B.F.A. in Acting

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting seeks to prepare students with fundamental training and the education necessary for an acting career. This unique four-year program combines courses in stage acting with innovative training in voice-over and narration, film and television. Our faculty of professional working artists equip students with the skills needed to navigate current industry expectations, as well as to anticipate future trends in a professional actor’s career.

The B.F.A. in Acting program reflect the uniqueness of The University of Texas at Austin by offering classes and practical experiences in department productions, collaborations with professional artists, workshops with visiting artists and the rich scholarly resources of a Tier One institution. 

The department produces an annual season of six to eight productions that range from classical to contemporary plays, musical theatre and original scripts. Additionally, there are various opportunities to collaborate on student-driven work as part of the annual Studio Series, biennial Cohen New Works Festival and projects with student organizations. Students also gain meaningful on-camera experience through regular collaboration with students in Radio-Television-Film.

Students in the B.F.A. in Acting program spend their final semester in Los Angeles taking classes in acting, acting for the camera and business of acting through the UT Semester in Los Angeles program. The B.F.A. program films a digital showcase that is released to industry professionals before graduation.

Application Procedures

1. SUBMIT THE COMMON APP APPLICATION

Available: August 1, 2025
Deadline: December 1, 2025

All applicants must submit a freshman university application via Common App. This university application will include:

• Application
• Fee
• Essay
• Short answers
• Transcript(s)
• Official SAT or ACT scores
• Other required or optional materials, if applicable
• Scholarship interest form

For a full list of application requirements, please visit the Office of Admissions website.

2. SUBMIT THEATRE AND DANCE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Available: September 1, 2025
Deadline: December 1, 2025

Applicants will be required to submit the prescreen materials listed below. Select applicants may be invited to attend an in-person or virtual callback audition.

• College of Fine Arts application
• Headshot - this does not have to be a professional headshot. It can be a clear image taken on your mobile device.
• Video 1 - Slate (personal introduction): This is an opportunity for us to "meet you." The slate should begin with your name and hometown, then tell us a bit about something that you're passionate about other than acting. The slate should be unrehearsed rather than scripted and approximately 30 seconds in length. 
• Videos 2 & 3 – two contrasting monologues: We highly recommend that you choose monologues from plays that you've read in their entirety (not a book of monologues). We recommend that the character be close in age to you and our most important recommendation is that you choose pieces that you feel connected to. We also recommend you choose one contemporary monologue (written after 1980) and one classical/heightened text monologue, although not required. Each monologue should be approximately 1-minute in length.

Additional tips for preparing your monologues:

• "Contrasting" does not only have to mean "comedic" and "dramatic." Monologues can contrast in style and tone, as well as have significant differences in who you're talking to (your "other") and what you're trying to do to your "other."
• Monologues from the following plays are currently overdone and we recommend you avoid them if possible: Rabbit Hole, Red, Prodigal Son, She Kills Monsters.

For some pointers on how to light, frame and otherwise make a great audition, please watch this video (also available below) from acting faculty member, Corey Allen.

View this video in Vimeo.

View a full list of important application dates and deadlines.

The schedule and availability of Theatre and Dance courses changes each semester. The courses listed above are examples for this focus. Students must also fulfill The University of Texas at Austin’s core curriculum, department core and elective requirements.

DOWNLOAD SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN:

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