Importance of an early start:

This major is not exceptionally course intensive or highly sequential with the exception of a few requirements (the THEA 61 series, THEA 160 and THEA 185, which are only offered in specific quarters). Students may begin taking courses toward the major in their first year, and are encouraged to do so, but it is not required. Students who enter as Frosh are invited to meet with the program advisor as early as they wish, and should do so by the beginning of their second year to create an academic plan that demonstrates a path to graduation and to gain a more complete understanding of requirements and opportunities in the program.

Qualification requirements and/or prerequisites for the major:

Review Major Qualification Requirements in the General Catalog.

Frosh who intend to pursue this major should do the following things prior to the beginning of fall term...

• Students who have taken college-level transferable classes that may apply to the requirements of this major should email unofficial transcripts as early as possible to theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu, the program’s academic advisor, for review. This should ensure that students do not repeat coursework unnecessarily.
• Students should meet with the program’s academic advisor as early as possible to gain a clear understanding of the degree requirements, the non-standard enrollment procedures for certain required courses, and to create a customized academic plan. 

...and should take these courses their first term:

Any of the following, according to your interests: 

• THEA 10: Introduction to Design (THEA 10 is the prerequisite for further progress in most technical/design courses),
• THEA 20: Introduction to Acting (for students with little or no prior experience in acting), 
• THEA 21: Acting Studio 1 (for students with some acting experience who are comfortable auditioning),
• THEA 61A: Ancient and Medieval Drama,
• any of the following lower division practice-based dance classes:
  • THEA 30 Intro to Dance Theory & Technique,
  • THEA 31A Dance Studio I: Asian or Asian Diasporic Practice,
  • THEA 31B Dance Studio I: Ballet, THEA 31C Dance Studio I,
  • THEA 36 Intro to Dance Composition,
  • THEA 37 African Dance,
  •  THEA 80Z Indian Dance

Special enrollment procedures:

Enroll in classes during your enrollment appointment dates(s) listed in your MyUCSC portal. NOTE: Some courses are admission-by-audition or require permission of the instructor to enroll. THEA 50, required three times for the major, has a unique enrollment process which is described in the Theater Arts Undergraduate Handbook. The Schedule of Classes should note these enrollment details in the Class Notes section of the course, and you may contact the department for more information on classes with these enrollment restrictions: theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu.

Sample Academic Plan:

Review Sample Academic Plan in the General Catalog.

Other Information:

Students are highly encouraged to make an academic plan/study plan early in their time at UCSC and update it at least once a year together with the program’s academic advisor. Students may schedule advising meetings at any time, and Enrollment Prep Week, when the next Schedule of Classes is posted and enrollment shopping carts open (quarterly dates listed in the current Academic and Administrative Calendar) is an ideal time to meet with advisors. This department offers advising appointments through Navigate Slug Success.

Links to Review:

Program Description (Catalog)

Program Website

Advising for the Theater Arts major and minor, and the dance minor

Theater Arts Undergraduate Handbook

Advisor Contact Information:

Moon Rinaldo

Theater Arts Undergraduate Academic Advisor

theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu

Advising appointments for matriculated/current students are made through Navigate Slug Success. Students who do not yet have access to Slug Success are invited to email the advisor for a Zoom or in-person appointment: theater-ugradadv@ucsc.edu