Curriculum

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Dramatic Arts is a full-time course of study designed to be completed in four years (8 semesters). Each semester, students take between 12-18 credits.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dramatic Arts consists of a combination of required courses offered by the School of Drama and the College of Performing Arts, University Lecture Courses, Guided Theatre Electives, and General Electives, through which a student may pursue a minor outside of the School of Drama.  Because the exact allocation of credit requirements across these areas may change from year to year, students wanting to know the exact requirements for the degree should consult the academic catalog for the year in which they enrolled.

For a complete listing of current courses and course descriptions, visit the university course catalog. Please be aware that course requirements may change each academic year.

Subject Areas

BFA students work closely with their Student Success Advisor on their degree progress. Over the course of the program, students may complete coursework in the following areas: 

• foundational technique in acting, directing, playwriting, and creative technologies

• dramaturgy and global dramatic literature

• collaborative practice

• socially engaged artistry

• intermediate and advanced technique in one or more chosen discipline(s)

• participation in productions and other performance-based electives

• a capstone project in the fourth year

Performing Arts Core

Students also engage in a series of cross-disciplinary courses through the Performing Arts Core program, which includes a combination of required and elective courses that all undergraduate students at the College of Performing Arts participate in. These courses explore themes including Improvisation & Collaboration, The Whole Human Artist, Socially Engaged Artistry, and Tech & Experimentation.