The B.F.A. in Puppetry course work includes intensive study in children鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 Festival, Theatre West Virginia, The Pittsburgh Children鈥檚 Museum, Holden Puppets, Kids on the Block, and Nashville Sesame Street Live Touring.
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.
An overview understanding of the major aspects, techniques, and directions in the area of concentration.
Fundamental, comprehensive understanding of the various elements and basic interrelated processes of creation, interpretation, performance, and production.
Fundamental, conceptual understanding of the expressive possibilities of theatre.
Knowledge and skills sufficient to work in both collaborative and individual roles in matters of theatre interpretation.
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.
Repertory. Students must acquire:
Familiarity with theatre literature of various historical periods, cultural sources, and modes of presentation.
Experience with specific repertories and comparative standards of production quality through performance, academic study, and attendance at productions.
Theoretical and Historical Studies
Students must acquire:
The ability to analyze plays perceptively and to evaluate them critically.
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.
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.
The ability to develop and defend informed judgments about theatre.
Technology. Students must acquire a working knowledge of technologies and equipment applicable to their area(s) of specialization.
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.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2025
College of Creative Arts
One Fine Arts Drive,
MORGANTOWN,
West Virginia,
26506, United States
Students must have at least a 2.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale for general admission. Students must have a minimum of five subject passes, of which two must be English and Mathematics. Students with IGCSE and O-Level Certificates from Cambridge International will also be considered for admission.
English Language Requirements: TOEFL Internet-Based = 79; IELTS = 6.5; Duolingo English Test = 105, Pearson Test of English Academic = 53. In some cases, SAT reading or ACT English test scores may be used to meet English Proficiency.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
WVU graduates enjoy a remarkably high employment rate of 93 percent within two years of completing their program.