PCA Major & Minor Requirements

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Major Requirements

Most students who major in the department begin with an interest in one of the two broad areas of inquiry— rhetoric/communication studies or theatre/performance studies. Majors choose a primary area of concentration. Eleven units are required to complete the major. Fulfillment of the major requires the following:

  1. All majors take the following four survey courses that will introduce them to various aspects of the major:
  • 107. Beginning Acting.
  • 111. Rhetoric and Public Speaking.
  • 125. Introduction to Theatre.
  • 127. Introduction to Communication Studies.
  1. All majors must complete seven additional courses, at least five of which must be in their primary area of concentration. At least four of these courses must be at 300-level and above. As part of these seven courses, majors must take PCA 250 Research Methods OR complete two courses designated as a research intensive (RI) course.  

Courses in rhetoric/communication studies include:

  • 105.        Language as Human Experience. (Dual-listed by ANTH)
  • 201.        Introduction to Journalism. (Dual-listed by ENG)
  • 225.        Peer Mentoring in Rhetoric and Communication.
  • 239.        Media Industries.
  • 3000-3999. Special Topics in Rhetoric/Communication Studies. (200-Level Courses)
  • 310.        Culture & Media.
  • 311.        Advanced Public Speaking.
  • 315.        Gender and Communication.
  • 316.        Advanced Communication Studies.
  • 318.        Argumentation and Debate.
  • 321.        Intercultural Communication.
  • 326.        American Public Address.
  • 328.        Interpersonal Communication.
  • 329.        Rhetoric of Social Movements.
  • 331.        Presidential Campaign Rhetoric.
  • 333.        Persuasion.
  • 334.        Environmental Communication.
  • 335.        Sex Talk.
  • 336.        Rhetoric and Citizenship.
  • 342.        Blogging the Globe: News Analysis and Investigative Journalism. (Dual-listed by GS)
  • 360.        Public Sphere of Renaissance Venice.
  • 361.        London Coffeehouse Culture & Modernity.
  • 370.        Against Health: Rhetoric & the Health Humanities.
  • 4000-4999. Special Topics in Rhetoric/Communication Studies. (300-Level Courses)
  • 480.        Independent Study.
  • 489.        SYE: Senior Project.
  • 498.        SYE: Honors Senior Project.

Courses in theatre/performance studies include:

  • 100.        Beginning Ballet.
  • 101.        Production Credit.
  • 103.        Stagecraft.
  • 106.        Performing Diversity.
  • 113.         Introduction to Performance Studies.
  • 202.        Sound for the Stage.
  • 204.        Costume Design.
  • 215.         Dramatic Texts in Context.
  • 223.        Playwriting.
  • 230.        Beginning/Intermediate Modern Dance.
  • 235.        Beginning/Intermediate Jazz Dance.
  • 237.        Contemporary British Theatre – Intro Level. (offered off campus in London)
  • 244.        Techniques of Screenwriting.
  • 255.        African-American Drama.
  • 270.        Collaboration Across the Arts.
  • 3000-3999. Special Topics in Theatre/Performance Studies. (200-Level Courses)
  • 301.        Advanced Modern Dance.
  • 303.        Stage Lighting.
  • 304.        Arts Management. (offered off campus in New York City)
  • 306.        Advanced Screenwriting.
  • 307.        Characterization.
  • 308.        Cultural Encounters. (offered off campus in New York City)
  • 309.        Acting Styles.
  • 314.        Devising for Performance.
  • 317.        Performing Poetry.
  • 319, 320. Shakespeare.
  • 322.        Native American Oral Traditions.
  • 327.        Drama By and About Women.
  • 330.        Ritual Studies.
  • 332.        Directing.
  • 337.        Contemporary British Theatre – Advanced Level. (offered off campus in London)
  • 338.        Twentieth-Century Avant-Garde.
  • 340.        Performance Art.
  • 343.        Taboo Performances.
  • 344.        Children’s Theatre in the Schools.
  • 355.        Studies in World Dramatic Literature.
  • 358.        Madrid Stage. (offered off campus in Madrid)
  • 362.        Introduction to Stage Management
  • 373.        Drama for Teaching and Learning (cross-listed with Education)
  • 375.        Theatre, Sustainability, and the Natural World (cross-listed with Public Health and Envs. Studies)
  • 4000-4999. Special Topics in Theatre/Performance. (300-Level Courses)
  • 480.        Independent Study.
  • 490.        SYE: Senior Project.
  • 499.        SYE: Honors Senior Project.

Honors

To graduate with honors, a major must maintain a 3.5 GPA in the department and a 3.0 GPA overall; the major’s senior project proposal must be approved for enrollment in PCA 498/499 SYE: Honors Senior Project; and the student must earn at least a 3.5 in PCA 498/499.

Minor Requirements

Fulfillment of the minor requires six courses and students need to meet the following requirements:

  1. All PCA minors must take either: 
  • 107. Beginning Acting and 125. Introduction to Theatre

                               -OR-

  • 111. Public Speaking and 127. Introduction to Communication Studies
  1. Minors must take four additional courses PCA courses, at least two must be at 200 or 300 level.

Off-Campus and Transfer Credit

Students wishing to transfer in course credits must produce a syllabus to the department chair for the course they would like considered for credit. Students may transfer up to two credits from off-campus study toward a PCA major or minor.