Musical Theatre (BFA)

This program is offered by the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts/Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts trains our future colleagues to become visionaries, creators, and leaders in the next generation of theatre professionals.

Webster University offers an intense four-year actor's training program leading to a BFA degree in acting or musical theatre. Both performance programs are based on a block of courses called the Conservatory. Complementing this program, musical theatre students take music and dance courses, and both acting and musical theatre students complete elective liberal arts courses that balance the curriculum and provide a well-rounded education.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of their training, students in the Sargent Conservatory will be able to:

• Describe the cultural and historical context for theatrical practice.
• Hone strong analytical, research, organizational, and technical skills for the creation and/or performance of theatre.
• Apply skills (outcome # 2) to the production and performance of theatre encompassing a variety of styles with creativity and competence.
• Model positive and effective leadership, clear communication, and collaboration to work well with others.
• Assess power relationships and biases within the arts and society, past and present, and work to promote equity and justice through theatre via classwork and production.

Special Requirements

Only courses completed with a grade of C- or above will count toward fulfilling the specific requirements of the major.

Auditions/interviews are required for all students planning to major in theatre at Webster University. Auditions/interviews are held each year during the spring semester for entrance into the following fall session. 

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• Minimum 91 required credit hours
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours, with accommodations for theatre BFAs
• Electives

Global Citizenship Program for Theatre BFAs

• GLBC 1200 Global Cornerstone Seminar
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Roots of Cultures’ (THEA 2030, THEA 2040, THEA 2050 or MUTH 1030 can fulfill GCP and major requirements simultaneously)
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Social Systems & Human Behavior’ or ‘Global Understanding’
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Physical & Natural World’ or ‘Quantitative Literacy’ (SCIN 1410 can fulfill GCP and major requirements simultaneously)

KEYS 4XXX Global Keystone Seminar

NOTE: Except where specified otherwise, the above courses must not also satisfy major requirements. GCP skills requirements are fulfilled through Conservatory instruction. 'Arts Appreciation' is satisfied in meeting the requirements for the major.

Required Courses

• CONS 1010, CONS 1020, CONS 2010, CONS 2020 (the Conservatory sequence or its equivalent) (minimum 24 hours)
• MUTH 3010, MUTH 3020, MUTH 4010, MUTH 4020 (the Musical Theatre sequence or its equivalent) (20 hours)
• MUSC 1000 Fundamentals of Notational Literacy (2 hours)
• MUSC 1015 Music Theory for Musical Theatre (3 hours)
• MUSC 1080, MUSC 1085 Applied Music: Class or Applied Piano (4 hours) (may be waived on the basis of placement exam results)
• MUSC 1800 Basic Musicianship for Musical Theatre (2 hours)
• MUSC 2910 Applied Musicianship for Musical Theatre III (3 hours)
• MUSC 2502 Applied Voice (16 hours)
• MUTH 1030 History of American Musical Theatre (3 hours)
• DANC 1010 Ballet I or DANC 2010 Ballet II (minimum 1 hour)
• DANC 1020 Ballet I or DANC 2020 Ballet II (minimum 1 hour)
• DANC 1090 Jazz I or DANC 2090 Jazz II (minimum 1 hour)
• DANC 1100 Jazz I or DANC 2100 Jazz II (minimum 1 hour)
• DANC 1230 Tap Dance I or DANC 2230 Tap Dance II (minimum 1 hour)
• DANC 1240 Tap Dance I or DANC 2240 Tap Dance II (minimum 1 hour)
• MUTH 2410 Musical Theatre Dance Styles I (minimum 1 hour)
• MUTH 2420 Musical Theatre Dance Styles I (minimum 1 hour)

4 additional dance focused (DANC and/or MUTH) courses (minimum 4 hours)

2 hours from the following:

• MUSC 4900 Webster University Chorale (1 hour)
• MUSC 4910 Chamber Singers (1 hour)
• MUSC 4920 Aurelia (1 hour)
• MUSC 4955 Jazz Singers (1 hour)