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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| General Education Requirements | 24 | |
| BFA Course Requirements | 84 | |
| Electives | 11-12 | |
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshman only) a | 1 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for 1 hour. New freshmen complete 11 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting. All other students complete 12 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses a | ||
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| Exploring World Cultures course b | 3 | |
| Analyzing the Natural World course b | 3-5 | |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course b | 3 | |
| Understanding U.S. Society course b | 3 | |
| Additional General Education Core courses from any category b,c | 4-6 | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| THTR 101 | Theatre History I: Premodern Drama a | 3 |
| THTR 111 | Movement I: Body/Self | 3 |
| THTR 121 | Introduction to Acting I | 3 |
| THTR 122 | Acting II: Adaptations | 3 |
| THTR 162 | Voice I: Voice | 3 |
| THTR 201 | Theatre History II: Modern Theatre b | 3 |
| THTR 211 | Movement II: Body/Space | 3 |
| THTR 212 | Movement III: Somatics | 3 |
| THTR 221 | Advanced Acting: American Drama | 3 |
| THTR 222 | Advanced Acting: Chekhov | 3 |
| THTR 230 | Script Analysis for Theatrical Production | 3 |
| THTR 261 | Voice II: Speech | 3 |
| THTR 264 | Voice III: Advanced Voice and Speech | 3 |
| THTR 280 | Practicum in Performance | 3 |
| THTR 311 | Movement IV: Style | 3 |
| THTR 312 | Movement V: Character | 3 |
| THTR 321 | Advanced Acting: Shakespeare | 3 |
| THTR 322 | Advanced Acting: Brecht, Beckett, Pinter | 3 |
| THTR 361 | Voice IV: Text Styles | 3 |
| THTR 362 | Voice V: Dialects | 3 |
| THTR 413 | Movement VI: Movement Lab | 3 |
| THTR 421 | Advanced Acting: Ensemble | 3 |
| THTR 422 | Advanced Acting: Audition | 3 |
| THTR 461 | Voice VI: Voice Lab | 3 |
| Select one of the following design, production, and technology sequences: | 6 | |
| Fundamental of Theatre Technology | ||
| Costume Technology I: Introduction to Costume Technology | ||
or THTR 152 | Lighting Technology I: An Introduction to Lighting Tech | |
or THTR 153 | Scenic Technology I: An Introduction to Stagecraft for the Theatre | |
OR | ||
| Fundamentals of Theatre Design | ||
| Lighting Design I: An Introduction to Lighting Design | ||
or THTR 158 | Costume Design I | |
or THTR 170 | Sound Design: An Introduction to Sound Design for Theatre | |
or THTR 250 | Scenic Design I | |
or THTR 259 | Makeup Design | |
OR | ||
| Fundamental of Theatre Technology | ||
| Fundamentals of Theatre Design | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Page to Stage: Adaptation of Text for Theatrical Performance | ||
| Stage Direction | ||
| Playwriting | ||
| Contemporary Performance Techniques | ||
| Total Hours | 84 | |
- 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.
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| Electives to reach total hours a | 11-12 | |
| Total Hours | 11-12 | |
- a
New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for one hour. New freshmen complete 11 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting. All other students complete 12 hours of electives for the BFA in Acting.
UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 | |
Sample Course Schedule
Semesters in which required courses are offered may vary from those listed below.
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| THTR 101 | Theatre History I: Premodern Drama | 3 |
| THTR 111 | Movement I: Body/Self | 3 |
| THTR 121 | Introduction to Acting I | 3 |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| General Education Core course a | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| THTR 150 or THTR 155 |
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 |
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) | 1 |
| Hours | 18-19 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 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 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| THTR 322 | Advanced Acting: Brecht, Beckett, Pinter | 3 |
| THTR 362 | Voice V: Dialects | 3 |
| THTR 312 | Movement V: Character | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Page to Stage: Adaptation of Text for Theatrical Performance | ||
| Stage Direction | ||
| Playwriting | ||
| Contemporary Performance Techniques | ||
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| THTR 280 | Practicum in Performance b | 3 |
| THTR 413 | Movement VI: Movement Lab | 3 |
| THTR 421 | Advanced Acting: Ensemble | 3 |
| THTR 461 | Voice VI: Voice Lab | 3 |
| THTR 435 | Contemporary Performance Techniques | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| THTR 422 | Advanced Acting: Audition | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Page to Stage: Adaptation of Text for Theatrical Performance | ||
| Stage Direction | ||
| Playwriting | ||
| Contemporary Performance Techniques | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
General Education Core courses can be taken in any semester. Some science courses carry more than three semester hours; thus, the total hours for a semester may be between 15 and 17.
- b
THTR 280 requires permission of instructor to register. This is given for semesters when student is cast in a mainstage production.