CSU Fullerton

<p>Congratulations!</p>

<p>We start with about 100 students each year who are interested in musical theatre (or acting, if they can't make it into MT). By the sophomore year, they self-select down to 60 to 75. At the end of the sophomore year, we take 10 students into the program.</p>

<p>The students are VERY close to one another. They meet in classes, and get to be very good friends - like family. Many are roommates as soon as they can get a place together. They're all great kids - easy to get to know and to like.</p>

<p>You should look on myspace for the the Cal State Fullerton Musical Theatre group. Ask a lot of questions, and get to make friends now, before you even arrive!</p>

<p>You can come visit (Mon - Thurs, mid-March to mid-April is best time). I can arrange a tour with a current BFA student, and class observations. Just email me: <a href="mailto:ehimmelheber@fullerton.edu">ehimmelheber@fullerton.edu</a></p>

<p>Again, congrats!</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>Hey thank you! Would you say that your acting program is just as strong as your musical theater program?</p>

<p>oh and also how many students do you accept into the acting program? 10 as well?</p>

<p>The acting program is nearly strong as the MT program - you see, we just obtained a BFA in Acting, which will allow smaller classes and more student-teacher contact as a result; so it'll just keep getting stronger (as did the MT BFA).</p>

<p>They take 12 to 14 students into the junior level each year.</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>Hi Professor,</p>

<p>How hard is it to be accepted into the Acting (or MT) BFA program if you're a JC Transfer? </p>

<p>Do many even try it? If so, with what success rate? </p>

<p>My daughter has been accepted to CSUF, but the cost of living away from home (and extra tuition) are just so much higher that we're wondering if it's advisable (perhaps necessary) to start at CSUF.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Most transfer students enter the UNIVERSITY as a junior (60 or more units required before you may transfer in, per governor's mandate), but the DEPARTMENT as a sophomore because they don’t have the required course work to audition for a BFA program. In fact, many who do have the required course work feel that they have a better chance of being chosen for a B.F.A. program if they first prepare here for one year. From the nearly 100 sophomores who audition, only 10 Musical Theatre and 12 Acting students will be advanced to the junior level (BFA program admittance) each year.</p>

<p>The following course work must be completed (or nearly completed) before auditioning for either BFA:</p>

<p>Theatre 200: Play Analysis (or equivalent) with a grade of C or better – 3 units:
• Study of scripts with emphasis on dramatic analysis and cultural significance.</p>

<p>Theatre 141A/B: Voice/Movement for the Stage (or equivalent) with a grade of B- or better – 6 units:
• Intensive training in the integral use of the voice and body for the actor; developing skills for vocal and physical relaxation, flexibility, and strength. Study of the International Phonetic Alphabet, speech articulation and vocal anatomy required. </p>

<p>Theatre 240 A/B (“263A/B” in previous catalogs): Acting II (or equivalent) with a grade of B- or better – 6 units:
• Improvisations, exercises and techniques of acting for the stage. Motivation and behavior in characterization.</p>

<p>Additional course work STRONGLY recommended for Musical Theatre candidates: Ballet II (212); Jazz II (232); Tap II (242); Fundamentals of Musical Theatre Performance (236A/B); Music Theory (MUS 101); and Basic Music Reading and Sight Singing (181).</p>

<p>All students auditioning for either B.F.A. program must be interviewed for voice and movement proficiency assessment – this occurs on the date of the BFA acting audition. If it is determined that student hasn't mastered adequate skill level (in IPA transcription and application, articulation with non-regionality present, and comprehensive knowledge of vocal anatomy), they cannot be considered for BFA program admission (this is late in the game to realize that the junior college hasn't yet prepared them adequately).</p>

<p>Students auditioning for the Musical Theatre BFA must also prove piano proficiency and rudimentary sight singing skills - this, on the date of either their vocal or dance audition.</p>

<p>The problem arises when the student receives an A.A. degree at a junior college, and believes that is enough to prepare them for the BFA auditions. It is typically not. </p>

<p>In my experience, the training at a university level will be MUCH more advanced in all areas than that which the junior college (with more limited resources and different student goals) can usually offer. One prime example, many J.C. programs don't offer the prerequisite Voice & Movement for the Actor (requiring speaking, not singing or forensics; and physical characterization in terms of range, freedom and efficiency, not dance); OR they offer a voice and/or movement class, but without the IPA or anatomy knowledge required to audition. Another example, the level II dance classes at a JC are not nearly as advanced as those at the unversity level, so the JC transfer is floundering at an audition their peers are well prepared for (after investing the same amount of time in dance classes). Finally, the acting style that we are looking for is very specific, and not often offered (or embraced) at many JCs. We are looking for honesty, simplicity, a full emotional life, compelling objectives, variety and novelty in the pursuit of intentions/tactics, and a strong sense of relationship. Often, junior colleges aren't able to achieve the level of craft that we require at the end of the sophomore year, again due to limited resources and the experience and goals of the majority of their students (the good kids are often left to their own devices, because the teachers are so busy with heavily enrolled classes of both majors and non-majors who think it would be "fun" to take an acting class but have zero talent or experience).</p>

<p>Every year, we have students who are not advanced into the program who immediately go off to land roles in international touring companies, cruise lines, theme parks, movies, etc. These are not bad actors, by any means - but they are NOT THE TOP IN THEIR CLASS. And some of our students return to the JC to study (aka, "do plays so they can get cast in the leads, but not pursuing any educational/degree goal")...where, I am told, their training at CSUF qualifies them as "genius" in comparison to their peers.</p>

<p>So you see the caliber of student that we are grooming from the moment they enter as a freshman - this is what your daughter is up against. And were she to not train at the same level as her peers, she will not remain competitive with them. We are not looking for the "trainability" factor at our BFA audition - we are looking for a certain level of mastery; one which, in my experience, the junior college is not able to prepare the student for.</p>

<p>So the time and money spent at CSU is valuable when you consider the savings in terms of repetition of coursework and "marketable years" lost.</p>

<p>ONE OPTION would be to take ONE YEAR of classes as a JC, then transfer in as a sophomore and take one year here before jurying (several BFA students came in this way). The trick here is that the student must exhaust ALL the THEATRE classes that the JC offers that CSUF will accept as transferrable (2 semester of Acting, 2 semesters of Voice & Movement [if it covers complete IPA and vocal anatomy], and 1 semester each of Script Analysis, Intro to Costumes and Make-up). In that situation, the student may apply as a transfer student before achieving 60 units (essentially circumventing the governor's mandate). WARNING: There are four GEs that MUST also be taken in preparation for this approach (or admission will likely be denied): English composition, speech/forensics, math (college algebra or higher) and a critical thinking course (one that the university will accept). If you would like to check that the G.E. courses your daughter plans to take at the JC will transfer, I suggest you explore this website: <a href="http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>As for the classes that the Theatre department will accept for the program and jury requirements, as long as the class is truly equivalent (as outlined above in units and content), we accept them; but if the student doesn't pass their jury, and decides to repeat their sophomore year here before jurying again, then we advise that they REPEAT the performance--acting and V&M--here.</p>

<p>ANOTHER OPTION: find a program local to you that will train her as well as possible, rather than coming to CSUF. The expenses saved will almost certainly not offset the lack in "high level" training, but can give her less debt to start her career with (however, she may not be prepared for a successful career if she only attends a JC).</p>

<p>YET ANOTHER OPTION: find a CSU closer to home - again, we are the top-rated CSU school in theatre, so the quality will not be the same. But if expense is a factor, this is an option you should explore.</p>

<p>LAST OPTION: take out student (and possibly parent) loans, come to CSUF, take all the courses required in the order required, and jury as well prepared as you can possibly be. And if you don't pass the jury, there are other theatre degree options here (most of which require LESS time than the BFA would; in fact, all the jury preparatory classes except dance count toward the BA in General Theatre Studies degree).</p>

<p>Remember, the $26 (tops) per unit that a J.C. charges for in-state students equates to from $520 $624 per semester for 20-24 units (the average load our students take each semester). For those same 20-24 units, our students are paying $1,500 (this is the tuition for full-time students, regardless of the number of units they take). You are saving money at a local JC, both in fees and in housing. But if that money is not useful to getting the student's educational objectives, in essence forcing them to repeat coursework here, then the "savings" in the short term must be considered against the bigger picture of the total cost of attendance over the four years (or five, if a two-year transfer doesn't pass their juries straight out of a JC) and the time lost to career-potential in a "young person's" business.</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful,</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>I MUST ADD that in my three years here, NO transfer student has successfully moved directly into the B.F.A. program.</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>Wow, thanks for the long reply. This is very informative. </p>

<p>Because of the research I had already done we had figured that it would be, at most, one year at Ohlone JC before transferring. </p>

<p>Currently there are NO classes at Ohlone that "articulate" in Drama/Theatre. There appear to be many that "transfer", but I can't tell if they would count towards her major. Are you saying that the max that would transfer are six semesters anyway? (If they have the classes that qualify). When you're talking about the one year option, were you talking about classes that articulate or transfer?</p>

<p>She would try to get into the Acting BFA, not the MT BFA. </p>

<p>The very hard part about this decision is that, from what you've posted here, only about 15-20% of the students pass the jury. So it's quite possible you pay for two years of CSU and still end up in the BA program (not that that is the end of the world!)</p>

<p>Can you tell me the course numbers that are possible to transfer in so that we can evaluate the one year option more fully?</p>

<p>Thank you very much for all your helpful info,</p>

<p>Joe</p>

<p>Hi, Joe:</p>

<p>It appears that Ohlone hasn't yet worked with the CSU system on a comprehensive articulation agreement (only a handful of GEs articulated now), so I will have to guess on the GE transfer work below YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH OUR ACADEMIC ADVISING CENTER before registering for any GE, to be sure it will indeed transfer . </p>

<p>Remember, those classes that Ohlone lists on their webpage as "transferrable to CSU" are only in the context of GEN ED - not majors' requirements/courses, an important fact to remember when selecting classes.</p>

<p>I suggest your daughter take the following:</p>

<p>GEN EDS:</p>

<p>TD 130 Oral Interp of Literature Performance (for our THTR 110 Oral Comm [Forensics/Speech requirement])</p>

<p>ENGL 101A Reading and Written Composition (for our ENGL 101 Composition)</p>

<p>ENGL 101C Critical Thinking and Composition (for our Critical Thinking requirement)</p>

<p>MATH 156 Math for Liberal Arts (for our MATH 110); - OR-
MATH 151A & MATH 151B Algebra I Parts I & II (for our MATH 115); - OR -
MATH 159 Probability and Statistics (for our MATH 120); -OR-
MATH 101A Calculus (for our MATH 125)</p>

<p>MUS 110A Music Theory and Harmony (for our MUS 101 Theory for Non-Majors)</p>

<p>THEATRE CLASSES
TD 110 Intro to Acting (for our THTR 140 Acting I)</p>

<p>TD 111 Intermediate Acting (for our THTR 240A Acting II). Remember, she SHOULD repeat this (taking 2 semesters of acting here: 240A & 240B), but she will need to take one semester of it at Ohlone if she hopes to transfer into CSUF with less than 60 units - the "glass ceiling" maneuver, exhausting all transferrable toward BFA classes)</p>

<p>TD 154 Theatrical Makeup (for our THTR 185 Theatrical Makeup)</p>

<p>TD 155A & 155B Costume Construction I & II (together would count for our THTR 277 Intro to Costume Design) - OR -
TD 150 Into to Technical Theatre (for our THTR 276 Stagecraft)</p>

<p>MUS 110A Musicianship (for our THTR 181 Basic Music Reading)</p>

<p>Don't take a voice & movement class there (they don't list IPA, so that must be taken here)</p>

<p>You can take dance classes there - ballet, tap and jazz - to keep skills fresh, but they will not transfer (but if advanced enough, you can jump to the II level classes by audition).</p>

<p>Voice lessons should be continued, though they won't transfer. THIS IS VITAL, keeping the vocal technique strong, healthy and competitive.</p>

<p>Musical Theatre I (intro study) class won't transfer either.</p>

<p>Hope this helps,</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>My D has been accepted to CSUF as a theatre major (acting, not MT) for fall 2007, but is still waiting to hear from the other 11 (!) schools she applied to (LAC's with strong theatre programs + BFA audition-based programs) so hasn't made any decision yet on where to go. Frankly, CSUF was her "safety" from an academic standpoint and even though the theatre program is very well regarded, she is not excited about attending there because of her concerns about the student/campus life (or lack thereof), due to it being a large, commuter campus where virtually all students live off-campus in their own apartments. How have other freshman adapted to this, and found their niche? Are there on-campus dining facilities and meal plans, or are in-coming freshman completely on their own from a housing AND dining standpoint? What is the campus environment like? What is Fullerton like as a community? Any impressions from current or former students would be most helpful.</p>

<p>Hi Professor,</p>

<p>Thanks again for the lengthy reply. This is exactly the type of information that I was looking for. </p>

<p>Looks like with a plan such as you've outlined she could attend locally for a year and save up for transferring her Sophomore year. I assume that's not generally hard to do? She's a good student and, as I mentioned, she was accepted for CSUF in December. </p>

<p>One other question for you, she's passed two AP English classes in HS, does that exempt her from any of the English requirements? </p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Joe</p>

<p>Yes, I believe that the AP English classes take care of two GEs here:</p>

<p>Composition and (I believe) Intro to the Humanities (literature)</p>

<p>Again, this is something to check with the Academic Advising Center (or go online to: <a href="http://www.fullerton.edu/catalog/admissions_and_registration/trancred.asp#adv_placement%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fullerton.edu/catalog/admissions_and_registration/trancred.asp#adv_placement&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>AP is GREAT to have coming in!!!</p>

<p>Hi, and WELCOME, Hilaron:</p>

<p>Our students have a built in community, one which (honestly) would preclude them from a lot of "extra curricular" activities such as sororities/fraternities (which we do have), clubs (we have this, too), and other things like dances, concerts, bowling nights, etc. (we have all of these). Theatre students are usually in rehearsal for directing scenes, one acts, plays, dance concerts, and ALWAYS rehearsing their scenes for class (this requires the devotion of a lot of outside time). That, combined with stage crew assignments each semester, ties up a lot of their "free time."</p>

<p>I'll attach a link to the Associated Student Body website, where you can learn about all the campus activities that we have to offer: <a href="http://asi.fullerton.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://asi.fullerton.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Also, the students have MANY clubs in which they can become active: <a href="http://www.fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/clubs_and_orgs/club_directory.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/clubs_and_orgs/club_directory.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>We have outdoor concerts every Thursday at noon.</p>

<p>We have Theatre & Dance shows going on every weekend of the semester, starting (usually) by week #6 of the semester.</p>

<p>ALL FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN take a special section of "stage crew" (instead of working a stage crew assignment in their first semester). We use this class meeting (every Monday from 7 to 10pm) as an opportunity to orient the students to the department, having advisors from each "emphasis area" come in and discuss and Q&A their respective areas of study (musical theatre, acting, design, tech production, playwriting, general theatre studies, directing, etc.). The students also learn about what they can expect when they begin working one crew assignment per semester, bringing them in to watch a tech rehearsal in process - touring both the backstage areas (where they watch and learn about what the various crews are doing), and the "in house" operation, where they sit and observe part of a tech/dress rehearsal. We also explain how they must sign up for a stage crew each semester, giving them very specific instructions on how this is accomplished. We also use this class to disseminate information on freshmen advising and registration, and other academic challenges that they might encounter. It is great, because ALL Theatre & Dance freshmen are in this same class together (beginning their network of life-long friends).</p>

<p>As I mentioned in earlier posts, only first semester freshmen are restricted from auditioning for the main stage season - but in December, they are eligible to audition for the spring semester shows. And they are cast - a regular occurrence to see non-BFA students on stage in the main stage season. In that first semester, however, they ARE able to audition for the directing students' scenes, one-acts, and other projects - so they are meeting people AND being seen by the directing faculty (who are also the ones directing the main stage season shows). This is a great opportunity to get involved in performance, and usually the time commitment is minimal and works around their schedules (if the director wants/needs the student, they must work around their schedule in rehearsing).</p>

<p>I will also ask some of our current students to post pictures, stories, etc. of their personal "free time" exploits, because that is something that you would be more interested in hearing, I'm sure.</p>

<p>On the meal plan, CSUF is working on this - but because our dorms have their own kitchens (they are really just apartment living, like off-campus), and because we have a food court and a Carl's Jr. on campus (both of which offer reasonably priced food), there hasn't been a huge student demand. Most of our students want to pay for ONLY what they eat - and don't want to commit to a plan for meals that they may miss (due to sleep, rehearsal, class, work, etc.). If you are concerned about your child having food money, they have a 'Titan Card' on which you can put money (this can be used for ANY campus service - computer labs, book store, food court, etc.). The only thing that it doesn't cover (in my experience) is the coffee bar (MJs) that many of our students frequent.</p>

<p>There are also three ATM machines (from different banks) on campus, making money accessible when needed.</p>

<p>The majority of our T&D students live off-campus, in apartments or homes that they rent (together with other T&D students, typically). This is more cost efficient for them, and they feel a sense of safety and community at home then.</p>

<p>Hope this answers your questions. I'll ask some students to post, too.</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>I am also a senior in the program currently and have four years worth of experience with this department and this school. I am extremely satisfied with the training and the time I have spent here and hope to be of help to anyone who might have any questions. Please feel more than free to email me with any querries. Campus life, the unique features of the program, the good, the bad, the strange, anything! I remember I had thousands of questions when I first came here and wanted advice, please feel free to talk to me I want to help.</p>

<p>When you are in the theater department, you automatically have a campus life. The theater community here is very close and very open to new people. The dorms are one option of living, as are the UVs (University Village located right across campus). The UVs are expensive but come with a meal plan and a lot of social events. Even though it is a commuter school, many people live very close in housing such as Pickadille, the Homestead, the Lakes, as well as several other locations. There is Greek life, but I have no personal expereince with this. Being a theater major takes up a lot of time. Poeple are very focused and very enaged in the department and that usualyl takes up a good deal of time even outside class.</p>

<p>Golly! I put out the call to our students only this afternoon, and already Ms. Kyle is on the job!! I've got to say it again, I LOVE my students!</p>

<p>OH, I forgot to add that we have a fabulous baseball team - national champs for many years! Go Titans!! Games are a great way to spend your spring evenings (and Kevin Kostner, an alum, often works out with the team and sometimes watches our games).</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>Ms. Kyle is ALSO one of the most talented individuals that I've ever had the opportunity to teach! She starred as Gertrude McFuzz in SEUSSICAL, and was recently invited to present (with other cast members) a sequence from the show at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VIII regional festival Showcase of Scenes. Our school kicked off the evening - the opening and closing spots for this event are typically reserved for the festival "favorites" - numbers/scenes that are sure to please! And the students didn't disappoint.</p>

<p>Several faculty members from around our region particularly commented on Kyle's ability and presence. They (like I) know that she'll have a strong and long career ahead of her, and are so jealous of the caliber of student attending Fullerton.</p>

<p>Another student (a first year grad) is one of only two students from our region going to the Kennedy Center in D.C. to participate in the national finals of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship auditions. A third year grad from our school was first runner up! A strong program, with excellent students - that's what you can look forward to at CSUF.</p>

<p>NEW ACTING BFA: DEGREE REQUIREMENTS</p>

<p>Thtr 110 Oral Interp. of Literature (3) (GE requirement not counted in the overall units in the major)</p>

<p>Lower Division</p>

<p>*Thtr 140 Acting I (2) Fall or Spring
*Thtr 141a/b Voice and Movement I (3/3) Fall Spring
*Thtr 200 Art of the Theatre (Script Analysis) (3) Fall or Spring
*Thtr 240 a/b Acting II (3/3) Fall Spring
*Thtr 241a/b Voice and Movement II (2/2) Fall Spring
Thtr 276 or 277 Stagecraft or Costume (3) Fall or Spring
Thtr 285 Make-up (3) Fall or Spring</p>

<p>Total 27 units</p>

<p>Upper Division</p>

<p>Thtr 310 Oral interp of Shakespeare (3) Fall or Spring
Thtr 340a/b Acting III (3/3) Fall & Spring
Thtr 341a/b Voice and Movement III (2/2) Fall & Spring
Thtr 370a Fundamentals of Directing (3) Fall or Spring
Thtr 375 Critical Writing (prerequisite to 475abc) (3) Fall or Spring<br>
Thtr 440a/b Acting IV (3/3) Fall & Spring
Thtr 443 Audition (3) Spring
Thtr 475 a/b/c World Theatre (3/3/3) Fall or Spring
Thtr 482 a/b Acting for the Camera (3/3) Fall & Spring
Thtr 483 Acting Workshop (3) Fall or Spring
Thtr 497 Performance credit (taken each semester starting in the junior year) (1-1-1-1) Fall & Spring<br>
Total 47 units</p>

<p>Additional requirements:
• All students must enroll in Thtr 478b (stage crew) for each semester of residency, for at least 8 semesters.
• All students pursuing a BFA in Acting are required to audition every semester for the season of plays excluding the first semester of the freshman year (when they may not audition).
• Asterisked (*) classes must be completed with the grade of “B-” or better before being admitted into the BFA in Acting. Also, these classes are prerequisites to all upper division classes in the BFA concentration in Acting. The only exception: Transfer students who pass the 240b jury at the end of the Spring semester are permitted to enroll in 241a/b and 341a/b concurrently with 340a/b.
• All students pursuing a BFA in Acting will present an audition (jury) where the acting faculty will assess the all acting students. These juries occur at the completion of 240a, 240b and 340b.
• Students may be excused from the acting program at anytime based on the acting faculty’s assessment of the student’s artistic progress, professional potential, behavior, attitude and attendance in the classroom.<br>
• Students failing to pass any acting jury must pursue another course of study.<br>
• Acting and Voice and Movement classes are not repeatable. </p>

<p>Hope this helps,</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>Thanks for all the great information about the CSF theatre department and campus life. Sounds like a terrific group of dedicated and talented students and very supportive faculty. (Eve - if all the professors are as responsive and caring as you, they are lucky indeed!)</p>

<p>I have question about the new BFA in acting - how do kids get into this program? Do kids come in as fresman BA students, and then audition for the BFA track after sophomore year, like the MT students? What is the relative balance between theatre and liberal arts requirements, e.g. would you consider it to be a broad based BFA in which kids have an opportunity to take a fair amount of coursework outside the department, or will it be a more intense, narrowly focused conservatory-type program? Are there overall breadth requirements that must be satisfied at the university level as part of the BFA program?</p>

<p>The BFA in Acting is the same in terms of auditions occuring at the end of the sophomore year (one benefit there is that MT students who pass their acting jury but not voice and/or dance can move into the Acting BFA).</p>

<p>They take 12 in Acting and 10 in Musical Threatre each year.</p>

<p>The BFA requirements include LOTS of GEs - as many as any other major in the school. The BFA programs are the highest "unit" degrees conferred at our university, along with Engineering. This is because the CSU system is very stringent in terms of GE requirements - one of the highest in units required in the nation (certainly higher than at any institution I've taught at, and I've been on faculty at two of the Research I institutes). </p>

<p>The students here are getting an excellent liberal arts degree, with a major in theatre (and two "minors," in dance and music, in the case of MT students). The BFA in Acting degree requires 77 units, plus a minimum of 51 units of GE. That's a 128 unit degree. We don't skimp on the General Education, in part because we can't due to state mandate, and also because we believe intelligent people make better artists.</p>