Catholic University’s B.F.A. in Acting for Theatre, Film, and Television is a degree for the 21st century.  To make their living today, actors need to be capable in film and television as well as theatre.  Our graduates will be comfortable in all the media of their craft and gain the skills to start working immediately upon graduation.

The B.F.A. for Theatre, Film, and Television provides the specificity and studio experience of conservatory training, enriched with the broad knowledge gained from Catholic University's celebrated liberal arts program.  Each semester, B.F.A. candidates take progressive classes in acting, movement, and voice, while also experiencing the richness of the humanities. Our objectives are to provide prospective actors with a deep understanding of their art, and to train the future working artists and theatre visionaries of America. 

Here in Washington, D.C., with its many opportunities for actors in television, film, and theatre, the B.F.A. actor will have the opportunity to intern at area theatres and studios, experience the dynamic theatre scene, and be mentored by professionals from the area and by our prestigious graduates.  

The culmination of study in this B.F.A. degree is a theatrical industry showcase that presents student work to major theatre, film, and television casting directors, as well as a short film produced with Media Studies and Art students that can become part of an industry reel. These projects celebrate the students’ work, instill a sense of confidence about who they have become, and provide a bridge to the professional world. 

During your time as a B.F.A. student, you will:

• Rigorously prepare for an acting career in theatre, film, and television.
• Form your own personal creative process.
• Become accomplished in all styles of acting for the stage and screen.
• Acquire proficiency in the medium of cinema.
• Appear in an industry showcase and generate a well-rounded resume and film samples that will enable you to find work in the professional world.

Choosing between the B.F.A. in Acting or the B.A. in Drama

The B.F.A. in Acting is a professional degree for the student who enters college already dedicated to a career in acting.  It is for the actor who already knows that acting is their vocation and wants the specific and rigorous training that will lead to the highest reaches of the craft.  The B.F.A. student will engage in a specific trajectory that includes acting, movement, and voice classes every semester, so that the student can become accomplished in all styles of acting for the stage, film, and television.

The B.A. in Drama is for the student who is drawn to and inspired by the idea of theatre, and who wishes to engage in all aspects of the discipline.  The B.A. student will explore the myriad areas of theatre: design, directing, playwriting, technical skills, dramatic criticism, and acting.  This student could deeply pursue any one of these areas in greater depth, with the ability to concentrate as they choose. This student will be able to achieve a complete, well-rounded vision of the dramatic arts, carve out their own theatrical identity, and look toward a future as a practitioner in the field.

Applying for the B.F.A. in Acting for Theatre, Film, and Television

Admission into the B.F.A. Acting program is a two-fold process. You must apply for admission to Catholic University, as well as audition for the program.