BFA Acting

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting is designed to prepare students for success in the professional theatre industry. By combining conservatory-style training with a strong liberal arts education, our students explore, develop, and hone their craft to become well-rounded artists with valuable skill sets that will prepare them for professional success.

Plan of Study

Core Learning Goals

Our core learning goals have been woven into all aspects of this rigorous four-year program from classroom and studio work, to rehearsals and productions in our mainstage season.

  • Technique
  • Analysis
  • Professionalism
  • Collaboration
Blood Wedding

Performance Opportunities

Performance opportunities are available to students beginning in their first semester. All BFA performance majors are required to audition for our mainstage season and freshmen are eligible for casting. Additional performance opportunities may include:

  • Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre, a student run theatre company
  • The Annual Children’s Show
  • Student Cabarets
  • The New Musicals Initiative
  • Faculty Developed Works
Wintertime

Why Choose Millikin?

There are a number of things that help set Milllikin apart from other schools:

  • Small school environment
  • First-rate faculty
  • National reputation
  • Individualized attention
  • Faculty/student mentorships and collaborations
  • Senior professional development experience (showcase)
  • Master classes with working professionals
  • Study abroad in our London Semester
  • Shakespeare Corrected
  • New Musicals Initiative
Rough Magic

Mainstage Season

Millikin’s mainstage season provides performance majors with many opportunities to gain valuable onstage experience.  A typical season will include:

  • 3 musicals
  • 2 plays
  • 1 dance concert
  • In alternating seasons an opera co-produced with the School of Music or a 3rd play
Headshot

The Millikin Difference

The small school environment at Millikin University offers students many advantages including:

  • Individualized attention
  • Studio classes capped at 16
  • Annual progress evaluations
  • Faculty/student mentorships and collaborations
  • Interactions with students from other disciplines 

Intimate Apparel

Acting, BFA Required Courses

The BFA in Theatre: Acting Concentration requires 124 total credits to graduate, 79 of which must be in the major. In addition to completing the Theatre Core and University Studies requirements, students must also complete the following.

Dance/Movement (8 credits)

  • TH145. Beginning Movement I (1)
  • TH146. Beginning Movement II (1)
  • TH364. Advanced Movement for Actors (3)
  • Dance/movement electives (3 credits)

Voice Requirements (6 credits)

  • TH240. Voice for the Stage (3)
  • TH241. Advanced Voice (3)

Acting Requirements (24 credits)

  • TH142. Acting II (3)
  • TH341. Acting: Styles (3)
  • TH345. Acting: Advanced Scene Study I (3)
  • TH346. Acting: Advanced Scene Study II (3)
  • TH448. Performance Problems (3)
  • TH348. Acting for the Camera (3)
  • Acting Electives (6)

Additional Requirements (28 credits)

  • TH101. Theatre Practicum (1)
  • TH 201. Theatre Practicum (1)
  • TH242. Theatrical Make-up (1)
  • TH301. Theatre Practicum (1)
  • TH336. History of Drama and Theatre II (3)
  • Dramatic Literature/Theory/Criticism (6 credits)
  • Theatre Electives (13 credits)