Christian Theatre Ministries
The career concentration in Christian theatre ministries requires that you major in theatre at Northwestern. This career concentration prepares you for work in Christian theatre. This could involve working as a theatre director in a church or working with one of the many professional Christian theatre companies throughout the United States.
An important aspect of the career concentration is the internship experience. You will be placed according to your particular area of interest. If you desire to work in church theatre, you may choose to intern in either a local congregation or one out of the area. If a Christian theatre group is your preference, Northwestern will help make arrangements with one of the numerous companies.
Theatre department homepage
Required courses
Completion of theatre major
MUS 115AE - Music of the Church
(3 credits) (NWCore option under Aesthetic Experience) This course provides an introduction to the fascinating and frustrating
history of how Christians have used, created, manipulated, or avoided music in their worship of God. Although each of us comes from our own denominational, geographical, and cultural backgrounds, we will seek to understand the whole historical sweep of Christian church music, as well as our own place in that history.
THE 305 - Story and Worship
(4 credits, alternate years, consult department) Christian worship, at its core, is remembering the story of God. This includes biblical stories, personal narratives, the Liturgical Year, church history (global and local), and the story journey of each worship service. This course asks why the church must tell its stories and provides specific tools for including stories within worship. This course is not primarily focused on storytelling as drama, but the role of the dramatic arts will not be overlooked. Students will be invited to seriously consider that the ancient Hebrew people had a dramatic anthology, and the class will examine together practical tools for restaging those biblical works for contemporary culture.
Choose 4 credits:
THE 133 - Ballet
(1 credit) A study of the form and techniques of ballet.
Note: Dance courses may be repeated up to a maximum of 4 credits.
THE 135 - Jazz Dance
(1 credit) A study of the form and techniques of jazz dance. Emphasis will be on the integration of modern musical performance.
Note: Dance courses may be repeated up to a maximum of 4 credits.
THE 260 - Drama Ministries Ensemble
(1/2 credit) A performance group emphasizing preparation of scripts for presentation in worship services and worship-related settings.
Note: Members are chosen by audition. Course may be repeated.
THE 315 - Acting: Scene Work
No course description available.
Choose one course:
WOR 405 - Practicum in Worship Arts
(2 credits) Each worship arts student will be placed in relationship with a church or parachurch ministry to gain hands on experience in worship arts. Prerequisite: must be taken during last three terms prior to graduation or by permission of instructor.
Note: graded on a pass/no pass basis.
THE 417 - Internship
(4 credits may apply toward the major)
Total credits required beyond major: 13-19
Note: Internships range from 2-12 credits. The maximum credits applied to the major is noted under the 417 course designation.
