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. 

Required Theatre Performance/Acting Courses 1
THEA 105MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTOR I3
THEA 108MAKEUP FOR THE ACTOR1
THEA 110ACTING I FOR BFA3
THEA 111VOICE FOR THE ACTOR I3
THEA 202ACTING II3
THEA 261ACTING FOR MUSICAL THEATRE3
THEA 302INTERMEDIATE SCENE STUDY3
THEA 312SHAKESPEARE3
THEA 315ADVANCED SCENE STUDY3
THEA 317ENSEMBLE THEATRE LABORATORY3
THEA 322VOICE FOR THE ACTOR II3
THEA 335MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTOR II3
THEA 345SPEECH AND DIALECT FOR THE THEATRE3
THEA 489SENIOR ACTING SEMINAR3
Performance Elective
Select one of the following: 23-6
TECHNIQUES OF COMEDY
VOICE AND MOVEMENT INTERGRATION
ADVANCED SCENE STUDY
ENSEMBLE THEATRE LABORATORY
ADVANCED STUDY IN ACTING STYLE
Required Theater Arts Courses
THEA 125SCRIPT ANALYSIS3
THEA 142INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE DESIGN3
THEA 211HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA I3
THEA 212HISTORY OF THEATRE & DRAMA II3
THEA 213HISTORY OF THEATRE AND DRAMA III3
THEA 331DIRECTING I3
THEA 492THEATRE PRODUCTION: ACTING2
THEA 497THEATRE PRODUCTION: RUNNING CREW1
THEA 499SPECIAL PROJECT IN THEATRE RESEARCH3
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 Units75-78
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 .

Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
THEA 1081THEA 1053
THEA 1103THEA 1113
THEA 1253THEA 211, 212, or 2133
THEA 142 (Core 4)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 53
Core 33 
 16 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
THEA 201, 253, or 2553THEA 211, 212, or 2133
THEA 2023THEA 2613
THEA 211, 212, or 2133THEA 3023
THEA 3453THEA 3173
THEA 4922THEA 4971
 Core 74
 14 17
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
THEA 3223THEA 3123
THEA 3313THEA 494, 495, 496, or 4981
THEA 3353THEA 4893
THEA 494, 495, 496, or 4981Core 63
Core 113Core 133
Core 123Core 143
 16 16
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
THEA 301, 308, 315, 317, or 425 (Performance Elective)3THEA 3153
THEA 310, 401, or 4023THEA 4993
Core 84Core 103
Core 93Elective 3
Elective1 
 14 12
Total Units 120
  1. Demonstrate ability to use appropriate information technology in historical and cultural research, and professional development.
  2. Demonstrate ability to project one's self believably in word and action into imaginary circumstances evoked through improvisation or text for an audience.
  3. Demonstrate developed technique for analyzing the specific tasks required in performing varied characters from written plays or devised work.