Theatre - Acting

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Theatre; Track: Acting

College of Visual & Perf Arts

Catalog Year: 2015-2016

Degree Specific Credits: 78

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: Students who intend to pursue the acting specialization will normally enter the University as Bachelor of Arts students in Theatre. They should then declare intent to pursue the B.F.A. degree no later than the beginning of the second year of a four-year program. A student may elect a special concentration in directing, music theatre, or another discipline in addition to the B.F.A. core and area-specialization requirements. The program is designed in consultation with the student's advisor and must be approved by the faculty. The special concentration may require five years to complete.

BFA Theatre Major LD Core

Rule: Must complete the following subcategories

15 Total Credits Required

Required Courses

Rule: All courses are required

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description THTR 103 - Introd to House Management
(R-3) Offered autumn and spring. Introduction to the skills and experience of the front-of-house staff for a theatrical production.
 1 Credits
Show Description THTR 106A - Theat Prod I:Run Crew
(R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Operation and running a show backstage on a scenery, costume, or prop crew for a major school production.
 1 Credits
Show Description THTR 202 - Stagecraft I
Offered spring. Fundamental theories and hands-on application in the areas of costuming, lighting, scenery, and properties.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 206 - Theat Prod II: Run Crew
(R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., THTR 106A. Operation and running a show backstage, as in scenery, costumes, or props for a major school production.
 1 Credits
Show Description THTR 220A - Acting I
Offered autumn and spring. Studio class intended to cultivate skill sets necessary for those with a background or interest in the craft of acting, especially those considering a career in the performing arts (theatre, music, dance, film, broadcasting): observation, imagination, concentration, improvisation, and character.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 235L - Dramatic Literature
Offered autumn and spring. The study of representative texts in dramatic literature as a foundation for play analysis.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 12 Total Credits Required

Shop Experience I

Rule: Select 1 of 6 different sections.

Note: Section 01: Scene Shop on MW; Section 02: Costume Shop on MW; Section 03: Light Shop on MW;
Section 04: Scene Shop on TR; Section 05: Costume Shop on TR; Section 06: Light Shop on TR.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description THTR 107A - Theat Prod I:Constr Crew
(R-9) Offered autumn and spring. The construction and completion of scenery/props, costumes, and/or lighting under supervision. Most assignments involve very basic construction techniques and/or maintenance duties found in professional shop. Involves minimum of two 4-hour labs a week.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 3 Total Credits Required

BFA Theatre Major UD Core

Rule: All courses are required.

Note: 9 Total Credits Required.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description THTR 330H - Theatre History I
Offered autumn. Prereq., WRIT 101 (or higher) or equivalent, or consent of instr. A survey of the major developments of the theatre from primitive beginnings to the 19th century, including various cultures and their representative plays and performances throughout the world.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 331Y - Theatre History II
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 330H or theatre minor. Continuation of 330H. The many and varied periods since the 19th century as reflected in the theatre of the times in America and Europe.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 375 - Directing I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., THTR 120A or THTR 220A; THTR 235L. Open to juniors and seniors. Introduction to the analytical skills, staging, and conceptual techniques of the director; includes some practical application in scene work.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 9 Total Credits Required

BFA Acting Requirements

Rule: Must complete all the following subcategories. 54 Total Credits Required.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description THTR 210 - Voice & Speech I
Offered autumn. Prereq., THTR 221 or consent of instr. Voice production, phonetics and speech for the stage.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 211 - Voice & Speech II
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 210. Continuation of 210.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 221 - Acting II
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 220A. Continuation of 220A. Scene study and characterization. Works selected from realism and poetic realism, utilizing modern and contemporary scripts of the American masters.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 249 - Stage Makeup
Offered spring. Principles of and practice in theatrical makeup. Students will work on makeup for major productions.
 2 Credits
Show Description THTR 310 - Voice and Speech III
Offered autumn. Prereq., THTR 211 and audition, or consent of instr. Dialects, accents, and continued development of good voice and speech skills.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 315 - Physical Performance Skills I
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 221 or consent of instr. Basics of physical performance: collaboration, concentration, centering, balance, agility, and body awareness through a variety of stage movement techniques.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 316 - Physical Performance Skills II
Offered autumn. Prereq., THTR 315. Physical characterization: exploring weight, rhythm, tempo, and kinesthetic relationships through Laban, animal studies, and Michael Chekhov.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 320 - Acting III
Offered autumn. Prereq., THTR 221. Selected scenes and projects from European and American realistic texts such as Chekhov, Ibsen, Strindberg, and Shaw.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 321 - Acting IV
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 320. Study and practice of working with a camera and film/television scripts.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 415 - Physical Performnce Skills III
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 316 or consent of instructor, which includes audition for acting specialization. Extremes of performance: stage combat, martial arts, and biomechanics/theatre of the grotesque.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 420 - Acting V
Offered autumn. Prereq., THTR 321 and BFA acting specialization, or consent of instr. Selected scenes and projects from specific historical and stylistic periods, from Molière to Restoration comedy.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 421 - Acting VI
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 420. Selected speeches, scenes and projects from verse drama, especially Shakespeare.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 425 - Acting VII
Offered autumn. Prereq., THTR 421. Performance and scene work in contemporary practice and theory.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 481 - Adv Acting: Persnl Performance
Offered autumn. Prereq., THTR 321 or consent of instr. Developing personal performance skills.
 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 484 - Adv Acting: Professionl Skills
Offered spring. Prereq., THTR 420 or consent of instr. Developing professional skills, material for the actor, professional portfolio, resume audition material, commercial acting, performance market research.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 44 Total Credits Required

Senior Project

Rule: Must be taken during student's final semester.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description THTR 499 - Senior Project
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., senior-level theatre major. The student, with approval from his/her advisor, will begin a project during the semester prior to the semester of his/her graduation. An in-depth paper and brief defense of the project are required.
 1 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: Pass 1 Total Credits Required

BFA Acting Production Courses

Rule: All courses are required; registration based on casting for Theatre & Dance productions

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description THTR 395 - Practicum
(R-12) Offered intermittently. Service learning experience in theatre in a setting compatible with the student’s major and interests.
 1 To 3 Credits
Show Description THTR 495 - Practicum
(R-12) Offered intermittently. Service learning experience in theatre in a setting compatible with the student’s major and interests.
 1 To 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 3 Total Credits Required

BFA Acting Performance Electives

Rule: Minimum of 6 credits required.

Note: Dance, Media Arts, or Music courses may count toward these required electives with approval from advisor.

This is an advising track only and not an official program as recognized by the University of Montana (UM) or the Montana University System. This information will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication. You do not fill out a major change for a track.