Musical Theatre (B.F.A.)

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.)

Program Requirements Overview

General Education Requirements19
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3-6
Major Requirements91
Free Electives7-4
Total Credits120

Major Requirements

Required Theatre Courses

THTR 115Acting I - BFA3
THTR 125Voice and Speech I2
THTR 130Acting II - BFA3
THTR 131Somatics and Self-Care for Musical Theatre1
THTR 139Stage Make-Up1
THTR 150Introduction to Technical Theatre1
THTR 200Production Stagecraft1
THTR 201Production Operations1
THTR 202Production Costumes1
THTR 204Performance Production I1
THTR 206Performance: Production II1
THTR 210Theatre History: Early World3
THTR 222Acting III - B.F.A.: Scene Study I3
THTR 223Acting IV - B.F.A.: Scene Study II3
THTR 315Advanced Scene Study I for Musical Theatre3
THTR 316Advanced Scene Study II for Musical Theatre3
THTR 238Musical Theatre I3
THTR 338Musical Theatre II3
THTR 425Industry Showcase for Actors3
Total Credits40

Required Music Courses

MSSN 101Keyboard Musicianship I1
MTTH 101Applied Music Theory I for Musical Theatre3
MTTH 102Applied Music Theory II for Musical Theatre3
MTTH 103Aural Skills I for Musical Theatre1
MTTH 104Aural Skills II for Musical Theatre1
MTTH 132Acting for the Singer I2
MTTH 133Vocal Technique for Musical Theatre2
MTTH 231Acting for the Singer II2
MTTH 331Musical Theatre Repertoire and Audition Technique1
MUCP 122Advanced Music Theory and Aural Skills for Musical Theatre2
MUGN 136The History of Broadway3
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
Montclair State University Singers
Opera Production
Complete six times for a total of 12 credits:12
Applied Music
Total Credits37

Required Dance Courses

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):
Tap5
Musical Theatre Dance I - Tap
Musical Theatre Dance II - Tap
Musical Theatre Dance III - Tap
Musical Theatre Dance IV - Tap
Jazz5
Musical Theatre Dance I - Jazz
Musical Theatre Dance II - Jazz
Musical Theatre Dance III - Jazz
Musical Theatre Dance IV - Jazz
Total Credits16

Suggested Additional Collateral Courses

To be chosen from within the College of the Arts, depending on General Education total.

DNCE 435Special Topics in Dance Arts1-3
MSSN 102Keyboard Musicianship II1
MUCP 241Musical Composition2
FMTV 251Acting for the Screen3
THTR 330Play Direction I3

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course.1
C. Communication
1. Writing 3
2. Literature3
3. Communication3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives 3
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.3
K. Social Science
1. American and European History 3
Total Credits22

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages
Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. Requirement is automatically fulfilled by language major courses.3-6
World Cultures
Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. Requirement may also be fulfilled by major coursework. See list of courses.0-3
Total Credits3-9

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar1GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing3DNCE 2122
DNCE 1122THTR 1303
THTR 1153THTR 1501
MUCP 1013MUCP 1023
MUCP 1031MUCP 1041
THTR 1311MUSI 4992
MTTH 1332MUPR 1400.5
 MTTH 1322
 16 17.5
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication3GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science3
DNCE 1211DNCE 2211
THTR 2041THTR 1252
THTR 2223THTR 1391
MSSN 1011THTR 2001
MUSI 4992THTR 2233
MUPR 1400.5MUCP 1222
MTTH 2312MUSI 4992
MUEN 100, 101, or 1300.5MUPR 1400.5
 MUEN 100, 101, or 1300.5
 14 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
World Language 13World Language 23
DNCE 3211DNCE 4211
THTR 2011THTR 2383
THTR 2071THTR 3163
THTR 2103MUPR 1400.5
THTR 3153MUGN 1363
MUPR 1400.5MUSI 4992
MUSI 4992 
 14.5 15.5
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives3GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History3World Cultures3
THTR 3383DNCE 4211
MUPR 1400.5THTR 2021
MUSI 4992THTR 4253
MTTH 3311DNCE 3122
 Free Elective1
 12.5 14
Total Credits 120