Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 General Catalog 
    
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Theatre Arts: Acting - BFA


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Caine College of the Arts

Department of Theatre Arts

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  • For more information about Theatre Arts, see the department website.
  • Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
  • Admitted students must meet with an acting area advisor before registering for courses, as well as meeting with the Caine College of the Arts advisor for evaluation of degree progress towards graduation.
  • Current students must meet with an acting advisor before registering for courses, as well as meeting with the Caine College of the Arts advisor for evaluation of degree progress towards graduation. Current students should also log on to Degree Works  to check student-specific program progress.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits 120

 

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better 100 Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above) 40
Total USU Credits 30 Upper-division USU Credits 20
USU Credits within the Major 10 Credits in Minor (if required) 12
Credits in Major see below Credits in American Institutions 3
General Education Requirements   see link University Studies Depth Requirements   see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL)  of the student’s choice.

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program

Major Expectations: Students are expected to develop proper attitudes, habits, work standards and professionalism to move on to graduate studies or directly into the professional world of theatre. Students are expected to audition for all department productions and be available to accept any role.

Admission Requirements: Students are admitted to the department and BFA degree program through separate application and audition with program faculty. Transfer students must verify transfer credit acceptance prior to application.

 

Minimum Grade Accepted: B- in all courses for major

Minimum Overall GPA for Admission and Graduation: 2.75

First Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

THEA 1000: Acting I: Introduction to Acting (BCA)          3  

Core Course

General Education

Breadth Creative Arts

THEA 1010: Acting II: Audition Preparation   2   Emphasis Course
THEA 1513: Stagecraft (BCA)   3  

Core Course

General Education

Breadth Creative Arts

THEA 1113: Voice for Actors I   2   Emphasis Course
THEA 1713: Playscript Analysis (BHU)   3  

Core Course

General Education

Breadth Creative Arts

THEA 1210: Movement for Actors   2   Emphasis Course
ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)   3   Communications Literacy (CL1)   THEA 2203: Costume Construction and Technology   3   Core Course
Breadth Life Sciences (BLS) Course  or Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS) Course  or Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) Course   3

General Education

Breadth Course

ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)   3   Communications Literacy (CL2)   
      Quantitative Literacy (QL)   3-5 Math Placement  
Total Recommended Credits: 15   Total Recommended Credits: 15-17  
Comments
Comments

Second Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

THEA 1223: Stage Makeup   2  

Core Course

THEA 2010: Acting IV: Shakespeare   3   Emphasis Course
THEA 2000: Acting III: Scene Study-Text as Action   3   Emphasis Course THEA 2110: Voice for Actors III: Dialects   2   Emphasis Course
THEA 2100: Voice for Actors II: Speech and IPA   3   Emphasis Course THEA 2210: Jazz   2   Emphasis Course
THEA 2200: Ballet   2   Emphasis Course THEA 2555: Production Practicum   1   Core Course
THEA 2555: Production Practicum   1  

Core Course

ENGL 2300 (or ENGL 4300 if needed)  Core Course
Breadth American Institutions (BAI)   3

General Education

Breadth Course

Breadth Life Sciences (BLS)  or Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS)  or Breadth Social Sciences (BSS)   3

General Education

Breadth Course

Breadth Life Sciences (BLS)  or Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS)  or Breadth Social Sciences (BSS)   3

General Education

Breadth Course

General Elective PE Course 1  
Total Recommended Credits: 17   Total Recommended Credits: 15  
Comments
Comments

Third Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

THEA 2555: Production Practicum           1   Core Course THEA 2555: Production Practicum   1   Core Course
THEA 3000: Acting V: Acting for the Musical Theatre   3   Emphasis Course THEA 3010: Acting VI: Classical Comedy   3   Emphasis Course
THEA 3100: Voice for Actors IV: Vocal Challenges/Voice Over/Microphone Technique   2   Emphasis Course THEA 3030: Acting VII: Contemporary Playwrights   3   Emphasis Course
THEA 3200: Stage Combat   2   Emphasis Course THEA 3720: Theatre History and Literature II (CI/DHA)   3  

Core Course

Depth Course

Communications Intensive

THEA 3210: Tap   2   Emphasis Course Depth Social Sciences (DSS)  or Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)   3 Depth Course
THEA 3710: Theatre History and Literature I (CI/DHA)   3   

Core Course

Depth Course

Communications Intensive

General Electives 3  
Quantitative Intensive (QI)   3

Depth Course

     
Total Recommended Credits: 16   Total Recommended Credits: 16  
Comments

 

Comments

General Electives are used to meet the university requirement of 120 total credits. These may be any courses, including additional theatre courses.

Fourth Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

THEA 2555: Production Practicum   1   Core Course THEA 4020: Acting X-Modern American Masters: O’Neill, Williams, and Miller   3   Emphasis Course
THEA 4000: Acting VIII: Acting for the Camera   3   Emphasis Course THEA 4200: Period and Social Dance    2   Emphasis Course
THEA 4010: Acting IX-Modern Masters: Chekhov/Ibsen/Shaw   3   Emphasis Course Literature Course 3 Core Course
Depth Social Sciences (DSS)  or Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)    3

Depth Course

THEA 5910: Capstone Project    2   Emphasis Course
General Electives

3

 

General Electives  
           
Total Recommended Credits: 13   Total Recommended Credits: 13  
Comments

General Electives are used to meet the university requirement of 120 total credits. These may be any courses, including additional theatre courses.

Comments

General Electives are used to meet the university requirement of 120 total credits. These may be any courses, including additional theatre courses.

The Acting Emphasis BFA at USU prepares students for performance careers in major-market cities or admission to an MFA training program. The curriculum includes ten acting courses covering all the major genres, such as musical theater, Shakespeare, and acting for the camera, as well as voice, movement and dance courses. Acceptance into the acting program is competitive and requires an audition, application and interview. The program functions on a cohort system, accepting between eight and twelve students per year. Retention must be earned by personal growth and commitment, along with the faculty’s biannual evaluation of satisfactory progress. The training culminates in a professional showcase in New York.

  • Minimum GPA for Admission:  2.75 overall 
  • Minimum GPA for continuance in the program and for graduation:  2.75
  • Minimum grade accepted in all major courses:  B-
  • Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis unless only offered as pass/fail

Departmental Requirements:

  • Freshman and sophomore students usher for each department production they are not involved in as actor or run crew.
  • Attend production strikes as assigned. Strike crew calls are posted during performance week.

Theatre Practicum Requirement (5 credits)


  • 1 Take a total of 5 credits of production practicum.
  • Note: Students should complete THEA 1513  and THEA 2203  before taking THEA 2555  

    • Register for Practicum in the following areas: 
      • Costume 
      • Paint & Props
      • Scenic
      • Run Crew 

    *Lighting/Sound Practicum is available by special permission

Capstone Project Requirements (2 credits)


All students must complete a capstone project during their senior year. BFA Acting students put together a showcase which they take to New York to present to representatives from invited talent agencies. Students must enroll in THEA 5910  during the semester in which the Mountain West: BFA Actor Showcase is presented.

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