Speech and Theatre

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Jeff Gibson, Chair

Anderson, Asbury, Barksy, Boyd, Donnell, Gebert, Halladay, Hansen, Hunt, Kennedy, Kim, Kratzer, Macon, McCormick, Nofsinger, Richey, Seward, Shamburger, Shi, Smith

Courses in the Department of Speech and Theatre are designed to meet the General Education needs of all students; to develop a wide range of skills to promote effective communication; to foster and  sustain the understanding of theatre and dance within artistic, cultural, social, and historical contexts; and to prepare students for careers in both corporate and nonprofit organizations.

The department offers a major in Speech and Theatre with concentrations in Communication Studies and Theatre. Speech and Theatre is also the home department for an interdisciplinary major in Organizational Communication. (See Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors  for information.) Departmental programs lead to either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

Minors in Communication Studies, Dance, Entertainment Arts Design, Organizational Communication, Speech and Theatre, and Theatre are available. The department also participates in two interdisciplinary minors—Leadership Studies and Entertainment Technology. (See Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors  for information.)

Cocurricular Programs

The Speech and Theatre Department supports, directs, and staffs three cocurricular programs to supplement classroom theory and to benefit the University and surrounding communities. Students receive practical training through participation in cocurricular programs:

MTSU Debate—The debate program provides active intercollegiate competitive opportunities. The program is open to all undergraduate students in good academic standing.

MTSU Dance Theatre—The MTSU Dance Theatre provides an exciting vehicle for performance experiences at Middle Tennessee State University where audiences see high-quality performances of ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance. Company members perform in faculty choreography, adjudicated student compositions, and repertory works set by guest artists in workshops and residencies. Membership is by audition only, and auditions are held at the beginning of the fall semester and the end of the fall semester for the spring term. Students performing in the Fall Dance Concert must audition again at the end of the semester if they would like to perform in the Spring Dance Concert. Company members include both MTSU undergraduate and graduate students.

MTSU Theatre—The MTSU Theatre presents four major dramatic productions during the academic year. All MTSU Theatre performances are open to the public. Students majoring in Speech and Theatre and following the Theatre concentration participate in some aspect of each production. However, participation is open to all members of the University and local community.

Honors College

The Speech and Theatre Department offers Honors classes in COMM 2150 , COMM 2200 , COMM 3300 , and THEA 1030 .

Graduate Study

A minor in Speech and Theatre is offered at the graduate level. The specific course requirements may be designed to meet the academic needs of the individual graduate student. Courses from communication studies, theatre, and communication disorders may be taken for graduate credit. The Graduate Catalog has details and course listings.

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