California is often known as the center of the film industry, and for good reason. By 1920, Hollywood had emerged as the premiere location for the industry, leaving New York to continue to thrive as the center of the theatrical stage. It's no surprise then that California would house some of the most prestigious accredited acting and theatrical schools in the country.
Five Impressive Acting Programs in California
Among California's many institutions offering bachelor's and master's degrees in acting, five stand out from the lot: The University of California at Los Angeles, The University of Southern California, San Francisco State University, Stanford University, and the ever-prestigious American Conservatory Theater. Undergraduate degrees offered are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree (which is more of a conservatory approach). Graduate course work ranges from a Master of Arts (MA) to Master of Fine Arts (MFA) to a Doctorate (PhD) degree. You must have a BA or BFA to apply to an MA or PhD program.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA has long been regarded as one of the top acting schools in the country, let alone California. The program is rigorous and prides itself on furnishing its students not only with the ability to gauge and select the best roles for themselves, but also with a distinguished 4-year education. If you apply to UCLA as an undergraduate, you'll apply to the theater program for a Bachelor of Arts degree, and will audition for a place in the undergraduate acting specialization. As a public school in California, tuition is easier to accommodate on any budget.
University of Southern California (USC)
Similar to UCLA, USC is credited as being one of the top acting schools in the nation. Offering Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees, USC goes the extra mile to offer theater students the choice of a typical 4-year degree (BA) or a conservatory approach (BFA) in theater. A BFA in any field is more like the degree you would obtain from an art school or academy; however, getting such a degree from an accredited university such as USC promises a respectable 4-year degree to boot. No expense is spared at this private institution, and tuition can be quite pricey.
San Francisco State University (SFSU)
SFSU, located in the lovely city of San Francisco, is part of the California State University System, or CSU. CSUs typically are known to offer a more hands-on approach to learning, whereas the UC system provides research- and theory-based educations. Tuition is less expensive, and instead of operating on a quarter system as the UC does, the CSU system runs on semesters. Of all the state university theater programs, San Francisco State boasts the most unique: graduate (MA or MFA) as well as undergraduate (BA), and even minors in the field of drama are known to specialize in independent film and filmmaking. The program describes itself as one where students can study to be professional actors, can study to teach acting or can prepare themselves for higher education in drama (such as the MA would provide).
Stanford University
Stanford offers a minor, a major (or BA) and even a doctorate (PhD) in the field of drama. Like USC, Stanford is a private institution and costs to attend this school are four times that of tuition at a CSU or UC school. Stanford patterns its bachelor's degree program after its PhD program, aiming to juxtapose the studies of theory and performance. The undergraduate program is not designed for students to emerge as professional actors, but instead to prepare students to go on for graduate or conservatory coursework.
The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)
A.C.T., or The American Conservatory Theater, offers one of the most elite MFA degrees this country has to offer, and alumni of this prestigious program include Annette Benning and Denzel Washington. The conservatory expects approximately 300 applications to its MFA program each year. It is a highly competitive and comprehensive program. Tuition is surprisingly affordable and is closer to the price of a public degree program than that of a private college. When applying for an MFA program, you should have or expect to have your bachelor's degree by the fall of the year you plan to begin at A.C.T.
http://www.act-sf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=conservatory_mfa
Tags: Fine Arts, American Conservatory, American Conservatory Theater, Arts degree, Bachelor Arts, Conservatory Theater