Don't be afraid to make a scene!

At Southeast, we have a whole campus dedicated to the arts. The Southeast River Campus is home to the Jane Larson Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre & Dance and provides many unique opportunities to students pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Come see why we are ranked the #1 undergraduate theatre program in the state of Missouri and ranked in the top 30 programs in the nation! 

 What You’ll Do 

  • Training. Study with experienced faculty and staff in the areas of acting, singing, and dancing for live theatre, film, and television.  
  • Performance. Opportunities in four mainstage theatre productions, one mainstage dance concert, two second stage theatre productions, and one second stage dance concert, as well as a host of one-acts, readings, cabarets, improv shows, and so on.  
  • Fault Line Film Festival. Act in one of dozens of student films produced as part of the annual nationwide festival.  
  • Career Development. Prepare to launch a career in the industry through auditioning classes, as well as entrepreneurship classes and Senior Portfolio.  
  • Housing. Live and train in the beautiful River Campus  
  • Guest Artists. Benefit from an established program of master classes and residencies with professional guest actors, directors, and industry professionals.  
  • Study Abroad. Train at the prestigious NSKI University College in Oslo, Norway, the only institution in Scandinavia to teach Method Acting at degree level, as well as musical theatre.  
  • Professional Auditions. Participate in numerous combined and individual professional theatre auditions across the country.  
  • Intensives and Professional Employment. Complete a required internship through various summer intensive acting programs and professional employment.  
  • Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival. Perform in the annual new play festival with guest artists and playwrights from across the country.  
  • Student Organizations. Join Alpha Psi Omega Honorary Theatre Fraternity, as well as Black Light, or one of the other cabaret groups.  
  • BFA Reviews. Learn from faculty committees dedicated to providing individual feedback on training, academics, and career development for every student.  
  • BFA Project. Perform in a faculty or guest-artist directed mainstage or second stage production, followed by a project review with a faculty committee.  
  • NYC or Los Angeles Showcase. Participate in one of two showcases: New York City with CRY HAVOC Company or Los Angeles with Actors Connection.  

What Can You Do with a Degree in Theatre Design & Technology?

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time. 

Internship and Employment Opportunities of Recent Graduates

  • Off Broadway & Off Off Broadway
  • Lincoln Center, NYC
  • The MUNY St. Louis
  • Cirque du Soleil
  • Santa Fe Opera
  • Syracuse Stage
  • Georgia Shakespeare Festival
  • Virginia Shakespeare Festival
  • Opera Theatre of St. Louis
  • Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre
  • Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
  • Black Hills Playhouse
  • Glimmerglass Opera Festival
  • B Street Theatre
  • Williamstown Theatre Festival
  • Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival
  • National Tours
  • Film & Television

Design and Technology (BFA) Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree

What You'll Study

Degree Map

The BFA Theatre: Design & Technology BFA option is for students who are pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. You’ll complete a minimum of 82 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. 

Required Courses:

  • TH105 Rehearsal & Production I (2)
  • TH111 Introduction to Theatre Design & Technology (3)
  • TH181 Script Analysis (3)
  • TH231 Stagecraft I (3)
  • TH251 Costume Construction (3)
  • TH265 Drawing for the Theatre I (3)
  • TH267 Drawing for the Theatre II (3)
  • TH275 Stage Management (3)
  • TH291 Properties Construction (3)
  • TH305 Rehearsal & Production II (4)
  • TH350 Stage Lighting I (3)
  • TH351 Costume Design I (3)
  • TH371 Scenic Design I (3)
  • TH385 Directing I (3)
  • TH386 Sound Design I (3)
  • TH395 Period & Style (3)
  • TH490 Theatre History I (3)
  • TH495 Theatre History II (3)
  • TH498 BFA Project (2)

Choose 3 hours:

  • TH101 Acting for Non-Majors (3)
  • TH218 Acting I (3)

Choose 2 hours:

  • TH499 Internship (2)
  • TH800 Summer Theatre & Dance Workshop (2)

Choose 3 hours:

  • LI432 Shakespeare’s Comedies & Histories (3)
  • LI433 Shakespeare’s Tragedies (3)

Choose 18 hours:

  • TH155 Makeup (3)
  • TH286 Audio Production (3)
  • TH287 Production Engineering (3)
  • TH353 Costume Crafts (3)
  • TH356 Wig & Makeup Design II (2)
  • TH361 Scenic Painting (3)
  • TH450 Stage Lighting II (3)
  • TH451 Costume Design II (3)
  • TH471 Scenic Design II (3)
  • TH482 Projection Design (3)
  • TH486 Sound Design II (3)
A grade of “C” is required in each course within the BFA-Theatre major. Students must maintain a 3.0 gpa in the major.

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
  • Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
  • Written Communication – 6 hours
  • Oral Communication – 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
  • Mathematics – 3 hours
  • Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
  • Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
  • Civics examination

For formal admittance into the BFA in Theatre degree program, each student must:
  • Audition or present a portfolio at the fall or spring BFA Admittance Auditions. For early admission, incoming students (freshmen or transfers) may audition the year prior to their first semester at Southeast; otherwise, they will audition their first year at Southeast.

Freshman Year  

Fall Semester (14 Hours)  
  • UI100 (1) 
  • TH105 (1) 
  • TH111 (3) 
  • TH181 (3) 
  • TH265(1) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (16 Hours) 
  • EN100 (3) 
  • TH105 (1) 
  • TH231 or TH251 (3) 
  • TH267 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Sophomore Year 

Fall Semester (16 hours) 
  • TH275 (3) 
  • TH305 (1) 
  • TH350 (3) 
  • TH371 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (16 Hours) 
  • TH305 (1) 
  • TH351 (3) 
  • TH251 or TH231 (3) 
  • Design Elective (3) 
  • Design Elective (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Junior Year 

Fall Semester (16 Hours) 
  • TH305 (1) 
  • TH385 (3) 
  • TH395 (3) 
  • Design Elective (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (16 Hours) 
  • TH101 or TH218 (3) 
  • TH291 (3) 
  • TH305 (1) 
  • TH386 (3) 
  • Design Elective (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Summer Semester (2 Hours) 

  • TH499 or TH800 (2) 

Senior Year 

Fall Semester (12 Hours) 
  • LI432 or LI433 (3) 
  • TH490 (3) 
  • TH498 (2) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • Elective (1) 
Spring Semester (12 Hours) 
  • TH495 (3) 
  • Design Elective (3) 
  • Design Elective (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
A minimum 3.0 GPA in the major and an overall 2.5 are required to graduate with a BFA-Design/Technology degree.

 

 Theatre Program

  • Facilities

    Students in the Theatre program have access to many different types of facilities for a special learning experience. We have multiple performance theatres that provide a unique performance experience for our students and community!

  • Auditions

    At Southeast, we continue to work to better ourselves and our program. To do that, we need performers like you! Find out about our audition requirements and the application process.
  • Experiential Learning

    Our students get hands on learning the moment they start classes! From live shows, master classes, summer festivals, and more, Theatre students have many opportunities to grow in their craft. Learn more about what the B.A in Theatre program offers (9.1.4.6) 

  • Onstage Blog

    OnStage Blog recently moved Southeast Missouri State to the “Best College Theatre Program in Every State” list! Read the article to learn why our program is special and could be the right fit for you! 

Become a Redhawk.

Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.

Accreditations

  • NAST Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Theatre logo
  • Yamaha Institution of Excellence logo
Location
Office Location
River Campus Seminary, 454
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 7850
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701