The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting is a degree option for students interested in an intensive performance program leading to the pursuit of graduate study and/or careers in professional acting. These students immerse themselves in advanced technique in acting, voice, and movement courses, and learn the application of these skills to characterization in a wide range of productions in which they perform.

Students must enter via audition.

Note for transfer students: 

UMBC Theatre offers an Accelerated BFA in Acting degree track for transfers with prior college acting training. Depending on previous coursework, the Accelerated BFA major may earn their degree in 4 or 5 semesters. Please contact us ASAP at theatre@umbc.edu to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor, and sign up for an audition. 

All BFA Acting majors are continually evaluated throughout the course of study, and must maintain a B or above in all acting courses to progress into higher-level classes and earn the degree.

Acting, BFA – 64 credits

Required courses in this degree program are listed below. There are also many lower and upper level Theatre electives that are offered to these majors.  For course descriptions, please visit the online UMBC Undergraduate Catalog.

Acting, BFA Core: Credits (30)

THTR 100 Stagecraft (3)

THTR 104 Costume Construction  (3)

THTR 110 Intro to Acting OR THTR 220 Craft of Acting I (3)

THTR 120 Intro to Theatre: Theory & Production (3)

THTR 202 Intro to Drama Lit (3)

THTR 261 Theatre Production: Running Crew (1)

THTR 262 Theatre Production: Light & Sound (1)

THTR 263 Theatre Production: Costumes OR THTR 264 Theatre Production: Scenery (1)

THTR 310 History of Theatre (3)

THTR 344 Script Analysis (3)

THTR 411 Modern Theatre: History & Practice (3)

THTR 460 Theatre Capstone (3)

Acting, BFA Requirements: (30 credits)

THTR 221 Craft of Acting II (3)

THTR 222 Vocal Training for the Actor I (3)

THTR 223 Vocal Training for the Actor II (3)

THTR 229 Movement for the Actor (3)

THTR 239 Movement II: Alexander Technique (3)

THTR 324 Craft of Acting III (3)

THTR 325 Vocal Training for the Actor III (3)

THTR 329 Movement for the Actor III (3)

THTR 345 Auditioning and the Business of Acting (3)

THTR 347 Character & Scene Study (4) OR THTR 421 Acting Shakespeare (3)

Production or Performance Requirement (4–12)

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

THTR 390 Theatre in Production

THTR 490 Production Workshop