<p>Although getting a good drama education is the number one goal, being able to take classes/major in something else would be nice for obvious reasons. How do I know if a place offers this? Is it a BA/BFA thing, or is it on a specific college-to-college basis? </p>
<p>On a related note, is it possible to get the full training that a person who is not double majoring would receive if you are, in fact, taking other classes? In other words, would taking other classes hinder my training in Drama?</p>
<pre><code> Sorry, last one…What do most people who do take other classes study in? I was thinking education myself… is that a popular/smart (or even possible) choice?
</code></pre>
<p>In general, if you want to take a significant amount of non-drama classes, you are better off with a BA degree. And yes, it does depend on the school: some BFA programs allow more freedom to take extra classes than others.
Regarding your second question – you’re not going to get a definitive answer, as it’s a matter of opinion. Many feel that a broader education, as in a BA program, is a good thing for an actor; others prefer to spend more time focusing on their theatrical training, as in a conservatory setting; others like a mix of the two, as you will find in some BFA programs.</p>
<p>I think these are great questions. If you pursue theatre of some kind, that is your major and what you will study. But you will take other types of classes to enrich your studies, regardless of whether you are a BFA or a BA. </p>
<p>If you are in a BA program, you will get a basic general education background. You will study sciences, social studies, humanities, English and Literature, and in some cases, foreign language. Many of the BFA programs require this type of GE education as well (NYU leaps to mind.)</p>
<p>Other programs (like CMU) have very few specific GE requirements. CMU lets you chose what you want to study and you take one class per term. They tell you at CMU that they will come after you if they see you taking too many courses in the arts. They want you to stretch yourself. CMU is big on integration. That is their theme. They have all these really cool classes that somehow find a way to have the science robotics majors working with the Drama kids. The program wants their students to live that experience as well and not exist in a hole in the drama building wall. But it is self directed. You make it what you want it to be.</p>
<p>So, I guess the answer to your question is that in all programs you have some flexibility. A BA program is going to have a lot of GE classes. At UCLA, you have 10 “Foundations” courses in the Arts and Humanities, Society and Culture, and Science. You also have to take your 2 writing courses, 3 additional literature courses, the equivalent of 3 quarters of a foreign language, and American History (which most people test out of) if you are a theatre major. So, above and beyond your Theatre studies, you have 19 courses (classes are quarters) not including just getting enough units. If you decide to minor, that’s seven courses above and beyond your major and G.E. That’s a pretty broad general education if you ask me.</p>
<p>And based upon my recollection, you will get the same out of NYU, even though it is a BFA.</p>