Jul 15, 2024  
2024-2025 General Catalog 
  
2024-2025 General Catalog

Theatre Arts: Acting - BFA


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Caine College of the Arts

Department of Theatre Arts

About This Degree

The acting emphasis is for students desiring to become professional performers. Coursework for this emphasis covers acting, voice, movement, and directing fundamentals. It also provides an understanding of the technical and design responsibilities of any production.

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.

  • For more information about Theatre Arts, see the department website.
  • Admitted and current students must meet with an acting area advisor before registering for courses, as well as meet with the Caine College of the Arts advisor.
  • Log on to Degree Works  to check student-specific program progress.
  • The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL)  of the student’s choice.

Minimum University Requirements


Admission Requirements for This Program


  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Minimum Overall GPA for Admission and Graduation: 2.75

Additional Information


  • 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 credit(s) 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

Required Movement Courses (12 credits)


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.

Open Electives


Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120


Suggested Degree Map - Theatre Arts: Acting - BFA


Theatre Arts: Acting BFA - 4 Year Degree Map  

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