Acting, B.F.A.

Students must complete the Oakland University General Education Requirements, General College of Arts and Sciences requirements , College of Arts and Sciences Exploratory requirement , Major Requirements, and an appropriate number of free elective classes to meet the overall credit requirement for the degree (in most cases a minimum of 124; some degrees may require a greater number).

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

A student cannot declare a major and a minor in the same discipline (e.g. a BS in Accounting with a minor in Accounting).

Schedule of Classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes.

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, 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, 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 75 credits

Movement and Dance courses

THA 2016 - Stage Combat I (2)
Any DAN technique course (2)

plus 2 courses selected from:

THA 2011 - Stage Movement (2)
THA 2013 - Mime (2)
THA 2014 - Alexander Technique (2)
THA 3016 - Stage Combat II (2)
THA 4016 Stage Combat III (2)
Any DAN technique course (2)

History and Literature courses

THA 3001 - Theatre History I (4) satisfies general education arts requirement
THA 3002 - Theatre History II (4) satisfies general education arts requirement
ENG 1300 - Introduction to Shakespeare (4) or ENG 3620 - Drama (4) satisfies general education arts requirement

Design, Production and Management courses

THA 1020 - Stagecraft (2)
THA 1021 - Costume Craft (2) or THA 1023 - Costume Construction (2)
THA 1024 - Elements of Design (2)
THA 3023 - Stage Makeup (2)
THA 3030 - Stage Management (2)

Theatre Performance/Production Practica - 6 courses (minimum of 6 credits)

THA 2025 - Design, Production and Management Project (1) - assigned as backstage crew during first year

A minimum of 5 courses selected from (can be repeated)

THA 2020 - Performance Project (1)
THA 2025 - Design, Production and Management Project (1)
THA 2095 - Company Class (1)
*THA 3031 - Stage Manager Project (1)
*THA 4007 - Advanced Directing Project (1)
*THA 4020 - Advanced Performance Projects (1)
*THA 4031 - Dramaturgy/Assistant Director Project (1)
*THA 4081 - Classical Theatre Study in Greece (4) counts for only one course in this requirement
*THA 4095 - Advanced Company Class (1)

*also counts toward capstone requirement

Theatre capstone - 3 credits minimum selected from

THA 3031 - Stage Manager Project (1)
THA 4007 - Advanced Directing Project (1)
THA 4020 - Advanced Performance Projects (1)
THA 4031 - Dramaturgy/Assistant Director Project (1)
THA 4081 - Classical Theatre Study in Greece (4)
THA 4095 - Advanced Company Class (1)
THA 4950 - Internship (1-4)

Theatre electives - 12 credits

Elective courses chosen in consultation with theatre adviser (may include DAN technique, MUA/MUE voice classes; 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.
Events attendance requirement - Students must see at least 10 academic or professional performing arts events each year (40 performances over 4 years of study). Each year, 4 of these performances may be substituted with service-learning projects in underserved communities (up to 16 projects over 4 years of study). These performances and projects must be approved in consultation with the student’s theatre advisor.