About the Program

Theater Department
Donald Savage Theater Building 215
(716) 878-6416
https://theater.buffalostate.edu/

The B.A. in Stage and Screen Arts prepares students for creative and technical careers in performance, production, and design across stage, film, television, and digital media. Emphasizing hands-on experiences, historical context, and artistic innovation, the program fosters collaborative skills, critical thinking, and professional readiness in a dynamic curriculum that merges classical techniques with emerging technologies.

Admission Requirements

Buffalo State’s general admission requirements plus an online interview with the Department.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:
1. apply current technologies and media tools to create, produce, and present works for stage and screen, demonstrating proficiency in at least one area of practice.

2. create collaboratively with clarity, accountability, and professionalism across varied team settings.

3. interpret dramatic texts, performances, media, and design artifacts through historical, social, and cultural lenses.

4. demonstrate understanding of the historical and cultural development of theater and media, integrating diverse perspectives and demonstrating respect for global artistic practices.

5. evaluate personal artistic development in the context of industry standards and current cultural conversations.

Program Requirements

Stage and Screen Arts Requirements

Required Courses (12 credits)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
THA106 INTRODUCTION TO THEATER ARTS | 3 - Credit Hours
THA226 ACTING FUNDAMENTALS FOR STAGE AND SCREEN | 3 - Credit Hours
THA231 APPLIED PRODUCTION I | 1 - Credit Hours
THA331 APPLIED PRODUCTION II | 1 - Credit Hours
THA350 DIRECTING I | 3 - Credit Hours
THA416 THE WORKING ARTIST SEMINAR | 1 - Credit Hours

History Lit Electives (6 credit hours)
Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
DAN224 DANCE APPRECIATION | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN234 THE POLITICS OF BLACK DANCE IN AMERICA | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG170 INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG205 FILM HISTORY: 1895-1950 | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG206 FILM HISTORY: 1951-PRESENT | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG245 WRITING ABOUT THE ARTS | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG305 CREATIVE WRITING: NARRATIVE | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG315 SHAKESPEARE | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG340 PLAYWRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
THA332 PERIOD STYLES AND CULTURE | 3 - Credit Hours
THA421 DRAMA FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE | 3 - Credit Hours

Electives by Advisement (18 credit hours)
Any DAN course not fulfilling a requirement above and any THA course not fulfilling a requirement above, including but not limited to:

Earn at least 18 credits from the following:
DAN189 TOPIC COURSE | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
DAN200 MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE I | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN214 INTRODUCTION TO DANCE TECHNIQUES | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN230 DANCE TECHNIQUES FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN244 CULTURAL DANCE FORMS | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN250 JAZZ DANCE TECHNIQUE I | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN295 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
DAN302 MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE II | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN303 DANCE COMPOSITION | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN310 DANCE FOR MUSICAL THEATER | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN312 MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE III | 3 - Credit Hours
DAN495 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
DAN499 INDEPENDENT STUDY | 3 - 12 Credit Hours
THA189 TOPICS COURSE | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
THA216 PROLOGUE: INCOMING THEATER MAJOR SEMINAR | 3 - Credit Hours
THA227 ACTING II: SCENE STUDY | 3 - Credit Hours
THA230 INTRODUCTION TO PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours
THA232 STAGE MANAGEMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
THA234 DESIGN FOR STAGE & SCREEN | 3 - Credit Hours
THA295 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
THA327 ACTING III: STYLES | 3 - Credit Hours
THA330 APPLIED STAGECRAFT | 3 - Credit Hours
THA400 ADVANCED VOICE TOPICS FOR THE ACTOR | 3 - Credit Hours
THA426 ACTING IV: ON CAMERA | 3 - Credit Hours
THA470 STORY BUILDING - EXPLORING COMMUNITY, CONFLICT AND IDENTITY THROUGH STORY | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
THA495 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
THA499 INDEPENDENT STUDY | 3 - 12 Credit Hours
AAD102 INTRODUCTION TO TWO-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN | 3 - Credit Hours
AAD103 INTRODUCTION TO THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN | 3 - Credit Hours
CRS205 FOUNDATIONS IN CREATIVE THINKING | 3 - Credit Hours
TFA201 INTRODUCTION TO TELEVISION AND FILM ARTS | 3 - Credit Hours
AAD, CRS, and TFA are options in other departments

All College Electives (33 credit hours)

120 Total Credit Hours