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Are you looking for rigorous, specialized training in theater? In the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, you choose between two tracks—acting or design and technical production. The acting track offers ensemble-based conservatory training, featuring intensive classes in acting technique, improvisation, on-camera work, movement, voice and speech, solo performance, business of acting, and classical text. The program culminates in a high-impact professional industry showcase. The design and technical production track offers specialized courses in stagecraft, costume, lighting, set design, CADD programming, theater history, and significant hands-on experience in all aspects of theater through participation in each semester’s department productions. Rigorous training, creative exploration, and disciplined practice lead to fulfilling and sustainable careers in theater.
With a fine arts degree in theater, you could go on to become an actor, speech coach, scenic or costume designer, stage manager, lighting designer, teaching artist, puppeteer, visual and performing arts technical coordinator, sound engineer, or any number of related professions.
The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2024–25 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.
The B.F.A. degree program has two tracks: acting and design and technical production (which includes scenic, lighting, and costume design).
Students must complete one of the following areas with a grade of C or higher in each theater course that is applied toward the fulfillment of department requirements. Any substitution of courses must be approved by the chair or designee/undergraduate deputy chair.
To help you pursue your studies in the most efficient manner, and to maximize your efforts to graduate in four years, Brooklyn College has created four-year degree maps for all its majors.
View degree maps for this major and others.
Contact the Theater Department for information on academic advisers and office hours.
Or contact:
222 West Quad Center 2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210 E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu
To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, visit:
Virtual Admissions Counselor Appointments
This application will include (full instructions at link above):
Deadline: January 31 (January 1 for international students).
The acting track is dedicated to developing students’ abilities through rigorous, personalized training. The program accepts 10 to 12 students annually into the ensemble-based, conservatory-style training, creating a close-knit community of collaborative artists that progress through the program together.
Designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of a life in the arts and a professional acting career, the program offers intensive classes in acting technique, improvisation, on-camera acting, movement, voice and speech, solo performance, business of acting, classical text, and contemporary and period genres.
The only acting track in the entire CUNY system, Brooklyn College boasts one of the most diverse student bodies in the world and exceptional professional training at a fraction of the cost of other undergraduate acting programs.
The Theater Department puts on between eight and 10 fully produced plays each year. B.F.A. actors get multiple opportunities to audition for and act in our incredible production season alongside our B.A. and M.F.A. actors. Plays are directed by faculty, professional guest directors from the New York theater scene, and talented M.F.A. directors.
Our actors have exclusive access to Brooklyn Backstage, an incredible collaboration hub where actors, filmmakers, directors, designers, theater-makers, and more find each other to make independent work. These collaborations often occur with members of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, one of the top 25 film schools in the country, located at Steiner Film Studios.
In their final semester, B.F.A. seniors produce and act in a high-impact industry showcase composed of short films, monologues, and scenes that premieres live to an invited audience of industry professionals. Check it out here.
All of the following: Theater 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 3201, 3202, 3203, 3204, 3205, 3207, 3208, 3209, 3401, 3402, 3403, 3405, 3406, 3407, 3436, 4501, 4504W.
Two of the following courses: Theater 3102, 3103, 3104, 3206, 3404, 3410, 4102.
One of the following courses: Theater 2002, 2501, 2502, 2503, 3501, 3502W, 3503, 3504, 3505, 3506, 4502, or 4503.
One additional credit from the following courses: Theater 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207. (Students may not exceed more than ninecredits in practicum courses.)
One of the following: Theater 4701, 4702, 4703, 4704, 4705, 4706.
This 66-credit major offers specialized courses in stagecraft, costume, lighting, and set design; CADD programming; theater history; and a series of independent studies in which students serve as assistant designers and designers for department productions. Students are provided significant hands-on experience in all aspects of theater through participation in each semester’s department productions, including:
All of the following: Theater 1001, 1202, 1203, 1204, 2002, 2310, 2320, 3321, 3330, 3331, 3341, 2201, 4501, 4504W (Students with no previous experience may need to complete Theater 1201 before registering for more advanced technical courses. See course prerequisites.)
Three credits from the following courses: Theater 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207. (Students may not exceed more than nine credits in practicum courses.)
One acting course or Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1717.
Two of the following: Theater 2501, 2502, 2503, 3501, 3502, 3503, 3504, 3505, 3506, 4502, 4503. (One of the following may substitute for one of the above: Classics 3220, 3221, Comparative Literature 3305, 3610, 3611, English 3122, 3124, 3132, 3170).
Additional credits from the following to total a minimum of 66 credits: Theater 2002, 2202, 2311, 2312, 2313, 2321, 3002, 3120, 3310, 3320, 3322, 3332, 3333, 3340, 3342, 3351, 3361, 3362, 4320, 4321, 4330, 4331, 4340, 4341, 4351, 4701, 4702, 4703, 4704, 4705, 4706, 4801, 5801, 5805, 5806, 5807, Art 2210, 2211, 2310, 2311, 2320, 3321.
Brooklyn College is an integral part of the cultural and artistic energy of New York City. Our faculty members in Theater offer incomparable expertise and tremendous talent, and each brings a unique perspective to their teaching and mentoring in and out of the classroom.
Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the theater B.F.A. program access to career opportunities at a wide variety of employers, including:
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