<p>I'm gearing up for college auditions, and this has been my main question. While I know every BFA has lots of history of theatre, theory, etc. classes that are challenging, I was wondering which BFA programs have the least amount of traditional gen ed requirements (math, science,foreign languages, etc.)?</p>
<p>We found it helpful to create a grid of degree requirements, including the number of units required in distribution courses (non-major, gen ed). There is quite a big range across schools. For example, Carnegie Mellon has relatively low distribution requirements and requires most of the units to be taken in the major (this is especially true for MT and not as true for Acting but that is because Acting/MT is treated as a double major and more courses are required). However, it is now the case that more of the history of drama/foundations courses that were formally required within the Drama school can be fulfilled by designated courses in humanities and social sciences.</p>
<p>Why is it that you believe those general education requirements won’t help you in the world of theatre? Perhaps I’m a bit behind the times, but I sincerely believe there is no such thing as a stupid successful artist. While intelligence and education are often mutually exclusive; the classes in most general education requirements have great meaning and bring depth to the life of an actor. Not everything relevant can be learned in a studio. I know that there is great joy found in the studio. But there is also great joy to be found in history, literature and science. </p>
<p>I shall now step off of my soap box. Feel free to ridicule me at will.</p>
<p>@ kjgc, as a parent, I was hoping for more Gen Ed’s for my D. I am glad she has decided to have a minor as well. I agree with your soap box!!</p>
<p>I’ve just never been that great at Math and Science. While I don’t consider myself a bad student, I’m definitly not an all advanced student. I’ve been pretty average in school. I get stressed, or confused easily, but I always manage to pull myself back up. Every artist is different. Some learn better in a studio than in a class room. Some learn better auditioning for shows, and not even finishing school! (I.E. Sutton Foster) I do want some gen ed, but not like high school where half the history, math, and science courses really weren’t necessary.</p>
<p>Just my point. Not necessary is relative. What you learn in a studio is not what you learn in other classrooms. All learning has intrinsic value. To understand Shaw fully you need to understand his politics. For that, you need a grounding in history and politics. Not being “good” at something is never a reason to abandon the pursuit. Success is not determined by either time in studio or time in other classes. It is determined by the unfailing pursuit of the life of an artist, talent and a bit of good fortune. But to each destination there are different paths. I wish you luck on yours.</p>
<p>My favorite gen eds are when there is a huge choice to choose from. I think NYU/Tisch wins here. Too many schools have a narrow selection that sounds so much like high school all over again.</p>
<p>Personally, I am a huge fan of general education courses because, as long as there are many choices (as at most schools), students will discover new disciplines by taking courses that appeal on some level to them within the breadth requirements of the degree. That said, many students looking at conservatory programs really are better learners in studio style courses and should take into account their learning strengths and weaknesses. If they can discover they are much better students in college than they thought they were in high school because they become very motivated and successful within their degree programs, I have observed they are often more likely to be receptive to taking more non-major courses as well. So, I return to my earlier suggestion: make a grid of the various schools’ degree requirements and factor in your own interests regarding large/small amounts of general education as you make your personal list of schools to which you apply.</p>
<p>Classicalbk brings up another great point. At most universities, you will be able to choose what general education classes you take. Yes, you will have to take math- but you don’t have to take Calculus, you can take Statistics or “Concepts of Math”, which is a lot simpler than maybe even your advanced classes in high school. For science, you don’t have to take biology or chemistry, you can take “Astronomy”. I am, personally, thrilled to take classes like “World Religion” and “Philosophy”, things I wasn’t able to take at my small charter school.</p>
<p>General education classes at universities are something completely different than the onesyouwill take in high school. And, most likely, you will only take one or two a year because your BFA degree will be so intense that you won’t have room in your schedule for more than that. Any college student can handle one or two of those a semester. However, if you pursue a degree in a more “liberal arts” setting, you may have more than that. A conservatory program will have less, but I personally think a “Conservatory Style training program” inside of a liberal arts college with a BFA degree is the best way to go (note: personally!). At least it was for me!</p>
<p>I had to laugh at the OP because, when I was an engineering student, I remember my classmates complaining bitterly about having to take fine arts courses and trying to find a way out of the requirement. Meanwhile, I plunged in and tried to get everything that I could out of Art History and History of Western Music (not to mention I sang in University Chorus even though it was a pain to work around all my labs). Not too long after graduation, I was on a business trip with the CEO of our company to Paris and was able to really impress him, when, during an afternoon tour around the city, I was able to describe the intrinsic messages in the architecture of Notre Dame and the key points of the major works in the Louvre - stuff I learned in those dreaded “soft” courses! He explained that he regretted never taking any courses that allowed him to appreciate all the wonderful sights that his business travel afforded him and he had become convinced that the humanities should be emphasized more in technical degrees. I am certain that afternoon tour contributed greatly to a large promotion that I received shortly thereafter, a promotion that basically launched a very successful career for me. I am also pretty sure that there are lots of theatre people who managed to leverage knowledge gained in their dreaded “Gen Eds” to great effect in their careers. You never know when general knowledge will come in handy…</p>
<p>I think that a broad, well-rounded education works pretty much like J. Pierpont Finch’s book, I know it has for me.</p>
<p>Nice reference to “How to Succeed” Em’sDad. :0) My D & I just saw that in NYC and it was great!</p>
<p>There is a great variance in how BFA programs address “gen ed” requirements outside of the theatre department. Some schools have very formalized distribution requirements, some do not. Some schools require a significant number of classes outside of the department and many require fewer (ex. 8 or less). Most schools offer the “gen eds” through the various separate degree conferring departments that exist at liberal arts colleges and universities while some schools, usually those that come from a conservatory history and structure, have a generalized liberal arts department through which “gen eds” are offered. As has been said above, you really need to look closely at each school you are considering.</p>
<p>My daughter attended UArts. MT students are required to take 11 “gen ed” classes from outside of the School of Theatre. The classes are offered through a liberal arts department and other than 2 semesters of freshman writing, students must take 4 of the remaining “gen eds” classes divided among scientific inquiry (1 class), humanities (1 class) and period interpretation literature (2 classes). The remaining liberal arts mandated credits and any elective additional L.A. credits can be taken any way a student desires. The vast bulk of the liberal arts classes are humanities or literature based classes and very often dovetail well with the artistic majors. Period interpretation classes often involve dramatic literature from different time periods and cross into readings on the politics and social movements of the times. My daughter found her liberal arts experience overall to be a positive one that complemented her departmental classes well.</p>
<p>Shenandoah Conservatory has 6 Gen Eds. The rest are covered by courses within the theatre department that have qualify as gen ed equivalents.</p>
<p>And even though criticized and advised against the idea (by many here, not at the university), my son is successfully pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BSE in Engineering concurrently at UMich. Some people just need the combination of the arts and the academic to feel balanced. I would encourage everyone to “follow their dream” regardless of what popular opinion may be :).</p>
<p>britbat - I love hearing about your amazing son! Glad to see he’s thriving.</p>