BA - Theatre Arts
Teacher Certification Option
The BA Teacher Certification option promotes quality, culturally relevant drama and theatre teaching and learning on multiple levels. The primary focus of the Teacher Certification program is on the preparation of certified theatre teachers and artists for diverse secondary settings. This program also promotes professional development opportunities for in-service teachers in schools and other settings and takes a leadership role in drama and theatre teaching and learning research and scholarship nationally and internationally.
The Teacher Certification program is designed for students planning to teach theatre in middle or high schools. The program of study has a major emphasis on theatre content courses (acting, directing, theatre history, theatrical literature and design and technology). Included also are education courses and courses focused specifically on drama and theatre teaching and learning. The capstone experience is a one semester internship student teaching in a Tucson area school. Graduates of this program are eligible for Arizona Secondary Certification with an endorsement in Theatre.
It is anticipated that students who have completed the Teacher Certification program will:
- Be confident, competent, and caring teachers and artists.
- Be able to teach and do drama and theatre with their students.
- Be life-long reflective learners.
- Be teacher leaders.
The Teacher Certification Program Coordinator is the advisor for the BA in Theatre Teacher Certification Option and post-baccalaureate certification.
The Teacher Certification program at the University of Arizona has been approved by the Arizona Department of Education. The UA program is the ONLY 4-year degree program in Theatre Education in the state of Arizona.
Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Students who have already completed a degree in Theatre can complete the necessary courses for Teacher Certification in Theatre.
Application Requirements for Freshmen and Transfer Students (Teacher Certification Option)
- Admission to the University of Arizona
- College of Fine Arts application
- A 600-word, typed essay entitled "The Theatre Teacher I Want to Be." The essay should contain the following: well expressed philosophy of theatre education indicating both strong commitment to teaching and theatre arts and an understanding of what makes an effective theatre teacher and a reflection on a recent teaching experience (e.g., leading a warm-up with a play cast, working as a teaching assistant in a drama class, teaching children in a camp setting). The essay should have clear organization, thorough expression of ideas, original thought, good grammar and mechanics, and be well presented (looks good on the page, no orphan lines, readable font and print.).
- Two references from teachers, advisors or any adult (not from your immediate family). References should indicate applicant's strong potential to be both an excellent student of theatre and a teacher of theatre especially in the areas of personal and professional demeanor, cultural and social attitudes and behavior, cognitive dispositions and leadership.
- A résumé describing theatre experiences, experience working with children, teaching experience, participation in school or community clubs.
- A personal interview is highly recommended but not required.
For Retention and Admission to Year Two
- GPA of a minimum 2.5 earned for 12 credits in the first semester.
- Successful completion of one semester of the freshman core and current enrollment in core. (T AR 111, 113, 116, 118, 145, 149, 151)
All BA Teacher Certification students are required to meet with Teacher Certification Program Coordinator each semester to review and reflect on their progress. Teacher Certification students must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students who drop below this average will be placed on academic probation for one semester. If, at the end of that time, the GPA has not improved, a student will no longer be retained in the program. Students are expected to earn a C or higher in all upper division Teacher Certification courses; courses with grades lower than a C must be repeated. See University guidelines for Grade Replacement Opportunity (GRO).
Review of Students and Retention to Year Three
- Student maintains a 2.5 GPA minimum.
- Review by Teacher Certification Program Coordinator to ascertain a student is making satisfactory progress toward completion of degree.
