FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For Transfer Students
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRANCE INTO YOUR B.A.
AND B.F.A. IN ACTING PROGRAMS FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS?
Transfer students who wish to major in acting are not required to audition to begin the program. All actors are accepted into
the B.A. in Acting program. During the second semester of
classes, students who have an interest to continue in the
B.F.A. in Acting program can apply to the performance faculty.
To schedule an audition, contact the Department of Theatre
office at 410-455-2917.
DO YOU REQUIRE A PORTFOLIO REVIEW FOR STUDENTS WITH
AN INTEREST IN DESIGN/PRODUCTION?
We do not require a portfolio
review for design/production
students unless they are applying
for the Linehan Artist Scholar
Program. We recommend that any
design/production student contact
the theatre office to set up a
meeting with one of our faculty
members in your area of interest.
Our production program includes
scenic and costume design and
production, lighting and sound
design and stage management.
WILL MY PREVIOUS THEATRE COURSES BE ACCEPTED IN YOUR DEPARTMENT?
Some courses from other institutions
may be accepted as equivalent
to our required theatre courses.
The determination is made in
conference with a UMBC theatre
department faculty advisor who will
review your transcript, discuss your
previous theatre courses and plan
a course of study. (A transfer evaluation
of your general education
courses will be made by the
Registrar's Office.) Often we find
that students have had some
courses and experiences in technical
theatre, dramatic literature and
theatre history that fulfill one or
two of the required courses in our
curriculum. No matter how many
classes you have taken in acting,
voice and movement, those courses
are not necessarily equivalent
to the required technique courses
at UMBC. A determination about
your placement in our series of
technique classes will be made
based on your audition to enter the
program. Unless you have trained
in techniques comparable to those
we offer, you will probably be
placed in the first level of acting,
voice and movement for majors.
Once you have been accepted by
UMBC, you should call the theatre
office to set up a meeting with an
advisor.
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR CLASSES?
As an actor, once you have auditioned and you have met with
a theatre department faculty advisor, a list of required classes
will be drawn up for you and a schedule of required and recommended
theatre classes will be discussed with you. That theatre advisor
will then give you permission for those theatre classes and
for your other classes. It is critical that you do
not register for your courses until you have
met with a theatre department faculty advisor. Similarly,
as a design/production student you will determine a schedule
of classes in consultation with a theatre advisor. That advisor
will then give you permission for those theatre courses and
you will be ready to register.
AS AN ACTOR, CAN I BE CAST MY FIRST SEMESTER IN ONE OF YOUR THEATRE PRODUCTIONS?
You are required to audition for
department productions each
semester. We value that process
as an important part of your training
as an actor. You might be cast in
your first semester. That decision
will be dependent upon your
schedule and whether or not you
are taking required theatre courses
that conflict with rehearsals.
ARE THERE THEATRE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS?
The Department of Theatre does not have special scholarships
for transfer students, however, we can recommend you for merit
scholarships through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
After two semesters in the program you are also eligible to
apply for the Department of Theatre merit scholarship for
the following fall semester.
