Program Overview

Theatre - Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

The BFA degree concentrations in theatre offer pre-professional training to highly-motivated students aiming at professional careers in certain disciplines. The BFA student will pursue one of three concentration areas: acting, design/technology/management, or musical theatre. Students may elect to further focus within one of these degree tracks.

Requirements

• Admission is based on talent, academic record, motivation, auditions, and/or interviews.
• Enrollment is limited to ensure individual attention necessary for effective training.
• Interested students should identify themselves as early as possible.
• Contact the department for information regarding how to apply to the BFA degree concentrations.

Admission Requirements

• Formal application to the:
  • musical theatre concentration should be made concurrently with an application to the university.
  • acting concentration should be made at the beginning of the spring semester.
  • design/technology/management concentrations should be made at the beginning of the spring semester.
• Students are subject to the requirements in place at the time of admission to the BFA.

General Degree Requirements

• The College of Arts & Sciences counts a maximum of 67 credit hours of THTR credits toward the total credit hours required for graduation.
• A grade of C or higher is needed in all required courses to fulfill the requirements of the BFA degree, as well as an overall Theatre GPA of 2.00.
• In addition to the specific course requirements listed for completing a BFA degree in Acting and Design/Technology/Management concentrations, students must fulfill all requirements for the BA degree in Theatre.

Graduating in Four Years

• Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility.
• The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major.
• To maintain adequate progress toward a BFA in theatre, students should meet the following requirements:
  • By Dec. 1 of the year before the first semester, declare in writing the intention to audition for the BFA in Musical Theatre.
  • During the second semester (acting concentration) or third semester (design/technology/management concentrations), complete the audition and interview.
  • Immediately upon acceptance into a BFA concentration, declare the major.
  • Once accepted into a BFA concentration, meet with a departmental advisor to confirm in writing specific courses to be completed within the remaining semesters of study.

Concentrations

Acting Concentration

• The BFA in acting begins as early as the sophomore year.
• Interested students will begin on the CU Boulder campus as BA students taking a series of preparatory courses.
• Auditions to transition from BA to BFA in acting generally take place around spring break.
• The BFA in acting curriculum is designed to be completed in 6 semesters, allowing a student to graduate in 4 years.

Design/Technology/Management Concentrations

• In addition to the College of Arts and Sciences core requirements, students pursuing a BFA in design, technology, or management must complete up to 67 credits in theatre and an additional 15 credits in other disciplines.
• Students who choose this concentration must elect one primary emphasis (design, technology, or management) but may have opportunities to explore other emphases.
• The BFA in design/technology/management begins as early as the sophomore year.
• Interested students will begin on the CU Boulder campus as BA students taking a series of preparatory courses.
• Interviews to transition from BA to BFA in design/technology/management generally take place around spring break.
• The BFA in design/technology/management curriculum is designed to be completed in 6 semesters, allowing a student to graduate in 4 years.

Musical Theatre Concentration

• The BFA in musical theatre begins in the freshman year.
• Interested students will submit pre-screen audition materials during the fall of their high school senior year.
• A selection of students from the pre-screen will be invited to audition in person during the winter of their high school senior year (generally late January, early February).
• Invitations to the program will be made around spring break.

Four-Year Plans of Study

Acting Concentration

• Year One:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 1003, THTR 1019, THTR 1050, Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course, Gen. Ed. Skills course
  • Spring Semester: THTR 2021, THTR 3035, Dance Electives, Gen. Ed. Skills course, Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course
• Year Two:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 1011, THTR 2043, THTR 2050, THTR 3013, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Gen. Ed. Distribution course
  • Spring Semester: THTR 3023, THTR 3033, THTR 3043, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Gen Ed. Distribution course, Elective
• Year Three:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 3033, THTR 4033, THTR 4013, THTR 4061, Gen. Ed. Skills course
  • Spring Semester: THTR 3149, THTR 4023, THTR 4063, ENGL 3563, Dance Elective, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Elective
• Year Four:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 4149, THTR 4193, THTR Elective, Dramatic Literature/Global Arts & Literature, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Elective
  • Spring Semester: THTR 4021, THTR Electives, Elective, Elective, Elective

Design/Technology/Management Concentration

• Year One:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 1019, THTR 1050, THTR 3035, Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course, Gen. Ed. Skills course, Elective
  • Spring Semester: THTR 1003, THTR 2050, THTR 2105, Gen. Ed. Skills course, Elective
• Year Two:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 2021, THTR Design 1, THTR 3035, THTR 4555, THTR 4175 or THTR 4061, Gen. Ed. Distribution course
  • Spring Semester: THTR Electives in Tech/Graphics/Design, THTR 3149, THTR 4075, THTR 4555, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course, Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course
• Year Three:
  • Fall Semester: THTR Electives in Tech/Graphics/Design, THTR 4555, THTR 4075, THTR 3085, THTR 4149, Gen Ed Distribution/Diversity Course, Elective
  • Spring Semester: THTR Electives in Tech/Graphics/Design, THTR 4075, THTR 4021 or THTR 3011, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Gen. Ed. Skills course, Upper Division Elective
• Year Four:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 4085, THTR 4075, THTR Second Design 1, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Upper Division Elective, Elective, Elective
  • Spring Semester: THTR Electives in Tech/Graphics/Design, THTR 4075, DNCE Electives, Gen Ed Distribution Course, Elective

Musical Theatre Concentration

• Year One:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 1117, MUSC 1101, MUSC 1121, PMUS 1105 or MUEL 1115, PMUS 1726, Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course, Gen. Ed. Skills course, MUEL 1081
  • Spring Semester: THTR 1217, THTR 3035, MUSC 1111, MUSC 1131, PMUS 1205 or MUEL 1125, PMUS 1726, Gen. Ed. Skills course
• Year Two:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 1050, THTR 2043, MUSC 1802, PMUS 2726, Dance Elective, Gen. Ed. Distribution course
  • Spring Semester: PMUS 2117, PMUS 2726, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Elective, Elective
• Year Three:
  • Fall Semester: THTR 2050, THTR 3033, Music History, Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course, Gen. Ed. Skills course, Elective/MAPS
  • Spring Semester: PMUS 3117, THTR 3011, THTR 3149, THTR 4039, Dance Elective, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Elective
• Year Four:
  • Fall Semester: PMUS 4137, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Elective, Elective
  • Spring Semester: PMUS 4147, THTR 4117, THTR 4149, Gen. Ed. Distribution course, Elective, Elective, Elective

Total Credit Hours:

• Acting Concentration: 122-124
• Design/Technology/Management Concentration: 120
• Musical Theatre Concentration: 120-124