Music Theatre, Theatre Arts (BFA)

Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Major: Theatre Arts
Concentration: Music Theatre
Program Code: 3266

About This Major . . .

The Department of Theatre Arts offers one of the most successful theatre training degree programs in Colorado. Theatre Arts majors choose from two distinct concentrations in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts (Acting/Directing or Music Theatre), two concentrations of the BA (Theatre Arts or Design/Technology) or the BFA in Dance and acquire a sound understanding of the performing arts in state-of-the-art facilities.

The Music Theatre concentration provides strong technical foundations in Music, Theatre, and Dance. This approach is to create "triple threats" and enhance the young performer’s potential for an exciting career in Musical Theatre.  Students begin training with music theory and ear training, private voice instruction, choir and class piano.  Acting I and II, Ballet and Tap are also included to complete first year academic requirements.  To complement technical courses, students also participate in a wide variety of performance related assignments which include two Main stage productions, Experimental Theatre productions, choral ensembles, dance concerts, student directed one-acts, and technical crew assignments.

Students continue interdisciplinary course work in audition techniques and resume writing, as well as preparing and performing Vocal/Acting auditions and specialty performances throughout their next three years.  The Music Theatre concentration offers highly personalized instruction from skilled professors who are seasoned performers, coaches, directors, teachers, and technicians; working graduates cite this as the prime reason for their success in gaining employment in both local and national venues.  Music Theatre graduates currently work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in National Broadway tours, Regional Theatres, dinner theatres, cruise ships, and with Disney and Universal Studios.

For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.

All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

  1. Communicate verbally contemporary and enduring concepts concerning Human Culture through participation and/or observation of the performing arts and speech. (Specialized Knowledge/ Communication Fluency)
    2.
  2. Communicate non-verbally contemporary and enduring concepts concerning Human Culture through participation and/or observation of the performing arts and speech. (Specialized Knowledge/ Communication Fluency)
    3.
  3. Create progressively more challenging projects through the use of intellectual and/or practical skills. (Applied Learning)
    4.
  4. Demonstrate teamwork and problem solving skills through collaboration and cooperation on creative projects. (Critical Thinking)
    5.
  5. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and versatility of the discipline from conceptualization to application. (Applied Learning)

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity. 

Institutional Degree Requirements

The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU baccalaureate degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • 120 semester hours minimum.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
  • 40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
  • A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
  • No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
  • Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
  • Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
  • Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Essential Learning Requirements

(31 semester hours)

See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.

English 1
ENGL 111English Composition I-GTCO13
ENGL 112English Composition II-GTCO23
Mathematics 1
MATH 110Mathematical Investigations-GTMA13
History
Select one History course3
Humanities
Select one Humanities course3
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course3
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course3
Fine Arts
Select one Fine Arts course3
Natural Sciences 2
Select one Natural Sciences course3
Select one Natural Sciences course with a lab4
Total Semester Credit Hours31
1

Must receive a grade of “C” or better and must be completed by the time the student has 60 semester hours.

2

One course must include a lab.

Other Lower Division Requirements

Wellness Requirement
KINE 100Health and Wellness1
Select one Activity course1
Essential Learning Capstone 1
ESSL 290Maverick Milestone3
ESSL 200Essential Speech1
Total Semester Credit Hours6
1

Essential Learning Capstone must be taken after completion of the Essential Learning English and Mathematics requirements, and when a student has earned between 45 and 75 hours.

Foundation Courses

(12 semester hours)

THEA 142Make-up3
THEA 153Acting I: Beginning Acting3
SPCH 112Acting III: Voice and Diction3
One class in a foreign language 13
Total Semester Credit Hours12
1

Must receive a grade of “C” or higher.

Program Specific Degree Requirements

(58 semester hours, must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher in coursework in this area.)

  • Students deficient in piano skills will be required to complete MUSA 130 and MUSA 131.  MUSA 130 and MUSA 131 may be taken as lower division electives or Musical Theatre Support Courses.
  • Students deficient in theory skills will be required to complete MUSA 113 before taking MUSA 114.  MUSA 113 may be taken as a lower division elective or a Musical Theatre Support Course.
  • Students are required to participate in exit examinations and other programs deemed necessary to comply with the college accountability requirement.
Core Courses
THEA 117Play Production1
or THEA 118 Play Production
THEA 156Acting II: Contemporary Scenework3
THEA 253Acting IV: Stage Movement3
THEA 255Musical Theatre Techniques3
THEA 341Musical Theatre History and Literature3
THEA 355Music Theatre Repertoire3
THEA 401Career Preparation3
THEA 494Performance Seminar: Acting/Directing and Musical Theatre Capstone3
MUSA 114Theory I-Introduction3
MUSA 116Ear Training and Sightsinging I2
MUSL 137Voice1
MUSL 137Voice1
MUSL 237Voice1
MUSL 237Voice1
MUSL 337Voice1
MUSL 337Voice1
MUSL 437Voice1
MUSL 437Voice1
THEA 116Music Theatre Workshop1
THEA 216Music Theatre Workshop1
THEA 316Music Theatre Workshop1
THEA 416Music Theatre Workshop1
Ballet Technique Courses
Select two of the following:4
DANC 181
Ballet I
DANC 234
Ballet IIA
DANC 235
Ballet IIB
DANC 334
Ballet IIIA
DANC 335
Ballet IIIB
DANC 434
Ballet IVA
DANC 435
Ballet IVB
Jazz Technique Courses
Select two of the following:4
DANC 182
Jazz I
DANC 232
Jazz IIA
DANC 233
Jazz IIB
DANC 332
Jazz IIIA
DANC 333
Jazz IIIB
DANC 432
Jazz IVA
DANC 433
Jazz IVB
Tap Technique Courses
Select two of the following:4
DANC 184
Tap I
DANC 236
Tap IIA
DANC 237
Tap IIB
DANC 336
Tap IIIA
DANC 337
Tap IIIB
DANC 436
Tap IVA
DANC 437
Tap IVB
Performance Options
Select three of the following:3
THEA 119
Technical Performance
THEA 120
Technical Performance
THEA 219
Technical Performance
THEA 220
Technical Performance
THEA 319
Technical Performance
THEA 320
Technical Performance
THEA 419
Technical Performance
THEA 420
Technical Performance
THEA 147
Drama Performance
THEA 148
Drama Performance
THEA 247
Drama Performance
THEA 248
Drama Performance
THEA 347
Drama Performance
THEA 348
Drama Performance
THEA 447
Drama Performance
THEA 448
Drama Performance
DANC 156
Dance Performance
DANC 256
Dance Performance
DANC 356
Dance Performance
DANC 456
Dance Performance
Music Theatre Support Courses
Select four semester hours from ANY Theatre, Music, or Dance course4
Total Semester Credit Hours58

General Electives

All college level courses appearing on your final transcript, not listed above that will bring your total semester hours to 120 hours, including 40 upper division hours. 13 semester hours, additional hours of upper division may be needed.

Select electives13
Total Semester Credit Hours13
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterSemester Credit Hours
ENGL 111 English Composition I-GTCO1 3
MUSA 114 Theory I-Introduction 3
MUSA 116 Ear Training and Sightsinging I 2
MUSL 137 Voice 1
THEA 117 Play Production (fall or spring) 1
THEA 153 Acting I: Beginning Acting 3
DANC - Tap/Jazz/Ballet 2
Performance Option 1
 Semester Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
ENGL 112 English Composition II-GTCO2 3
Essential Learning - History 3
MUSL 137 Voice 1
THEA 116 Music Theatre Workshop 1
THEA 156 Acting II: Contemporary Scenework 3
DANC - Tap/Jazz/Ballet 2
Performance Option 1
 Semester Credit Hours14
Second Year
Fall Semester
DANC - Tap/Jazz/Ballet 2
Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
MATH 110 Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1 (or higher) 3
MUSL 237 Voice 1
THEA 255 Musical Theatre Techniques 3
SPCH 112 Acting III: Voice and Diction 3
 Semester Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Essential Learning - Natural Science with Lab 4
KINE 100 Health and Wellness 1
MUSL 237 Voice 1
THEA 216 Music Theatre Workshop 1
THEA 341 Musical Theatre History and Literature 3
Performance Option 1
DANC - Tap/Jazz/Ballet 2
 Semester Credit Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
DANC - Tap/Jazz/Ballet 2
Foundation Course - Foreign Language 3
MUSL 337 Voice 1
THEA 142 Make-up 3
THEA 253 Acting IV: Stage Movement 3
THEA 355 Music Theatre Repertoire 3
 Semester Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Essential Learning - Natural Science 3
ESSL 290 Maverick Milestone 3
ESSL 200 Essential Speech 1
Essential Learning - Humanities 3
Music Theatre Support Course 2
DANC - Tap/Jazz/Ballet 2
MUSL 337 Voice 1
THEA 316 Music Theatre Workshop 1
 Semester Credit Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Essential Learning - Fine Arts 3
MUSL 437 Voice 1
THEA 401 Career Preparation 3
Electives 6
 Semester Credit Hours13
Spring Semester
KINA Activity 1
THEA 494 Performance Seminar: Acting/Directing and Musical Theatre Capstone 3
THEA 416 Music Theatre Workshop 1
Music Theatre Support Course 2
MUSL 437 Voice 1
Electives 7
 Semester Credit Hours15
 Total Semester Credit Hours120

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:

  • Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
  • Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
  • Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
  • Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.

Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.

If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.