Brigham Young University Homepage

Undergraduate Catalog

2011 - 2012

BFA in Acting
(79.5–80.5 hours*)

Show All Course Descriptions
Hide All Course Descriptions


This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval through proficiency auditions at the end of fall and winter semesters. Please see the college advisement center or your assigned faculty advisor for information regarding requirements for admission to this program.

The BFA acting program was developed for students who are committed to acting as a career. It is focused to better prepare them to compete professionally and/or for admission to advanced acting conservatory programs or graduate work.

Program Requirements    |    View MAP

  1. Successfully pass a preliminary audition and a final acceptance audition. These auditions are held at the end of each fall and winter semester.

  2. Complete the following theatre courses with a B grade or better:

  3. Complete the following foundation courses:
      TMA 115 : From Theatre to Performance Studies: An Introduction. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 115 : From Theatre to Performance Studies: An Introduction. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring
      PREREQUISITE: Theatre arts studies major or minor status; or BFA acting major or acting pre-major status; or theatre education major status.
      DESCRIPTION: Textual analysis of traditional plays. Introduction to performance studies. Ritual, play, performativity, performing, performance processes, and global and intercultural performance.

      Course Outcomes


      TMA 128 : Accelerated Acting Fundamentals. (3:6:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 128 : Accelerated Acting Fundamentals. (3:6:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall
      PREREQUISITE: BFA MDT or acting pre-major status; or instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Accelerated fundamental acting skills: exercises in perception, objective/action, thought processes, scoring of scripts. Lab required.
      NOTE: Designed specifically for acting pre-major students and first-year music dance theatre students.

               : Accelerated Acting Fundamentals: Music Dance Theatre.
               : Accelerated Acting Fundamentals: Acting Premajor.

      Course Outcomes


      TMA 236 : Directing Fundamentals. (2:4:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 236 : Directing Fundamentals. (2:4:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Winter; Spring
      PREREQUISITE: TMA 115 for theatre arts studies majors or minors, or BFA acting majors. Theatre education major or minor status or instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Fundamental elements of stage directing, including observation, collaboration, imagination, casting, working with actors, camera, spaces, words, images, rehearsals, and final product. Lab required.

      Course Outcomes


  4. Complete the following core courses:
      TMA 201 : Dramatic Performance: Antiquity to Renaissance. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 201 : Dramatic Performance: Antiquity to Renaissance. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Spring
      DESCRIPTION: Civilization from Greek antiquity through Renaissance, primarily from perspective of dramatic literature and performance. Ways in which performance functions within particular socioeconomic, political, religious, and aesthetic perspectives.
      NOTE: This course is part of a GE Mosaic. See ge.byu.edu/mosaic-list for more information.

      Course Outcomes


      TMA 202 : Dramatic Performance: Renaissance to the Present. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 202 : Dramatic Performance: Renaissance to the Present. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Winter; Summer
      DESCRIPTION: Civilization from Renaissance through present, primarily from perspective of dramatic literature and performance. Ways in which performance functions within particular socioeconomic, political, religious, and aesthetic perspectives.
      NOTE: This course is part of a GE Mosaic. See ge.byu.edu/mosaic-list for more information.

      Course Outcomes


      TMA 260R : Theatre Production 2. (1:0:4)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 260R : Theatre Production 2. (1:0:4)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring
      PREREQUISITE: TMA 160 and instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Practical experience in the scene shop, costume shop, and lighting lab. Hands-on training for further production experience.

                : Theatre Production 2: Costumes.
                : Theatre Production 2: Make-up/Props/Lighting.
                : Theatre Production 2: Theatre Education.
                : Theatre Production 2: Scene Shop.

      Course Outcomes


      TMA 360R : Theatre Production 3. (1:0:4)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 360R : Theatre Production 3. (1:0:4)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring
      PREREQUISITE: TMA 160; and instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Advanced practical experience in specialized shops or backstage experience on realized productions.

                : Theatre Production 3: Costume/Makeup.
                : Theatre Production 3: Scenery/Props.
                : Theatre Production 3: Lights/Sound.
                : Theatre Production 3: Stage Management.

      Course Outcomes


  5. Complete the following major courses:

  6. Complete the following:
      TMA 421 : The Business: Marketing Yourself as a Performer. (1:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 421 : The Business: Marketing Yourself as a Performer. (1:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Winter
      PREREQUISITE: TMA 229; BFA acting or BFA MDT major status. Or instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Business aspects of the entertainment industry, including telephone interviews with entertainment industry personnel. Required research project.

      Course Outcomes


      TMA 491 : Ethics, Aesthetics, and Theology. (1:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      TMA 491 : Ethics, Aesthetics, and Theology. (1:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Winter
      PREREQUISITE: TMA 322 and 324 and 325. BFA acting major status.
      DESCRIPTION: Analyzing and considering interrelationships of ethical, aesthetic, and theological dimensions of creating and performing media arts and theatre texts.

      Course Outcomes


  7. Complete 12 hours from the following or other approved courses:

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



Show all Theatre and Media Arts (TMA) Courses