The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Musical Theatre provides rigorous training with a concentrated focus in acting, dance and music, preparing students to work in the musical theatre industry. Musical Theatre majors develop exceptional performance skills through a combination of intense classroom work and production opportunities.
The program is based in the Department of Theatre & Dance. For further information, go to: BFA Musical Theatre. (Note: All Theatre & Dance majors must pass yearly juries/portfolio reviews and faculty evaluation for continuation in the programs.)
Degree Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| SEEDS General Education Requirements | 18-21 | |
| Major Requirements | 91 | |
| Free Electives | 10-7 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
Required Theatre Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| THTR 115 | Acting I - BFA | 3 |
| THTR 125 | Voice and Speech I | 2 |
| THTR 130 | Acting II - BFA | 3 |
| THTR 131 | Somatics and Self-Care for Musical Theatre | 1 |
| THTR 139 | Stage Make-Up | 1 |
| THTR 150 | Introduction to Technical Theatre | 1 |
| THTR 200 | Production Stagecraft | 1 |
| THTR 201 | Production Operations | 1 |
| THTR 202 | Production Costumes | 1 |
| THTR 204 | Performance Production I | 1 |
| THTR 206 | Performance: Production II | 1 |
| THTR 210 | Theatre History: Early World | 3 |
| THTR 222 | Acting III - B.F.A.: Scene Study I | 3 |
| THTR 223 | Acting IV - B.F.A.: Scene Study II | 3 |
| THTR 315 | Advanced Scene Study I for Musical Theatre | 3 |
| THTR 316 | Advanced Scene Study II for Musical Theatre | 3 |
| THTR 238 | Musical Theatre I | 3 |
| THTR 338 | Musical Theatre II | 3 |
| THTR 425 | Industry Showcase for Actors | 3 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Required Music Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSSN 101 | Keyboard Musicianship I | 1 |
| MTTH 101 | Applied Music Theory I for Musical Theatre | 3 |
| MTTH 102 | Applied Music Theory II for Musical Theatre | 3 |
| MTTH 103 | Aural Skills I for Musical Theatre | 1 |
| MTTH 104 | Aural Skills II for Musical Theatre | 1 |
| MTTH 132 | Acting for the Singer I | 2 |
| MTTH 133 | Vocal Technique for Musical Theatre | 2 |
| MTTH 231 | Acting for the Singer II | 2 |
| MTTH 331 | Musical Theatre Repertoire and Audition Technique | 1 |
| MUCP 122 | Advanced Music Theory and Aural Skills for Musical Theatre | 2 |
| MUGN 136 | The History of Broadway | 3 |
| Complete 6 times for a total of 3 credits: | 3 | |
| Performance Practicum for Performance Majors | ||
| Complete two courses for a total of 1 credit: | 1 | |
| Montclair State University Chorale | ||
or MUEN 101 | Montclair State University Singers | |
or MUEN 130 | Opera Production | |
| Complete six times for a total of 12 credits: | 12 | |
| Applied Music | ||
| Total Credits | 37 | |
Required Dance Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 6 credits from the following (to be repeated as necessary): | 6 | |
| Introduction to Ballet (Non-Major) | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet I | ||
| Ballet for Musical Theatre | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet II | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet III | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet IV | ||
| Complete 10 credits from the following (to be repeated as necessary): | ||
| Tap | 5 | |
| Musical Theatre Dance I - Tap | ||
or DNCE 221 | Musical Theatre Dance II - Tap | |
or DNCE 321 | Musical Theatre Dance III - Tap | |
or DNCE 421 | Musical Theatre Dance IV - Tap | |
| Jazz | 5 | |
| Musical Theatre Dance I - Jazz | ||
or DNCE 222 | Musical Theatre Dance II - Jazz | |
or DNCE 324 | Musical Theatre Dance III - Jazz | |
or DNCE 422 | Musical Theatre Dance IV - Jazz | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Suggested Additional Collateral Courses
To be chosen from within the College of the Arts, depending on General Education total.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DNCE 435 | Special Topics in Dance Arts | 1-3 |
| MSSN 102 | Keyboard Musicianship II | 1 |
| MUCP 241 | Musical Composition | 2 |
| FMTV 251 | Acting for the Screen | 3 |
| THTR 330 | Play Direction I | 3 |
New Student Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100. | ||
| Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor. | 1 | |
| Pathways to Success | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Chemistry | ||
| First Year Seminar | ||
| Adult Academic Success Seminar | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | ||
| Pathways to Adult Learning | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | ||
| Introduction to Nursing | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law | ||
SEEDS General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| Effective Writing I | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing I course. | 3 | |
| Effective Writing II | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing II course. | 3 | |
| Interactive Communication | ||
| Fulfilled by THTR 125 in the major. | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Complete one Quantitative Reasoning course. | 3 | |
| Political and Civic Life | ||
| Complete one Political and Civic Life course. | 3 | |
| World Language | ||
| Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level. | 3-6 | |
| Exploration | ||
| Complete one course from four different Exploration categories: | 3 | |
| Analyzing Cultures and Societies | ||
| Creative Expression | ||
| Fulfilled by THTR 115 in the major. | ||
| Ethical Inquiry | ||
| Historical Thinking | ||
| Literary and Artistic Analysis | ||
| Fulfilled by MUGN 136 in the major. | ||
| Scientific Reasoning | ||
| Fulfilled by DNCE 130 in the major. | ||
| Total Credits | 18-21 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | SEEDS: Effective Writing II | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | THTR 130 | 3 |
| THTR 115 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration - Creative Expression) | 3 | THTR 150 | 1 |
| DNCE 200 | 2 | MUCP 102 | 3 |
| MTTH 101 | 3 | MUCP 104 | 1 |
| MTTH 103 | 1 | MUSI 499 (Voice) | 2 |
| MTTH 134 | 1 | MUPR 140 | 0.5 |
| MTTH 133 | 2 | THTR 202 | 1 |
| THTR 201 | 1 | DNCE 200 | 2 |
| 17 | 16.5 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| THTR 125 (Fulfills SEEDS: Interactive Communication) | 3 | SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Musical Theatre Dance course | 2 | MTTH 132 | 0.5-2 |
| THTR 204 | 1 | MUSI 499 (Voice) | 2 |
| THTR 222 | 3 | THTR 200 | 1 |
| MUSI 499 (Voice) | 2 | THTR 223 | 3 |
| MUPR 140 | 0.5 | MUCP 122 | 2 |
| MSSN 101 | 1 | MUPR 140 | 0.5 |
| MUEN 100, 101, or 130 | 0.5 | MUEN 100, 101, or 130 | 0.5 |
| THTR 131 | 1 | Ballet course | 2 |
| 14 | 14.5-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: World Language 1 | 3 | Musical Theatre Dance course | 2 |
| Musical Theatre Dance course | 2 | THTR 238 | 3 |
| MUGN 136 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration - Literary and Artistic Analysis) | 3 | DNCE 130 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration - Scientific Reasoning) | 3 |
| THTR 315 | 3 | THTR 316 | 3 |
| THTR 207 | 1 | MUSI 499 (Voice) | 2 |
| MTTH 231 | 2 | MUPR 140 | 0.5 |
| MUSI 499 (Voice) | 2 | ||
| MUPR 140 | 0.5 | ||
| 16.5 | 13.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: World Language 2 or Free Elective | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 4 | 3 |
| THTR 338 | 3 | Musical Theatre Dance course | 2 |
| MUSI 499 (Voice) | 2 | THTR 425 | 3 |
| MUPR 140 | 0.5 | Ballet course | 2 |
| MTTH 331 | 1 | Free Elective | 3 |
| SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 | Free Elective | 2.5-1 |
| 12.5 | 15.5-14 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||