declare the certificate, students must meet with the theatre and drama department advisor to discuss focus paths and to complete the theatre certificate declaration form. Contact Jim Stauffer at jbstauffer@wisc.edu, 608-263-2329 (main office), 6004 Vilas Communications Hall, 821 University Ave. Madison, WI 53706.
The Certificate in Theatre requires a minimum of 16 credits, with at least 8 credits taken in residence. Completion of the certificate requires a minimum GPA of 2.5 in certificate coursework.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose two Foundational courses: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Theatre and Dramatic Literature | ||
| Fundamentals of Theatrical Design | ||
| Voice 1: Effective Communication | ||
| Acting I: Introduction to Acting | ||
| Technical Theatre Fundamentals | ||
| Choose one Intermediate course: | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Topics inTheatre and Drama | ||
| Collaborative Problem Solving | ||
| Intermediate Voice Training | ||
| Fundamentals of Acting | ||
| Producing Theatre | ||
| Fundamentals of Stage Lighting Technology | ||
| Fundamentals of Stagecraft | ||
| Choose two Focus-Specific courses: | 6 | |
| History of Costume for the Stage | ||
| Introduction to African-American Performance | ||
| Fundamentals of Movement for the Stage | ||
| Acting Realism | ||
| Fundamentals of Asian Stage Discipline | ||
| Auditioning for Stage and Screen | ||
| Introduction to Theatre for Cultural and Social Awareness | ||
| Drama for Teaching and Learning | ||
| Principles and Practice of Stage Costume Design | ||
| Makeup for the Theatre | ||
| Sewing for the Theatre | ||
| Stage Lighting I | ||
| Script Analysis | ||
| Fundamentals of Directing | ||
| Drafting for the Theatre | ||
| Sound for Theatre | ||
| Set Design I | ||
| Introduction to Stage Management | ||
| History of Theatres and Staging | ||
| Musical Performance for the Actor | ||
| Acting Styles | ||
| Theatre for Young Audiences: Production | ||
| Stage Lighting Design II | ||
| Scenic Painting | ||
| The Business of the Business | ||
| The Business of Acting | ||
| Theatre in Education | ||
| The Theatres of China and Japan | ||
| Acting Shakespeare | ||
| Backstage Laboratory III | ||
| Costume Design II | ||
| Set Design II | ||
| Advanced Concepts in Stage Management | ||
| Internship in Theatre | ||
| Special Topics in Theatre and Drama | ||
| Theories of Acting | ||
| Choose one Hands-On/Practicum course: 1 | 1-3 | |
| Performance in Practice | ||
| Backstage Laboratory II | ||
- 1
Students may request to take similar courses in other departments to fulfill this requirement.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
- Demonstrate basic proficiency in one or more areas of theatre study.
- Demonstrate understanding of basic theatre concepts and methodology.
Information about faculty, staff, and other contributors to the Department of Theatre and Drama can be found on the department's website.