The BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen has been designed to offer our acting majors a robust training program that will prepare them not only for the theatre, but for various digital and ‘screen’ mediums.

Students in our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting for Stage and Screen will complete a range of theatre arts courses that provide both principles and practice in acting, movement, and voice. Students will also have the chance to complement their acting training with coursework in design and directing, The BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen offers professional performance experience through advanced acting projects for theatre and film and internships. In their fourth year of study, acting majors have the opportunity to travel to Chicago and participate in a Senior Experience and Actor Showcase, which is presented to local agents and casting directors.

Students must fulfill the Oakland University General Education Requirements, the General College of Arts and Sciences Requirements, the College of Arts & Sciences Exploratory Requirement, and the Major Requirements. Additionally, students must complete a sufficient number of free elective courses to meet the overall credit requirement for their degree. A minimum of 120 credits is required, although some degree programs may require a higher total credit count.

Acting B.F.A. majors are exempt from the College of Arts and Sciences College Exploratory requirement.

General Education Requirements

In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their General Education courses.

Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundations, Explorations, and Integration. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.

Requirements for the Major in Acting for Stage and Screen, B.F.A.

Admission to the Theatre Degree Programs

Admission to the theatre department at Oakland University (OU) is a two-tiered process. The first step in the process for all students is the entrance audition. These auditions are held several times a year and determine whether or not a student will be admitted to OU in any theatre degree programs. The second step is the major standing audition/portfolio review, which determines whether students may continue in the program, and which degree program they will pursue. More information on the major standing audition/portfolio review can be found below under “Non-credit requirements.”

Entrance Auditions

Entrance audition days are held several times each year. Students should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency in their proposed area of specialization. The audition schedule, audition requirements and entrance application are available on the School of Music, Theatre and Dance website.

Students seeking admission to Oakland University as acting majors must audition for the theatre faculty.
Students who audition and do not enroll within two semesters must re-audition.
Students who enroll and leave school for at least two semesters must re-audition.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is intended for students who wish pre-professional and professional preparation in dance, musical theatre, acting for stage and screen, and theatre design and technology. Students must successfully complete the events attendance requirement and the senior interview (for more information, see below under “Non-credit requirements”). Students should consult with their theatre faculty advisor and departmental advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office to plan their degree program. Only major courses in which a grade of at least a C has been earned will count towards the major.

Requirements - Minimum of 80 Credits

Foundation Courses

course Actors Laboratory (0)
course Script Analysis for Theatre (3)

Acting Courses

course Acting I (3)
course Acting II (3)
course Acting III (3)
course Acting IV (3)
course Acting for the Camera I (3)
course Acting for the Camera II (3)

Voice Courses

Movement and Dance Courses

REQUIRED:

course Voice & Movement (2)
course Stage Combat I (2)

1 DAN technique course selected from the following:

course Fundamentals of Ballet Technique I (2)
course Fundamentals of Tap (2)
course Fundamentals of Modern Techniques (2)
course Jazz Dance (2)
course Fundamentals of Ballet Technique II (2)
course Urban Dance - Hip Hop Styles (2)

plus 2 courses selected from (in consultation with theatre advisor):

course Mime (2)
course Alexander Technique (2)
course Stage Combat II (2)
course Stage Combat III (2)

Directing Course

course Directing I (3)

History and Literature Courses

Design, Production and Management Courses

course Stagecraft (3)
or course Costume Craft (3)
or course Costume Construction (3)
course Design I (3)
course Stage Makeup (2)

Film Courses

course Introduction to Film (4)
course Filmmaking I (4)

Theatre Performance and Production Practica - Minimum of 4 Credits

The following course must be taken twice in the student’s freshman year (once in the first Fall semester and once in the first Winter semester).

course Design, Production and Management Project (1)

One performance-focused course selected from:

course Performance Project (1)
course Film Performance Project (1)
course Company Class (1)
course Advanced Performance Projects (1)
course Advanced Film Performance Project (1)
course Advanced Company Class (1)

One additional course selected from

course Performance Project (1)
course Design, Production and Management Project (1)
course Film Performance Project (1)
course Company Class (1)
course Stage Manager Project (1)
course Advanced Directing Project (1)
course Advanced Performance Projects (1)
course Dramaturgy/Assistant Director Project (1)

Professional Development Courses

course Audition Techniques for Actors (3)
course Professional Practices for the Performer (2)
course Senior Presentation to the Profession (1)

Theatre Electives - 9 credits

Elective coursework chosen from the subject areas DAN, FLM, MUA/MUE voice classes, MUS and THA; THA 1000 excluded).

Non-Credit Requirements

Major standing - Students at the end of their second semester of study audition or present their portfolios to faculty to gain official entrance into the department. Students can pass and be placed into a major, be deferred and given another semester to attempt major standing, or be denied entrance into the department.
Senior interview - Students in their last semester are required to write about their experiences in the department over the course of their study-both as a student and a theatre artist. They meet with faculty to assess their growth as a scholar and artist during their time at Oakland University.

Applicable Minors

All Minors are applicable to this major with the exception of the following Minor(s): Child Welfare, International Orientation for EGR/CS, and Sustainability Engineering.

Acting for Stage and Screen

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General

Requirements

Major Dependent Concentration(s)

Major Dependent Concentration Declaration