The programme’s structure combines practical workshops and academic classroom modules. Approximately two-thirds of total weekly contact hours consist of modules devoted to practical aspects of performance. Students receive instruction in rising levels of live performance, including acting, voice control, dance and movement, direction and production. The students’ progress involves development and accumulation of material for a portfolio which provides evidence of their achievement of the programme’s required learning outcomes, and functions as a basis for individual assessment. The remaining one-third of weekly contact hours concentrates on class-based academic instruction that supports and contextualises the ascending levels of practical training, and includes such subjects as theatre history, performance theory, drama and politics, creative writing, management and marketing.

The practical modules are based on a rotating roles model in which all students take turns in specializing in each of six roles in the course of the year: lead performance, support performance, direction, production, writing, and business (management, marketing and finance). Notwithstanding these separations of roles, students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the integration and interdependence of the activities and to provide mutual support, encouragement and help for all activity areas and for the group as a whole. The programme lays great stress on the development of an ensemble ethic; alongside the development of the individual’s creative impulses and abilities, the degree seeks to imbue the student with an awareness of the paramount importance of responsibility to the collective in performing arts practice.

In the first year of the programme students are introduced to fundamental concepts of acting, including action, relaxation, spontaneity, monologues, projection, presence, substitution, gesture, movement, character analyses, voice and diction. These technical perspectives are developed through study of the Stanislavski system and the Meisner technique. Dance and movement foundational skills include a broad introduction to contemporary dance styles, and the development of kinaesthetic, rhythmic, spatial and body awareness; instructional perspectives include the Feldenkrais method, Laban movement analysis and contact improvisation. Classes on directing and production provide a practical analysis of approaches since the nineteenth century, including realism, naturalism, symbolism, epic, Brechtian and post-Brechtian methodologies.

In year two, the focus shifts increasingly towards application and development of the skills encountered in the first year, with an accompanying analysis of key forms and practitioners, including devising, improvisation, clowning, mime, characterization and the Chekhov technique; the directing approaches of Antonin Artaud, Jerzy Grotowski and Peter Brook; and ongoing development of dance and movement competencies, including choreography, improvisation, enhancement of bodily coordination and movement vocabulary, improved conditioning to support technical capacity, and further exploration of contemporary dance styles. In the second year students also begin to examine the practice of play writing, initially through adaptations of canonical works, but increasingly by way of producing entirely original works for performances by the class. The movement towards a practical application of performance skills in year two is supported in both semesters by event management modules, which use as their case studies the designing, planning and running of various performing arts events by the class group.

The final taught year of the programme concentrates on the practice of performing arts by the class. Although consideration is given to historical and contemporary approaches, the overriding focus is now on producing from within the group’s internal resources largely or completely original presentations for public performance. Whereas in the previous two years all members of the class have practised in turns the six rotating roles, in the final year the roles are assigned by the programme teaching team on the basis of individual abilities and proclivities identified in each student over the preceding semesters. Master class presentations are provided by established actors, dancers and directors, giving the class the opportunity to engage directly with those who have had significant experience in various aspects of the performing arts. These presentations are combined with workshop classes which prepare the student for participation in the performing arts industry, with sessions offering guidance by experienced practitioners on matters such as curriculum vitae and headshot preparation, interview and audition preparation and mock auditions.

Throughout the course of their study participants are involved in a number of didactic and illustrative performance exercises, culminating in the showcase performances at the end of each academic year. The teaching staff provide guidance and advice in the preparation of these performances. At the same time the class is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the performance, and assessment is based both on individual execution of assigned roles and on the performance of the group as a whole. The process of development of responsibility and preparedness for a career in the performing arts culminates in the 1200-hour internship, completed as a fourth year or incrementally in the course of the three years during summer and other breaks. As an alternative to the internship, with the approval of the head of programme students may undertake the Production and performance project, in which with other students from the group a major performance project is developed, rehearsed and documented in a portfolio over the course of the year and delivered in the summer.

The programme is made up of the following components:/p>

45 credits minimum from the performing arts major, including

• • CW201 Introduction to creative writing*
  • IB200 Introduction to management*
  • PA203 Creating character*
  • PA204 Dance and movement 1*
  • IB203 Principles of marketing*
  • PA208 Soundings*
  • PA209 Dance and movement 2*
  • PA251 Acting for screen 1*
  • PA303 The English and American character on stage
  • PA307 Naturalism and realism in performance
  • PA321 Theatre craft 1
  • PA322 Theatre craft 2
  • PA405 Performing arts project 1
  • PA403 Acting and voice 3/li>
  • PA404 Dance 3
  • PA405 Performing arts project 1
  • PA409 Performing arts project 2
  • PA425 Internship (1200 hours / 30 credits – completed as a fourth year or incrementally in the course of the three years during summer and other breaks)

Or

• PA427 Production and performance project (30 credits)

*Denotes general education module

30 credits minimum of general education classes

• The 200-level creative writing and liberal arts classes are all rated as general education courses and may be counted towards the general education requirement.

45 credits of free electives

• The remaining classes to achieve the required total of 120 credits may be freely chosen by the student, with the proviso that prerequisite stipulations are followed.
• The student may select as free electives more than the minimum 45 credits of performing arts major classes.
• The student may select as free electives more than the minimum of 30 credits of general education classes.
• If a student wishes to take a minor, a minimum of 15 credits must be taken in the minor, with at least 9 credits in the upper divisions (300+); these minor credits are taken from the free elective requirement.

Sample course schedule

Year 1

• Introduction to the performing arts
• History of drama
• Introduction to performing arts management
• Acting and voice 1 (9 hours per week)
• Dance 1 (3 hours per week)
• Principles of marketing
• Drama and politics
• Direction and production 1 (3 hours per week)
• Acting and voice 1 (6 hours per week)
• Dance 1 (3 hours per week)
• Two end-of-year showcase performances

Year 2

• Dramatic writing 1
• Theoretical perspectives on performance or Representations of sexualities
• Event management for the performing arts
• Acting and voice 2 (9 hours per week)
• Dance 2 (3 hours per week)
• E-commerce and internet marketing for the performing arts
• Direction and production 2 (3 hours per week)
• Acting and voice 2 (6 hours per week)
• Dance 2 (3 hours per week)
• Event design and experience for the performing arts
• Two end-of-year class showcase performances

Year 3

• Dramatic writing 2
• Performance on screen
• Master class presentations
• Acting and voice 3 (9 hours per week)
• Dance 3 (3 hours per week)
• The business of performing arts
• Direction and production 3 (3 hours per week)
• Acting and voice 3 (6 hours per week)
• Dance 3 (3 hours per week)
• Performing arts project
• Four capstone end-of-year showcase performances

PA425 Internship (1200 hours, completed as a fourth year or incrementally in the course of the three years during summer and other breaks)

Entry requirements

The programme has one intake per year: September.

Applicants should furnish evidence of graduation from high school (secondary school), with final-year subjects to include completion of English.

A prospective student should submit an application for the course directly to the Admissions Office at American College Dublin.

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent).

An interview and audition is required for entry to the BFA in Musical Theatre course. For the audition you should prepare two spoken monologues, one classic, one modern; two contrasting musical theatre songs, one pre 1965; and partake in a dance assessment. Students should contact the Admissions Office at American College Dublin for details on the interview and audition process.

Further education students

The College accepts students from further education colleges to all of its courses. Students must have gained three distinctions in a cognate area of the programme that they wish to study. Students must have a full level 5 or level 6 award and this award may have been taken over a number of years. Students with a FETAC qualification can gain access to both American College Dublin and American College Delaware.

Mature student application

Mature applicants can apply directly to the Admissions office. An interview and audition is required for entry to the BFA in Musical Theatre course. For the audition you must prepare one spoken monologue, one a capella singing piece, and one dance piece (if you wish to have a backing track for the dance, please bring a CD). Each piece should be no more than two minutes in length. Mature applicants should contact the Admissions Office at American College Dublin for details on the interview and audition process.

Other EU applications

Every student who has taken examinations in an EU member state is expected to have completed English in his or her final year. The only exception to this is students who have completed the A-Levels. These students must have taken mathematics and English for their O-Levels.

For overseas students Skype auditions can be arranged. More information is available in the Admissions menu or by contacting the Admissions Office, Tel: +353 1 6768939; Email: admissions@iamu.edu

Along with academic knowledge that students receive throughout the duration of their chosen subject, students will also acquire and develop transferable career skills from their degree discipline. These skills along with potential career paths are provided below to give you a well-rounded view of what the course has to offer.

These skills include:

• Communication
• Writing skills
• Creativity
• Effective presentation techniques
• Management, marketing and fundraising abilities
• Interpretational and compositional competency with written texts
• Organisational skills
• Research skills
• Time management

The BFA in Performing Arts is designed to prepare students for a number of future careers in following:

• Theatre
• Arts and event management
• Local and community broadcasting
• Teaching
• Research
• Cultural and business vocations

The programme also serves as preparation for students to participate in a variety of postgraduate programmes such as the MFA in Creative Writing and MB in International Business.