School of Dramatic Arts
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Fine Arts
The Bachelor of Fine Arts provides four years of intensive training at the undergraduate level in performance studies including acting, design, sound design, stage management and technical direction. A total of 128 units of course work is required for this degree, including a minimum range of 75–84 theatre units depending on the requirements of each program.
All BFA Theatre majors are required to earn a grade point average of 2.75 (A = 4.0) in their theatre courses each semester. BFA students who fail to earn a GPA of 2.75 in their theatre courses will be placed on probation the following semester. Students who remain on probation for a consecutive second semester will be disqualified from the BFA program.
A student disqualified from continued study in the BFA program for failing to meet the GPA standards outlined above will be given the option of transferring into the B.A. program.
General Education Requirements
The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. See The USC Core and the General Education Program for more information.
| Required Courses for the Acting Emphasis (84 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| THTR 110 | Dramatic Analysis | 2 |
| THTR 115 | Movement I | 2 |
| THTR 120ab | Acting I | 2-2 |
| THTR 130 | Introduction to Theatrical Production | 2-2 |
| THTR 140ab | Voice I | 2-2 |
| THTR 210 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre I | 4 |
| THTR 211 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre II | 4 |
| THTR 212 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre III | 4 |
| THTR 215ab | Movement II | 2-2 |
| THTR 220ab | Intermediate Acting I | 2-2 |
| THTR 240ab | Voice II | 2-2 |
| THTR 315ab | Physical Theatre I | 2-2 |
| THTR 320ab | Intermediate Acting II | 2-2 |
| THTR 340ab | Intermediate Voice | 2-2 |
| THTR 397 | Theatre Practicum | 2-2-2 |
| THTR 415ab | Physical Theatre II | 2-2 |
| THTR 420ab | Advanced Acting | 2-2 |
| THTR 440ab | Advanced Voice | 2-2 |
| THTR 471 | Senior Showcase | 2 |
| THTR 480a | Performance for Camera | 2 |
| THTR 497 | Advanced Theatre Practicum | 2 |
| One course from: | ||
| THTR 305a | Directing | 4 |
| THTR 365 | Playwriting I | 4 |
| One course from: | ||
| THTR 300 | Introduction to Modern Drama | 4 |
| THTR 301 | Greek and Roman Theatre | 4 |
| THTR 302 | Shakespeare in His World | 4 |
| THTR 313 | Comedy of Manners | 4 |
| THTR 314 | Advanced Topics in Modern Drama | 4 |
| THTR 395 | Drama as Human Relations | 4 |
| THTR 396 | God, Drama and Entertainment | 4 |
| THTR 403 | The Performing Arts | 4 |
| THTR 404 | Acting Theory | 4 |
| THTR 405 | Performing Identities | 4 |
| THTR 406 | Theatre on the Edge | 4 |
| THTR 476 | African American Theatre, Dance and Performance | 4 |
| Required theatre units | 84 | |
| General education units | 36 | |
| Electives | 8 | |
| Total: | 128 | |
| Required Courses for the Design Emphasis (84 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| THTR 101 | Introduction to Acting | 4 |
| THTR 125 | Text Studies for Production | 4 |
| THTR 130 | Introduction to Theatrical Production | 4 |
| THTR 132ab | Art of Theatrical Design | 2-2 |
| THTR 210 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre I | 4 |
| THTR 211 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre II | 4 |
| THTR 212 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre III | 4 |
| THTR 241 | Methods and Materials | 2 |
| THTR 305a | Directing | 4 |
| THTR 330 | Scene Design I | 4 |
| THTR 331 | Costume Design I | 4 |
| THTR 332 | Lighting Design I | 4 |
| THTR 397 | Theatre Practicum | 1-1-2-2 |
| THTR 407ab | Drawing and Rendering for the Theatre | 2-2 |
| THTR 431 | Seminar in Theatre Design | 2 |
| THTR 435 | Advanced Theatrical Drafting | 3 |
| THTR 437 | Scene Painting | 3 |
| THTR 493ab | Periods and Styles | 2-2 |
| THTR 497 | Advanced Theatre Practicum | 4 |
| Two courses (6 units) from: | ||
| THTR 432a | Scene Design II | 3 |
| THTR 433a | Costume Design II | 3 |
| THTR 434a | Lighting Design II | 3 |
| Two courses (6 units) from: | ||
| THTR 432b | Scene Design II | 3 |
| THTR 433b | Costume Design II | 3 |
| THTR 434b | Lighting Design II | 3 |
| Required theatre units | 84 | |
| General education units | 36 | |
| Electives | 8 | |
| Total: | 128 | |
| Required Courses for the Sound Design Emphasis (84 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| MUIN 275ab | Recording Arts Workshop | 4-4 |
| MUIN 340 | Introduction to Sound Reinforcement | 4 |
| MUIN 389 | Digital Equipment and Recording | 2 |
| THTR 101 | Introduction to Acting | 4 |
| THTR 125 | Text Studies for Production | 4 |
| THTR 130 | Introduction to Theatrical Production | 4 |
| THTR 132ab | Art of Theatrical Design | 2-2 |
| THTR 210 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre I | 4 |
| THTR 211 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre II | 4 |
| THTR 212 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre III | 4 |
| THTR 236 | Stage Sound | 2 |
| THTR 241 | Methods and Materials | 2 |
| THTR 305a | Directing | 4 |
| THTR 332 | Lighting Design I | 4 |
| THTR 333 | Stage Management I | 3 |
| THTR 336 | Introduction to Sound Design | 3 |
| THTR 397 | Theatre Practicum | 5 |
| THTR 431 | Seminar in Theatre Design | 2 |
| THTR 435 | Advanced Theatrical Drafting | 3 |
| THTR 436 | Sound for Theatre | 3 |
| THTR 441 | Advanced Sound Design | 3 |
| THTR 497 | Advanced Theatre Practicum | 4 |
| One course (4 units) from: | ||
| THTR 330 | Scene Design I | 4 |
| THTR 331 | Costume Design I | 4 |
| Required theatre and music units | 84 | |
| General education units | 36 | |
| Electives | 8 | |
| Total: | 128 | |
| Required Courses for the Stage Management Emphasis (84 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| MUCO 101x | Fundamentals of Music Theory | 2 |
| THTR 101 | Introduction to Acting | 4 |
| THTR 125 | Text Studies for Production | 4 |
| THTR 130 | Introduction to Theatrical Production | 4 |
| THTR 132ab | Art of Theatrical Design | 2-2 |
| THTR 210 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre I | 4 |
| THTR 211 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre II | 4 |
| THTR 212 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre III | 4 |
| THTR 232 | Stage Lighting | 3 |
| THTR 302 | Shakespeare in his World | 4 |
| THTR 305a | Directing | 4 |
| THTR 330 | Scene Design I | 4 |
| THTR 333 | Stage Management I | 3 |
| THTR 336 | Introduction to Sound Design | 3 |
| THTR 397 | Theatre Practicum | 8 |
| THTR 430 | Stage Management II | 3 |
| THTR 431 | Seminar in Theatrical Design | 2 |
| THTR 491 | Theatre Organization and Administration | 4 |
| THTR 492 | Producing Theatre | 4 |
| THTR 493ab | Periods and Styles | 2-2 |
| THTR 497 | Advanced Theatre Practicum | 4 |
| One class (4 units) from: | ||
| THTR 405 | Performing Identities | 4 |
| THTR 406 | Theatre on the Edge | 4 |
| Required theatre and music units | 84 | |
| General education units | 36 | |
| Electives | 8 | |
| Total: | 128 | |
| Required Courses for the Technical direction Emphasis (84 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| THTR 101 | Introduction to Acting | 4 |
| THTR 125 | Text Studies for Production | 4 |
| THTR 130 | Introduction to Theatrical Production | 4 |
| THTR 132ab | The Art of Theatrical Design | 2-2 |
| THTR 210 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre I | 4 |
| THTR 211 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre II | 4 |
| THTR 212 | Theory and Practice of World Theatre III | 4 |
| THTR 231a | Costume Construction | 3 |
| THTR 232 | Stage Lighting | 3 |
| THTR 236 | Stage Sound | 2 |
| THTR 241 | Methods and Materials | 2 |
| THTR 305a | Directing | 4 |
| THTR 330 | Scene Design I | 4 |
| THTR 332 | Lighting Design I | 4 |
| THTR 333 | Stage Management I | 3 |
| THTR 335 | Scenic Construction | 3 |
| THTR 336 | Introduction to Sound Design | 3 |
| THTR 397 | Theatre Practicum | 6 |
| THTR 435 | Advanced Theatrical Drafting | 3 |
| THTR 437 | Scene Painting | 3 |
| THTR 438 | Technical Theatre | 3 |
| THTR 490 | Directed Research | 2 |
| THTR 493ab | Periods and Styles | 2-2 |
| THTR 497 | Advanced Theatre Practicum | 4 |
| Required theatre units | 84 | |
| General education units | 36 | |
| Electives | 8 | |
| Total: | 128 | |