Acting, B.F.A.
Program Transfer Guide
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Effective
Fall, 2024 - Current
Instruction Methods
In person
About the Program
The Department of Theatre offers programs of study in acting and theatre design and production. The theatre department offers students an in-depth understanding of their chosen theatrical specialty and an equally expansive knowledge of dramatic history, theory and literature. Students have numerous opportunities to display an understanding of their course work by participating in main stage, studio and student-directed productions.
The theatre department offers two degrees: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Acting, an intensive performance program, and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Acting, which provides a broad understanding of all areas of theatre while maintaining a focus on acting. The B.A. is also offered to theatre majors focusing in technical theatre and design or theatre history and literature.
UMBC is one of the most frequently invited theatre programs to be invited to perform at the Kennedy Center, representing the best in college theatre from around the country.
Theatre students also become involved in a wide range of activities on and off campus. They may create a theatre piece with a faculty director and tour high schools, give Shakespeare workshops to inner-city children or develop scenes about dormitory life to be performed at student orientation events.
Auditions
Students enter via audition and/or evaluation in one of the following ways:
- Fall Semester Review: All acting students register for the fall Craft of Acting I course, and may apply for the Acting, B.F.A. at the end of their first semester. B.F.A. applicants who have demonstrated growth, commitment, and potential in their first semester coursework are invited to major.
- Early Acceptance: Students may audition for early acceptance into the Acting, B.F.A. Accepted students may declare the major immediately upon registration, and do not need to apply in their first year.
- Accelerated B.F.A.: Transferring students with prior college acting training may audition for the Acting, B.F.A. and placement in upper-level studio acting courses. Depending on previous coursework, the accelerated B.F.A. student may earn their degree in 4 or 5 semesters.