COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre is a 124-credit-hour professional degree designed to provide intensive training in performance, design, and technical production while integrating a strong academic foundation through general education requirements in writing, natural sciences, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, speaking, and a senior capstone experience. Students begin with foundational coursework such as ENG 101 and ENG 102 in written communication, introductory science courses with laboratory components selected from disciplines like biology, chemistry, geology, physics, astronomy, or environmental science, and humanities courses including world literature, philosophy, religion, and history, alongside aesthetic appreciation courses like theatre, music, dance, or art. Social and behavioral science requirements introduce students to psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, or political science, while mathematics ensures quantitative reasoning skills are developed. Within the theatre core, students complete essential courses including script analysis, fundamentals of acting, voice training, movement, stagecraft, design introduction, theatre history sequences, directing, and stage makeup, along with a writing-intensive theatre history course and a speaking-intensive acting course. The program is structured to allow specialization through two major tracks: Performance or Design and Technology. The Performance Track emphasizes acting technique, dialects, movement, stage combat, improvisation, scene study, and audition preparation, while the Design and Technology Track focuses on costume design, scenic design, lighting, sound, drafting, and production studio work, supported by laboratory-based introductory courses in stagecraft, costume, lighting, and design. Advanced electives allow further specialization in acting styles, musical theatre, camera acting, or advanced technical design areas such as lighting, sound, and scenic construction. A significant portion of the degree includes practicum experience each semester, where students actively participate in productions in roles assigned across acting, technical production, costume, lighting, or management. The program culminates in a senior capstone experience integrating accumulated skills into a final performance or production project. Additionally, students may complete theatre electives and university electives, with options for interdisciplinary study, dance, or related communication courses. Admission and retention standards require maintaining a minimum GPA in theatre coursework, completing foundational theatre classes early, and demonstrating consistent academic and practical performance to progress within the program, ensuring readiness for professional careers in theatre and performance industries.