Non-audition BAs with acting focus west of Mississippi

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>My D is unsure of her major but loves acting so will look for a college that will give her the chance to keep acting while she decides on her major. We are looking for schools with broad, reputable academic programs with a good drama/theater program should she go that direction. </p>

<p>What is the advice for non-audition schools west of the Mississippi that offer sound academics and a theater program with an acting focus? Any size, either public or private, with any degree of selectivity is ok for starters. The non-audition part is based on my assumption that auditioned programs expect the student to have firmly chosen drama/theater for a major. </p>

<p>Sorry if there is already a list on this thread, but other than USC, UCLA and Chapman what I’ve seen are recommendations for eastern, southern and Midwestern schools. We’ll look at them as well but are interested in schools that are closer to home.</p>

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<p>A couple of terrific options in the Austin area:</p>

<p>St. Edward’s University in Austin offers a BA in Theatre and a BFA in Acting. The BFA is by audition second semester of freshman year. The BA is non-audition.
[Theater</a> Majors and Minor Requirements | School of Humanities](<a href=“http://think.stedwards.edu/humanities/academics/undergraduate/theatre/majorandminorrequirements]Theater”>http://think.stedwards.edu/humanities/academics/undergraduate/theatre/majorandminorrequirements)</p>

<p>Southwestern University in Georgetown also offers a BA and a BFA. The BFA is by audition at the end of the first semester of the sophomore year…
[Southwestern</a> University: Department of Theatre: Guide for Students & Guest Artists: Department of Theatre](<a href=“http://www.southwestern.edu/departments/theatre/guide/overview/department.php]Southwestern”>http://www.southwestern.edu/departments/theatre/guide/overview/department.php)</p>

<p>I know students who attend/attended both programs and have seen productions at both.</p>

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<p>University of Montana has an open-admission theater major that lets you audition for the BFA acting program in spring of freshman year. Their students work closely with Montana Repertory Theater. I’ve known several kids who went to UMontana for other majors (English, studio art, journalism) and thrived there. Also–smack ON the Mississippi is the excellent non-auditioned BA program at UMinnesota!</p>

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<p>There are respected theater departments at UCSB, UCSD, and UCI–but the first two are difficult admits, and SD is known more for its graduate program. Each of these has a very different culture and you’ll need to see what appeals to your D. Occidental is also respected, but significantly less selective than the UCs.</p>

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<p>Thanks very much to all of you who posted, I appreciate the information.</p>