Performing Arts (Music and Theatre)

Performing Arts

Faculty:
Allan - Chair, Bready, Cotter, O’Brien, and Robinson
Fine Arts Building • 417-625-9318

Mission

The Missouri Southern Department of Performing Arts is dedicated to cultivating creativity, critical thinking, and artistic excellence while serving the university and its community by providing access to music and theatre as a vocation or avocation. We empower students to explore their unique voices, engage with the community, and contribute meaningfully to the cultural landscape. Through rigorous education, performance, and technology with the goal of creating performing arts supporters, entrepreneurs, participants, and professionals in music and/or theatre, we prepare students for successful careers in the arts and beyond.

Performance Opportunities

Unique to Missouri Southern is the ability for all students, regardless of major, to participate in our musical ensembles and theatrical productions while receiving individualized instruction and opportunities to perform and contribute. Students may also participate in more than one performing arts area and are not limited to one area-choir, band, or theatre. These opportunities provide for a variety of immersive performance experiences making MSSU a great place to further students’ performing arts interests and abilities.

Features of our Department

• Regardless of major, all students may participate in our ensembles and productions.
• Domestic and travel abroad opportunities are available.
• Participation in workshops, masterclasses, and seminars from national and international professionals in the performing arts.
• Nurturing both vocational and avocational immersive experiences.

The Southern Division of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), meaning our degrees, certificates, courses, and ensembles have been rigorously reviewed by external music professionals and found to meet the highest standards. As a Missouri Southern music graduate, you will not only hold a degree that will be recognized for its rigor, but because of our ability to offer a variety of academic, programmatic, and performance opportunities, you will have the necessary experiences to enter the professional world of music education, performance, and industry with confidence.

Choral / Vocal Studies    

The Southern Choral and Vocal Studies Program provides our students, regardless of major, opportunities to perform a wide-ranging variety of music in an equally diverse number of ensembles, performances, and types of music.  Our ensembles include Concert Chorale (large mixed choir) and Chamber Singers (select mixed ensemble).  Southern vocalists compete alongside other state universities in competitions sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) where they have placed in the finals at the chapter, region, and national levels.

Instrumental Studies

The Instrumental Studies Program provides our students, regardless of major, opportunities to perform in a number of diverse instrumental ensembles geared specifically for a variety of music.  Our two athletic ensembles include the Lion Pride Marching Band and the Lion Pride Pep Band, while our concert ensembles include the Missouri Southern Concert Band and the Southern Jazz Orchestra.  Opportunities to perform in wind and brass chamber ensembles are also open to students. All of our other instrumental ensembles perform at a high-level while also creating a welcoming musical environment for all students.

Theatrical Studies

The Theatre Studies Program provides the actor and production crew member, regardless of major, the opportunity to perform in and work on a wide variety of theatrical productions written and produced for both the large and small stages.  Our productions include musicals, plays, children’s plays, and student-directed projects. 

Degrees / Certificates

With concentrations in education, performance, and industry, our degrees and certificates provide students the essential training and experience for a career in the performing arts. No matter what area of specialty, the skills learned at Missouri Southern will provide students with the necessary foundation for careers up graduation or for graduate study.

The Performing Arts Department offers a variety of degrees and certificates that provide a path for students to achieve their dreams in music and theatre!

Education

• Music Education Instrumental, Grades K-12, BME, ES25  
• Music Education Vocal, Grades K-12, BME, ES24  
• Theatre/Speech Education Major, Grades 9-12, BSE, ES21  

Performance

• Music Major, Instrumental Performance, BM, MU06  
• Music Major, Vocal Performance, BM, MU08  
• Music Major, Keyboard Performance, BM, MU07  
• Music Major, Musical Theatre, BM, MU05  
• Theatre Major, Theatre Performance, BFA, TH07  

Industry

• Music Major, Music Industry, BS, MU10  

Elective Studies

• Music Major, Electives Outside Field, BM, MU09  

Liberal Arts Degrees

• Music Major, BA, MU00  
• Theatre Major, BA, TH00  

Undergraduate Certificate Offerings - These can be paired with any of the above degrees, or with any other MSSU degree. They can also be earned separate from any degree.

• Theatre: Arts Administration & Leadership Certificate, TH95  
• Music: Jazz Studies Certificate, MU98  
• Music: Conducting Certificate, MU91  
• Music: Ensemble Performance Certificate, MU93  
• Music Industry Certificate, MU94  
• Music Instruction Certificate, MU92  
• Music: Pit Orchestra Performance Certificate, MU97  
• Musical Theatre Certificate, Music, MU96  
• Theatre: Theatre Industry Certificate, TH74  
• Theatre: Theatre Instruction Certificate, Theatre, TH73  

Minors

• Music Minor, MU80  
• Theatre Minor, TH80  

Graduate Certificate Offerings - Our graduate certificates, which can be paired with the Master of Science in Education Curriculum and Instruction degree in Teacher Education, include:

• Music: Applied Pedagogy Graduate Certificate, GMU1  
• Music: Ensemble Pedagogy Graduate Certificate, GMU0  

General Education/Core 42

There are several Performing Arts courses available for consideration to fulfill both Area 2B and 5B of general education requirements.

Area 2B Oral Communications can be fulfilled by TH 0220 TH 0220 - Professional Interaction  

Area 5B Fine Arts can be fulfilled by 

• MUS 0100 - Fundamentals of Music  
• MUS 0101 - Jazz Styles & Appreciation   
• MUS 0106 - World Music   
• MUS 0110 - Music Appreciation   
• MUS 0120 - A History of Rock and Roll Music: Attitudes, Culture, and Society   
• MUS 0121 - Concert Chorale   
• MUS 0191 - Marching Band   
• MUS 0192 - Concert Band  
• TH 0110 - Theatre Appreciation  
• TH 0116 - History of Musical Theatre  

What can you do with a performing arts degree or certificate

Education Degrees: Bachelor of Music Education / Bachelor of Science in Speech and Theatre / Certificate in Music Instruction / Certificate in Theatre Instruction / Graduate Certificate in Music Pedagogy / Certificate in Music Conducting prepares students to:

• Conduct a choir, band, musical
• Direct a choir, band, play, or musical
• Teach at a community college
• Teach elementary music
• Teach secondary music - conduct a choir/conduct a band
• Teach secondary speech/theatre - direct a play/direct a musical
• Pursue a Music Therapy graduate degree

Performance Degrees: Bachelor of Music in Vocal, Instrumental, and Keyboard Performance / Bachelor of Fine Arts Theatre Performance / Bachelor of Musical Theatre / Certificate in Music Ensemble Performance / Certificate in Music Conducting / Certificate in Pit Orchestra Performance / Certificate in Musical Theatre prepares student to:

• Accompany a choir, play in a band, orchestra, or combo
• Teach applied music or theatre at a college or university
• Perform in musicals, plays, opera, oratorios, rock bands
• Perform as a pop, country, or session artist

Industry Degrees: Bachelor of Science in Music Industry / Bachelor of Science in Theatre Industry / Certificate in Arts Administration & Leadership / Certificate in Music Industry / Certificate in Theatre Industry prepares students to serve as an:

• Acoustician
• Arts administrator
• Arts business manager
• Audio technician
• Designer: stage, lighting, costume, and set
• Instrument repair technician
• Talent Agent

Electives Studies Degree: Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in an Outside Field

• Music business
• Music engineer
• Music therapy
• Music lawyer

For additional information contact:
Dr. Diana Allan • Music Building 206
417-625-9681 • Allan-d@mssu.edu

Programs

• Music Major, BA, MU00
• Music Major, Electives Outside Field, BM, MU09
• Music Major, Instrumental Performance, BM, MU06
• Music Major, Keyboard Performance, BM, MU07
• Music Major, Music Industry, BS, MU10
• Music Major, Musical Theatre, BM, MU05
• Music Major, Vocal Performance, BM, MU08
• Theatre Major, BA, TH00
• Theatre Major, Theatre Industry, BS, TH10
• Theatre Major, Theatre Performance, BFA, TH07

• Costume Technology Certificate, Theatre, TH92
• Music Industry Certificate, MU94
• Music Instruction Certificate, MU92
• Music: Conducting Certificate, MU91
• Music: Ensemble Performance Certificate, MU93
• Music: Jazz Studies Certificate, MU98
• Music: Pit Orchestra Performance Certificate, MU97
• Musical Theatre Certificate, Music, MU96
• Theatre Directing Certificate, TH94
• Theatre: Arts Administration & Leadership Certificate, TH95
• Theatre: Theatre Industry Certificate, TH74
• Theatre: Theatre Instruction Certificate, Theatre, TH73

• Music: Applied Pedagogy Graduate Certificate, GMU1
• Music: Ensemble Pedagogy Graduate Certificate, GMU0

• Music Minor, MU80
• Theatre Minor, TH80

• Music Education Instrumental, Grades K-12, BME
• Music Education Vocal, Grades K-12, BME
• Theatre/Speech Education Major, Grades 9-12, BSE

Courses

• TH 0312 - Black and African American Theatre, Dance, Music, and Performance
• TH 0313 - LGBTQ+ Theatre, Dance, Music, and Performance
• TH 0314 - Latinx Theatre, Dance, Music, and Performance
• TH 0320 - Lighting Design
• TH 0331 - Theatre History and Literature I
• TH 0332 - Theatre History and Literature II
• TH 0334 - Children’s Theatre
• TH 0340 - Acting Styles
• TH 0341 - Acting II
• TH 0342 - Acting for the Camera
• TH 0351 - Stage Directing
• TH 0361 - History of Costume
• TH 0362 - Stage Costume Design
• TH 0363 - Costume History II
• TH 0365 - Costume Construction Technique
• TH 0367 - Draping/Flat Pattern
• TH 0368 - Period Styles
• TH 0370 - Accessory Design
• TH 0380 - Applied Theatre
• TH 0382 - Sound Design
• TH 0389 - Junior Project
• TH 0401 - Theatre Performance
• TH 0403 - Theatre Movement III
• TH 0404 - Stage Combat III
• TH 0410 - Dramaturgy
• TH 0411 - Theatre for Social Change
• TH 0416 - Jazz II
• TH 0422 - Acting III
• TH 0423 - Acting IV
• TH 0431 - Creative Dramatics
• TH 0441 - Stage Design
• TH 0442 - Business for Performing Artist
• TH 0460 - Principles of Arts Management and Administration
• TH 0465 - Marketing Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
• TH 0470 - Producing Film and Theatre
• TH 0480 - Devised Theatre
• TH 0489 - Senior Project
• TH 0491 - Internship in Theatre
• TH 0492 - Senior Jury/Capstone
• TH 0495 - Exit Interview
• TH 0498 - Topics in Theatre
• TH 0499 - Independent Study in Theatre