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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Musical Theatre 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 these parts:

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

Program Description:

A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre prepares students for professional performance careers in the musical theatre industry. This program is intended to produce the highest achievement possible of the musical theatre performer through the study of music, voice, acting, dance, and movement skills. The degree prepares students to perform professionally in a variety of musical theatre styles.

Program Admission Requirements:

  • Admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre is by audition.
    • All students planning to major in Musical Theatre 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 Musical Theatre major:

  • All BFA Musical Theatre majors, other than first semester freshmen*, are required to audition for all mainstage plays and musicals 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 Musical Theatre majors are barred from auditioning their first semester for Fall mainstage productions; and, therefore, do not need to receive an exemption.
  • BFA Musical Theatre 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.

MT 296 is 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

FND 250 is recommended to fulfill the Natural & Physical Sciences requirement.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 89 credits

Take all of the following courses for 67 credits:

MT 101Musical Theatre Sight Singing and Ear Training

2

MT 160Class Piano for Musical Theatre

2

MT 161Introduction to Musical Theatre Performance

1

MT 250Voice Class for Musical Theatre I

2

MT 275Musical Theatre Song Analysis I

3

MT 276Musical Theatre Song Analysis II

3

MT 296Musical Theatre HistoryLAA1

3

MT 350Voice Class for Musical Theatre II

2

MT 370Musical Theatre Dance

3

MT 375Musical Theatre Song Analysis III

3

MT 390Advanced Musical Theatre Scene Study

2

DNCE 166Ballet I

2

DNCE 167Ballroom Dance I

2

DNCE 170Jazz Dance I

2

DNCE 175Tap Dance I

2

DNCE 180Ballet II

3

DNCE 181Jazz Dance II

3

THEA 135Playscript Analysis

3

THEA 158Acting I

3

THEA 170Acting II

3

THEA 193Stage Speech and Dialects

3

THEA 240Beginning Stage Directing

3

THEA 270Acting III

3

THEA 360Acting Styles I

3

THEA 361Acting Styles II

3

THEA 464Audition Techniques

3

Take the following repeatable courses for 10 credits:

Take the following for 2 credits:
MT 169Applied Voice: Individual Voice Study

1

Take the following for 4 credits:
MT 369Individual Performance in Musical Theatre Voice

2

Take the following for 4 credits:
THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

Choose 12 credits from the following courses:

(Select with advisor approval)

MT 285Performance in Musical Theatre

1- 3

MT 360Scene Study in Musical Theatre

3

MT 369Individual Performance in Musical Theatre Voice

2

MT 465Musical Theatre Workshop

3

MT 470Senior Project in Musical Theatre

3

MT 485Performance in Musical Theatre

1- 3

DNCE 171Modern Dance I

2

DNCE 172Foundations of Hip Hop

2

DNCE 182Modern Dance II

3

DNCE 183Tap Dance II

3

DNCE 280Ballet III

3

DNCE 281Jazz Dance III

3

DNCE 296Choreography and Improvisation I

3

MUS 285Performance in Opera Theatre

1

MUS 286Scene Studies in Opera

1

MUS 485Performance in Opera Theatre

1

MUS 486Scene Studies in Opera

1

THEA 110Performance in a Theatrical Production

2

THEA 149Orientation to Technology

3

THEA 308Theatre Workshop

1- 4

THEA 362Acting for the Camera

3

THEA 465Acting Showcase

3

Major Vocal Ensemble

2

MT 360: Must be taken for 3 credits

MT 465 and MT 470: Audition required

Major Vocal Ensemble: Mixed Concert Choir, Women's Glee Club, Men's Glee Club are major ensembles.

3. University Wide Credits – 0-3 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree that will typically be 0-3 credits.

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

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 – 32 credits

Fall Semester

DNCE 166Ballet I

2

DNCE 167Ballroom Dance I

2

MT 160Class Piano for Musical Theatre

2

MT 169Applied Voice: Individual Voice Study

1

MT 296Musical Theatre HistoryLAA1

3

THEA 158Acting I

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

DNCE 170Jazz Dance I

2

MT 101Musical Theatre Sight Singing and Ear Training

2

MT 161Introduction to Musical Theatre Performance

1

MT 169Applied Voice: Individual Voice Study

1

MT 250Voice Class for Musical Theatre I

2

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 135Playscript Analysis

3

THEA 170Acting II

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Year 2 – 33 credits

Fall Semester

DNCE 175Tap Dance I

2

DNCE 180Ballet II

3

MT 275Musical Theatre Song Analysis I

3

MT 369Individual Performance in Musical Theatre Voice

2

THEA 193Stage Speech and Dialects

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

DNCE 181Jazz Dance II

3

MT 276Musical Theatre Song Analysis II

3

MT 369Individual Performance in Musical Theatre Voice

2

THEA 240Beginning Stage Directing

3

THEA 270Acting III

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Year 3 – 29 credits

Fall Semester

MT 370Musical Theatre Dance

3

MT 375Musical Theatre Song Analysis III

3

THEA 360Acting Styles I

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

MT 350Voice Class for Musical Theatre II

2

MT 390Advanced Musical Theatre Scene Study

2

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

MT 350: Take 1 credit

Year 4 – 26 credits

Fall Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 464Audition Techniques

3

Major Elective

5

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:13

Spring Semester

THEA 361Acting Styles II

3

Major Elective

4

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:13

Advising Notes –

  • In addition to completing the required courses, students pursuing the degree must meet all crew and production attendance requirements and meet annual assessment requirements.
  • Mixed Concert Choir, Women's Glee Club, and Men's Glee Club are major ensembles.
  • Recommended Liberal Arts Curriculum credits: FND 250 Principles of Nutrition (3).

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