As students begin to look towards their time at university, those with a passion for theatre and the performing arts will find themselves with two possible options for higher education. If your dream is to study in the US and you want to study theatre, there are a few pathways towards a creative career in the entertainment industry.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

In the US, students who graduate from conservatoires or drama schools will be awarded a BFA as opposed to a BA in their major of choice. A BFA signals to the industry that you have completed a training programme where 80% of the work is practical and only 20% of the work is academic. Students can complete BFAs in different concentrations, including acting, musical theatre, playwriting. Students in performing programmes will spend most of their time in acting, voice, movement, and singing classes. These rigorous four-year training programmes are designed to prepare you professionally for the entertainment industry when you graduate. There will be often opportunities to meet with casting directors, agents, and other industry professionals at college events. A lot of these programmes are incredibly competitive, and entrance is granted after three or four rounds of auditions. Students will be expected to prepare several monologues and songs for the audition committee. If this is a route of interest to you, we recommend you research Julliard, Emerson, the University of Michigan, Cal Arts, Carnegie Mellon, and DePaul University.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Theatre

Most universities in the US have theatre, film, and art departments. Students can apply to these schools and then choose to major in theatre. Students who choose this route will have the opportunity to study other subjects alongside their major. This can be advantageous as it can often give students the opportunity to gain knowledge in other areas that could be beneficial towards their creative careers (e.g. studying politics, English literature, another language). These programmes will not be so heavily practical. Students will have to take acting classes (or other practical classes) over their four-year programme, but these will not be as intensive and will also be alongside a more academic workload. A lot of universities produce high quality theatre shows and student films, directed by both faculty and other students. Participation in these productions often comes on top of any academic work the student does. In the performing arts, it can be beneficial to have a more academic degree. A lot of people working in the arts have other careers or “side hustles” to support them in between projects. Getting a BA can often be beneficial in supporting you financially as you pursue your creative goals. Universities with strong theatre departments include Vassar College, UCSD, UCLA, Northwestern, and Boston University.

Masters in Fine Arts

There are many pathways into creative professions, and it is important to choose a path that best suits you. After attending an academic university and getting a BA, students can then go on to receive their MFA in their chose performing arts subject. MFAs are very popular training programmes in the US and gives students rigorous practical training and often come with a high level of prestige. Popular MFA programmes include Brown, the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, and Tisch at NYU.

At Vela Education, we are dedicated to helping all students find the pathway that best suits them. We work with many tutors who attended prestigious drama schools and can offer excellent audition preparation packages. Audition preparation will help you pick the monologues that show off your strengths and offer direction that will make sure you are walking into those audition rooms confident and excited. If you have any questions about what route might be best for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch.