Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
Nature of the Program
The B.F.A. in Puppetry course work includes intensive study in children’s theatre, the practice of puppetry as a theatrical art form, and educational and creative dramatic activity as methods of learning and self-development for children. In addition to a broad-based curriculum in theatre studies, students work under the direction of a faculty member to operate a complete puppetry theatre with comprehensive study in a variety of construction, manipulation, historical study, and performance techniques. The School's Puppet Mobile tours the region while children’s theatre productions provide hands-on experience and performance opportunities.
Puppetry graduates work for the following prestigious companies: Walt Disney, Grey Seal Puppet Company, Little Who Productions, Puppet Pizzazz, Houston Children’s Festival, Theatre West Virginia, The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Holden Puppets, Kids on the Block, and Nashville Sesame Street Live Touring.
Admissions
Students must meet all WVU Undergraduate Admissions entrance requirements. Prior to admission into the BFA Puppetry program, applicants must successfully pass an interview and portfolio review. The portfolio review consists of performance and/or construction experience.
The School of Theatre & Dance will administer these interviews and portfolio reviews typically in November and early spring semester in Morgantown. Additional interview and review dates may also be scheduled. Audition information can be found on the College's website or by contacting the CCA Office of Recruitment at (304) 293-4339.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 2594
Click here to view the Suggested Plan of Study
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations | ||
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
Total Hours | 31-37 |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Requirements | 39 | |
Puppetry Major Requirements | 83 | |
Total Hours | 122 |
University Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 | 25 | |
THET 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
General Electives | 12 | |
Total Hours | 39 |
Puppetry Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Theatre Studies | ||
THET 160 | Theatre Fundamentals | 3 |
THET 170 | World Theatre and Drama (GEF 7) | 3 |
THET 230 | Text Analysis | 3 |
THET 301 | History of Western Theatre (GEF 8) | 3 |
THET 302 | Directing | 3 |
THET 365 | Traditions of Dramatic Literature (Fulfills Writing and Communication Skills Requirement) | 3 |
THET 404S | Playwriting | 3 |
THET 460 | Contemporary Drama | 3 |
Design & Technical | ||
THET 103 | Stagecraft | 3 |
THET 104 | Stagecraft Lab | 1 |
THET 105 | Costuming | 3 |
THET 106 | Costuming Lab | 1 |
THET 113 | Stage Management Principles | 3 |
THET 220 | Fundamentals of Lighting | 3 |
THET 221 | Theatre Makeup | 3 |
THET 225S | Introduction to Stage Design 1 | 3 |
THET 226S | Introduction to Stage Design 2 | 3 |
THET 321S | Stage Properties | 3 |
THET 423S | Costume Crafts | 3 |
Puppetry and Performance | ||
THET 144S | Fundamentals of Acting | 3 |
THET 240S | Fundamental Vocal Technique 1 | 2 |
THET 242S | Fundamentals of Movement | 2 |
THET 375S | Puppet Construction | 3 |
Puppetry (Repeated Twice) | 6 | |
Puppetry | ||
Children's Theatre (Repeated Twice) | 6 | |
Children's Theatre | ||
Practicum | 5 | |
Production Practicum (Repeat two times for 2 credit hours total) | ||
Advanced Production Practicum (Repeat three times for 3 credit hours total) | ||
Capstone | ||
THET 401 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
Total Hours | 83 |
- *
Actual number of credits will be determined by the number and level of the elected GEF courses.
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
THET 191 | 2 | THET 144S | 3 |
THET 103 & THET 104 | 4 | THET 113 | 3 |
THET 160 | 3 | THET 105 & THET 106 | 4 |
THET 170 (GEF 7) | 3 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 |
GEF 3 | 3 | GEF 4 | 3 |
15 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
THET 200 | 1 | THET 200 | 1 |
THET 240S | 2 | THET 220 | 3 |
THET 225S | 3 | THET 242S | 2 |
THET 230 | 3 | THET 226S | 3 |
ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | THET 221 | 3 |
GEF 2 | 4 | THET 301 (GEF 8) | 3 |
16 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
THET 302 | 3 | THET 375S | 3 |
THET 365 | 3 | THET 462S | 3 |
THET 462S | 3 | THET 404S | 3 |
THET 400 | 1 | THET 400 | 1 |
GEF 5 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
16 | 16 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
THET 400 | 1 | THET 321S | 3 |
THET 423S | 3 | THET 401 | 3 |
THET 460 | 3 | THET 464S | 3 |
THET 464S | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
Electives | 3 | Elective | 3 |
13 | 15 | ||
Total credit hours: 122 |
Major Learning Outcomes
Puppetry
Common Body of Knowledge and Skills for B.F.A. Theatre students
Students must acquire:
Technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression in at least one major area of production (for example, acting, design/technology, playwriting, musical theatre) and those skills must be progressively developed to the highest level appropriate to the particular area of concentration.
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An overview understanding of the major aspects, techniques, and directions in the area of concentration.
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Fundamental, comprehensive understanding of the various elements and basic interrelated processes of creation, interpretation, performance, and production.
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Fundamental, conceptual understanding of the expressive possibilities of theatre.
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Knowledge and skills sufficient to work in both collaborative and individual roles in matters of theatre interpretation.
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Growth in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competence, and knowledge of repertory through regular performance and production experiences. Students must have such experiences throughout the degree program.
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Repertory. Students must acquire:
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Familiarity with theatre literature of various historical periods, cultural sources, and modes of presentation.
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Experience with specific repertories and comparative standards of production quality through performance, academic study, and attendance at productions.
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Theoretical and Historical Studies
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Students must acquire:
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The ability to analyze plays perceptively and to evaluate them critically.
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An understanding of the common elements and vocabulary of theatre and of the interaction of these elements, and be able to employ this knowledge in analysis, including analyses of their productions.
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The ability to place works of theatre in historical and stylistic contexts and have some understanding of the cultural milieu in which they were created.
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The ability to develop and defend informed judgments about theatre.
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Technology. Students must acquire a working knowledge of technologies and equipment applicable to their area(s) of specialization.
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Synthesis. While synthesis is a lifetime process, by the end of undergraduate studies students should be able to work independently on a variety of professional problems by combining, as appropriate to the issue, their capabilities in performance, repertory, theory, history, and technology, as well as other fields they have studied.
Upon completion of any B.F.A. professional undergraduate degree program:
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Students must demonstrate achievement of professional, entry-level competence in the area of specialization including significant technical mastery, the capability to produce work and solve professional problems independently, and a coherent set of artistic/intellectual goals that are evident in their work.
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Students must demonstrate their competence by developing a body of work for evaluation in the major area of study. A senior project or presentation in the major area is required in many concentrations, and strongly recommended for all others.
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Students must have the ability to communicate ideas, concepts, and requirements to theatre professionals and laypersons related to the practice of the major field. Such communication may involve oral, written, visual, and musical media.