BFA Degree

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree

The next date for BFA auditions will be FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010. Completed BFA application information must be received by us by FRIDAY, FEB. 26 . For those participating in the BFA audition, it can serve as the Talent Grant audition as well.

Incoming freshmen may apply for a Freshman Talent Grant.

APPLICATION FORMS
Click here for PDF document of BFA in Design/Technology Application Materials and Judging Criteria
Click here to for PDF document of the BFA Application form  

CLASSES REQUIRED FOR CONCENTRATIONS
BFA Musical Theatre information (Word document)
BFA Acting information (Word document)
BFA Design/Technology information (Word document)

Admission and Continuation Requirements (34KB PDF)

General Admission and Continuation Requirements –BFA Programs

The BFA degree programs offer a concentration in theatre study to a limited number of highly motivated and talented students. The BFA student will pursue one of three areas of concentration: Acting, Musical Theatre or Design/Technology.

Admission to all BFA programs is highly competitive and limited in terms of student enrollment to insure the individual attention necessary for effective professional training.

Admission Criteria for All BFA Candidates

The following are the criteria on which incoming BFA candidates are evaluated:

1. BFA Acting: prior academic record, acting ability, stage presence, professional behavior and dedication to pursuing a professional theatre career.
2. BFA Musical Theatre: prior academic record, vocal, dance and acting ability, stage presence, professional behavior and dedication to pursuing a professional musical theatre career.
3. BFA Design/Technology: prior academic record, experience and demonstrated abilities in theatre design and technology, professional behavior and dedication to pursuing a professional theatre career.

A student may apply to all three areas of concentration, but can be admitted to only one. Admission is based on talent, academic record, motivation and auditions/interviews, which are held each semester.

Specific admission criteria for incoming freshmen:

Interested students must submit the BFA application in addition to the University application prior to beginning their freshman year and schedule an audition/interview for consideration. Applicants are expected to have a minimum GPA and/or rank in the top 40 percent of their high school class. Students who do not meet these academic standards may be admitted but must meet the BFA continuation requirements by the end of the freshman year or will be subject to dismissal from the program.

Specific admission criteria for previously enrolled students and transfer students:

Students already enrolled in the BA/BS theatre program or other major in the University, or students transferring from another academic institution are required, in the semester prior to beginning the BFA program, to submit a BFA application and schedule an audition/interview. Applicants are expected to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all theatre and theatre-related coursework, an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and to demonstrate adequate progress towards completion of the University General Education course requirements. Students who do not meet these academic standards may be admitted provisionally and are expected to meet the BFA continuation requirements by the end of the second term after admission or will be subject to dismissal from the program. Students may apply to the BFA program only once; however, a student who has applied and been denied may be reconsidered for BFA admission and invited by the faculty if the student's academic record, class work and production work show substantive improvement.

All BFA applications require two letters of recommendation: one from a teacher and another from a director with whom the student has worked.

Continuation in BFA Programs

All students admitted to BFA programs are considered on provisional status in their first year in the program. At the end of the first year, each student will meet with the faculty in the performance area or the production area, depending on the student's program, to review progress and evaluate the student's status. All students will complete an annual evaluation at the end of the spring term involving either a portfolio review or performance jury. BFA students are required to:

1. Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in all theatre major required courses
2. Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in all courses
3. Enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per semester
4. Demonstrate appropriate progress in artistic and technical growth in the student's area in class work and end of semester juries
5. Demonstrate satisfactory progress towards the completion of University General Education course requirements
6. Demonstrate active participation in the Department of Theatre and Dance productions
7. Demonstrate appropriate professional behavior in class and production work

Students who are making satisfactory progress in all of the above areas will be granted continuing status. Students with problems in one or more areas may either be granted probationary status or be dismissed from the BFA program. A student dismissed from the BFA program may still complete the BA/BS degree. Students may remain on probationary status for no more than one semester and probationary status may be granted only once during the student's program.

No major coursework with a grade below a C will count towards the major degree completion requirements.

Note: If a student decides to voluntarily withdraw from the BFA program, he or she will not be readmitted at a later date.