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2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Theatre (BFA)

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Program: Theatre (BFA) with Concentrations in: Acting; Musical Theatre; Production and Design; and Integrated Studies in Theatre

Department of Theatre

College of Visual and Performing Arts  

Williams Theatre 128  

260-481-6551

Program Description:

Students who are passionate about Theatre will have the opportunity to immerse in all aspects of the field with the BFA core curriculum. This nationally accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts degree requires students to develop a broad education in Theatre Arts with the common core but also requires specialization through completion of one of the four concentrations: Musical Theatre; Acting; Production and Design; or Integrated Studies in Theatre.

Students study and work one-on-one with dedicated and professionally active faculty. They benefit from the medium size of the department through opportunities to act, stage manage, and/or participate in production and design in major productions during their entire four-year course of study, starting in the freshman year. Many professions encompass the theatre complex, including but not limited to: stage management, directing, scenic design, costume design, special effects and make-up, technical direction, fight mastery, literary and theoretical scholarship, dramaturgy, sound design, lighting design, and performance. Students will learn about the wide array of possibilities.

The four categories of course completion requirements collectively total 120 credits for degree completion as detailed below:

  1. General Education Courses: 30 credits from a specified variety of subject areas across the University’s curriculum (C- or higher required). Note: DANC 11200 and THTR 32510 can count toward general education and major requirements.  All other courses can only count in one area. 
  2. Theatre Common Core Courses: As the major of the BFA in Theatre degree, these 46 credits cover a variety of Theatre subject areas and are designed to provide pre-professional foundational knowledge and skills in a wide range of specialties, which comprise the theatre complex (C- or higher required). 
  3. Theatre Concentrations: Credits vary slightly, depending on the concentration area (see below). Acceptance in each concentration depends upon the outcome of either an audition or interview. Each concentration provides specialized coursework that aligns with professional theatre pathways. Acquisition of specialization helps students to make post-graduation decisions, such as continuing on to graduate school, an entry-level apprenticeship or internship in their concentration area. Students may alternatively decide to leverage transferable skills acquired during the degree to pursue another professional pathway (C- or higher required). 
  4. Elective Courses: Any college-level course can be used to fulfill this requirement. 

The Common Core student learning outcomes for the BFA in Theatre degree are as follows:

SLO 1: Function within the theatre complex. Conceptualize and demonstrate in practice, verbally, and in writing an understanding and appreciation for all the practical aspects of theatre, including acting, design, directing, stage management, and technical production.

SLO 2: Apply literary analyses to theatre practices. Demonstrate the ability to analyze and develop unique perspectives on theatrical texts, then analyze such texts to support, modify, clarify, and magnify said perspectives to suit the needs of the various practical areas of theatre.

SLO 3: Develop a historical timeline. Gain a broad understanding of the cultural and socio-political contexts behind each period of dramatic literature and its related production practices. Additionally, acquire a historical overview of the major trends in Western Theatre, encompassing dramatic genres, production design/technology, and performance styles from various time periods and locales.

SLO 4: Write critically. Be able to demonstrate familiarity with the basics of critical writing by utilizing a combination of close-reading skills and development of a thesis statement. Then, provide analysis and evidence-based argumentation based on supporting research, such as primary and secondary source analysis.

SLO 5: Exhibit communication strategies. Develop various rhetorical strategies, such as describing, arguing/persuading, tracing, or defining, to present the results of critical thinking and original ideas via oral, visual, written, or aural methods; then employ these methods in discussion, practice, and/or formalized presentation.

SLO 6: Develop research methods: Practice the integration of thematic, literary, experiential, and emotional research through theoretical and visual means. Additionally, understand and document secondary source material and integrate it into writing and/or creative practice.

SLO 7: Develop and apply technical skills. Display a progression of practical techniques in the various theatrical disciplines. Integrate and execute these techniques as realized projects, performances, or presentations for application in theatre or related fields.

SLO 8: Collaborate. Exhibit civility, receptivity and responsiveness when listening to and expressing original ideas about a dramatic work, while exploring appreciation and curiosity through discussion and thematic development, as well as technical skill and production development.

SLO 9: Synthesis and implementation of concepts. Integrate theoretical and practical storytelling concepts to produce staged productions, presentations, or other tangible products.

Accreditation:

Purdue University Fort Wayne is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), and the current BFA is under review.

Program Delivery:

All courses for this degree program are conducted on campus at PFW.

Declaring This Major:

It is possible to declare the major and become accepted into one of the four concentrations of the BFA in Theatre prior to freshman year, contingent upon successful completion of entry audition, in the case of Acting and Musical Theatre concentrations, or interview, in the case of Production and Design and Integrated Studies concentrations. Interested high school seniors are encouraged to contact the Department of Theatre directly to discuss the BFA degree and the process of consideration for one of the four concentrations. he Theatre website also contains guidance. These entry auditions and/or interviews also double as consideration for a Department of Theatre scholarship.    

If not auditioning or interviewing prior to freshman year, students accepted to the university will automatically be admitted into the BFA; however, their concentration choice will be conditional. In this case, students will be required to complete an audition or interview in the fall of freshman year. Every effort will be made to match students to a concentration appropriate to their aptitude and readiness thus far. If not accepted into the preferred concentration at the start of freshman year, re-auditioning is possible at the end of freshman year and/or fall of sophomore year. To facilitate improvement, faculty will mentor students on ways to improve the interview or audition, including advice on preparatory coursework.

Students not initially offered a Department Scholarship prior to freshman year may apply for first-time scholarship consideration as early as spring of freshman year, at the same time students already on scholarship complete their renewal applications.

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs.  The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings.  Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program.  That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=5005&fos_credential=3

Program Requirements:

A student may elect the Pass/Not-Pass grading option for non-degree elective courses only. The Pass/Not-Pass grading option is not available for General Education or any electives required for the minor.

Theatre Majors must earn a C- or higher in all: 1) Statewide General Education core courses; 2) all Theatre core courses; and 3) all Theatre concentration courses. A grade of D- or higher is required in all open elective courses. An overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher must be maintained throughout the pursuit of the degree.

Below are suggested 4-Year plans for each concentration, plus a general option.  The plans below are for students who start the program in EVEN years.

 

 

General Education: Credits 30

Effective Fall 2025, the General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:

Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes.  You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements .

Theatre Core Courses (46 credits)

Note:  THTR 11200 and THTR 32510 can count toward general education and major requirements.

Required Theatre Concentration and Open Electives: Credits Vary

As explained in the introductory catalog descriptions of the BFA in Theatre, the remaining credits must be completed as follows:

Theatre Concentration: Students are required to complete one of the Department of Theatre’s Concentrations (placement determined by either interview or audition) in:  Musical Theatre (40 Credits); Acting (38 Credits); Production and Design (38 Credits); or Integrated Studies in Theatre (34 Credits). Students take a collection of pre-determined bundles of upper division theatre courses, providing specialization in a particular theatre field. Acquiring a certain degree of specialization helps the student to make decisions about post-graduate career paths, which may include going on to graduate school, starting a professional apprenticeship, or enrolling in a professional internship.

Open Electives: The remaining credits for the degree are completed as open electives. The number of electives vary by concentration, with Musical Theatre having 4 credits of electives; Acting and Production and Design having 6 credits of electives; and Integrated Studies in Theatre having 10 credits of electives.

Musical Theatre Concentration: 40 Credits

The Theatre Common Core, or BFA major, is designed to build comprehensive technical foundations across three primary areas: performance, production and design, and theatre history and literature. After completing this broad-based foundation, students move from skill reinforcement to mastery through a chosen concentration. In the Musical Theatre concentration, students pursue professional-level development in acting, singing, and dancing, with an emphasis on synthesizing these disciplines into cohesive performance. Departmental productions serve as laboratories where students apply classroom learning in real-world contexts. The concentration culminates in a capstone course, Acting IV: Professional Issues, and a capstone project known as the BFA Project, both designed to prepare students for professional careers. All BFA Musical Theatre students complete a 120-credit degree, encountering progressively advanced challenges and maintaining consistent expectations, though individual pathways may vary due to alternating teaching rotations that create odd-year and even-year entrance tracks. Additionally, Purdue University Fort Wayne’s banded tuition structure permits students to enroll in 12 to 18 credits per semester for a single tuition rate, offering flexibility to take heavier course loads-occasionally exceeding 30 credits per year-when appropriate. Students are encouraged to pursue supplementary technique classes, such as additional voice lessons or dance training, provided their financial aid and degree requirements remain secure. Overall, the program systematically integrates foundational breadth, specialized mastery, practical application, and professional preparation within a flexible academic structure.

The student learning outcomes specific to the Musical Theatre Concentration are as follows:

SLO 10: Demonstrate proficiency in dance. Acquire a strong foundation of dance vocabulary and execution in the principal styles of musical theatre dance: ballet, jazz, tap, achieving an intermediate level in two of these styles. Understand that continued development in dance training should continue post-graduation.

SLO 11: Demonstrate proficiency in music skills. Develop a comprehension of applicable music theory and musicianship skills for the purpose of learning and interpreting songs aurally and from sheet music. This should include skills in music reading, piano, and sight singing.

SLO 12: Demonstrate preprofessional proficiency in singing. Develop a flexible, healthy, and efficient singing voice capable of various singing styles.

SLO 13: Demonstrate preprofessional proficiency in acting. Use analytical skills to score dramatic repertoire of various styles and genres. Apply physical and vocal, analytical work to fully realized performances as appropriate for classwork, auditions, and productions.

SLO 14: Demonstrate preprofessional proficiency in acting while singing. Integrate the skills of acting and singing by embodying a character’s physical and vocal traits, in pursuit of an objective, with smooth transitions between speaking and singing.

SLO 15: Prepare for the profession. Develop the skills and repertoire necessary for assessing, pursuing, and securing work in professional musical theatre, including a growth mindset. Produce quality materials for a job search (headshot, resume, video clips, audition book, online presence, etc.).

SLO 16: Synthesize learning in performance. Synthesize all above SLOS 2, 3, 5-14 into the rehearsal and presentation of a musical theatre performance, demonstrating competence in acting, singing and dancing to the formation of a unified role.

 

Acting Concentration: 38 Credits

The Theatre Common Core, forming the foundation of the BFA major, provides comprehensive training in performance, production and design, and theatre history and literature, guiding students from introductory skill development to reinforced proficiency across all three areas. Within this structure, the Acting Concentration-one of four specialization options in the BFA in Theatre-offers a cumulative and progressively rigorous sequence of courses that extends well beyond the foundational performance training introduced in the Theatre Core. Acting students begin their focused training with Acting I, where they acquire essential skills through structured, experiential exercises emphasizing concentration, the creation of believable stage realities, and improvisation. In Acting II, students are introduced to the Stanislavski Method through increasingly complex monologues and scene work, primarily grounded in modern realistic drama. Acting III advances this work by challenging students to engage with more complex plays, thereby expanding their stylistic range and increasing their adaptability when creating characters beyond simple “types.” Vocal training also progresses from the foundational Voice for the Actor course in the Theatre Core to Advanced Voice for the Actor, which emphasizes the development of a fully embodied, expressive and resonant voice. Acting IV bridges academic training and professional practice by adapting learned techniques to real-world performance contexts. In addition to interpretive acting, students cultivate skills in collaborative creation through Theatrical Composition, where contemporary physical theatre methods inspire devised work and ensemble-based performance. The capstone BFA Project requires either independent research on a significant theatrical role or a research project that includes a performance component, synthesizing intellectual inquiry and practical application. Movement and dance training further enhance the actor’s versatility, aiming to build physical and vocal stamina while fostering storytelling performers. These approaches encourage students to merge movement and acting in service of narrative, character, and production needs. Finally, students complete elective special topics courses such as Stage Combat, Shakespeare, or Acting for the Camera, allowing for further specialization. Altogether, the Acting Concentration delivers a rigorous, layered, and professionally oriented education that develops technically skilled, physically expressive, and intellectually engaged actors prepared for diverse theatrical contexts.

 

The student learning outcomes specific to the Acting Concentration are as follows:

SLO 10: PHYSICAL AND VOCAL ENHANCEMENT Develop a flexible, strong, and controlled body and voice for characterization.

SLO 11: SCENE STUDY AND ANALYSIS Perform action-based script analysis, evaluate given circumstances, and create believable characters.

SLO 12: STIMULUS AND RESPONSE TRAINING Master listening, truthful and immediate responding, by creating meaningful connections to roles.

SLO 13: STYLES AWARENESS Demonstrate recognition of the diversity that exists in historical and cultural performance styles within the Western canon. 

SLO 14: PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION Understand the routines of the professional actor, including auditioning, resume management, agents, unions, and ongoing career development.

SLO 15: PROFESSIONAL ETHICS Exhibit a disciplined, collaborative, and professional approach in classes and productions.

SLO 16: PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT Create a body of work in a range of character types, styles, periods and genres, which demonstrate professional standards and the synthesis of coursework. 

SLO 17: CRITICAL INQUIRY Use critical/historical inquiry to explore and realize characters in performance.

 

Production and Design Concentration: 38 Credits

The Theatre Common Core, leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major, is a generalist, professional degree designed to build strong technical and artistic foundations in performance, production and design, and theatre history and literature. Through a carefully sequenced curriculum, students progress from introductory skill development to reinforced and advanced competencies across these three interconnected areas. The Production and Design Concentration provides a focused yet comprehensive pathway for students who wish to develop advanced expertise in the technical and creative dimensions of theatrical production. While grounded in the shared Theatre Core, this concentration layers progressively sophisticated coursework and hands-on experiences to cultivate both breadth and depth of knowledge. The program is immersive and experiential, blending artistry with technical precision. Students gain practical training in multiple areas, including but not limited to: scenic design, lighting design, costume design, stage management, and backstage crew operations. Emphasis is placed on transforming conceptual ideas into realized performances through collaboration, creativity, and professional standards. Faculty mentorship and extensive production opportunities enable students to refine their craft while building a substantial professional portfolio in their chosen specialization. This portfolio complements the broad-based preparation of the BFA Theatre Core, enhancing graduates’ readiness for diverse career paths. Whether pursuing graduate study or entering professional fields such as regional and commercial theatre, theme parks, touring productions, or film, students emerge prepared for the competitive, interdisciplinary nature of the entertainment industry. For those pursuing the Production and Design Concentration, this Production and Design groundwork laid in the Theatre Common Core is expanded significantly. Concentration students complete coursework in the remaining two design areas and the third technology discipline, broadening their technical mastery. They deepen their historical and stylistic understanding through Period Styles I and II, strengthening their ability to contextualize design within theatrical traditions. Professional preparation is further enhanced through a Design Portfolio course and a culminating BFA capstone project, which synthesizes their learning in a substantial creative endeavor.

The student learning outcomes specific to the Production and Design Concentration are as follows:

SLO 10: Design Theory & Composition Articulate and apply the fundamental elements and principles of design and composition (including line, shape, color, texture) to create a cohesive and expressive production aesthetic.

SLO 11: Visual Communication Communicate design concepts through a range of visual media, including freehand sketching, formalized hand-drafting, 3D modeling, and industry-standard digital software (CAD) to produce accurate technical drawings.

SLO 12: Professional Collaboration Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate and negotiate design ideas, technical requirements, and production realities with the creative team, including directors, fellow designers, and stage management.

SLO 13: Technical Integration & Engineering Apply an understanding of the production pipeline (“shop” process) and basic engineering principles (electrical, mechanical, or structural) to transition design concepts into safe, functional, and realized theatrical elements.

SLO 14: Visual Research & Dramaturgical Translation Conduct exhaustive visual and dramaturgical research (synthesizing historical periods, architecture, decor, and cultural artifacts) to translate thematic and emotional concepts into specific, research-informed design choices.

SLO 15: Professional Portfolio & Realized Practice Prepare a professional-grade résumé and portfolio that demonstrates a mastery of the design process and technical proficiency, culminating in the design or technical direction of at least one fully realized production presented before an audience.

 

Integrated Studies in Theatre Concentration: 34 Credits

The Theatre Common Core, or BFA major, provides a structured progression from introductory skills to reinforced proficiency across performance, production and design, and theatre history and literature, establishing a strong generalist foundation. Building on this base, the Integrated Studies in Theatre Concentration is one of four BFA specialization options and is distinguished by its flexible, multi-disciplinary design. Unlike the other concentrations, it allows students either to pursue advanced study in two theatre disciplines through carefully structured specialization bundles or to combine one primary theatre discipline with a minor in an outside field, using electives as needed. Students must select a primary theatre area and complete a capstone aligned with that discipline or opt for an independent interdisciplinary research project, particularly encouraged for those pairing theatre with another field. As with all BFA candidates, Integrated Studies students complete a culminating BFA Project grounded in applied theatre practice, though the specific form of the project reflects how they synthesize their chosen areas of study. The curriculum has been intentionally designed to ensure appropriate scope and sequence, and it includes an in-department dance specialization option, too, acknowledging the department’s inclusion of the university’s dance program and accommodating students seeking deeper dance study. This concentration is designed to attract several types of students: those with broad theatrical interests not yet ready to narrow their focus to a single specialty and those who wish to integrate theatre with another academic discipline. The Integrated Studies model enables students to achieve meaningful advancement toward mastery in two areas while preserving intellectual breadth. The program supports the development of conceptual crossovers and comparative frameworks for understanding meaning-making across disciplines. Overall, the Integrated Studies in Theatre Concentration expands the BFA’s flexibility while maintaining rigorous standards, supporting both breadth and depth, and preparing students for collaborative, reflective, and integrative artistic practice.

The student learning outcomes specific to the Integrated Studies in Theatre Concentration are as follows:

SLO 10: Multi-Disciplinary Proficiency Demonstrate advanced technical proficiency in two distinct areas of theatre arts (e.g., Acting and Design) or one area of theatre arts combined with a complementary outside field of study.

SLO 11: Interdisciplinary Synthesis Synthesize methodologies from two or more disciplines to form a cohesive, comparative conceptualization of theatrical practice and scholarship.

SLO 12: Integrated Capstone Project Execute a culminating capstone project-via applied arts, theoretical writing, or a professional portfolio-that integrates multi-disciplinary research to inform script analysis, design, and performance choices.

SLO 13: Personal Artistic Voice & Reflection Critically reflect on one’s multi-disciplinary body of work to articulate a unique, informed perspective on storytelling and a personal artistic identity.

SLO 14: Collaborative Leadership & Ensemble Apply ensemble principles and advanced interpersonal skills to work effectively within diverse professional teams, demonstrating the ability to bridge communication between different production areas.

SLO 15: Mastery of Production Systems Demonstrate a high-level understanding of the “theatre complex,” including the logistical and creative interdependence between performance development, stage management, directing, and technical production.

Total Credits: 120

 

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean. 

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