Bachelor's Degree in Theatre and Dance – Acting
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Theatre and Dance
Concentration: Acting
Hours: 120
Acting Overview
The 17³Ô¹Ï Bachelor of Science in Theatre and Dance with a concentration in acting prepares students with fundamental training and education necessary for a professional acting career in theatre, television or film. Coursework also includes dance, improvisation, production and stagecraft to help students navigate related fields, as well as to anticipate future trends in a professional actor’s career.
This program gives you access to a wide variety of our university's resources. 17³Ô¹Ï Theatre's three stages serve as laboratories for hands-on training. You participate in all phases of our production program, including a wide range of theatrical works and dance concerts on-campus and throughout the state and nation.
Watch the faculty interview to learn more about 17³Ô¹Ï's Theatre and Dance program.
Acting Courses You May Take
Play Analysis: Principles and practice in the analysis styles of a written script in preparation for work onstage. Required of all freshmen and transfer theatre majors.
Auditioning: Principles in the selection and preparation of scenes and monologues for auditioning for theatre productions, films and television work.
Acting for the Camera: A course focused on the fundamental techniques necessary for performing in film, television, commercials, industrials, corporate training videos and voiceovers.
Stage Combat: Students will learn basic techniques of staging violence and physical contact onstage. Emphasis will be placed on communicating and developing safe and effective storytelling techniques for performers. Course may include ‘armed’ stage combat techniques (single-sword, broadsword, etc.). Course may include Skills Proficiency Test with certification in specific stage combat areas with the Society of American Fight Directors.
Advanced Directing: Application of the principles and practices of play directing for the upper level theatre major. Production work is required outside of class.
Career Paths for Acting
Careers in acting include performing in film, television and stage, as well as specializing in areas like voiceover, commercial or background acting. Beyond performing, many related careers leverage acting skills or are part of the production process, such as director, casting director, playwright and various technical roles like set or costume designer. Many actors also work in other jobs to supplement their income, due to the freelance and contract-based nature of the work.
Primary Careers
Actor, director, producer, set designer
- Theatre
- Dance
- Technical design
- Fine arts education/instruction
- Regional/commercial theaters
- Summer stock theaters
- Dinner and children's theaters
- University theater groups
- Touring companies
- Cruise and entertainment lines
- Amusement and theme parks
- Radio, television, film studios