THEATRE EDUCATION
The goal of the secondary Theatre Education program in the School of Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Northern Colorado is to develop skilled practitioners who are committed to excellence in theatre arts education. Our teacher candidates recognize that theatre is essential for every child’s complete educational development, and strive to help their students discover how the theatre arts can also enhance their lives.
At UNC, students need 124 credit hours to graduate in Theatre Education: 40 credits of General Education, 49 credits of required Theatre courses, and 35 credits in the Professional Teacher Education Program. Potential Theatre Education candidates must interview with the program head before they are admitted to the program and must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.
Theatre Education students take courses in all areas of theatre: acting, speech, movement, history, playscript analysis, directing and design/technical theatre. After completing 15 credit hours at UNC, students may formally apply to the College of Education and must have a 2.5 GPA overall and a 3.0 in their major. They must also have 25 documented hours of working successfully with children and need a letter of recommendation from the supervisor of this experience. Additionally, they need to have received a “B” or better in ENG 122 (College Composition).
Once they have been admitted to the College of Education, they will take four semesters of coursework (Phases I-IV), which includes their student teaching. Prior to Phase III, students must receive a “B” or better in COMM 101/103 (Basics of Public Speaking) or pass an oral proficiency exam. Before Phase IV, they must also pass the Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (PLACE) exam in Theatre.
Upon completion of the Theatre Education degree, students will have developed knowledge of: the philosophical principles related to teaching theatre in the secondary schools, the historical traditions which shaped the current practices in theatre in secondary education, the psychological principles related to the teaching-learning process relevant to theatre education, instructional methods in the secondary theatre curriculum, theatre program organization and administration, theatre curriculum scope and sequence, appropriate materials, literature and technological resources for secondary theatre curriculum, ways to assess theatre students, theatre research pertaining to secondary instruction and advocacy efforts necessary to maintain and support a quality theatre program.
UNC Theatre Education graduates are gainfully employed throughout Colorado and in several states across the country. Despite popular belief, there are jobs available for secondary theatre educators. If you would like to find out more information about the Theatre Education program at UNC, contact Dr. Mary Schuttler at (970) 351-1926, or email mary.schuttler@unco.edu
