B.F.A. in Acting
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting fosters the growth of the whole person through a sequence of courses that develop a solid foundation of acting skills. The program is for students who are seeking rigorous preparation for graduate study or for entry-level opportunities in the acting profession. An audition/interview is required for entry into the acting program.
All performance/acting courses within the B.F.A. in Acting require a grade of 3.00 or higher. Students may be asked to repeat courses or to take acting elective course before advancing to the next level.
NOTE: An Audition/Interview is required for entry into the B.F.A. in Acting.
Majors should work with a faculty adviser to select courses in their focus of study. All students must attain a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher in courses applied to the major. All performance/acting courses within the B.F.A. in Acting require a grade of 3.00 or higher. The Pass grading option is not available for courses applied to the major. Students are expected to take lower-division prerequisites before attempting the required upper-division electives.
Applicability of transfer work is determined by the department chair. Prospective transfer students should schedule an appointment with the chair at their earliest opportunity. Please see the catalog pages for each program offered by the department for any specific transfer credit restrictions.
The Department of Theatre Arts requires an entrance screening audition for the BFA in Acting.
To schedule an audition appointment email the Department of Theatre Arts at theatre@towson.edu or call 410-704-2792.
We advise prospective BFA candidates not to make your audition appointment until you have been accepted by the university.
Students who audition and are not initially invited into the BFA in Acting may attend Towson University and pursue another degree in the Department of Theatre Arts. Those students may also audition for the acting program again in their first year of study.
For more information about the audition, please visit our web page.
This is a screened program. See the Admission section for information.
Acting BFA students complete 43-46 units of theatre performance/acting courses and 32 units of theatre arts courses for a total of 75-78 units. Acting BFA students are also required to complete a minimum of 20 units of Theatre (THEA) courses at Towson University, with at least 12 units at the upper (300-400) level.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Theatre Performance/Acting Courses 1 | ||
| THEA 105 | MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTOR I | 3 |
| THEA 108 | MAKEUP FOR THE ACTOR | 1 |
| THEA 110 | ACTING I FOR BFA | 3 |
| THEA 111 | VOICE FOR THE ACTOR I | 3 |
| THEA 202 | ACTING II | 3 |
| THEA 261 | ACTING FOR MUSICAL THEATRE | 3 |
| THEA 302 | INTERMEDIATE SCENE STUDY | 3 |
| THEA 312 | SHAKESPEARE | 3 |
| THEA 315 | ADVANCED SCENE STUDY | 3 |
| THEA 317 | ENSEMBLE THEATRE LABORATORY | 3 |
| THEA 322 | VOICE FOR THE ACTOR II | 3 |
| THEA 335 | MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTOR II | 3 |
| THEA 345 | SPEECH AND DIALECT FOR THE THEATRE | 3 |
| THEA 489 | SENIOR ACTING SEMINAR | 3 |
| Performance Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3-6 | |
| TECHNIQUES OF COMEDY | ||
| VOICE AND MOVEMENT INTERGRATION | ||
| ADVANCED SCENE STUDY | ||
| ENSEMBLE THEATRE LABORATORY | ||
| ADVANCED STUDY IN ACTING STYLE | ||
| Required Theater Arts Courses | ||
| THEA 125 | SCRIPT ANALYSIS | 3 |
| THEA 142 | INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE DESIGN | 3 |
| THEA 211 | HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA I | 3 |
| THEA 212 | HISTORY OF THEATRE & DRAMA II | 3 |
| THEA 213 | HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA III | 3 |
| THEA 331 | DIRECTING I | 3 |
| THEA 492 | THEATRE PRODUCTION: ACTING | 2 |
| THEA 497 | THEATRE PRODUCTION: RUNNING CREW | 1 |
| THEA 499 | SPECIAL PROJECT IN THEATRE RESEARCH | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| SCENIC DESIGN I | ||
| COSTUME DESIGN I | ||
| LIGHTING DESIGN I | ||
| Select two of the following: | 2 | |
| THEATRE PRODUCTION: SCENIC ELEMENTS | ||
| THEATRE PRODUCTION: LIGHTING AND SOUND | ||
| THEATRE PRODUCTION: COSTUME | ||
| THEATRE PRODUCTION: ADMINISTRATION | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| THEATRE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN THEATRE | ||
| TOWSON THEATRE INFUSION | ||
| Total Units | 75-78 | |
- 1
All required theatre performance/acting courses require a minimum grade equivalent of 3.00 (B).
- 2
300- or 400-level performance elective which teaches physical, vocal or interpretive skills intended to hone, deepen or expand an actor’s performance. These courses may be chosen from the list below, from other theatre courses or other university courses selected in consultation with their adviser.
NOTE: Only those electives in which a grade equivalent of 3.00 or higher is achieved may count toward this requirement.
Credit for Performance
Students cast in theatre productions sponsored by the Department of Theatre Arts may earn up to 3 units per show by enrolling in THEA 490 . The number of units allowed per role is determined by the director of the production. Eligible productions are determined by the department. Students may earn a maximum of 9 units of THEA 490 .
Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| THEA 108 | 1 | THEA 105 | 3 |
| THEA 110 | 3 | THEA 111 | 3 |
| THEA 125 | 3 | THEA 211, 212, or 213 | 3 |
| THEA 142 (Core 4) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 5 | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| THEA 201, 253, or 255 | 3 | THEA 211, 212, or 213 | 3 |
| THEA 202 | 3 | THEA 261 | 3 |
| THEA 211, 212, or 213 | 3 | THEA 302 | 3 |
| THEA 345 | 3 | THEA 317 | 3 |
| THEA 492 | 2 | THEA 497 | 1 |
| Core 7 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| THEA 322 | 3 | THEA 312 | 3 |
| THEA 331 | 3 | THEA 494, 495, 496, or 498 | 1 |
| THEA 335 | 3 | THEA 489 | 3 |
| THEA 494, 495, 496, or 498 | 1 | Core 6 | 3 |
| Core 11 | 3 | Core 13 | 3 |
| Core 12 | 3 | Core 14 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| THEA 301, 308, 315, 317, or 425 (Performance Elective) | 3 | THEA 315 | 3 |
| THEA 310, 401, or 402 | 3 | THEA 499 | 3 |
| Core 8 | 4 | Core 10 | 3 |
| Core 9 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | ||
| 14 | 12 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- Demonstrate ability to use appropriate information technology in historical and cultural research, and professional development.
- Demonstrate ability to project one's self believably in word and action into imaginary circumstances evoked through improvisation or text for an audience.
- Demonstrate developed technique for analyzing the specific tasks required in performing varied characters from written plays or devised work.