2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Acting, BFA (ACT-BFA)

CIP Code: 500506

Program Description

Programs in Theatre and Dance are devoted exclusively to the training and education of undergraduate students in these subject areas. These programs lead to the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Students who wish to study theatre choose from the B.A. degree in Theatre Studies, or B.F.A. programs in Acting, Musical Theatre, and Design/Technology/Stage Management.

Theatre and Dance programs are empowered by the Ohio Revised Code to require particular preliminary training or talent for admission to specific programs, and each of the five B.F.A. programs has specific criteria for admission to each level of training. Students who wish to be admitted as majors in Acting, Acting/Musical Theatre, or Dance must successfully pass an audition. The department has an open admissions policy for first-term students who wish to major in the B.A. programs in Theatre Studies and the B.F.A. programs in Design/Technology/Stage Management. Transfer students are admitted into B.F.A. programs on the basis of a successful audition, interview, or portfolio presentation.

Each B.F.A. program has set criteria for selectively retaining students. These include a requirement that students successfully pass regular juries or performance reviews and earn a GPA of at least 2.0 to continue in the B.F.A. programs; most of the programs require a higher minimum GPA for graduation. The policies are spelled out in the curriculum sections of the department web page. Students are required to consult regularly with an academic adviser. All students who return after an absence of three or more consecutive semesters must reapply to the faculty for readmission to the program, and at the discretion of the faculty, they may be required to satisfy program requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Degree Requirements–Acting and Musical Theatre Concentrations

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

Professionally bound students may select the B.F.A. in either Acting or Musical Theatre. These degrees both require students to master fundamental skills in Acting, Movement, Voice and Speech. Acting students continue with focus on a wide range of contemporary and period styles, with intensive focus in classical acting, stage combat and vocal skills. Musical Theatre students continue with a range of courses focusing on the broad range of styles from operetta to the most contemporary works. Musical Theatre majors study dance daily and intensive vocal performance. The professional Acting and Musical Theatre programs are each an intensive, four-year progression of studies in acting, voice, movement, dance, and singing. Because courses in the Acting and Musical Theatre programs follow a set sequence, students are generally admitted only in the Fall Semester. The Professional Actor Training Program is limited by audition to only selected superior students who show promise of high achievement. Retention in the Professional Actor Training Program is determined by periodic review. Students are retained in the program based on their growth and development as judged by the acting faculty.

To be retained in the program, all Acting and Musical Theatre students must earn a grade of C or better in required departmental and related courses for the major, with the exception of TH 1200 and TH 2220 . If a student does not earn a C or better in these required courses, the student may not take the courses a second time. However, students may retake TH 1060 , TH 1070 , TH 1080, TH 3720 , TH 3730 , TH 3800 , TH 3810 , and TH 3820 (literature and history courses) for a second time to earn the required grade of C or better. Students not earning a grade of C or better in all required departmental and related courses (with the above exceptions) will not be retained.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Master artistic and technical skills necessary to pursue acting as a profession.
Demonstrate knowledge of current business practices of the acting profession.
Master professional audition skills.
Perform in a variety of roles in Wright State productions
Demonstrate knowledge of theatre history, musical theatre history and literature, and/or dramatic literature (depending on degree emphasis).

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Demonstrate mastery of artistic and technical skills necessary to pursue acting as a profession.
Demonstrate knowledge of current business practices of the acting profession.
Demonstrate mastery of professional audition skills.
Perform in a variety of roles in Wright State productions.
Demonstrate knowledge of theatre history, musical theatre history and literature, and/or dramatic literature (depending on degree emphasis).

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list. Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Required:
TH 2140 - Theatre in Western Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Core Requirements: 28 Credit Hours

TH 1200 - Make-up for the Theatre Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 1440 - Acting I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 1450 - Acting I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 2220 - Stage Production Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 2380 - Movement I Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2390 - Movement I Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2400 - Movement II Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2440 - Acting II Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 2540 - Speech I Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2550 - Speech II Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 3400 - Movement III Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 3440 - Acting III Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3540 - Speech II Credit Hour(s): 2

III. Major Concentration Requirements: 43-53 Credit Hours

Students will select one of the two concentrations below:

Acting Concentration: 43 Credit Hours

DAN 1110 - Modern Dance I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 1150 - Singing for the Actor I Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 1160 - Singing for the Actor II Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 2150 - Singing for the Actor III Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 2160 - Singing for the Actor IV Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 2410 - Movement II Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2450 - Acting II Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3150 - Singing for the Actor V Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 3160 - Singing for the Actor VI Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 3450 - Acting III Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3470 - One Person Shows Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 3560 - Speech III Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 3800 - Theatre History and Literature I Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
TH 3810 - Theatre History and Literature II Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
TH 4130 - Acting Professionally Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4150 - Singing for the Actor VII Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 4400 - Movement IV Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 4410 - Movement IV Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 4440 - Acting IV Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4450 - Acting IV Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4540 - Speech V Credit Hour(s): 2

Musical Theatre Concentration: 53 Credit Hours

DAN 1040 - Ballet for the Musical Theatre Major I Credit Hour(s): 2
DAN 1210 - Jazz/Modern Dance for the Musical Theatre Major I Credit Hour(s): 1
DAN 1220 - Jazz/Modern Dance for the Musical Theatre Major II Credit Hour(s): 1
DAN 2070 - Beginning Tap Dance I Credit Hour(s): 1
DAN 3040 - Ballet For The Musical Theatre Major III Credit Hour(s): 2
DAN 3050 - Ballet for the Musical Theatre Major IV Credit Hour(s): 2
DAN 3070 - Intermediate Tap Dance I Credit Hour(s): 1
DAN 3310 - Musical Theatre Dance I Credit Hour(s): 3
DAN 3320 - Musical Theatre Dance II Credit Hour(s): 3
DAN 4050 - Musical Theatre Dance IV Credit Hour(s): 3
DAN 4070 - Advanced Tap Dance I Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 1060 - Basic Music Theory and Piano Skills for Actors I Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 1070 - Basic Music Theory and Piano Skills for Actors II Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 1570 - Singing for the Musical Theatre Major I Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 1580 - Singing for the Musical Theatre Major II Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2570 - Singing for the Musical Theatre Major III Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2580 - Singing for the Musical Theatre Major IV Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 3370 - Acting In Musical Theatre I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3380 - Acting In Musical Theatre II Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3390 - Musical Theatre Performance Workshop Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3570 - Singing for the Musical Theatre Major V Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 3720 - Musical Theatre History and Literature I Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
TH 3730 - Musical Theatre History and Literature II Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
TH 4570 - Singing for the Musical Theatre Major VII Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 4580 - Singing for the Musical Theatre Major VIII Credit Hour(s): 2

IV. General Electives: 3-13 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

The number of General Electives by concentration is as follows:

Acting concentration: 13 credit hours Recommended: DAN 1120 and TH 3990 (Acting for Camera).
Musical Theatre concentration: 3 credit hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

This GPS is valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and is subject to change. This GPS is a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.