<p>BA vs BFA (a primer and a test to help you decide) </p>
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<p>Ladies and gents, and students, too:</p>
<p>Here is something I found in the CC archives that some of you may find helpful when deciding between a BA or a BFA in acting. Most of it was written by a young woman who used to post on the musical theater discussion list, and the test/quiz was invented by John Stefano, head of the Otterbein College BFA in acting and musical theater programs. </p>
<p>It’s not meant to be definitive, but rather to help students who are struggling to decide whether to pursue a BA vs a BFA get a little more insight and clarity. And though it was written mainly, I believe, for us by MT students, it seems to me to be of use to those pursuing degrees in acting, as well.</p>
<p>NMR</p>
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<p>While there are many types of ways to get an education in musical theater in college, the two most common degrees received in musical theater are the BA and the BFA. I’ve composed a small summary of what has been written on the board about the differences and similarities between the two. </p>
<p>BA </p>
<p>BA stands for Bachelor of Arts. A student who studies toward receiving a BA in musical theater will usually take a selection of general education courses required by the university and then fine arts electives, just like a student who aims to receive a BA in language or business. This is a good choice for students who enjoy studying a broad range of topics as well as performing, although they may not be able to take quite as many fine arts courses as someone studying for a BFA. </p>
<p>BFA </p>
<p>BFA stands for Bachelor of Fine Arts. In general, this degree is given by schools that favor a conservatory approach to training (though there are a few exceptions). This means that the majority of a student’s courses are taken in musical theater-related areas and that the student has far fewer general education courses in subjects such as language, math, or science than a regular college student would. Depending on the school, fine arts-related courses may make anywhere from about 60% to 95% of the student’s total coursework. This degree would not be a good choice for students that are not absolutely certain that they will want to pursue performing in musical theater as a career. </p>
<p>In addition, doctorjohn (click to be taken to his contact info) has created a test to help students figure out which might be the best program for them. His take on the situation is as follows: </p>
<p>Bright, academically-inclined students are often torn between the BFA and the BA degree. The BFA offers pre-professional training and (perhaps) a quicker route into the profession, but at the cost of a broad liberal arts education and the chance to study other disciplines. The BA offers the latter, but likely will not provide time for daily work on the voice and the body. So how to decide on the best path? </p>
<p>First, some clarification. A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is typically around 60-70% (and sometimes as much as 95%, as Shauna has pointed out above) of the total curriculum, with the remaining work in general studies and electives. By comparison, a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) is typically around 30% of the curriculum, with the remaining work divided between general education and electives, including other majors. As for the classes themselves, most BA courses, as is typical of college classes, will meet two or three times each week for an hour or two. Many BFA classes will meet daily for an hour or two or more. The educational assumption of BA classes is that students will be doing most of their learning outside of class, reading and studying. The assumption of most BFA classes is that students will be doing most of their learning inside class, performing and receiving immediate feedback on their work, and watching others do the same. </p>
<p>It should be obvious that the BA degree offers a much greater degree of flexibility in the program. It also has a lot more “free” time. </p>
<p>So which is right for you? Try answering the following questions by circling the appropriate number from 1 to 7, where 1 = strongly disagree and 7 = strongly agree. </p>
<li>I absolutely cannot imagine being anything other than a professional actor. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<li>I want to learn about as many different subjects as I can in college. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<li>I am a(n actor) singer and a dancer, and I want to spend my life performing. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<li>I really enjoy spending time in classes in literature, history, social science, etc., listening to lectures and engaging in discussions. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<li>Except for being onstage, I’d rather be in dance class, or acting class, or choir than anyplace else in the world. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<li>I need lots of solitary time, to think and to write. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<li>I need to be active and busy all the time. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<li>I am really torn between doing a BA or a BFA degree in Theatre. </li>
</ol>
<p>strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 strongly agree </p>
<p>Now add up your scores on the even (green) questions and the odd (blue) questions. If your score on the odd questions is significantly higher than your score on the even questions, then you’re probably going to be more comfortable in a BFA program. If your even score is significantly higher than your odd score, then you probably want to be in a BA program. And if your scores are more or less equal, you probably want a BFA program that will allow you to explore other subjects. </p>
<p>Please do not take this test as an absolute, but simply as one of many indicators of the kinds of programs you want to look at. </p>
<p>Some final thoughts about this dilemma. Informal research shows that successful Musical Theatre performers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some have BFA Theatre degrees. Some have Music degrees. Some (frequently dancers) never went to college. And some did a BA in Theatre (or another field) and then went and studied after graduation, either in formal MFA or MM (Master of Music) programs, or they went to NY and hired a voice teacher, a vocal coach, took dance lessons, and got into an acting class. Intensive training is critical to success in our field. The real question is not whether, but when. If you have no interest in academics, aren’t going to be happy unless you’re in class and rehearsal at least eight hours a day, then you should do a BFA in Theatre or a BM in Music. But if you love academics, want to study many different subjects, need quiet time to read and write and think, then you may want to do a BA degree at a school where you can act in shows and get a better sense of yourself and the world before you commit yourself to the intensive professional training which an MFA, MM, or other advanced study requires. </p>
<p>The middle ground, which works for some, is a BFA program that requires or at least encourages a significant amount of work in fields besides voice, dance, movement and acting.</p>