BFA in Acting

Degree Requirements

The BFA in Acting combines the conservatory-style study of acting with the study of dramatic texts in their theatrical and cultural contexts. To earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and school degree requirements. The School of Theatre & Music degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
General Education Requirements24
BFA Course Requirements83
Electives12-13
DLG 120UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshman only) a1
Total Hours120
a

New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for 1 hour. New freshmen complete 12 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting. All other students complete 13 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting.

General Education Requirements

Required Courses a
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Exploring World Cultures course b3
Analyzing the Natural World course b3-5
Understanding the Individual and Society course b3
Understanding U.S. Society course b3
Additional General Education Core courses from any category b,c4-6
Total Hours24
a

The Understanding the Past and Understanding the Creative Arts General Education requirements are met by courses within the major.

b

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.

c

Students take two additional courses from any General Education categories for a total of 4–6 hours to reach the required 24 hours in the General Education Core.

BFA Course Requirements

Required Courses
THTR 101Theatre History I: Premodern Drama a3
THTR 111Movement I: Body/Self3
THTR 121Introduction to Acting I3
THTR 122Acting II: Adaptations3
THTR 162Voice I: Voice3
THTR 182Practicum in Theater: Run Crew1
THTR 183Practicum in Theater: Build Crew1
THTR 201Theatre History II: Modern Theatre b3
THTR 211Movement II: Body/Space3
THTR 212Movement III: Somatics3
THTR 221Advanced Acting: American Drama3
THTR 222Advanced Acting: Chekhov3
THTR 230Script Analysis for Theatrical Production3
THTR 261Voice II: Speech3
THTR 264Voice III: Advanced Voice and Speech3
THTR 280Practicum in Performance3
THTR 311Movement IV: Style3
THTR 312Movement V: Character3
THTR 321Advanced Acting: Shakespeare3
THTR 322Advanced Acting: Brecht, Beckett, Pinter3
THTR 361Voice IV: Text Styles3
THTR 362Voice V: Dialects3
THTR 413Movement VI: Movement Lab3
THTR 421Advanced Acting: Ensemble3
THTR 422Advanced Acting: Audition3
Design, Production, and Technology Sequence
Select one of the following sequences:6
Fundamental of Theatre Technology
Costume Technology I: Introduction to Costume Technology
Lighting Technology I: An Introduction to Lighting Tech
Scenic Technology I: An Introduction to Stagecraft for the Theatre
OR
Fundamentals of Theatre Design
Lighting Design I: An Introduction to Lighting Design
Costume Design I
Sound Design: An Introduction to Sound Design for Theatre
Scenic Design I
Makeup Design
OR
Fundamental of Theatre Technology
Fundamentals of Theatre Design
Theatre Selectives
Select two of the following:6
Page to Stage: Adaptation of Text for Theatrical Performance c
Stage Direction d
Playwriting
Contemporary Performance Techniques c
Total Hours83
a

This course is approved for the Understanding the Past General Education category or the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.

b

This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.

c

 THTR 331 and THTR 435 are offered only in the fall semester.

d

THTR 333 is offered only in the spring semester.

Electives

Electives
Electives to reach total hours a12-13
Total Hours12-13
a

New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for one hour. New freshmen complete 12 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting. All other students complete 13 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting.

UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar

Required Course
DLG 120UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar1
Total Hours1

Sample Course Schedule

Semesters in which required courses are offered may vary from those listed below.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
Fall SemesterHours
THTR 101 Theatre History I: Premodern Drama 3
THTR 111 Movement I: Body/Self 3
THTR 121 Introduction to Acting I 3
THTR 182 Practicum in Theater: Run Crew 1
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
General Education Core course 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
THTR 150
Fundamental of Theatre Technology
or Fundamentals of Theatre Design
3
THTR 122 Acting II: Adaptations 3
THTR 162 Voice I: Voice 3
THTR 230 Script Analysis for Theatrical Production 3
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
DLG 120 UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) 1
 Hours15-16
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
THTR 183 Practicum in Theater: Build Crew 1
THTR 221 Advanced Acting: American Drama 3
THTR 261 Voice II: Speech 3
THTR 211 Movement II: Body/Space 3
General Education Core course 3
Elective 2-3
 Hours15-16
Spring Semester
THTR 212 Movement III: Somatics 3
THTR 222 Advanced Acting: Chekhov 3
THTR 264 Voice III: Advanced Voice and Speech 3
Elective 3
Second course in students’ selected design, production, and technology sequence 3
 Hours15
Junior Year
Fall Semester
THTR 201 Theatre History II: Modern Theatre 3
THTR 311 Movement IV: Style 3
THTR 321 Advanced Acting: Shakespeare 3
THTR 361 Voice IV: Text Styles 3
General Education Core course OR Theatre Selective b 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
THTR 322 Advanced Acting: Brecht, Beckett, Pinter 3
THTR 362 Voice V: Dialects 3
THTR 312 Movement V: Character 3
General Education Core course OR Theatre Selective c 3
General Education Core course 3
 Hours15
Senior Year
Fall Semester
THTR 280 Practicum in Performance a 3
THTR 413 Movement VI: Movement Lab 3
THTR 421 Advanced Acting: Ensemble 3
General Education Core course OR Theatre Selective b 3
 Hours12
Spring Semester
THTR 422 Advanced Acting: Audition 3
General Education Core course OR Theatre Selective c 3
General Education Core course 3
Electives 7
 Hours16
 Total Hours120
a

THTR 280 requires permission of instructor to register. This is given for semesters when student is cast in a mainstage production.

b

THTR 331, THTR 431, and THTR 435 are typically offered in the fall semester. 

c

THTR 431 and THTR 333 are typically offered in the spring semester.