Honors in Theatre at WIU:

Welcome to the Honors Program in Theatre!

You can qualify for honors when you enter WIU as a freshman or transfer student. You can also qualify after your first semester at WIU. The Centennial Honors College offers a pre-honors program for students considering pursuing an honors degree.

Find out if you are eligible for the honors program by clicking here Tab 2 - Eligibility

You can earn honors in three ways at WIU.

You can earn honors in three ways at WIU.

1. You can earn General Honors by completing specific honors coursework offered by the Centennial Honors College
2. You can earn Departmental Honors by completing specific honors work in the major
3. You can earn University Honors by completing both General Honors and Departmental requirements

You can find out more about the General Honors and the Departmental requirements by clicking on the links below.

Specific requirements for Honors in the B.A. in Theatre Program
Tab 3 - B.A. (Honors) in Theatre

Specific requirements for Honors in the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Program
Tab 4 - B.F.A. (Honors) in Musical Theatre

There are many benefits to completing an Honors degree in Theatre.
Click here Tab 5 - Benefits for Honors Student for more information on why you should become an honors student today.

Good luck!

Tammy Killian

TL-Killian@wiu.edu

Eligibility for Honors

Only students who are enrolled in the Centennial Honors College may register for honors courses. To qualify for the Centennial Honors College, entering freshmen must fall into one of the following categories:

• 28 ACT composite or higher;
• 26 or 27 ACT composite and in the top 15 percent of graduating class;
• 24 or 25 ACT composite and in the top 10 percent of graduating class.

Comparable SAT score is acceptable.

Transfer and current WIU students who wish to join the Honors College (including the Quad Cities Honors Program) must have a 3.4 grade point average on a 4.0 scale based on 12 or more semester hours at an accredited university.

International students are also encouraged to apply and may contact the Honors Director.

Want to know if you qualify? Contact the Centennial Honors College at this link: http://www.wiu.edu/honors

Requirements for Honors in Theatre - B.A. (Honors) in Theatre Program

Students may complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Departmental Honors, or General Honors.  All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (GH 299).  General Honors includes General Honors coursework.  Departmental Honors includes honors work in the major.  University Honors combines Departmental and General Honors. 

Honors students in Theatre must complete all requirements for a major in theatre.

Grade Requirements

• 3.4 overall GPA
• 3.4 GPA in Honors courses

General Honors Requirements

• Two General Honors seminars (6 semester hours)
• An honors section of the First-Year Experience (3 semester hours). A General Honors seminar may be substituted in some cases.
• GH 299 (one semester hour)

Departmental Honors Requirements

• GH 299 COFAC Honors Seminar (one semester hour)
• Complete 9 semester hours of "in-course honors." These are regular courses but you propose an additional research or creative project to complete in addition to the regular course requirements. The following courses may be taken as in-course honors:

  
  THEA 345 Lighting Design I
  THEA 355 Scene Design I
  THEA 365 Costume Design I
  THEA 373 Acting Shakespeare
  THEA 390 World Theatre History I
  THEA 391 World Theatre History II
  THEA 392 World Theatre History III
  THEA 400 Independent Research and Projects
  THEA 419 Playwriting II
  THEA 446 Lighting Design II
  THEA 451 Décor (4 credit course)
  THEA 465 Costume Design II
  THEA 477 Dialects
  THEA 481 Rehearsal Techniques
  THEA 482 Independent Projects in Directing
  THEA 498 Individual Study
  DAN 310 Ballet III
  DAN 313 Modern Dance III
  DAN 316 Musical Theatre Dance
  DAN 382 Dane History and Philosophy
  DAN 385 Movement and Music Analysis
  DAN 413 Advanced Techniques of Modern Dance

Complete the Honors Thesis/Project, THEA 401 (3 semester hours).  THEA 401 may be taken as an interdisciplinary thesis/project.

See Honors Thesis/Project Guidelines for specifics.

University Honors (combines General Honors and Departmental Honors)

• Two General Honors seminars (6 semester hours)
• An honors section of the First-Year Experience (in some cases a General Honors seminar may be substituted)
• GH 299 COFAC Honors Seminar (one semester hour)
• 9 semester hours of departmental in-course honors selected from list above
• THEA 401 (3 semester hours), Honors Thesis/Project. 
• THEA 401 may be taken as an interdisciplinary thesis/project.

Requirements for Honors in Theatre - B.F.A. (Honors) in Musical Theatre Program

Students may complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Departmental Honors, or General Honors.  All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (GH 299).  General Honors includes General Honors coursework.  Departmental Honors includes honors work in the major.  University Honors combines Departmental and General Honors. 

Honors students in Musical Theatre must complete all requirements for a major in Musical Theatre.

Grade Requirements

• 3.4 overall GPA
• 3.4 GPA in Honors courses

General Honors Requirements

• Two General Honors seminars (6 semester hours)
• An honors section of the First-Year Experience (3 semester hours). A General Honors seminar may be substituted in some cases.
• GH 299 (one semester hour)

Departmental Honors Requirements

• GH 299 COFAC Honors Seminar (one semester hour)
• Complete 9 semester hours of in-course honors. These are regular courses but you propose an additional research or creative project tcomplete in addition tthe regular course requirements.

  The following courses may be taken as in-course honors:

  THEA 390 World Theatre History I
  THEA 391 World Theatre History II
  THEA 392 World Theatre History III
  THEA 476 Advanced Techniques of Musical Theatre
  THEA 497 Musical Theatre History
  MUS 394 Music in World Cultures
  DAN 310 Ballet III
  DAN 313 Modern Dance III
  DAN 316 Musical Theatre Dance
  DAN 382 Dane History and Philosophy
  DAN 385 Movement and Music Analysis
  DAN 413 Advanced Techniques of Modern Dance

Complete an Honors/Thesis Project using Option A or Option B.

Option A – Students enroll in THEA 499 (BFA Senior Project). Students propose additional research and/or creative work pertaining to the BFA Senior Project to fulfill the Honors/Thesis Project as in-course honors.

Option B – Students enroll in THEA 401 (Honors/Thesis Project). This provides 3 semester hours of credit for the student to complete honors. (Note that all musical theatre students must also complete a BFA Senior Project, THEA 499 as part of the regular program requirements. This option allows students to do an additional or stand- alone project separate from their BFA Senior Project.)

See Honors Thesis/Project Guidelines for specifics.

University Honors (combines General Honors and Departmental Honors)

• Two General Honors seminars (6 semester hours)
• An honors section of the First-Year Experience (in some cases a General Honors seminar may be substituted)
• GH 299 COFAC Honors Seminar (one semester hour)
• 9 semester hours of departmental in-course honors selected from list above
• 3 semester hours of THEA 499 or THEA 401, depending on option selected above.
  Note that THEA 499 or THEA 401 may be taken as an interdisciplinary thesis/project.

Benefits for Honors Students while at WIU

University Benefits

• Smaller classes with early registration
• Special honors classes
• Study abroad for honors
• Honors scholarships/grants
• Expanded opportunities to work with faculty on individual research and projects
• Opportunities to present research on Undergraduate Research Day
• Recognition at Convocation and Commencement
• Convocation speaker opportunity
• Honors Peer Mentoring opportunities
• Honors Advantage Program

COFAC Benefits

• Opportunity to work with other students on interdisciplinary projects
• Annual COFAC Honors Breakfast
• Opportunity to serve on the COFAC Honors Committee
• Honors field trips and enrichment experiences

Benefits for Honors Students after Graduation

• Enhancement for resume/vitae
• Possibilities to join national, academic and social organizations
• Enhancement opportunities for internships and graduate school
• Professional contacts/networks

To download the Honors Guideline in PDF.