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Bachelor of Fine Arts - Columbus State University

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Academics

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Program Description

The Department of Theatre offers comprehensive undergraduate programs, which are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. The department offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Performance and the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre Design and Technology which provide a concentrated theatrical background in acting, design, and technical theatre for students.

Career Opportunities

This degree enables and assists individuals seeking careers in the professional theatre and in higher education.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Department of Theatre is by AUDITION ONLY. There are a limited number of spaces in the Freshman class each year.

All applicants are AUTOMATICALLY considered for scholarships at the time of the audition.

  • An accompanist will NOT be provided during Auditions. If singing, please bring a CD of your music, or you may choose to sing acapella.

Prospective students must submit the following:

  • Audition Application
  • Headshot (professional grade not necessary) and a Theatre Resumé
  • A copy of your most recent transcript, including a cumulative GPA
  • Two Letters of Recommendation from teacher/advisor that speak to applicant's academic and artistic abilities
  • Interview including presentation of portfolio materials demonstrating previous theatre involvement (may include design/tech, dramaturgy, playwriting, or other supporting materials)

BFA Performance Track and BA acting focus must also prepare the following:

  • Presentation of Audition - Two contrasting monologues, or one monologue and 16 bars of music, not to exceed 90 seconds total

If any part of your Audition Packet, (Audition Application, Headshot, Theatre Resume', recent Transcript, and two Recommendation Letters), is missing, it very well could delay a decision on whether or not you are accepted into the department.

Learning Outcomes

Theatre graduates will be able to demonstrate:

  • General knowledge of all areas and methods of the theatrical production process.
  • Knowledge of the theatre history and appreciation for dramatic literature of western civilization.
  • Understanding of and basic proficiency in theatre design, technology, acting, directing, and writing.
  • BFA Design and Technology students will demonstrate knowledge of and proficiency in the professions of designing, implementing, and running theatrical productions.

Additional Program Requirements

All Theatre Majors are required to maintain a 2.75 GPA in their program of study.

Program of Study

This program requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all Theatre Courses. Students must earn at least a C grade in each field course; earn at least a C grade in each professional course; and maintain a total GPA of 2.75 based on the hours attempted, and an institutional GPA of 2.75.

Area A Essential Skills Required Hours: 9
ENGL 1101 (with a grade of "C" or better)
ENGL 1102 (with a grade of "C" or better)
Select one of the following courses:

MATH 1001
MATH 1101
MATH 1111
MATH 1113
MATH 1125
MATH 1131

Area B Institutional Options Required Hours: 4-5
COMM 1110
Select two of the following courses:

ITDS 1125
ITDS 1779
ITDS 2726
ITDS 2727
ITDS 2735
ITDS 2746
ITDS 2748
ITDS 2749
ITDS 2755

OR
Select one of the following courses:

EURO 2105
INTS 2105
LEAD 1705
LIBR 1105
POLS 2401
HIST 1111
HIST 1112

Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, or 2002
Any Area C-E course with a study abroad component.

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics Required Hours: 6
Select one of the following humanities courses:

ENGL 2111
ENGL 2112
ITDS 1145*
ITDS 1155
ITDS 2125
PHIL 2010

Select one of the following fine arts courses:

ARTH 1100
ITDS 1145*
MUSC 1100
THEA 1100
ARTH 2125
ARTH 2126

*ITDS 1145, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Area D Science/Math/Technology Required Hours: 10-11
D1: Select two science courses from the list below, one of which must include a lab.

ANTH 1145 (no lab)
ASTR 1105/1305 (lab optional)
ASTR 1106/1305
ATSC 1112/1112L
BIOL 1215K (lab included)
BIOL 1125 (no lab)
BIOL 1225K (lab included)
CHEM 1151/1151L
CHEM 1152/1152L
CHEM 1211/1211L
CHEM 1212/1212L
ENVS 1105/1105L (lab optional)
ENVS 1205K
GEOL 1110 (no lab)
GEOL 1121/1121L
GEOL 1122/1322
GEOL 2225 (lab included)
PHYS 1111/1311
PHYS 1112/1312
PHYS 1125/1325 (lab optional)
PHYS 2211/2311
PHYS 2212/2312

D2: Select one of the following courses or a science course from above:

CPSC 1105
CPSC 1301K
GEOG 2215
MATH 1113
MATH 1125
MATH 1131
MATH 1132
MATH 1165
MATH 2125
PHIL 2500
STAT 1401

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Area E Social Sciences Required Hours: 12
Select one course from the following two courses:
HIST 2111
HIST 2112
Take the following course:
POLS 1101
Select one behavioral science course from the following courses:

ECON 2105
ECON 2106
PHIL 2030
PSYC 1101
SOCI 1101

Select one world cultures course from the following courses:

ANTH 1105
ANTH 1107
ANTH 2105
ANTH 2136
ENGL 2136
GEOG 1101
HIST 1111
HIST 1112
INTS 2105
ITDS 1156

Wellness Requirement Required Hours: 3

PHED 1205
Select any one PEDS course.

Area F Courses Related to Major Required Hours: 18
("C" or better required in each course)

THEA 1100 Theatre Appreciation
THEA 1175 Script Analysis
THEA 1245 Introduction to Acting & Directing
THEA 2226 Stage Management
THEA 2255 Stage Makeup
Select two of the following fundamentals courses:
THEA 1166 Fundamentals of Technical Theatre: Scene Shop
THEA 1167 Fundamentals of Technical Theatre: Light/Sound
THEA 1168 Fundamentals of Technical Theatre: Costume Shop
Select two of the following theatre practice courses:
THEA 1345 Theatre Practice-Costume Shop
THEA 1435 Theatre Practice-Scenery
THEA 1436 Theatre Practice-Light/Sound

Area G Program Requirements Required Hours: 47
("C" or better required in each course) 

THEA 1166 Fundamentals of Technical Theatre: Scene Shop
THEA 1167 Fundamentals of Technical Theatre: Light/Sound
THEA 1168 Fundamentals of Technical Theatre: Costume Shop 
Select one of the following:
THEA 2275 Costume Construction
THEA 2365 Stagecraft
Select one of the following:
THEA 3255 Stage Properties
THEA 3276 Costume Crafts
Select three of the following:
THEA 3262 Costume Design
THEA 3266 Sound Design
THEA 3267 Scene Design
THEA 3269 Lighting Design
Select one of the following:
THEA 3268 Scene Painting
THEA 3277 Patterning & Draping
Select one of the following:
THEA 4698 Internship
THEA 5305 Summer Theatre Production
Select one of the following:
THEA 4206 Advanced Costume Design
THEA 5206 Advanced Scene Design
THEA 5207 Advanced Stagecraft, Technology for Theatrical Production
THEA 5208 Advanced Lighting Design
THEA 5209 Advanced Sound Design

 

Area H Program Electives Required Hours: 7
("C" or better required in each course)
Select 7 semester hours from the following:

DANC 1310 Fundamentals of Dance
DANC 1316 Pilates
DANC 1325 Zumba
DANC 1385 Ballroom
DANC 2360 Theatre Dance I
DANC 2366 Ballet I
DANC 2367 Jazz I
DANC 2368 Modern I
DANC 2369 Tap I
DANC 3135 Dance History
DANC 3210 Anatomy for Dance
DANC 3235 Dance Composition
DANC 3360 Theatre Dance II
DANC 3366 Ballet II
DANC 3367 Jazz II
DANC 3368 Modern II
DANC 3369 Tap II
DANC 3411 Dance Performance
DANC 3555 Selected Topics in Dance
DANC 4366 Ballet III
DANC 4367 Jazz III
DANC 4368 Modern III
DANC 4369 Tap III
THEA 1305 Class Voice or Private Voice (taken x2)
THEA 1375 Yoga
THEA 2105 Theatre Outreach
THEA 2165 Survey of Design for the Theatre

THEA 2275 Costume Construction
THEA 2285 Computer Technology in Theatre
THEA 2325 Stage Movement
THEA 2346 Voice Training
THEA 2365 Intermediate Stagecraft
THEA 3105 Children's Theatre
THEA 3106 Introduction to Dramaturgy
THEA 3107 Creative Dramatics
THEA 3178 Theatre History/Literature 4
THEA 3225 Musical Theatre Workshop
THEA 3226 Arts Management
THEA 3245 Acting II
THEA 3246 Playwriting
THEA 3248 Devising Performance
THEA 3255 Stage Properties
Thea 3262 Costume Design
THEA 3266 Sound Design & Technology
THEA 3267 Scene Design
THEA 3268 Scene Painting
THEA 3269 Lighting Design
THEA 3276 Costume Crafts
THEA 3277 Patterning and Draping
THEA 3305 Children's Theatre Production
THEA 4698 Internship
THEA 4899 Independent Study
THEA 5281 Stage Directing I
THEA 5284 Direction & Collaboration
THEA 5285 Computer Aided Drafting & Design II
THEA 5575 Selected Topics in Theatre Arts

Area I Non-Major Electives Required Hours: 6

Total Hours Required: 123

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