The following questions and answers are those asked most frequently by prospective students. If, however, you desire additional information, feel free to contact us. The main office phone number is (512) 245-2147. You may also address any inquiries to:


1. WHAT UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN THEATRE ARE AVAILABLE?

Texas State offers the following degrees in Theatre Arts:

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Theatre, minor in chosen field.

Bachelor of Fine Arts, with the following specializations available:


2. WHAT KIND OF THEATRE FACILITIES DOES THE PROGRAM HAVE?

The Theatre Center has two major theatres, and two lecture/recital performance areas. The University Theatre is a modified proscenium stage, with a seating capactiy of up to 388. The Studio Theatre is a flexible 'black box' performance area with variable seating capacity. Both theatres are equipped with modern production hardware.

Productions are supported by a fully equipped scene shop and a costume shop. We maintain scenery and costume inventories that are equal to any others in the region.

3. WHAT IS THE B.F.A. PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM?

This is a highly specialized option within the B.F.A. degree. It includes 60-66 semester hours of theatre courses and 9-12 hours of electives outside of theatre, plus 55 to 57 hours of Academic Founda1ions. You must select a career path from Acting, Costuming, Design, Theatre Technologies, or Directing. You will be admitted to this special program at the end of your Sophomore year after passing an audition, and after having completed at least 15 semester hours of college theatre courses with a "B" average and having an overall university grade point average of 2.5.

4. CAN I TAKE A B.F.A. PRE-PROFESSIONAL DEGREE AND GET A TEACHING CERTIFICATE?

Yes. It is possible to combine the Pre-Professional program with the teaching program. This highly specialized combination requires at least one extra semester (i.e., 4-1/2 years) and at least one summer.

5. HOW MANY COURSES CAN I TAKE IN THEATRE?

Generally as many as you want as long as you wish to be a student here.

6. WHAT NON-THEATRE COURSES ARE REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION?

As with most universities, Texas State requires 55-57 semester hours of academic foundations, referred to as the General Studies Curriculum. Subjects required include english, speech Communication, Mathematics, Philosophy, american History, Political Science, and selected courses from the Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.

7. CAN I HAVE A MINOR?

Yes. If you are a Bachelor of Arts student you may minor in any number of areas, depending upon your interests and abilities. If you are a B.F.A. teaching student, your minor is a minimum 24-hour second teaching field, selected by you. The B.F.A. Pre-Professional degree does not require a minor.

8. WHAT DO MOST OF YOUR THEATRE STUDENTS MINOR IN?

Generally, in Speech, English, or Anthropology. But, a number are in Art, Music, History, Industrial Arts, and Dance.

9. HOW MANY HOURS DO I NEED TO GRADUATE?

128 semester hours is the minimum, which means in 4 years you need to average 16 semester hours per semester, or in other words about 5 or 6 courses per semester.

10. WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR A THEATRE MAJOR?

All theatre majors take Movement I, Beginning and Intermediate Acting, Stagecraft, Theatre Activities, Stage Lighting, Costuming, two semesters of Theatre History, and Directing I. The remaining requirements will depend upon the career path in theatre you choose. If you wish to emphasize acting, then mst of the remaining courses will be acting courses; if you specialize in technical theatre, then most of the remaining courses will be in those areas. (See the Curriculum Guide for a complete list of course requirements).

11. IS THERE A SUMMER PROGRAM?

Yes. While quite a few of our students leave the campus to work in varbus Summer theatres around the country, some do stay at Texas State.

12. CAN I START AT TEXAS STATE IN THE SUMMER?

Yes. Every year a number of freshmen and transfer students begin in the summer. Usually they take some of their basic requirements such as History and English, Languages, or Math. It is a good way to get oriented to college life, meet the faculty, and ease into a new environment.

13. CAN I TRANSFER COURSES TO TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN MARCOS?

Yes. If you have attended a Junior College or another university, virtually all of your courses will transfer. The final determination will be made by the Registrar and the Chairman of the Department of Theatre.

14. HOW MANY PLAYS DOES THE DEPARTMENT DO A YEAR?

Many. There are 4 to 5 major productions, plus creative thesis productions by graduate students, plus graduate-directed scenes, plus BFA productions, BFA recitals and At-Random performances.

15. DO ALL THEATRE STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT?

Yes. Ninety-five percent of all casting involves theatre majors and minors. At Texas State all students actively participate in productions.

16 HOW MUCH INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION DO STUDENTS RECEIVE?

At Texas State we are large enough to have a full compliment of highly qualified faculty specialists, and yet small enough to provide personal attention to students. We have approximately 300 theatre arts majors with a full-time faculty of 14. Production classes are limited to a maximum of 18 students to a section, and students are encouraged to take special problems courses on an individual basis with a faculty member of his or her choice. Most acting, directing, design courses have roughly 15 students, which makes individual instruction possible. The B.F.A. Pre-Professional degree is limited to only a few students each year.

17. WHICH COURSES ARE TAUGHT BY GRADUATE ASSISTANTS?

None. All theatre courses are taught by full-time faculty. Some courses utilize graduate students for laboratory work to assist the faculty member.

18. ARE THERE PAYING JOBS IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR STUDENTS?

Yes. Each year there are a number of student assistant positions open. These are in the areas of lighting, scene shop, properties, sound, costumes, and Theatre Office assistants. These are responsible positions, and employment is based upon evidence of ability and is normally offered to students above the freshmen level, but not always. Students earn from $800 to $1,200 a year. Many theatre majors supplement their income by working in the Department.

Students who qualify for the Federal Work Study program are virtually guaranteed employment in the Department.

19. WHAT ARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES IN THEATRE?

While a degree no longer means instant employment, as a general rule, the best students get the available jobs. For the past two years, every one of our education graduates who sought teaching positions was hired. A number of our graduates are working in film and television in New York and in Califomia, as well as in professional theatre as actors and technicians. The theatre faculty will do its best to assist its graduate to obtain jobs -- your task is to become the best qualified applicant. To this end, we are all dedicated.

We urge our best students to consider graduate study. Recent graduates have been accepted by Louisiana State University, Southern Methodist University, Tulane, the Yale School of Drama, the University of California, Davis, the University of Texas-Austin, the University of Arizona, and Florida State.

20. IS THERE A GRADUATE PROGRAM IN THEATRE AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY - SAN MARCOS?

Yes. Texas State currently offers the Master of Arts in Directing, Design/Technical, History and Criticism, or Children's Theatre. A limited number of assistantships are available.


21. WHAT RESEARCH FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE?

The Library collection includes over 398,000 volumes in the Learning Resource Center in addition to hundreds of other materials. Collection expansion has been rapid and consistent. Membership in regional exchange systems makes over 3,000,000 volumes available.

22. DOES TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY OFFER COURSES IN TV AND FILM?

We do not have an extensive program in Radio-TV-Film. However, the Department of Journalism does offer a broadcasting concentration. Also, our Department does include work in television and film acting as a part of our Actor Training Program. Our faculty includes persons with expertise and professional experience in television and/or motion picture acting, and a number of our students receive practical film experience with companies on location in the Central Texas area.

23. ARE THERE STUDENT DRAMA ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS?

Yes. The @ Random Theatre Company and Orchesis Dance Company produce several productions throughout the year. Alpha Psi Omega, the national honorary drama fraternity, has a chapter in our Department. There is also a chapter of USITT, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, which is very active. A number of our students also belong to either the Southwest Theatre Conference or Texas Educational Theatre Assodation.

24. IS YOUR DEPARTMENT ACTIVE IN STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ACTIVITIES?

Yes, very much. We are an organizational member of USITT, American Theatre Association, Southwest Theatre Conference, Texas Educational Theatre Association, and the American College Theatre Festival. Our faculty hold offices in these and other theatre organizations, and are frequently called upon to conduct workshops and seminars at professional conventions.

25. DO YOU EVER HAVE VISITING ARTISTS?

Yes, we do. Over the past several years we have invited a number of outstanding professional artists and scholars to campus to work with our students. These workshops have ranged from a day to two months, from acting to scene design. Here's a partial list of some of these visiting artists:

G. W. Bailey, TV/Film Actor
Powers Boothe, Emmy-award winner, TV/Film Actor (SWT Theatre Alumnus)
Thomas Carter, TV/Film Actor/Director (SWT Theatre Alumnus)
Jack Degelia, Owner, Big Bear Productions (SWT Theatre Alumnus)
Barry Kyle, director of the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and Stratord
Eugene Lee, playwright and actor of stage, television, and film (SWT Theatre Alumnus)
Dea McAllister, actress for stage, television, and film (SWT Theatre Alumnus)
Sharron Roynolds, Script Coordinator, Los Angeles (SWT Theatre Alumnus)
Bllly Ray Sharkey, television and film actor (SWT Theatre Alumnus)
Frances Acosta Stephens, Project Office, 3urbank Studios (SWT Theatre Alumnus)


26. WHAT ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS?

Our department offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding students, but the university has numerous scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid available for outstanding students/artists.

Inquiries about departmental scholarships should be sent to the Theatre Arts office.

For information regarding university scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance, write:


If you feel that you are an outstanding scholar/artist, you may qualify as a "University Scholar" ($1,000.00 award). For information write:


27. HOW DO I OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS, AND THE APPROPRIATE APPLICATION FORMS TC ATTEND TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY?