students performing in theatre production

Speech Communication and Theatre Education

Speech Communication and Theatre Education Major

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Do you enjoy public speaking, forensics and debate? Do you love to act and participate in theatre? Do you have a passion for working with and teaching youth?

SBU's speech communication and theatre education degree will equip you to become an educator to teach speech, communication and/or theatre, and even to become a high school forensics coach. Participating in the SBU Theatre Program or joining the Speaking Bearcats forensics team will give you valuable, hands-on experience you will be able to share with your students.

The Speech Communication and Theatre Education degree is offered through SBU's College of Arts and Sciences.

RESOURCES

MAJOR MAP

DEGREE PLAN

100%
job
placement
rate

(100% of SBU speech communication and theatre education graduates during the past seven years have received employment in education.)

The SBU Advantage

Learn from highly qualified and dedicated faculty in communication, theatre, and education disciplines.
Classroom field experiences begin as early as your freshman year and culminate with a semester-long student teaching experience your senior year, providing the real-world experience and networking opportunities needed to set you up for success.
The Speaking Bearcats, SBU's forensics team, has won 12 Pi Kappa Delta national championships.
SBU's Theatre Program provides students with opportunities in acting, directing, playwriting, and technical theatre, and produces four or more productions each year.

Faith Integration

The intentional integration of faith and discipline distinguishes SBU's speech communication and theatre education program. You will receive a quality academic education while also being challenged to consider how you can incorporate you Christian faith in what you do.

As a future educator, you will learn to consider your classroom to be a mission field and will learn how you can be a Christian witness, even in a public school environment.

SBU's theatre program carefully considers and integrates faith in all aspects of theatre, from show selection to casting, design and production.

Clubs and Organizations

forensics

Join the Speaking Bearcats, SBU's nationally acclaimed forensics speech and debate team, which has won 12 Pi Kappa Delta (intercollegiate speech and debate honorary organization) national championships.

theatre

Engage in all aspects of theatre, from acting to stagecraft, by participating in the SBU Theatre Program. At least four shows are produced each year, from a variety of genres.

student media

Put your learning into action through participation in Infuse, SBU's podcast radio station reporting campus and community news. Get hands-on experience with content creation, production, and distribution.

The SBU Theatre program taught me that we don't have to sacrifice quality for Christianity. As believers, we should be the best storytellers in the realm of fine art; after all, we have the greatest story to tell.

Megan (Parker) Wilson '09, Speech Communications Studies Director at Prestonwood Christian Academy and star of the movie "Seasons of Gray" released in 2013

Full-Time Faculty

Dr. David Bailey, Professor

Rebecca Rankin, Assistant Professor

Jordan Compton, Instructor

Jonathan Wehmeyer, Assistant Professor

Rachael Morrow, Instructor

student missouri state teachers association

As a speech communication and theatre education major, you are encouraged to join SBU's chapter of Student Missouri State Teachers Association (SMSTA) to benefit from professional development and networking opportunities as you prepare for your future teaching career.

speech communication and theatre education Program Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

ENG 1113	English Composition I	3
COM 1103	Fundamentals of Speech Communication	3
MAT 1143	College Algebra	3
EDU 2113	Educational Psychology	3
THR 1053	Stagecraft	3
UNI 1111	University Seminar	1
COM 3351	Intercollegiate Forensics	1
Total hours		17

Spring Semester

ENG 2213	English Composition II	3
EDU 2313	Foundations of Education	3
THR 1033	Introduction to Theatre	3
HIS 2213/2223	U.S. History I or II	3
COM 3313	Advanced Public Speaking	3
UNI 1121	Introduction to Critical Thinking	1
COM 3351	Intercollegiate Forensics	1
Total hours		17

Sophomore

Fall Semester

BIB 1013	Old Testament History	3
COM 2223	Argumentation and Debate	3
THR 1023	Acting 1	3
EDU 2141	Field Experience 1 (9-12)	1
THR 1001	Theatre Performance Workshop	1
SPF 2012	Introduction to Spiritual Formation	2
COM 3303	Oral Interpretation of Literature	3
Total hours		16

Spring Semester

BIO 1004	Principles of Biology	4
THR 1011	Production Workshop	1
ECO 2003	LIFE Economics	3
EDU 2823	Technology for Educators	3
EDU 3043	Learner Development and the Classroom	3
BIB 1023	New Testament History	3
Total hours		17

Junior

Fall Semester

EDU 3333	Principles and Methods of Secondary Instruction	3
EDU 3341	Field Experience Level 2 (9-12)	1
THR 4023	Directing of Plays	3
CIS 1103	Computer and Information Management	3
POL 1113	American Government and Politics	3
PHS 1004	Introduction to Physical Science	4
Total hours		17

Spring Semester

EDU 3013	Analyzing and Amending Reading Problems	3
EDU 4502	Methods of Teaching Theatre	2
KIN 1162	Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness	2
EDU 3613	Content Area Literacy	3
EDU 3833	Behavior and Classroom Management Secondary	3
	Electives	3
Total hours		16

Senior

Fall Semester

COM/THR	Electives	6
	Elective	3
	Cultural Studies	2
EDU 4552	Methods of Teaching Speech	2
PSY 1013	General Psychology	3
Total hours		16

Spring Semester

EDU 4691	Student Teaching Seminar	1
EDU 4832	Assessment and Evaluation of Learners	2
EDU 4623	Teaching Diverse Learners	3
EDU 4949	Student Teaching in the Secondary School	10
Total hours		16

NOTE: This plan assumes an ACT math score high enough to meet the College Algebra requirement and high school completion of ENG 1113, English Composition, and CIS 1103, Computer and Information Management.

Download in PDF format:
SPEECH COMMUNICATION AND THEATRE EDUCATION PLAN