The BFA* programs in Acting and Musical Theatre require an audition. The audition is separate from the University admission decision. All prospective and incoming transfer BFA Acting and Musical Theatre students will be enrolled in the BS Theatre Arts program until they successfully complete the audition process. Students are given 2 opportunities to pass the audition to be accepted into the program.
Bring Meaningful Stories to Life by Earning Your BFA in Acting Degree
Prepare for a career in theatre through our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting program. Our BFA degree can help provide the training you need to impact the world through meaningful roles and performances. You will study with experienced professionals who have performed on a variety of stages and screens, and who can mentor and support you throughout your journey toward becoming an actor.
At Liberty, we believe your faith can be integrated with your profession. Throughout this degree, you can develop the skills you need to become an actor who performs with integrity and excellence, producing powerful stories that engage and create culture.
*Applicants pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Theatre, Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Theatre Minor, and Dance Minor are not required to audition. Please note that general education courses and the Theatre Arts core courses are identical for the BFA in Acting, the BFA in Musical Theatre, and the BS in Theatre.
Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting Degree?
Our mission is to prepare you to impact the world for Christ in whatever career field God calls you to pursue. We believe in combining biblical values with a dedication to excellence, and our bachelor’s degree in acting is designed to prepare you with the theory and hands-on experience you need to glorify Christ in the practice of your craft.
As one of the largest Christian universities in the nation, we have the resources you need to make the most of your pursuit of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. With programs like our Washington Fellowships, we give you the opportunity to pursue prestigious internships without breaking enrollment. For our incoming students who excel, we provide additional support and community through our Honors and Eagle Scholars programs, so you can develop your leadership skills and make the most of your academic and theatrical achievements.
Additionally, our faculty have years of experience acting and are dedicated to your success, so you can be confident that you are receiving a world-class education.
What Will You Learn in Our BFA in Acting?
In our BFA in Acting program, you will study vocal performance, choreography, and acting with respected instructors who have performed with The American Shakespeare Center, directed plays at Pigeon Forge’s Miracle Theatre, and acted with notable actors like Colin Farrell.
Throughout this degree program, you can advance your audition and performance skills while gaining hands-on experience in multiple theatre practicums and in our yearly theatre productions. You can also develop your craft by focusing on a variety of acting styles and periods as well as stage combat, movement, dialects, and accents.
Our acting courses strategically blend theory with praxis. As an acting major, you will discover that hands-on experience and learning by doing is the best way to excel in acting. Your professors will lead rich and engaging classes so that you can be confident that you are receiving a world-class education.
At Liberty, we Train Champions for Christ, and we will teach you how to create innovative, artistic performances that incorporate a biblical worldview and redemptive message. Review our Degree Completion Plan, and check out our featured courses below to learn more about what you’ll be studying!
Featured Courses
THEA 311 – Acting for Film I
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Principles of acting for film
- The differences between stage and film performance
THEA 321 – Stage Movement I
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to apply principles of stylized movement
- How to diagnose patterns of tension in actors (and yourself)
- How to use physical expression to create a character
THEA 381 – Christian Aesthetics in Theatre
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to integrate faith and art
- Specific ways this integration can be applied to theatre
THEA 441 – Stage Accents
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to clearly communicate while performing with an accent
- Various accents and dialects common to theatre
Highlights of Our BFA in Acting Degree Program
- Our professors have years of real-world experience in professional productions. They also have a passion for teaching you how to create innovative theatre that glorifies Christ.
- Our theatre department produces graduates of distinction who have achieved roles in The Walking Dead, Six, House of Cards, and S.W.A.T., become the production manager for Carnival Cruise Lines, and served as a dresser for Broadway’s WICKED.
- Our theatre students write, produce, and perform original plays widely recognized for their innovation, such as Bloodroot: The Ballad of Clinch Mountain.
- We participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), the Virginia Theatre Association (VTA), and the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC).
- You will have opportunities to network with other professionals through our chapter of Alpha Psi Omega.
- Our Tower and Black Box Theatres allow you to gain experience in designing, staging, and performing in a variety of spaces.
- Our professional Alluvion Stage Company provides opportunities for additional experience.
Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees
Every application is reviewed by the admission committee on a case-by-case basis, meaning there are no set minimums for acceptance. However, all applicants must submit the following documents* for admission:
- Admission application
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- SAT, ACT, or CLT scores (Liberty University is offering test-optional admission through Fall 2023 acceptance)
- Admission essay
*Note that additional documentation may be requested by the admission committee after your application has been received.
Acting Program Entry Requirements
Students must first be admitted to Liberty University following the above admission process and declare the BFA on their DCP. It is not until he or she completes the entrance audition and has been accepted by the Department of Theatre Arts Faculty that he or she will be a BFA in Acting student.
In-Person Auditions
Two contrasting, 60-second monologues. Bring a headshot and current resume.
- Monologues must be memorized
- One speaking character
- From a published, contemporary play – no books or movies
- No props or costumes
- No accents
- Age-appropriate
- Subject to be worked by the faculty
Video Auditions
Two contrasting, 60-second monologues. One monologue should be full-body shot. One monologue should be medium-shot (waist-high). The same rules apply as listed for in-person auditions.
Slate (close-up shot)
- Name
- Year in School
- Hometown
- Name of School
All clips should be combined into one video and use quality sound and lighting. Be sure to use a neutral, solid color background. Ensure your face is completely visible at all times.
Videos only accepted via YouTube or Vimeo. Submit your video audition and digital headshot and resume to lncooper@liberty.edu.
Following the submission of your video, you may be contacted for a Teams meeting or in-person interview.
Our BFA in Acting Degree Program Information
- Residential
- 120 total credit hours
- Transfer in up to 75% of your total degree
- This bachelor’s degree in fine arts falls under the School of Communication and the Arts
- View the Degree Completion Plan for our BFA in Acting
- View our course catalog
Career Opportunities for Our BFA in Acting Graduates
- Actor
- Choreographer
- Community arts director
- Drama therapist (requires graduate study)
- Theatre critic
