Performing Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (588P, 588)
Program Coordinator
Alan R. White, alan.white@wku.edu, (270) 745-5845
Our BFA - Performing Arts degree a pre-professional program. It involves rigorous, conservatory-style training intended to hone your skills for entry into the professional world of the performing arts. Our BFA involves both a broad introduction to all aspects of theatre and concentrated training in one of the following areas: Acting, Theatre, Musical Theatre, or Theatre Design & Technology. A minor or second major is not required to accompany this degree. All students who state an intention to pursue a BFA in Performing Arts will first be enrolled under the status “seeking admission” to the major. Students must formally apply for admission into the BFA in Performing Arts in a subsequent semester. In order to be eligible to apply you must have:
- Earned at least 30 college credits from an accredited college, university or post secondary conservatory;
- Maintained an overall GPA of at least 2.5;
- Demonstrated exceptional talent, commitment, self discipline, reliability, and a reasonable likelihood of success as a performing arts professional in at least one area of concentration;
- Participated fully in at least one previous Jury.
You must apply in your third semester, unless your advisor gives you permission to delay the initial application by one semester. If you are a transfer student your advisor will recommend your application semester. If you are denied admission to the major you may re-apply the following semester with no special procedure. A third attempt is only available by special petition to the faculty. You may also be accepted conditionally. This is at the department’s discretion, and the schedule for when these conditions must be met is to be determined by the student’s advisor. For a full understanding of the BFA application and Jury process you may download the current BFA – Performing Arts Handbook on the Departmental website: https://www.wku.edu/theatre-and-dance/schedules_and_forms/departmental-forms.php. Keep in mind, half of the total hours in the degree must be in upper-division coursework.
Concentrations
- Acting (PACT)
- Theatre Design & Technology (PDES)
- Theatre (THEA)
- Musical Theatre (MUTH)
Program Requirements (74 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts - Performing Arts degree is an interdisciplinary major that requires the completion of a common 24 credit hour performing arts core and a 50 credit hour depth concentration in one of the following areas:
- Acting
- Musical Theatre
- Theatre
- Theatre Design & Technology
Performing Arts Core
All concentrations require the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Career Prep (6 hours) | ||
| PERF 175 | University Experience: Performing Arts | 2 |
| PERF 450 | Performing Arts Career Seminar | 1 |
| PERF 451 | Career Seminar Workshop | 2 |
| In addition, select one of the following THEA courses: | ||
| THEA 203 | Acting Audition Workshop | 1 |
| or THEA 204 | Portfolio Preparation Workshop | |
| History & Theory (6 hours) | ||
| THEA 252 | Fundamentals of Theatre | 3 |
| In addition, select one of the following THEA courses: | ||
| THEA 363 | World Theatre History I | 3 |
| or THEA 364 | World Theatre History II | |
| Performance (3 hours) | ||
| THEA 101 | Acting I | 3 |
| Design & Production (9 hours) | ||
| THEA 219 | Design I | 3 |
| PERF 120 | Rehearsal and Production | 1 |
| PERF 220 | Production Lab I (taken once as 1 credit class, or twice as .5 credit class) | 0.5-1 |
| PERF 320 | Production Lab II (taken once as 1 credit class, or twice as .5 credit class) | 0.5-1 |
| In addition, select one of the following THEA courses: | 3 | |
| Stagecraft | ||
| Costume Technology | ||
| Stage Electrics | ||
| Stage Management | ||
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Acting Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| History and Literature (6 hours) | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| World Theatre History I | ||
or THEA 364 | World Theatre History II | |
or THEA 365 | U.S. Theatre History | |
| In addition, select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Topics in Drama | ||
or THEA 430 | Musical Theatre History | |
| Acting and Performance (21 hours) | ||
| PERF 205 | Voice and Movement for the Stage | 1 |
| THEA 141 | Stage Makeup | 1 |
| THEA 300 | Acting II | 3 |
| THEA 301 | Acting III | 3 |
| THEA 414 | Acting IV | 3 |
| THEA 371 | Directing I | 3 |
| PERF 401 | Solo Performance | 3 |
| PERF 350 | Voice and Diction for the Theatre | 1 |
| In addition, select one of the following THEA courses: | 3 | |
| Special Topics in Acting | ||
or THEA 410 | Playing Shakespeare | |
| Production (6 hours) | ||
| Take one of the following courses not taken in the BFA core: | 3 | |
| Stagecraft | ||
or THEA 241 | Costume Technology | |
or THEA 250 | Stage Electrics | |
or THEA 311 | Stage Management | |
| Take three credit hours from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Production Lab III | ||
or PERF 420 | Production Lab IV | |
or PERF 421 | Production Lab V | |
or PERF 340 | Performance Lab I | |
or PERF 341 | Performance Lab II | |
or PERF 440 | Performance Lab III | |
or PERF 331 | Dramaturgy Lab | |
| Select 17 hours of restricted electives (any relevant THEA, DANC, or PERF course with advisor’s approval) At least 3 hours must be upper level if THEA 311 wasn't taken in the CORE or Acting concentration. | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 50 | |
Theatre Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Acting and Directing (10 hours) | ||
| PERF 205 | Voice and Movement for the Stage | 1 |
| THEA 300 | Acting II | 3 |
| THEA 301 | Acting III | 3 |
| THEA 371 | Directing I | 3 |
| Devising Performance (3 hours) 1 | ||
| Select at least one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Topics in Contemporary Performance Studies | ||
or PERF 401 | Solo Performance | |
or THEA 358 | Drama Writing | |
| History & Literature (9 hours) 1 | ||
| Select at least one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| World Theatre History I | ||
or THEA 364 | World Theatre History II | |
or THEA 365 | U.S. Theatre History | |
| In addition, take at least 6 hours from the following courses: | 6 | |
| Topics in Drama (may be repeated up to three times) | ||
or THEA 430 | Musical Theatre History | |
| Youth Theatre (3 hours) 1 | ||
| Select at least one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Theatre in Education | ||
or THEA 391 | Theatre for Young Audiences | |
or THEA 425 | Play Production in the Schools | |
| Production (6 hours) | ||
| Take one of the following courses not taken in the BFA core: | 3 | |
| Stagecraft | ||
or THEA 241 | Costume Technology | |
or THEA 250 | Stage Electrics | |
or THEA 311 | Stage Management | |
| Take three hours from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Production Lab III | ||
or PERF 420 | Production Lab IV | |
or PERF 421 | Production Lab V | |
or PERF 340 | Performance Lab I | |
or PERF 341 | Performance Lab II | |
or PERF 440 | Performance Lab III | |
or PERF 331 | Dramaturgy Lab | |
| Advanced Practice (12 hours) | ||
| Select at least twelve hours from the following courses: | 12 | |
| Choreography I | ||
| Voice and Diction for the Theatre | ||
| Theatre in Diversion | ||
| Professional Work / Career Experience in Theatre | ||
| Advanced Performing Arts Studio | ||
| Performing Arts Management | ||
| Research in Theatre and Dance | ||
| Performing Arts Practicum II | ||
| Performing Arts Practicum III | ||
| Design II | ||
| Stage Design | ||
| Culture and Performance | ||
| Directing II | ||
| Production of Theatre for Children | ||
| Acting IV | ||
| Stage Lighting Design | ||
| Topics in Design and Technical Theatre | ||
| Costume Design | ||
| Select 7 hours of restricted electives (any relevant THEA, DANC, or PERF course with advisor’s approval) | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 50 | |
- 1
Additional courses taken in this category may count towards the Advanced Practice category.
Musical Theatre Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Acting (17 hours) | ||
| THEA 141 | Stage Makeup | 1 |
| PERF 205 | Voice and Movement for the Stage | 1 |
| THEA 300 | Acting II | 3 |
| THEA 301 | Acting III | 3 |
| THEA 414 | Acting IV | 3 |
| THEA 307 | Musical Theatre Workshop I | 3 |
| THEA 407 | Musical Theatre Workshop II | 3 |
| Dance (12 hours) | ||
| Select 4 hours from the following courses: | 4 | |
| Foundations of Dance Technique | ||
| Ballet Technique (any level, 2 hours each) | ||
| In addition, take the following Dance Technique courses: | ||
| Jazz Technique (any level, 2 hours each) | 4 | |
| Tap Technique (any level) | 2 | |
| Dance Technique Elective | 2 | |
| Music | ||
| MUS 102 | Music Theory I for Non-Majors | 3 |
| MUS 170 | Group Piano for Non-Majors | 1 |
| THEA 306 | Musical Theatre Ensemble | 1 |
| Take one of the following MUS courses: | 1 | |
| Group Voice | ||
or MUS 150 | Applied Music Secondary | |
| Followed by two semesters of: | 2 | |
| Applied Music Secondary (1 hour each) | ||
| Followed by one semester of: | 1 | |
| Applied Vocal Styles I | ||
| Followed by four semesters of: | 4 | |
| Applied Vocal Styles II (1 hour each) | ||
| History & Literature (6 hours) | ||
| THEA 430 | Musical Theatre History | 3 |
| THEA 431 | Musical Theatre Repertoire | 3 |
| Production (2 hours) | ||
| Take two hours from the following courses: | 2 | |
| Production Lab III | ||
or PERF 420 | Production Lab IV | |
or PERF 340 | Performance Lab I | |
or PERF 341 | Performance Lab II | |
or PERF 440 | Performance Lab III | |
or PERF 331 | Dramaturgy Lab | |
| Total Hours | 50 | |
Theatre Design & Technology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Design (9 hours) | ||
| THEA 319 | Design II | 3 |
| In addition, select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| History of Art Since 1300 | ||
or THEA 323 | Period Styles in Design | |
| In addition, select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Stage Design | ||
or THEA 422 | Stage Lighting Design | |
or THEA 441 | Costume Design | |
| History & Literature (6 hours) | ||
| Take at least one of the following courses, if not taken in the BFA core: | 3 | |
| World Theatre History I | ||
or THEA 364 | World Theatre History II | |
or THEA 365 | U.S. Theatre History | |
| In addition, select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Topics in Drama | ||
or THEA 430 | Musical Theatre History | |
| Technical Theatre (6 hours) | ||
| Take at least two of the following courses not taken in the BFA core: | 6 | |
| Stagecraft | ||
| Costume Technology | ||
| Stage Electrics | ||
| Stage Management | ||
| Production (5 hours) | ||
| PERF 321 | Production Lab III | 0.5-1 |
| PERF 420 | Production Lab IV | 0.5-1 |
| PERF 421 | Production Lab V | 0.5-1 |
| PERF 430 | Production Lab VI | 0.5-1 |
| In addition, select one hour from the following courses: | 1 | |
| Production Lab VII | ||
or PERF 340 | Performance Lab I | |
or PERF 331 | Dramaturgy Lab | |
| Advanced Practice (12 hours) | ||
| THEA 371 | Directing I | 3 |
| In addition, take three semesters of: | 9 | |
| Topics in Design and Technical Theatre | ||
| Select 12 hours of restricted electives (any relevant THEA, DANC, or PERF course with advisor’s approval) At least 3 hours must be upper level if THEA 311 or THEA 323 weren't taken in the CORE or Theatre Design and Technology concentration. | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 50 | |
Finish in Four Plans
Acting
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 175 | 2 | PERF 220 | 1 |
| PERF 120 | 1 | THEA 300 | 3 |
| THEA 252 | 3 | THEA 222, THEA 241, or THEA 250 | 3 |
| THEA 101 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| PERF 205 | 1 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 |
| MATH 109 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 320 | 1 | PERF 321 or PERF 340 | 1 |
| THEA 375 | 3 | THEA 414 | 3 |
| THEA 301 | 3 | THEA 219 | 3 |
| THEA 203 | 1 | Colonnade: Arts & Humanities (Recommend ART 100, ART 105 or MUS 120) | 3 |
| THEA 222, THEA 241, THEA 250, or THEA 311 | 3 | Colonnade: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| THEA 141 | 1 | Acting Elective | 3 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 420 or PERF 341 | 1 | PERF 421 or PERF 440 | 1 |
| THEA 363 | 3 | THEA 364 | 3 |
| THEA 371 | 3 | THEA 412 | 3 |
| THEA 401 | 3 | Acting Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with lab | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 450 | 1 | THEA 412 | 3 |
| PERF 451 | 2 | PERF 350 | 1 |
| Acting Elective | 3 | Acting Elective | 3 |
| Acting Elective | 3 | Acting Elective | 2 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 1 | ||
| 13 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- No minor or second major is required.
- You Must consult with your advisor for selection of acting electives.
- Production Lab and Performance Lab courses (PERF 220, PERF 221, PERF 320, PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 440) may be offered as 1 credit or 0.5 credit. BFA in Performing Arts students with a concentration in Acting must take one credit of PERF 220 (taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class) and one credit of PERF 320 (taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class). They must also take an additional three credits worth of Production or Performance Lab credits from the following menu: PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 430 and PERF 440.
- At least 50% (37 credit hours) of the BFA in Performing Arts must be in upper-division courses, numbered 300+.
Theatre Design and Technology
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 175 | 2 | PERF 220 | 1 |
| PERF 120 | 1 | THEA 101 | 3 |
| THEA 252 | 3 | THEA 219 | 3 |
| THEA 222, THEA 241, THEA 250, or THEA 311 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | ART 106 | 3 |
| MATH 109 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 320 | 1 | PERF 321 or PERF 340 | 1 |
| THEA 363 | 3 | THEA 319 | 3 |
| THEA 222, THEA 241, THEA 250, or THEA 311 | 3 | THEA 222, THEA 241, or THEA 250 | 3 |
| THEA 204 | 1 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 |
| THEA 375 | 3 | Colonnade: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | Design/Tech Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 420 or PERF 341 | 1 | PERF 421 or PERF 440 | 1 |
| THEA 363 | 3 | THEA 364 | 3 |
| THEA 371 | 3 | THEA 424 | 3 |
| THEA 424 | 3 | Design/Tech Elective | 3 |
| THEA 322, THEA 422, or THEA 441 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with Lab | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 440 | 1 | Design/Tech Elective | 3 |
| PERF 450 | 1 | Design/Tech Elective | 3 |
| PERF 451 (PACS Lab - Design/Tech) | 2 | Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 |
| THEA 424 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| Design/Tech Elective | 3 | General Elective | 2 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | ||
| 13 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- No minor or second major is required.
- You Must consult with your advisor for selection of acting electives.
- Production Lab and Performance Lab courses (PERF 220, PERF 221, PERF 320, PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 440) may be offered as 1 credit or 0.5 credit. BFA in Performing Arts students with a concentration in Theatre Design & Technology must take one credit ofPERF 220(taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class) and one credit ofPERF 320(taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class). They must also take an additional five credits worth of Production Lab credits from the following menu: PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 430 andPERF 440.
- At least 50% (37 credit hours) of the BFA in Performing Arts must be in upper-division courses, numbered 300+.
Musical Theatre
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 175 | 2 | PERF 220 | 1 |
| PERF 120 | 1 | THEA 300 | 3 |
| THEA 101 | 3 | THEA 252 | 3 |
| MUS 102 | 3 | Ballet Technique Course | 2 |
| MUS 162 | 1 | MUS 170 | 1 |
| Ballet Technique Course | 2 | MUS 350 | 1 |
| PERF 205 | 1 | THEA 141 | 1 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | MUS 120 | 3 |
| MATH 109 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 18 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 320 | 1 | PERF 321 or PERF 340 | 1 |
| THEA 363 | 3 | THEA 414 | 3 |
| THEA 301 | 3 | THEA 307 | 3 |
| THEA 203 | 1 | THEA 324 | 1 |
| THEA 306 | 1 | THEA 430 | 3 |
| Jazz Technique Course | 2 | Jazz Technique Course | 2 |
| MUS 350 | 1 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 420 or PERF 341 | 1 | THEA 407 | 3 |
| THEA 431 | 3 | THEA 385 | 1 |
| THEA 385 | 1 | Tap Technique Course | 2 |
| THEA 222, THEA 241, THEA 250, or THEA 311 | 3 | THEA 219 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 450 | 1 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with Lab | 3 |
| PERF 451 (PACS Lab - Acting) | 2 | THEA 385 | 1 |
| Dance Elective Technique Course | 2 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| THEA 385 | 1 | General Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | General Elective | 1 |
| 12 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- No minor or second major is required.
- You Must consult with your advisor for selection of musical threatre electives.
- Production Lab and Performance Lab courses (PERF 220, PERF 221, PERF 320, PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 440) may be offered as 1 credit or 0.5 credit. BFA in Performing Arts students with a concentration in Musical Threatre must take one credit of PERF 220 (taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class) and one credit of PERF 320 (taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class). They must also take an additional three credits worth of Production or Performance Lab credits from the following menu: PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 430 and PERF 440.
- At least 50% (37 credit hours) of the BFA in Performing Arts must be in upper-division courses, numbered 300+.
Theatre
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 175 | 2 | PERF 220 | 1 |
| PERF 120 | 1 | THEA 222, THEA 241, or THEA 250 | 3 |
| THEA 252 | 3 | THEA 300 | 3 |
| THEA 101 | 3 | THEA 219 | 3 |
| PERF 205 | 1 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| MATH 109 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 320 | 1 | Production, Performance, or Dramaturgy Lab | 1 |
| THEA 375 | 3 | THEA 430 | 3 |
| THEA 371 | 3 | THEA 301 | 3 |
| THEA 222, THEA 241, THEA 250, or THEA 311 | 3 | THEA 358 | 3 |
| THEA 203 or THEA 204 | 1 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | Colonnade: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Production, Performance, or Dramaturgy Lab | 1 | Production, Performance, or Dramaturgy Lab | 1 |
| THEA 363 | 3 | THEA 364 or THEA 365 | 3 |
| THEA 325 | 3 | Advanced Practice Course | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 | Advanced Practice Course | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with Lab | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PERF 450 | 1 | Theatre Elective | 3 |
| PERF 451 | 2 | Theatre Elective | 2 |
| Advanced Practice Course | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 |
| Advanced Practice Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| Theatre Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 12 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- No minor or second major is required.
- You must consult with your advisor for selection of acting electives.
- Production Lab and Performance Lab courses (PERF 220, PERF 221, PERF 320, PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 440) may be offered as 1 credit or 0.5 credit. BFA in Performing Arts students with a concentration in Theatre must take one credit of PERF 220 (taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class) and one credit of PERF 320 (taken once as a 1 credit class, or twice as a 0.5 credit class). They must also take an additional five credits worth of Production Lab credits from the following menu: PERF 321, PERF 340, PERF 341, PERF 420, PERF 421, PERF 430 and PERF 440.
- At least 50% (37 credit hours) of the BFA in Performing Arts must be in upper-division courses, numbered 300+.