MT Graduate Schools...

soozievt
Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:56:20 +0000

kjgc…yes, that is what I meant. A BFA is a professional degree program that prepares you to enter the profession. An MFA is as well. A BA is not. So, in terms of a professional degree program there would be a BFA or one could do a BA plus an MFA. But of course, one could do both a BFA AND an MFA!

I liken it to my other daughter’s field, architecture. There are two paths. One is to do a five year professional degree program, called a BArch. You can become an architect through this path. Another is to do a BA (she did this) and then a graduate professional school program to get an MArch. The BArch and the MArch are both professional degree programs, just like the BFA and the MFA. But you CAN do both a BArch and an MArch if you want, but the MArch would be shorter for such a student. But a BA (like my D did) could not lead you to enter the profession.

So, I was saying that a BFA or an MFA are professional degree programs and are two viable paths. It is not necessary to do an MFA after a BFA even though you CAN do that. Same with a BArch and an MArch. But a BA is not a professional degree program and so if one wants professional training, then one would go onto an MFA (or in the case of architecture, one would HAVE to go onto an MArch just to enter the profession). That said, you can be successful in theater with a BA without a professional degree program.

Sorry if my use of the word “terminal” was confusing because I was saying that both the BFA and the MFA are both professional degree programs that prepare you for professional theater. If you do a BFA, you don’t have to do an MFA, but clearly you could if you wanted. That said, there are very few MFA programs for MT unless one wants to study straight theater in an MFA.

In my view, for someone seeking MT and who wants professional training, a BFA is that path. For someone seeking straight acting, I feel they have two viable paths…either a BFA or a BA plus MFA (and again, a BFA plus MFA is always an option too).