Specialized Honours BFA Program (Performance Creation)

Do you want to learn how to create, write, perform and/or design your own original work?

The new BFA in Performance Creation degree prepares students to move fluidly across artistic disciplines and to assume a wide range of roles in collaborative performance settings.

This degree offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests, exposing them to critical, theoretical and historical perspectives on theatre and performance, as well as introducing them to various approaches to performance, theatre creation, theatre education, and applied theatre (including activist performance, community-based performance, performance ethnography).

In addition to the courses required of all Theatre majors, students undertaking a BFA in Performance Creation will be required to take two second year courses, THEA 2210 3.0: Theatre and Social Justice and THEA 2110 6.0: 2nd Year Stagecraft. These courses will ensure that students have the necessary technical and theoretical grounding to pursue a range of options in upper years.

In short, this degree is ideal for students who want to produce original, meaningful performance work that engages with larger issues of social justice and sustainability.

Eligibility and Application

Students who wish to switch from a BA to a BFA must either (A) submit a Letter of Intent during the annual Next Steps process as specified and attend a mandatory information session, or (B) If they are unable to attend the information session independently meet with the BFA PC Coordinator before applying to switch their major.

Further specialization is possible in Devised Theatre, Directing, Playwriting and Dramaturgy. At the end of 1st year, there is an audition/application process into these specific areas of concentration. Based on the 4th year Devised Theatre Company needs, there may be additional opportunities to participate in THEA4051.

Finally, since the degree places emphasis on studio coursework, we strongly recommend that you arrange an appointment with the Office of Advising and Integrated Student Services (OAISS) to map out your degree path and ensure that you fulfill all credits. You can arrange to meet with an advisor in person or chat with them on the phone or via email.

Honours Majors

Students must complete the requirements of the Specialized Honours BA degree or the Specialized Honours BFA degree. The following courses are required of all theatre majors:

  • FA/THEA 1010 3.00;
  • FA/THEA 1100 3.00;
  • FA/THEA 1200 6.00;
  • FA/THEA 2200 6.00;
  • FA/THEA 3200 3.00;
  • FA/THEA 3150 3.00or FA/THEA 4150 3.00;
  • three additional credits at the 3000 or 4000 level from the following list:
[Note: the majority of these courses are offered each year; others are offered on a rotating basis every 2-3 years]
  • FA/THEA 3135 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3211 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3235 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3240 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3260E 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3260H 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3290 6.00
  • FA/THEA 3300 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3331 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3450 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4111 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4200 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4225 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4270B 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4270L 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4290 6.00
  • FA/THEA 4330 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4331 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4333 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4334 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4334 6.00
  • FA/THEA 4335 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4360 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4440 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4440 6.00

 

Students must complete at least 60 credits in theatre, including:

  • the core courses listed above;
  • 33 further credits including FA/THEA 2110 6.00; FA/THEA 2210 3.00, and 24 credits drawn from the following list:
  • FA/THEA 2022A 3.00
  • FA/THEA 2060 3.00
  • FA/THEA 2100 3.00
  • FA/THEA 2120 3.00
  • FA/THEA 2600 6.00
  • FA/THEA 2050 3.00
  • FA/THEA 2051 3.00
  • FA/THEA 2141 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3000 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3050 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3051 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3060 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3070 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3071 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3100 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3101 6.00
  • FA/THEA 3110 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3120 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3130 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3131 3.00
  • FA/PANF 3140 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3142 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3143 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3144 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3145 3.00
  • FA/THEA 3180 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4000 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4050 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4051 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4070 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4071 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4100 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4101 6.00
  • FA/THEA 4110 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4111 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4130 3.00
  • FA/PANF 4140 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4143 6.00
  • FA/THEA 4450A 6.00
  • FA/THEA 4460 3.00
  • FA/THEA 4485 3.00

 

At least 24 of the 60 credits in theatre must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Students must also complete:

  • 12 elective credits chosen from the other departments in AMPD
  • 18 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits from each of Humanities, Social Science and Natural Science (or approved substitutes)
  • 6 credits non-AMPD electives
  • 24 free elective credits

*Note: six credits from the AMPD 1900 3.00 series of courses, outside the major, are required of all School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design degrees. These courses may be used toward satisfying the humanities general education requirement, the in/out requirements or an AMPD elective.