BFA in Acting Degree Requirements and Academic Pathway

BFA in Acting Degree Requirements (67 Credits) 

Required courses in this degree program are listed below. For course descriptions, please visit the online UMBC Undergraduate Catalog.

BFA in Acting Core Classes: (33 Credits)

  • THTR 100: Stagecraft (3 Credits)
  • THTR 104: Costume Construction  (3 Credits)
  • THTR 110: Introduction to Acting OR THTR 220: Craft of Acting 1** (3 Credits)
  • THTR 120: Introduction to Theatre: Theory and Production (3 Credits)
  • THTR 202: Introduction to Dramatic Literature (3 Credits)
  • THTR 261: Theatre Production: Running Crew (2 Credits)
  • THTR 262: Theatre Production: Lighting and Sound (3 Credits)
  • THTR 263: Theatre Production: Costumes OR THTR 264: Theatre Production: Scenery (1 Credit)
  • THTR 310: History of Theatre (3 Credits)
  • THTR 344: Script Analysis (3 Credits)
  • THTR 411: Modern Theatre: History and Practice (3 Credits; Writing Intensive Credit)
  • THTR 460: Theatre Capstone (3 Credits)

** = BFA Acting Students are encouraged to take THTR 220: Craft of Acting I to satisfy this requirement.

BFA in Acting Requirements: (30 – 31 Credits)

  • THTR 221: Craft of Acting 2 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 222: Vocal Training for the Actor 1 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 223: Vocal Training for the Actor 2 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 229: Movement for the Actor 1 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 239: Movement for the Actor 2 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 324: Craft of Acting 3 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 325: Vocal Training for the Actor 3 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 329: Movement for the Actor 3 (3 Credits)
  • THTR 345: Auditioning and the Business of Acting (3 Credits)
  • THTR 347: Character and Scene Study (4) OR THTR 421: Acting Shakespeare (3)

Production or Performance Requirement: (4–12 Credits)

All BFA students must participate in a production or performance course in each of their final four semesters. These may be fulfilled with any of the following:

  • THTR 339: Advanced Production Techniques (1 – 3 Credits)
  • THTR 390: Theatre in Production (3 Credits)
  • THTR 490: Production Workshop (3 Credits)

Suggested Elective: (2 Credits)

  • DANC 110: Beginning Dance (2 Credits)

University Requirements

  1. English Composition
    1. ENGL 100
    2. Must be completed within first 30 credit hours
  2. Arts and Humanities (AH)
    1. AH and SS from at least 2 different disciplines
  3. Arts and Humanities (AH)
  4. Arts and Humanities (AH)
  5. Social Sicences (SS)
    1. AH and SS from at least 2 different disciplines
  6. Science with Lab (S w/ Lab)
  7. Science (S)
  8. Math (M)
  9. Language (L)
    1. Through 201 Level
  10. Global Culture (C)
  11. Global Culture (C)
  12. Writing Intensive (WI)
    1. THTR 411

Additional UMBC Graduation Requirements

  1. At least 120 academic credits
  2. At least 30 credits eaned at UMBC
  3. At least 45 upper level credits (300 and 400 level)
  4. At least 2.0 GPA

BFA in Acting Academic Pathway

Below is a model class sequence pathway to help ensure graduation in a 4 year time period. You will work closely with your advisor on a sequence that works best for you.

“Benchmark” requirements are courses that should be targeted within that academic year. Please note that unless otherwise published, most THTR courses are only offered once a year in semester indicated. “GEP” requirements listed are comprehensive, but in a suggested order only. Students should feel free to rearrange their GEP courses as needed, noting that ENGL and MATH are to be completed within the first 30 credits. Courses marked with “*” are designated to fulfill the minimum 45 credits required in the upper division.

Year 1 (32 Credits)

Fall (15 Credits)

  • THTR 100: Stagecraft OR THTR 104: Costume Construction (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • THTR 120: Introduction to Theatre (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • THTR 220: Craft of Acting 1 (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • ENGL 100 (3 Credits; University Requirement)
  • GEP Elective “Arts and Humanities” (not THTR) (3 Credits)

Spring (17 Credits)

  • THTR 100: Stagecraft OR THTR 104: Costume Construction (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • THTR 221: Craft of Acting 2 (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • THTR 222: Vocal Training for the Actor 1 (3 Credits, Benchmark)
  • THTR 261: Theatre Production: Running Crew (2 Credits)
  • MATH 120 OR STAT 121 (4 Credits; University Requirement)
  • DANC 110: Beginning Dance OR Open Elective (2 Credits)

Year 2 (34 Credits)

Fall (18 Credits)

  • THTR 202: Introduction to Dramatic Literature (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • THTR 223: Vocal Training for the Actor 2 (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • THTR 229: Movement for the Actor 1 (3 Credits; Benchmark)
  • THTR 324: Craft of Acting 3* (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • THTR 262: Theatre Production: Lighting and Sound (3 Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Social Science” (3 Credits)

Spring (17 Credits)

  • THTR 344: Script Analysis* (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • THTR 325: Vocal Training for the Actor 3* (3 Credits; Benchmark, Upper Division Credits)
  • THTR 239: Movement for the Actor 2 (3 Credits, Benchmark)
  • GEP Elective “Social Science” (3 Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Science with Lab” (3 Credits)
  • THTR 263: Theatre Production: Costumes OR THTR 264: Theatre Production: Scenery (1 Credit)

Year 3 (33 – 34 Credits)

Fall (17 Credits)

  • THTR 310: History of Theatre* (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • THTR 329: Movement for the Actor 3* (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • THTR 345: Auditioning and the Business of Acting* OR Upper Division Elective* (3 Credits; Upper Division Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Social Science” (3 Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Language” 101 (4 Credits)
  • THTR 339: Advanced Production Techniques* OR THTR 390: Theatre in Production* OR THTR 490: Production Workshop * (1 Credit; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)

Spring (16 – 17 Credits)

  • THTR 411: Modern Theatre: History and Practice* (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits; Writing Intensive Requirement)
  • THTR 347: Character and Scene Study* OR THTR 421: Acting Shakespeare* (4 – 3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Global Culture” (3 Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Language” 102 (4 Credits)
  • THTR 339: Advanced Production Techniques* OR THTR 390: Theatre in Production* OR THTR 490: Production Workshop * (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)

Year 4 (31-32 Credits)

Fall (16 Credits)

  • THTR 345: Auditioning and the Business of Acting* (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • THTR 460: Capstone* (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Science” (3 Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Language” 201 (4 Credits)
  • THTR 339: Advanced Production Techniques* OR THTR 390: Theatre in Production* OR THTR 490: Production Workshop * (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)

Spring (15-16 Credits)

  • THTR 347: Character and Scene Study* OR THTR 421: Acting Shakespeare* (4 – 3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)
  • Open Upper Division Elective* (3 Credits; Upper Division Credits)
  • Open Elective (3 Credits)
  • GEP Elective “Global Culture” (3 Credits)
  • THTR 339: Advanced Production Techniques* OR THTR 390: Theatre in Production* OR THTR 490: Production Workshop * (3 Credits; Benchmark; Upper Division Credits)

TOTAL: 127 Credits; 46 Upper Division Credits