Major Mondays: The BA + BFA in The School of Dramatic Arts
Major: The USC School of Dramatic Arts (SDA) is home to The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre and the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre. The BFA includes specialization options in six different areas. These majors are open to both incoming first-year students and transfer students.
Overview: There are two distinct degree tracks Theatre majors can pursue within the School of Dramatic Arts.
Not sure which path to take? Think about it this way: if you are looking for more flexibility in your schedule – perhaps to add a minor or second major – the BA program is likely a better fit. If you want a more intensive, theater experience, the BFA may be right for you.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a general approach to theatre training that allows USC students to experience a curriculum crafted by esteemed faculty members and includes a diverse list of courses. Students within the BA program are expected to complete the USC Core and General Education courses before graduation. At the start of their second semester during their first year, students can choose an emphasis in various disciplines such as acting, comedy, or design to further focus their studies. In doing so, students will have a guided curriculum to focus on and further develop their craft. Within the BA program, there are ample opportunities for performances (as an actor or in production), and students can elect to join them as part of their course of study.
The School of Dramatic Arts also offers the Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts Studies. This is an interdisciplinary degree offered jointly by the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, USC School of Dramatic Arts, USC School of Architecture, USC School of Cinematic Arts, USC Roski School of Art and Design, USC Thornton School of Music, and USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. This program is offered to current USC students only, which means you won’t find it on the list of majors in Common App.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs are conservatory-style programs built with a formal progression and limited to a specific cohort of students. Performance is already integrated into a students’ course schedule. The BFA programs specialize in Acting for Stage & Screen; Musical Theatre, Theatrical Design, Sound Design, Stage Management, and Technical Direction. They are designed to enhance a student’s ability to handle a range of analytical, research, and practical methodologies in critical studies, playwriting, performance, design, and production while fostering knowledge and respect for the diversity artistic styles within the industry.
Student Opportunities: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, SDA would produce 25 productions a year. In addition to the SDA productions, students produce around 18 independent productions. The curricular showcase is only available to BFA students during the spring semester of their senior year. BA students can audition for mainstage productions during their Spring semester of freshmen year, while BFA students will being auditioning during their fall semester of sophomore year. The annual spring musical is open to all USC students to participate.
Theatre majors are also encouraged to pursue professional opportunities by utilizing the resources offered through the Professional Development Center at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. This center offers expansive career counseling, workshops, visiting artists, and information sessions to better equip their students for a career in the entertainment industry. Once a student reaches sophomore status, they may begin pursuing internship opportunities. The Professional Development Center offers “internship opportunities for past students included but not limited to: HBO, Disney, Amazon Studios, and Pantages Hollywood, among others.”
Notable Research: Theatre majors have an opportunity to dive deeper into how theatre effects those around us as well as look at ways theatre practices can be more inclusive. Within The Institute for Theatre & Social Change (ITSC), the center “provides a research and development forum for expressive and interactive dramatic art practices, relative to education, therapy, and social justice, that disrupt oppression and engages communities in meaningful dialogue for social change. The interdisciplinary collaboration of dramatic arts, fine arts, and media offers a powerful creative weapon for artists, academics, healers, activists, and community organizers to ignite critical cultural dialogue.” The ITSC has ongoing collaborations with other arts schools and disciplines devoted to social change and hosts prominent rigorous interdisciplinary and intersectional conversations on campus.
Alumni/Faculty: There are many notable School of Dramatic Arts alumni and faculty. Recognize any of the following names?
Kate Burton: The daughter of two Shakespearean actors, she has played Viola, Juliet, Desdemona, Isabella, The Princess of France, Hermione and Queen/ Belarius in Cymbeline (2015 NYSF). A three-time Tony and Emmy nominee, Burton was seen last on Broadway opposite Kevin Kline in Present Laughter. On television, she is best known for her work in Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy.
Forest Whitaker ‘82: An Academy Award-winning actor, producer and director, he earned an Oscar for his leading role in the film The Last King of Scotland. Whitaker can be seen as Bumpy Johnson in the upcoming television series Godfather of Harlem.
Danny Strong ’96: The actor is a multi-award-winning artist who co-created, executive produced and wrote for the hit FOX series Empire. Strong also wrote the screenplays for the films Recount, Game Change, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, and co-wrote The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2.
Deborah Ann Woll ’07: The actress is known for her role as Karen Page on the Netflix series Daredevil and reprised the role for The Defenders and The Punisher. On film, she can be seen as Amanda Harper in Escape Room. Woll was also a series regular on the HBO series True Blood and has appeared on the television shows My Name is Earl, Law and Order: SVU, CSI, ER, and The Mentalist. She also wrote and hosts the TV series Relics and Rarities.
Want to Learn More?
The School of Dramatic Arts at USC has a wide range of courses, majors, and even minors students can take advantage of. From getting involved with a student production, to taking a class in stage design, learning about the BA and BFA programs is just the beginning!
Take a deeper dive into the variety of SDA programs and read about the School of Dramatic Arts application process. Mark your calendars: the BFA program deadline is December 1st for all first-year applicants and transfer BFA applicants! Transfer BA applicants have until February 15th to submit their applications.
You can check out what SDA is up to via their Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Need a new TV show or movie to binge watch? Peek at the USC School of Dramatic Arts Alumni Notable Works page. Or, learn more about what’s happening in SDA today with the School of Dramatic Arts News page.
Break a leg, future Theatre majors!
Written by:
James Fisher, Senior Assistant Director - USC Office of Admission
Joy Jaensubhakij, USC Student Ambassador
Edited by:
Audrey Burba, Assistant Director - USC Office of Admission