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:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- 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
Take the following repeatable/variable credit courses — 12 credits
Take the following for 6 credits:
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
Take the following for 4 credits:
| THEA 110 | Performance in a Theatrical Production | 2 |
Take the following for 2 credits:
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 149 | Orientation to Technology | 3 |
| THEA 158 | Acting I | 3 |
| THEA 191 | Beginning Voice and Speech | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 135 | Playscript Analysis | 3 |
| THEA 170 | Acting II | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Year 2 – 29 credits
Fall Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 270 | Acting III | 3 |
| THEA 275 | Stage Movement I | 2 |
| THEA 308 | Theatre Workshop | 1- 4 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 150 | Actor's Lab | 1 |
| THEA 194 | Intermediate Voice and Speech | 3 |
| THEA 276 | Stage Movement II | 3 |
| THEA 324 | Masterpieces in Theatrical Production | 2 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Year 3 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| THEA 240 | Beginning Stage Directing | 3 |
| THEA 250 | Stage Make Up | 2 |
| THEA 296 | History of Theatre ILAA1 | 3 |
| THEA 376 | Stage Movement III | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| | or | |
| THEA 110 | Performance in a Theatrical Production | 2 |
| THEA 297 | History of Theatre IILAA1 | 3 |
| THEA 336 | Advanced Voice Speech | 3 |
| THEA 360 | Acting Styles I | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 4 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| | or | |
| THEA 110 | Performance in a Theatrical Production | 2 |
| THEA 361 | Acting Styles II | 3 |
| THEA 362 | Acting for the Camera | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 464 | Audition 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.