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Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

Acting B.F.A.

Program Overview

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Michelle Gaza, M.F.A., Interim Director

Location: Frasier Hall 105

Telephone: 970.351.2991

Fax: 970.351.4897

Website: arts.unco.edu/theatre/

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting prepares students for professional performance careers in the theatre, television and film industries. This program is intended to produce the highest achievement possible of an acting student through the study of acting, voice/speech, and movement. The degree prepares students to perform professionally in a variety of acting styles.

Program Admission Requirements:

  • Admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting is by audition.
    • All students planning to major in Acting are required to submit an additional application to the School.
    • Information concerning auditions may be requested from School of Theatre Arts and Dance, University of Northern Colorado, Frasier Hall, Greeley, Colorado 80639, phone 970.351.2991

Program Requirements: 

Students must adhere to the following guidelines to remain in the BFA Acting major:

  • All BFA Acting majors, other than first semester first year students*, are required to audition for all mainstage plays during the academic year unless they receive an exemption in advance of auditions from the Area Head. In the event of a vacancy in the Area Head position, an exemption from auditions must be granted by the School Director. Requests to be exempted from auditions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
    • *First semester BFA Acting majors are not required to audition their first semester for Fall mainstage productions, nor do they need to receive an exemption in advance.
  • BFA Acting majors must accept any role they are offered in a mainstage production during the academic year. If a student does not wish to be considered for a particular production, permission must be granted ahead of time by the Area Head.

Non-compliance of any of the above requirements may result in disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, removal from future production assignments, loss of talent scholarship funding, or expulsion from the program.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the required major credits.

Any additional LAC coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

THEA 296 (3) and THEA 297 (3) are recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 70 credits

Take all of the following courses — 58 credits

THEA 135Playscript Analysis

3

THEA 149Orientation to Technology

3

THEA 150Actor's Lab

1

THEA 158Acting I

3

THEA 170Acting II

3

THEA 191Beginning Voice and Speech

3

THEA 194Intermediate Voice and Speech

3

THEA 240Beginning Stage Directing

3

THEA 250Stage Make Up

2

THEA 270Acting III

3

THEA 275Stage Movement I

2

THEA 276Stage Movement II

3

THEA 296History of Theatre ILAA1

3

THEA 297History of Theatre IILAA1

3

THEA 324Masterpieces in Theatrical Production

2

THEA 336Advanced Voice Speech

3

THEA 360Acting Styles I

3

THEA 361Acting Styles II

3

THEA 362Acting for the Camera

3

THEA 376Stage Movement III

3

THEA 464Audition Techniques

3

Take the following repeatable/variable credit courses — 12 credits

Take the following for 6 credits:
THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

Take the following for 4 credits:
THEA 110Performance in a Theatrical Production

2

Take the following for 2 credits:
THEA 308Theatre Workshop

1- 4

3. University-Wide Credits — 19 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree that will typically be 19-25 credits.

*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements may have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

Program Notes

BFA Acting Majors are advised an encouraged to take elective credits and/or complete minors or enroll in certificate programs that relate to their major field, such as: the Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate, Dance Minor, Film Studies Minor, and/or other THEA/PVA/MUS/DNCE courses.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance. 

Year 1 – 29 credits

Fall Semester

THEA 149Orientation to Technology

3

THEA 158Acting I

3

THEA 191Beginning Voice and Speech

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 135Playscript Analysis

3

THEA 170Acting II

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Year 2 – 29 credits

Fall Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 270Acting III

3

THEA 275Stage Movement I

2

THEA 308Theatre Workshop

1- 4

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

THEA 308: Take 2 credits

Spring Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 150Actor's Lab

1

THEA 194Intermediate Voice and Speech

3

THEA 276Stage Movement II

3

THEA 324Masterpieces in Theatrical Production

2

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Year 3 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

THEA 240Beginning Stage Directing

3

THEA 250Stage Make Up

2

THEA 296History of Theatre ILAA1

3

THEA 376Stage Movement III

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

or

THEA 110Performance in a Theatrical Production

2

THEA 297History of Theatre IILAA1

3

THEA 336Advanced Voice Speech

3

THEA 360Acting Styles I

3

University-Wide Elective

2

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Year 4 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

or

THEA 110Performance in a Theatrical Production

2

THEA 361Acting Styles II

3

THEA 362Acting for the Camera

3

University-Wide Elective

2

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

THEA 464Audition Techniques

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Advising Notes –

  • All BFA Acting students must take 10 credits of THEA 100 Individual Performance in Theatre. This requirement may be met by taking a minimum of 6 credits of THEA 100; the remaining 4 credits may be completed by taking a combination of THEA 100 and THEA 110.

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