Prof. Himmelheber

I have taught in three states, including the wonderful educational system in Iowa (academics are very important there), and I can tell you that the CSU System general education requirements are higher than at many schools nationwide (usually 36-45 semester units of GE). Since my comparison of GE is between "semester" and "quarter" systems, I'm breaking it down to the number of classes required (should be comparable whether condensed to a quarter or spread out over a semester). Again, this is only information gleaned from each school's catalog - please correct me if I'm wrong.

GE REQUIREMENTS:

CSU requires 16 semester (51 semester units) of general education, and our BFAers get no "double dip" (a class that meets gen ed. taken from within your own dept., meaning both Theatre and Dance)

UCI requires 19 quarters (a different system) of gen eds, but a student may include 3 classes from within the discipline - so it works out to 16 courses in gen ed., plus 3 more that may be discipline-related (supportive of the major more than gen. ed.)

AT UCLA, only 10 courses (48 units minimum) are required, including three classes that may be taken from within their own major - so it works out to 7 courses in gen ed., plus 3 more that can be from within the discipline.

GPA MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

All schools use the plus/minus grading option.

CSUF: A 2.0 "C" or better in all gen eds., and a 3.0 "B" or better in all major work. Reasoning is this: pass with an acceptable "C or better" in your gen eds, and maintain superior level work "B or better" in your major.

UCI: Overall GPA of 3.2 (just over a 3.0 which is "B," but not a "B+" which is 2.3), with 3.4 in all major work (just over a "B+"). This GPA is an AVERAGE - no minimum-per-course stated in catalogue, meaning a "D" and an "A" average to a high "C" or low "B"...). This school sets very high standards overall, but the dept. using an "average GPA" doesn't speak well for the academic expectations in-house.

UCLA: A 2.0 "C" average is required in ALL coursework, including upper division work in the major...not very "academically strenuous," in my opinion (both gen ed and major expect an average of "acceptable C." And again, this is an AVERAGE GPA, not a per-course minimum (so students may receive D- grades without any academic probation or action, as long as the C average is maintained overall.

PROGRAM GOALS:

I also find it interesting to compare the stated goals of the programs: either vocational or interest-based.

CSUF BFA program goal is to prepare the student for a professional career - a professional training program. "This degree is for students who desire a professionally oriented education and training in musical theatre" (quote from catalog). BFA students may double-major or minor, but it is not recommended (the BFA courses must be taken in sequence, not allowing ample units/time to study second degree).

UCI's BA (with honors) program is "designed for students who, while not necessarily planning to make the theatre their vocation, have a serious interest in the literature, theory, and practice of drama, as well as for students preparing to work professionally in the theatre, often after more specialized training at the graduate level" (quote from catalog).

UCLA's BA (with special emphasis) program "provides a liberal education by combining critical study of theater with experiential practice in one or more of its component parts. Students explore acting, design, directing, playwriting, and production to build a foundation for future creative work" (quote from catalog). Students cannot double major.

DANCE REQUIRED:

Also, curriculum-wise, dance is highly emphasized (equal to voice and acting) at CSUF. Students must successfully complete intermediate ballet, intermediate jazz, and advanced tap, in addition to the admitted majors all receiving two semesters of musical theatre dance as well as a ton of quickly taught, difficult choreography in three semesters of the revue performance class.

UCI requires two quarters of ballet (any level, so both at the introductory level is okay) and these can be taken * Pass ("C" or better) / or Not Pass ("C-" or worse) per the dept. Once accepted in the program, only one quarter of musical theatre dance, one of jazz, and one of tap is required.

UCLA requires 3 musical theatre dance courses as prereqs to auditioning for placement in program, and then only "Dance and Singing for the Musical Theatre" discipline electives, which are both voice and dance combined (meaning, it is a musical theatre class, NOT dance NOR voice specialty).

PASS/FAIL (or CREDIT/NO CREDIT) GRADING OPTION

CSUF: Does NOT allow any Credit/No Credit grading option for coursework counting toward degree.

* UCI: The Pass/Not Pass option is available to encourage students to enroll in courses outside their major field. Courses graded Pass or Not Pass are not included in computation of the grade point average which appears on a student's permanent record

** UCLA: University rules essentially allow students who are enrolled in at least 12 units to take one P/NP course each quarter, or two if they have not taken a P/NP course the preceding quarter).

VOICE LESSONS OFFERED/REQUIRED:

CSUF requires and provides private voice lessons to students admitted to the program, for four semesters (junior and senior year).

UCI degree includes one quarter of private voice lessons for the advanced musical theatre student. This course can be repeated nine times for credit, but the dept. only requires the one quarter (so any extra means "non-degree elective," and enrollment is likely based on how many students they need to accommodate that semester...not a given.

UCLA's degree doesn't include private voice lessons to majors.