Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts
Receive extensive training in the crafts of performance and production.
“There are many opportunities to create and perform. We are a very close-knit community; it’s like going to school with a family supporting you.”
Nicole Fava (B.F.A. Theatre Arts ‘19)
Freelance Actor, NYC
About this Program
The Department of Theatre and Film in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.F.A. in Theatre Arts. Students create art that they are passionate about, learn artistry, professionalism, and critical thinking. They discover their place in our society through culturally relevant works in the department and beyond.
The department offers great performance, management, and design opportunities for all students, including freshmen, who can be cast in and work on mainstage shows. The integration of theatre and film in our department ensures that students in acting and design have opportunities to learn skills for work on stage and film. This prepares students with a diverse resume of experiences and a well-rounded education in the entertainment industry.
Emphases
- Acting for Stage and Screen. Students hone fundamental skills in acting, voice, and movement through a concentrated core of classes. Performance classes include offerings in stage combat, dance, dialects, musical theatre, Shakespeare, dramatic realism, sit-coms, and more.
- Design and Theatre Production. Students receive the hands-on and practical experience that allows them to excel in a chosen specialization: costume, scenic, lighting or sound design.
Admission
The B.F.A. in Theatre Arts degree has a competitive application process that is separate from the admission to the university. Students who wish to enroll in the Acting for Stage and Screen emphasis must successfully complete an audition prior to enrollment at UM. Students interested in Design and Theatre Production may opt to pursue the B.F.A. at any time. Visit the department website for more information and the online form for the department's Open House events along with audition/interviews for admission to the program.
B.F.A. vs B.A.
The Department of Theatre and Film offers two undergraduate degree options to study theatre arts: the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts and the Bachelor of Art in Theatre Arts.
- The B.F.A. in Theatre Arts degree is a competitive-entry, small cohort program that provides focused, hands-on training in the two emphasis areas. It requires many more hours of theatre courses, and is designed for pre-professionals in the entertainment areas.
- The B.A. in Theatre Arts focuses on critical thinking, production, and scholarship. It has a wider and deeper general education foundation and requires a minor field of study (or double major), allowing for combination of interests such as business, education, or one of the many programs in the College of Liberal Arts.
The Value of a Theatre Arts Degree
Students become skilled in creative expression, critical thinking, research, design, direction, and technology. The department is accredited by National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), which ensures a high quality education. Whether you are an artist, an entrepreneur, a scholar, or a producer, we will increase your potential and help you reach the goals you set for your life and work.
Related careers in theatre and film include
- Acting
- Make-up design
- Playwriting
- Costume design
- Sound design
- Set design
- Stage management
- Theatre management
- Education
- Screenwriting
- Direction
- Lighting design
- Advertising
- Public relations
- Radio/television
- Law
- Marketing
- Human resources
On this Page…
Program Information
Program Type
Major
Minor
Area of Study
Arts
School
Duration
4 Years
Degree
B.F.A. in Theatre Arts
Program Location
Emphases
Acting for Stage and Screen;
Design and Theatre Production
Required Credit Hours
129
Degree Requirements
See the information below on the theatre arts major for the B.F.A. and the theatre arts minor. For a full description, visit the online catalog.
Students in the B.F.A. in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Acting for Stage and Screen complete 82 credit hours.
Departmental Core Courses (14 credit hours):
- Thea 120: Intro to Theatre, Film, and Dance
- Thea 121: Creative Thinking
- Thea 226: Script Analysis
- Thea 338: Technology Lab I
- Thea 339: Technology Lab II
- Thea 499: Senior Seminar
Two Design Courses (6 credit hours):
- Thea 270: Basic Lighting & Sound Technology
- Thea 271: Introduction to Stagecraft
- Thea 272: Introduction to Costumes for the Stage
Three Theatre History and Literature Courses (9 credit hours):
- Thea 321: Theatre History I
- Thea 322: Theatre History II
- Thea 323: Film and Aristotle
- Thea 326: Dramatic Literature I
- Thea 327: Dramatic Literature II
- Thea 328: Diverse Voices in American Dramatic Literature
- Thea 329: Queer Playwriting and American Culture
- Thea 421: Musical Theatre History and Literature I
- Thea 422: Musical Theatre History Literature II
Twelve Performance Core Courses (35 credit hours):
- Thea 110: Intro to Acting
- Thea 111: Realism for Stage and Screen
- Thea 114: Movement for the Actor I
- Thea 163: Intro to Musical Theatre Performance
- Thea 210: Scene Work for Stage and Screen
- Thea 212: Voice for the Actor I
- Thea 268: Speech for the Actor
- Thea 304: Acting Shakespeare
- Thea 307: Advanced Acting for the Screen
- Thea 310: Acting Styles
- Thea 316: Business of Acting and Auditioning
- Thea 410: Acting Process and Integration
Performance Elective Courses (18 credit hours):
- Danc 100: Dance Fundamentals
- Danc 151: Ballet I
- Danc 152: Contemporary Dance I
- Danc 153: Jazz Dance I
- Danc 154: Tap Dance I
- Danc 215: Dance Improvisation
- Danc 251: Ballet II
- Danc 252: Contemporary Dance II
- Danc 253: Jazz II
- Danc 254: Tap II
- Danc 255: Theatre Dance I
- Danc 351: Ballet III
- Danc 352: Contemporary Dance III
- Danc 353: Jazz III
- Danc 354: Tap III
- Danc 355: Theatre Dance II
- Thea 207: Intro to Acting for Screen
- Thea 215: Improvisation
- Thea 216: Voice-Over Acting
- Thea 221: Auditioning for Film and Television
- Thea 264: Musical Theatre Voice Studies I
- Thea 295: Theatre Practicum I
- Thea 304: Acting Shakespeare
- Thea 307: Advanced Acting for the Screen
- Thea 308: Comedic Screen Acting
- Thea 311: Classic Comedy Styles
- Thea 312: Voice for the Actor II
- Thea 314: Movement for the Actor II
- Thea 317: Topics in Acting Styles
- Thea 324. Commedia dell Arte
- Thea 330: Stage Combat I
- Thea 331: Stage Combat II
- Thea 332: Period Movement and Manners
- Thea 333: Devised Theatre
- Thea 335: The Alexander Technique
- Thea 337: Physical Theatre Styles
- Thea 342: Unarmed Stage Combat
- Thea 343: Single Sword Stage Combat
- Thea 344: Broadsword Stage Combat
- Thea 345: Rapier & Dagger Stage Combat
- Thea 346: Knife Stage Combat
- Thea 347: Quarterstaff Stage Combat
- Thea 348: Sword & Shield Stage Combat
- Thea 349: Smallsword Stage Combat
- Thea 364: Musical Theatre Voice Studies II
- Thea 368: Dialects for Stage and Screen
- Thea 395: Theatre Practicum II
- Thea 411: Classic Dramatic Styles
- Thea 412: Voice for the Actor III
- Thea 464: Musical Theatre Voice Studies III
- Thea 465: Musical Theatre Performance I
- Thea 466: Musical Theatre Performance II
- Thea 495: Theatre Practicum III
Students in the B.F.A. in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Design and Theatre Production complete 71 credit hours.
Departmental Core (14 credit hours):
- Thea 120: Intro to Theatre, Film, and Dance
- Thea 121: Creative Thinking
- Thea 499: Senior Seminar
Four Theatre History and Literature (12 credit hours):
- Thea 226: Script Analysis
- Thea 321: Theatre History I
- Thea 327: Dramatic Literature II
- One of the following:
- Thea 374: Intro to the History of Dress
- Thea 377: Intro to the History of Décor
18 Design and Technology (47 credit hours):
- Thea 171: Intro to Theatre, Film, and Dance
- Production Studies I-VII
- Thea 270: Basic Lighting & Sound Technology
- Thea 271: Introduction to Stagecraft
- Thea 272: Introduction to Costumes for the Stage
- Thea 274: Theatre Design Graphics
- One of the following:
- Thea 276: Fundamentals of Computer-Aided Design
- Art 201: Digital Imaging
- Thea 287: The Business of Theatrical Design
- Thea 370: Scenic Design I
- Thea 372: Lighting Design I
- Thea 375: Costume Design I
- One of the following:
- Thea 470: Scenic Design II
- Thea 471: Lighting Design II
- Thea 474: Costume Design II
Design/Tech Electives (5 credit hours)
One of the following:
- AH 201: Art History I
- AH 202: Art History II
A minor in theatre arts provides students with a solid knowledge base in theatre practice and theatre studies.
The minor consists of 18 hours of theatre courses with at least 6 hours at the 300 level or higher.
What is Theatre?
What can I do with a theatre degree?
- President/Founder, Magnolia Hill Productions
- Co-Founder, Deer Run Media
- Director, New Stage Theatre
- Videographer/Editor, MS Public Broadcasting
- Department Head, CBS
- Voice Actress: Morla E. Gorrondona
- Actor/Writer/Producer, Kennedy Center
- Stage Manager, Blue Man Group
- Actor: James Tate Ellington
- Comedian: Jay Jurden
- Senior Associate, Warner Brothers
- Costume Coordinator, Disney Cruise Line
- Faculty, Savannah College of Art and Design
- Drama Teacher, Boca Raton High School
- Automation Supervisor "O," Cirque du Soleil
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?