Speech, Theatre Concentration (MA)

General Degree Requirements

Applicants who do not have an undergraduate major in one of the areas of speech noted above are expected to satisfy any course deficiencies in the initial stages of their graduate program. The graduate student in speech must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours. The student will follow one of two plans of study.

Thesis/Non-Thesis Plans

The MA in Speech degree may be completed under either Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Non-Thesis):

Plan A (Thesis): Students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit in Speech, or 24 hours in Speech and 6 hours in a related field, which are approved by his/her major professor and by the Head of the Department of Communication Disorders or the Director of the School of the Performing Arts. In addition, six hours of the total must be earned by successfully passing LBAR 551: Research and Thesis  and by completing an acceptable thesis. Twelve of the required 30 hours must be in courses offered exclusively for graduate students (500 level), not including thesis courses. A written and an oral examination on all course work and the thesis are required.

Plan B (Non-Thesis): The requirements are the same as those under Plan A, except that the student will not write a thesis and will complete a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit. A maximum of six graduate credits may be earned in courses in fields related to Speech. Such credit must be approved by the student’s advisor and the Head of the Department of Communication Disorders or the Director of the School of the Performing Arts. All graduate students in Speech-Language Pathology must demonstrate acceptable proficiency in research and reporting.

Concentration in Theatre

Information regarding the MA in Speech with a Concentration in Theatre can be obtained by contacting the Coordinator of Theatre in the School of Performing Arts.

Admission Requirements. Admission to the program includes formal application to the Louisiana Tech University Graduate School and campus audition/interview (A video audition or interview off campus can be substituted.). The graduate program in Theatre offers students advanced study and scholarly research in the Theatre Arts, The program prepares the student, through in-depth theoretical and practical training, for the rigors of the 21st Century Theatrical profession.

Course Requirements. The graduate program concentration in Theatre (administered in the School of the Performing Arts) requires that students take 36 total graduate credit hours of which 18 core credit hours will be in holistic study including all disciplines of Theatre. The final 18 hours the student may select an area of emphasis and take courses in that area or continue his/her holistic study. The student’s plan of study must be approved by the Head of the Graduate Theatre program. The student must meet the requirements set forth by the Graduate School of the university in order to maintain graduate status.

Thesis/Non-Thesis Plans. Students pursuing the Master of Arts with theatre concentration will follow either Plan A or Plan B as outlined above in “Master of Arts in Speech: General Degree Requirements.