Undergraduate Study in Performing Arts Studies
Performing Arts Studies provides students with the exciting and unique opportunity to study many performing arts forms across a number of disciplines. Students learn from academics who are also specialist practitioners in their fields.
Performing Arts Studies is available as both a major and a minor subject of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Programme.
Although Performing Arts Studies does not currently have a dedicated Honours programme, Performing Arts Studies students have successfully been admitted into the Theatre Studies Honours Programme, which also supports interdisciplinary performance study. An Honours in Theatre Studies also provides Performing Arts students with a pathway into postgraduate degree courses, including a Masters of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and PhD.
Performing Arts Studies papers can also be taken separately, adding depth and range to any degree combination.
Double majors and minors
The Performing Arts Studies programme proves a useful course of study to combine (either as a double major or minor) with another major subject. The programme's flexibility and options allow for a personalised programme as well as the skill sets and knowledge gained.
Many students combine Performing Arts Studies (as a major or minor) with a major in Theatre or Music. Recent students have also combined their study in the Performing Arts Studies programme with degrees in Law, Psychology, and Education.
You may wish to:
- specialise in one of the performing arts: Dance, Theatre Studies or Music - and add Performing Arts Studies to broaden the range of your expertise
- put Performing Arts Studies together with subjects in Māori Studies, Commerce, or other Arts subjects
- use the programme to support training in teaching
If you opt for taking a double major for your degree, you will have to take a full third year-level programme in each subject.
Performing Arts Studies as a Major subject
Students undertaking Performing Arts Studies majors must take a number of required papers but are also able to choose from a wide variety of papers from different disciples over their 3 years of study.
The paper requirements are listed below.
100 level papers
One of
- MUSI103 Music in Popular Culture
- MUSI104 Music in World Cultures
- MUSI132 Music Technology
- MUSI133 Sight and Sound
- MUSI140 Performance Studies 1*
- MUSI141 Performance 1*
- MUSI145 Contemporary Performance 1*
- MUSI146 Professional Practice 1A*
- MUSI156 Professional Practice 1B*
- MUSI185 Music Industry
- MAOR108 Waiata: Te Tīmatanga
- PACI102 Pacific Dance: An Introduction
- PHSE115 Fundamentals of Dance
- PHSE116 Elements of Dance
Either
Or one of
- DESN101 Design Inquiry
- THEA122 Drama on Stage and Screen
- THEA151 Improvisation
- THEA152 Theatre Technology
* Audition required for entry; consult The Department of Music for further information
200 level papers
One of
- MAOR208 Ngā Manu Taki
- MUSI225 Ethnomusicology
- MUSI226 Music in Asian Cultures
- MUSI227 Music in Latin American Cultures
- MUSI228 Music in Pacific Cultures
- MUSI265 Music and Theatre
- MUSI266 Film Music
- MUSI269 Global Pop
- MUSI285 THE Music Profession
And
And one of
- THEA221 Truth and Representation in the Theatre
- THEA251 Mask and Scenario
- THEA252 The Actor’s Imagination
- THEA253 Bi-cultural Theatre
- THEA256 Design for Theatre and Performance
300 level papers
And
Three 300 level papers (equivalent of 54 points) from:
- Theatre Studies
- Dance Studies
- Maori Studies (MAOR 308 Ngā Hākinakina a Te Māori only)
Plus
- 144 further points; these must include at least 36 points at 200-level or above.
- Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts.
The total points for a Bachelors degree is 360 points
Go to the table setting out all the requirements for a major in Performing Arts Studies
Performing Arts Studies as a Minor subject
A Performing Arts Studies minor can accompany a
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Theology (BTheol)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree.
Students taking Performing Arts Studies as a minor undertake a few core papers and then have the flexibility to choose a variety of papers from different disciplines.
100 level papers:
PERF101 Performing Arts Studies
200 level papers:
PERF201 Performing Arts Integrations
300 level papers:
54 points at 200-level or above from
- Maori Studies (MAOR 208 Ngā Manu Taki only)
- Theatre Studies
- Music or
- Dance Studies papers,
including at least 18 points at 300-level.
The total for a minor is 90 points.
Go to the table setting out the requirements for a minor in Performing Arts Studies
Performing Arts Studies papers as a complement to any degree
Performing Arts Studies papers can also be taken separately, adding depth and range to any degree combination.
See the range of papers that contribute to Performing Arts Studies.