SPEECH AND THEATRE EDUCATION

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

This course of study is recommended for those students wishing to attain education certification in speech and theatre. It is strongly recommended that speech/theatre education majors also complete endorsement requirements in another endorsement area. Speech/Theatre majors wishing to be certified to teach in Missouri must have a GPA of 3.00 or higher in communication and theatre classes and must satisfy all professional education and certification requirements. Students have the opportunity for travel study and participate in theatre production work each semester.

WHY SHOULD I MAJOR IN SPEECH AND THEATRE EDUCATION?

Our speech and theatre education program blends courses to provide you with up-to-date skills in education, debate, public speaking and theatre. You will gain technical training through course work, departmental productions and touring groups, which promote education in the community. Through practicum and student teaching, you will gain practical teaching experience while learning to develop curriculum and work with other teachers.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Student Run Clubs: Theta Alpha Phi – Theatre Honors Fraternity
Honor Societies: Theta Alpha Phi
Professional Experiences: All Speech/Theatre Education students do many classroom observations over their studies and will student teach their final semester.
Travel Study Courses: Aside from the general education travel study opportunities, a variety of travel study courses are offered: Applied Theatre Theories, Fine Arts International Travel Study, Theatre Travel Lab
Service Learning: Theatre productions, children’s theatre production and theatrical outreach are a part of the theatre curriculum.
Creative Expression: The theatre program offers four mainstage production per academic year, including at least one musical and one guest artist production as well as a number of student-directed one act productions in December. Students also are invited to participate in opera workshop and the many music ensembles in both instrumental and vocal music.
Awards and Recognition: Our department and faculty are regularly recognized for their work by the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival. Students have been recognized for their outstanding work in the areas of design, acting, directing and stage management.

AFTER C-SC

All program graduates are either teaching at the secondary level, working in the educational field or pursuing graduate work.