Bachelor degree in Acting (BFA) at Arcadia University

The B.F.A. is a four-year sequential course of study in acting, the speaking
voice, speech, movement for actors, dramatic literature and the history of the
theatre, supplemented by skills in stage combat, dance, gymnastics, movement,
performance improvisation, mask work, make-up, and audition technique. The schedule
is rigorous; in a typical week, a student works directly with faculty for 27
to 40 hours and spends a comparable amount of time in preparation. The first
two years of training focus on the development of the actor's imagination and
an exploration of his or her inner resources as they relate to the external
demands of the craft. Students in their first semester of their freshmen year
are not allowed to audition in order to allow them time to focus on their coursework
and to adjust to college life. Admission to the third and fourth years is by
invitation of the faculty. During the third and fourth years, classroom work
broadens to consider the elements of style and modes of behavior in various
historical periods, and the student is continuously engaged in rehearsal and
public performance. The productions provide a wide range of experience, from
the classics to the avant-garde, and are directed by visiting professionals,
as well as experienced resident faculty, all of whom are working theatre professionals.