Theatre: Acting Emphasis, B.F.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 126-136

Major Hours: 86

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 40

Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 24


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50

Program Code: B275 P011

Admission

The Helmerich School of Drama follows the basic admission requirements of the University of Oklahoma and the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. Please refer to those sections in this catalog for specific details. In addition, admission to the OU School of Drama is by audition and/or interview only and requires an on-campus audition (for acting emphasis) or portfolio review (for design or technology emphasis), and/or interview (for dramaturgy or stage management emphasis). Students must be officially accepted into the School of Drama by audition and/or interview before being allowed to enroll for classes.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama degree is designed to provide the student with a solid foundation in each basic area of the theatre, with an opportunity to begin specialization in the sophomore year. 

Students must choose one of the following emphasis areas.

  • Acting Emphasis - Students will audition during the second semester of the freshman year.
  • Design Emphasis - Emphasis review is required for admission to the design/tech emphasis area at the end of the freshman year.
  • Dramaturgy Emphasis - Students must apply during the second semester of the freshman year.
  • Stage Management Emphasis - Admission must occur no later than the spring semester of the sophomore year.

Major Requirements

A grade of C or better is required in all courses taken within the School of Drama.  Audition/Interview is required for admission to degree program.

Drama Core

DRAM 1114Costume Construction4
DRAM 1124Stagecraft4
DRAM 1134Stage Lighting and Sound4
DRAM 1411Makeup1
DRAM 1513Introduction to Acting3
DRAM 2013Introduction to Theatrical Design and Production3
DRAM 2733Introduction to Dramaturgy3
DRAM 3613Directing I3
DRAM 3910Advanced Rehearsal and Production1
The following courses are satisfied in General Education Requirements:
History of the Theatre I (Core IV)
History of the Theatre II (Core IV)
Total Credit Hours26

Drama Emphasis Areas

Acting Emphasis - Students will audition during the second semester of the freshman year.

Acting Emphasis

Required Courses
DRAM 1523Character Study for the Actor3
DRAM 1612Introduction to Voice and Movement2
DRAM 1643Voice and Speech I3
DRAM 2323Stage Movement3
DRAM 2333Advanced Stage Movement3
DRAM 2513Scene Study for the Actor3
DRAM 2523Performing Shakespeare3
DRAM 2643Voice and Speech II3
DRAM 3643Voice And Speech III3
DRAM 4513Professional Preparation3
DANC 1312Modern Technique I2
Choose one Advised Movement Course from Dance, Drama, or other department2
Advised Drama Electives
Choose 27 hours27
Total Credit Hours60

Advised Drama Electives

Group A
Choose twenty-one semester hours from the following:21
History of Costume
Stage Movement: Theatrical Intimacy
Performing Departures from Realism
Performing New Plays
Advanced Shakespeare Performance
Stage Combat I: Unarmed Stage Combat
Stage Combat: Edged Weaponry
Acting for the Camera
Master Teachers of Acting
Advanced Voice Extended Usage
Performance Practicum
Any upper-division acting elective chosen in consultation with advisor
Group B
Choose six semester hours from the following:6
Directing II
The Modern Theatre
Playwriting I
Playwriting II
An elective outside the School as approved by advisor.
Any course from Group A not taken to satisfy Group A requirements

General Education and College Requirements

Courses designated as Core I, II, III, IV, or V are part of the General Education curriculum. Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of General Education courses, chosen from the approved list, including at least one upper-division General Education course outside of the student’s major. Courses graded S/U or P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language
Two courses in the same language, (which can be met by successfully completing 2 years of the same language in high school)0-10
Mathematics
MATH 1473Mathematics for Critical Thinking (Core I) (or advised math elective)3
Core Area II: Natural Science
Choose two courses from different disciplines in the biological and/or physical sciences, one of which must include a laboratory7-8
Core Area III: Social Science
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities
Artistic Forms
Choose one course 13
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
DRAM 3713History of the Theatre I3
DRAM 3723History of the Theatre II3
World Culture
Choose one course 13
Core Area V: First-Year Experience
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours40-51
1

The course taken to fulfill the upper-division General Education requirement outside the major may not be chosen from Drama courses. 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

At least 24 hours of upper-division Drama credit must be earned in residence as a declared major.

This plan of study should not be used in lieu of academic advisement. Unless otherwise stated on the degree sheet, the College of Fine Arts does not permit coursework to fulfill more than one degree requirement.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
DRAM 1114 Costume Construction 4
DRAM 1411 Makeup 1
DRAM 1513 Introduction to Acting 3
DRAM 1612 Introduction to Voice and Movement 2
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
MATH (Core I) 1 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
DRAM 1124 Stagecraft 4
DRAM 1523 Character Study for the Actor 3
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
First-Year Experience (Core V) 3
 Credit Hours17
Sophomore
First Semester
DRAM 1134 Stage Lighting and Sound 4
DRAM 1643 Voice and Speech I 3
DRAM 2323 Stage Movement 3
DRAM 2513 Scene Study for the Actor 3
DRAM 2733 Introduction to Dramaturgy 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
DRAM 2013 Introduction to Theatrical Design and Production 3
DRAM 2333 Advanced Stage Movement 3
DRAM 2523 Performing Shakespeare 3
DRAM 2643 Voice and Speech II 3
DRAM Advised Elective 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
 Credit Hours18
Junior
First Semester
DRAM 3613 Directing I 3
DRAM 3713 History of the Theatre I (Core IV) 3
DRAM 3910 Advanced Rehearsal and Production 1
DRAM Advised Elective 3
DRAM Advised Elective 3
Social Science (Core III) 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
DRAM 3723 History of the Theatre II (Core IV) 3
DRAM Advised Elective 3
DANC 1312 Modern Technique I 2
DRAM 3643 Voice And Speech III 3
Movement Elective 2
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
 Credit Hours16
Senior
First Semester
DRAM 4513 Professional Preparation 3
DRAM Advised Elective 3
DRAM Advised Elective 3
DRAM Advised Elective 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 0-5
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3-4
 Credit Hours15-21
Second Semester
DRAM Advised Elective 3
DRAM Advised Elective 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 0-5
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
World Culture (Core IV) 2 3
 Credit Hours12-17
 Total Credit Hours126-136
1

MATH 1473 is recommended

2

The course taken to fulfill the upper-division General Education requirement outside the major may not be chosen from Drama courses.