Bachelor of Fine Arts - Theatre
- 4 years
- Duration
- 166,160 USD
- Price
- Rolling admission
- Start
- Rolling admission
- Deadline
- Bachelor
- Degree
- Campus
- Format
- Kansas City / USA
- Location
- Avila University
- School
Program description
The goal of the 120-credit undergraduate theater program at Avila University is to prepare students for employment in the field within a liberal arts framework. We offer a variety of routes to success in the field, including a B.F.A. with minors in music, dance, and theater and majors in acting, musical theater, directing/producing, or design/technology & management.
Under the direction of knowledgeable instructors, our pre-professional program matches your education with your professional objectives. We value skill and commitment more than seniority and offer leadership chances that develop practical abilities. We foster an atmosphere of development and inquiry, urging students to try out all aspects of theater. This method gives pupils adaptability, which is essential for a successful career in the fast-paced theater industry.
Program structure
Core Curriculum: 38 - 51 credit hours
Theatre, B.F.A. Requirements (20 credit hours)
The candidate for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre must complete all the general degree requirements as stated in the Core Curriculum. In addition, the B.F.A. candidate must complete at least 24 upper-division hours in the major at Avila. A maximum of 75 hours in any single subject is allowed. Theatre majors and minors must receive a grade of “C” or higher in all courses taken in the major.
- TR 223 - History and Literature of the Theatre I (3)
- TR 225 - Stage Combat (2)
- TR 251 - Stagecraft (3)
- TR 253 - Stage Lighting (3)
- TR 271 - Acting I (3)
- TR 272 - Acting II (3)
- TR 281 - Script Analysis/Directing Principles (3)
- TR 377 - Business of Theatre (3)
- TR 425 - Dramatic Theory & Criticism (3)
- TR 499 - Senior Project (3)
B.F.A. Concentrations
Theatre, B.F.A. majors must choose one of the following concentrations to complete their degree.
-
Acting Concentration (32 credit hours)
-
Directing/Producing Concentration (30-33 hours)
-
Musical Theatre Concentration (23 credit hours)
-
Theatre Design & Technology Concentration (48 credit hours)
Electives (minimum of 8 credit hours)
Price
Once you’ve applied and been accepted at Avila, you’ll need to make a nonrefundable deposit to hold your place. Graduate deposit = 5,000 USD; Undergraduate deposit = 8,000 USD. Your deposit will be applied toward your first-semester tuition amount.
- Tuition fees — 166,160 USD per course
Requirements for applicants
International students are applicants who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. They must submit the items listed below:
- Application for Admission
- Official transcripts from secondary schools and universities attended. Secondary transcripts must be submitted if a student has not completed a full year of postsecondary equivalency. All transcripts not written in English must be accompanied by notarized English translations. All transcripts should include the following information:
- dates of attendance
- courses taken and grades received
- degree earned and date received
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report or an equivalent approved English proficiency test score. All international students must submit proof of proficiency in the English language by means of the TOEFL or previous college coursework. If the student’s native language is English, no TOEFL is required. No TOEFL is required if the student has successfully completed twelve credit hours of core curriculum courses as defined in the Avila University Catalog with a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0 and no “F” grades. The TOEFL requirement may sometimes be waived for students who have completed high school or at least one year of study at a college where all instruction was conducted in English.
- If the TOEFL is required, students must submit an official TOEFL score report. The minimum TOEFL score for admission to an undergraduate degree program is 61 for the Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) or 500 for the Paper-based TOEFL test. The TOEFL University Code for Avila University is 6109. No TOEFL score is needed for the Intensive Language and Culture Program (ILCP).
- All admitted international students must submit a Statement of Finance. All statements not written in English must be accompanied by notarized English translations. Proof of support may be a bank statement or other documents guaranteeing the student’s ability to meet the costs of study in the United States. If the funds belong to a parent or sponsor, the sponsor must also submit a letter of intent to sponsor the student’s tuition and living expenses.
When an accepted international student has provided a Statement of Finance, the Office of Admission will issue an I-20 for a non-immigrant student visa. Upon arrival at Avila University, all accepted international students are billed for Avila University health insurance coverage unless proof of equal to or better than the Avila University insurance is obtained.
In addition to the degree requirements, upon graduation an Avila University Theatre major will have demonstrated the ability to:
Theatre B.A. and B.F.A. Outcomes
- Upon graduation an Avila University theatre major will have demonstrated the ability to place text and production in an historical and theoretical context. (TR 223 and TR 499)
- Upon graduation an Avila University theatre major will have demonstrated the ability to display a basic knowledge of acting technique and character development. (TR 271 and TR 499)
- Upon graduation an Avila University theatre major will have demonstrated the ability to display a basic knowledge of elemental technical theatre techniques. (TR 251 and TR 499)
Upon graduation an Avila University theatre major with a musical theatre concentration will have demonstrated the ability to place music in proper historical social context; define and apply appropriate vocabulary and terminology to music and demonstrate the comprehensive knowledge of music through performance. (MU 498)
In addition, the B.F.A graduate will have demonstrated the ability to:
- Acting: Recognize, distinguish, and implement a range of acting styles. (TR 471)
- Directing: Direct (analyze and realize) a dramatic work. (TR 463)
- Design and Technology: Communicate concepts and ideas visually and orally. (TR 451)
- Musical Theatre: Realize a musical theatre character from printed word to performance. (TR 377)
- Musical Theatre: Demonstrate knowledge of harmony, melody and rhythm through analysis. (MU 272)
About the university

Upon their arrival in the United States from France in the middle of the 1800s, the Sisters of St. Joseph committed themselves to the "practice of all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and which will most benefit the dear neighbor." Avila University was founded on these tenets, and it has carried on the heritage via its values and mission.
As a result of our Catholic heritage, Avila University offers an educational experience that fosters the growth of the whole person by teaching students how to love in a way that aims to bring them closer to God and to their beloved neighbor.
The goal of Avila students is to change the world and their communities through creativity, passion, and drive. There are a lot of international students from around the globe on campus. Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, France, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam are among the nations.