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Theater

​The Theatre School's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Acting prepares actors to work on both stage and screen. It develops actors who are imaginative, skillful, expressive and vibrantly alive. It is rooted in the Chicago tradition, emphasizing physicality, truth in action, communication, collaboration and spontaneity. The first year introduces the actor to a broad range of techniques and experiences, defines a way of working and provides a set of skills. The next three years focus on developing and refining this way of working - adding skills and technique - while helping each actor discover and apply those which work best for them.​

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 52
Major Requirements 162
Total hours required 214
  • Read and interpret theatrical text and apply research, imagination, and personalization to create a unique, insightful, and compelling performance.
  • Act truthfully from moment-to-moment in a variety of theatrical works, periods, and styles.
  • Demonstrate personal practice of improving vocal and physical expressiveness as an actor.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Not Required
Senior Year
Capstone
Not Required
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course. 

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain.  The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned  in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152 MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162 MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 1 Course Required

Math and Computing (MC)

  • Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 1 Lab Course or 1 SWK Course Required

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • Not Required

Other

  • Choose 1 course from the above learning domains as an elective

Notes

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.​​

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
Acting I Sequence
PRF 111 ACTING I 3
PRF 112 ACTING I 3
PRF 113 ACTING I 3
Movement I Sequence
PRF 121 MOVEMENT I 3
PRF 122 MOVEMENT I 3
PRF 123 MOVEMENT I 3
Voice and Speech I Sequence
PRF 131 VOICE AND SPEECH I 3
PRF 132 VOICE AND SPEECH I 3
PRF 133 VOICE AND SPEECH I 3
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement)
THE 204 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
THE 205 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
THE 206 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
Three Quarters of Crew
TEC 107 THEATRE CREW (three quarters) 6
Second Year
PRF 281 STAGE COMBAT 1
PRF 214 MAKE-UP 4
PRF 314 THE ACTOR IN TV & FILM 1
Acting II Sequence
PRF 211 ACTING II 3
PRF 212 ACTING II 3
PRF 213 ACTING II 3
Movement II Sequence
PRF 221 MOVEMENT II 3
PRF 222 MOVEMENT II 3
PRF 223 MOVEMENT II 3
Voice and Speech II Sequence
PRF 231 VOICE AND SPEECH II 3
PRF 232 VOICE AND SPEECH II 3
PRF 233 VOICE AND SPEECH II 3
Introduction to Performance Sequence
PRF 261 INTRODUCTION TO PERFORMANCE 3
PRF 262 INTRODUCTION TO PERFORMANCE 3
PRF 263 INTRODUCTION TO PERFORMANCE 3
Third Year
Acting III Sequence
PRF 311 ACTING III 4
PRF 312 ACTING III 4
PRF 313 ACTING III 4
Movement III Sequence
PRF 321 MOVEMENT III 4
PRF 322 MOVEMENT III 4
PRF 323 MOVEMENT III 4
Voice and Speech III Sequence
PRF 331 VOICE AND SPEECH III 4
PRF 332 VOICE AND SPEECH III 4
PRF 333 VOICE AND SPEECH III 4
Technique Sequence
PRF 318 MOVIE ACTING TECHNIQUE 1
PRF 319 TECHNIQUE 1
Rehearsal and Performance I Sequence. Select two out of the three courses, dependent on casting: 8
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE I
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE I
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE I
Fourth Year
PRF 411 DIGITAL SHOWCASE PREP 4
PRF 390 MANAGING AN ACTING CAREER 4
PRF 416 GRADUATE SHOWCASE 4
Audition Sequence
PRF 414 ACTING AS A PROFESSION 2
PRF 415 BUSINESS OF ACTING 2
On Camera Coursework
PRF 420 ON-CAMERA AUDITION 3
PRF 327 ON-CAMERA SKILLS (One 5 week course) 2
PRF 328 ACTING FOR THE CAMERA 3: TV & FILM; SKILLS (One 5 week course) 2
Movement IV Sequence
PRF 423 MOVEMENT IV 4
Voice and Speech IV Sequence
PRF 431 VOICE AND SPEECH IV 3
PRF 432 VOICE AND SPEECH IV 3
Rehearsal and Performance II Sequence. Select two out of the three courses, dependent on casting: 8
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE II
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE II
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE II

Open Electives

Open elective credit may also be required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.​

Work on The Theatre School’s production season extends outside of the university’s academic calendar.  Some production assignments may require participation up to two weeks before the beginning of fall quarter, during a portion of the winter break, or during spring break.  Specific details pertaining to different programs, specific assignments, and options for students not able to participate outside of the university’s academic calendar are available in the Theatre School Student Handbook and the Theatre School website.