Theatre Arts

The following degrees are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST):

• Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre

It is the mission of the Mars Hill University Theatre Arts Department to provide a nurturing training environment for students and support their artistic growth in all theatrical disciplines, rigorously educate them to become collaborators and leaders in their professions, and encourage them to aspire to theatrical excellence in their communities and to communities throughout the world.

THEATRE ARTS DEPARTMENT GOALS

1. To provide students with a solid foundation in the study of theatre, preparing them for careers in the professional or educational arenas or further study in a graduate program.

2. To provide students with a variety of opportunities to be their most creative in artistic endeavors, and challenge and strengthen their abilities to do so.

3. To develop the students’ intellectual curiosities, expose them to the vast variety and diversity that is inherent in theatre, and encourage them to explore new horizons in the ever-evolving art form.

4. To foster independence, confidence, and initiative in students’ educational experiences and projected career paths.

5. To provide participation opportunities and cultural experiences for the campus community and the Southern Appalachian region, and to work in concert with other departments and programs of study within the university and other academic institutions.

THEATRE ARTS DEPARTMENT STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is the faculty’s belief and commitment that the Theatre Arts department course offerings and programming will reflect and meet desired student learning outcomes as follows.

The students will:

• Expand their knowledge of the dramatic canon and its cultural context and increase their ability to think critically and creatively and to write analytically.
• Develop competencies in theatrical disciplines, and increase proficiencies in specialized areas of study.
• Strengthen the skills necessary to communicate in an effective oral and performative manner while developing a collaborative work ethic and an ensemble spirit.
• Develop an appreciation of and explore the evolutionary aspect of theatre, how it reflects a given society, societal concerns, and basic human issues and examine innovative styles and diversity in dramatic literature.
• Increase comprehension and awareness of aesthetic experience and expression while cultivating a sense of responsibility and personal growth.