BFA - Theatre Arts Education

K-12 Teacher Certification Option

The Theatre Arts Education, Teacher Certification option program promotes quality, culturally relevant drama and theatre teaching and learning on multiple levels. The primary focus of the Theatre Education, Teacher Certification option program is on the preparation of certified theatre teachers and artists for diverse secondary settings. The Teacher Certification option 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 option 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 Theatre Education, 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 Theatre Education, Teacher Certification Program Coordinator is the advisor for the BFA in Theatre Arts Education, Teacher Certification Option post-baccalaureate certification, and the Teaching Theatre Minor.

Teacher Certification Handbook

Post-Baccalaureate Certification

Students who have already completed a degree in Theatre can complete the necessary courses for Teacher Certification in the Theatre Education, Teacher Certification Program.

Application Requirements for Freshmen, Transfer and Change of Major Students (Teacher Certification Option)

• Admission to the University of Arizona
• College of Fine Arts application
• A 500-word, typed essay entitled "The Theatre Teacher I Want to Be." The essay should contain the following: well expressed philosophy of theatre education or outreach indicating both strong commitment to teaching and theatre arts and an understanding of what makes an effective theatre teacher. 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 or teaching artist 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.
• Video/DVD of a Teaching Activity & Written Reflection
  • Video or DVD demonstrating applicant teaching a lesson or leading a group in a drama activity, no longer than 15 minutes (e.g., leading a game with side coaching if needed; setting up group improvisations, monitoring the groups, facilitating the sharing of the improvisations, and leading a discussion about the work afterwards.) The lesson/activity should be appropriate for the leader and group, well-organized with clear instructions to participants, allowing for strong consideration of group ideas, and offering a confident, enthusiastic and well paced delivery throughout the lesson/activity.
  • One page typed reflection on the experience addressing these topics: description of how the applicant chose this lesson/activity for the group, preparation to teach this lesson, description of how it went, and discussion of what might be done differently "next time."

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, 195t).
• References--2 from UA faculty, other than Teacher Certification Option or Outreach Option faculty. At least one reference should be from a Theatre Arts faculty member. References should indicate applicant's strong potential to be both an excellent student of theatre and a teacher or teaching artist especially in the areas of personal and professional demeanor, cultural and social attitudes and behavior, cognitive dispositions and leadership.
• A 500 word typed statement of a teaching philosophy addressing drama and theatre teaching and learning in diverse student populations (Teacher Certification) or your decision to emphasize outreach (Education Outreach Option).
• Successful interview with the appropriate program coordinator (Teacher Certification or Education Outreach). These interviews will generally take place in September of the Fall term or January of the Spring term.

All BFA Teacher Certification students are required to meet with Teacher Certification faculty 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 a 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 Theatre Education and Education Outreach Faculty — student is making satisfactory progress toward completion of degree.