Located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, The LIU Brooklyn BFA Acting program is designed for students interested in rigorous, studio training in Acting for Theatre, Film and Television. Located a 20-minute subway ride from the center of the theatre universe, the BFA Acting program works in collaboration with The New Group, one of off-Broadway's most respected theatre companies, to provide a comprehensive education with practical, professional applications, preparing our students to be working members of the modern entertainment industry. With fewer then 75 students, the program offers personalized attention and a course of study that is tailored to each student's needs, and its New York City location offers students a unique opportunity to be a part of the New York acting community from the moment they become part of the program.
The LIU Brooklyn BFA Acting program offers Acting, Voice and Movement classes in partnership with The New Group, a renowned Off-Broadway theatre company based in Manhattan. Students travel into midtown Manhattan three times weekly to study with accomplished actors and directors, all of whom are working members of the acting industry and have extensive educational credentials.
Studio classes are designed to provide students with an immersive education in various styles of performance including Stanislavski, Michael Chekhov and Sanford Meisner (Acting); Kristin Linklater (Voice); Laban, Gratowski and Bhutto (Movement). The program presents students with an inclusive approach; rather than focusing on a single technique, instructors are encouraged to expose students to multiple techniques and to craft an acting/voice/movement technique that works for the individual actor.
By studying under the studio model with a professional theatre company, students are given the opportunity to network with industry experts and participate in master classes with artists at the top of their field. New Group Studio classes begin in the First Year, allowing students to become immersed in the craft and the business of acting from the moment they arrive on campus.
To learn more about the New Group, click here.
In addition to the Studio sequence, BFA Acting students are required to enroll in complementary on-campus courses in the major, designed to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the many facets of being a working actor.
Students are required to take four semesters of On-Camera Performance -- two semesters of technique and two semesters of scene study. This sequence culminates in the production of a short film, providing students with footage that can be utilized for their acting reels.
Starting in the first semester, students learn how to navigate the business side of the performance industry, with practical courses designed to prepare students for the day after graduation. These courses include four semesters of the Business of Acting (Audition Preparation, Marketing the Actor In the Digital Sphere, and the Actor as Self-Producer); eight semesters of Production Lab (a weekly seminar with members of acting-adjacent industries); two semesters of Senior Capstone (a student-produced public performance showcasing the full spectrum of the student’s BFA Acting career) and a Senior Showcase (a professionally-produced live and virtual showcase presented to New York City-based agents and casting directors).
The BFA Acting program acknowledges the unique opportunities presented to our students as a result of our proximity to New York City and the Broadway community. Students are encouraged to audition for off-campus projects, and to begin their careers as New York actors from the moment they arrive on campus. The Program offers flexibility regarding off-campus acting work, and instructors and administrators are encouraged to assist students as they pursue opportunities outside of the BFA Program.
Surrounding the LIU Brooklyn campus is a flourishing and continuously expanding arts and cultural community, including:
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| MA 187 | Film and Television Studies | 3 |
| MA 1581 | On-Camera Performance I | 3 |
| MA 1582 | On-Camera Performance II | 3 |
| MA 1583 | On-Camera Performance III | 3 |
| TFT 100 | Theatre History and Play Analysis | 3 |
| TFT 120 | Studio I - Acting, Voice and Movement | 6 |
| TFT 121 | Studio II - Acting, Voice and Movement |
6 |
| TFT 122 | Studio III - Acting, Voice and Movement |
6 |
| TFT 123 | Studio IV - Acting, Voice and Movement |
6 |
| TFT 124 | Studio V - Acting, Voice and Movement |
6 |
| TFT 125 | Studio VI - Acting, Voice and Movement |
6 |
| TFT 130 | The Contemporary Performance Industry | 3 |
| TFT 131 | Business of Theatre, Film and Television | 3 |
| TFT 180 | Performance in 21st Century Theatre and Media | 3 |
| TFT 187 | Film and Television Studies | 3 |
| TFT 190 | Production Lab I | 1 |
| TFT 191 | Production Lab II |
1 |
| TFT 192 | Production Lab III |
1 |
| TFT 193 | Production Lab IV |
1 |
| TFT 194 | Production Lab V |
1 |
| TFT 195 | Production Lab VI | 1 |
| TFT 196 | Production Lab VII | 1 |
| TFT 197 | Production Lav VIII | 1 |
| TFT 199 | Internship | 3 |
| TFT 200 | Capstone I | 2 |
| TFT 201 | Capstone II | 3 |
| TFT 220 | Showcase | 2 |
| THE 1391 | On-Camera Performance I | 3 |
| THE 1392 | On-Camera Performance II | 3 |
| THE 1393 | On-Camera Performance III | 3 |
| Workshop/Production Requirement (One of the following) | ||
| MA 102 | Television Production I | 3 |
| MA 106 | Video Workshop I | 3 |
| Require Writing Course (One of the following) | ||
| MA 152 | Screenplay | 3 |
| MA 1481 | Introduction to Playwriting | 3 |
| THE 1221 | Introduction to Playwriting | 3 |
| Required Directing Course (One of the following) | ||
| MA 155 | Directing the Moving Image | 3 |
| MA 1601 | Directing I | 3 |
| THE 1201 | The Music Business | 3 |
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| Required Core Courses | ||
| English Composition | ||
| ENG 16/ ENG 16C | English Composition | 3 |
| English Literature Select one (1) course from the following: |
||
| ENG 61 | European Literatures I | 3 |
| ENG 62 | European Literatures II | 3 |
| ENG 63 | American Literatures | 3 |
| ENG 64 | Global Literatures | 3 |
| History Select one (1) course from the following: |
||
| HIS 1 | Perspectives in Pre-modern World History | 3 |
| HIS 2 | Perspectives in Modern World History | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHI 60 | Philosophical Explorations | 3 |
| Speech | ||
| SPE 3 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Mathematics Select one (1) course from the following, unless major requirements list specific Math courses: |
||
| MTH 15 | Math Tools and Their Use | 4 |
| MTH 16 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| Science Lab-Based Course Select one (1) course from the following: |
||
| BIO | Biology | 4 |
| CHM | Chemistry | 4 |
| PHY | Physics | 4 |
| Foreign Language Select one (1) course from the following: |
||
| SPA 11 | Introductory Spanish I | 3 |
| SPA 12 | Introductory Spanish II | 3 |
| ITL 11 | Introductory Italian I | 3 |
| ITL 12 | Introductory Italian II | 3 |
| FRE 11 | Introductory French I | 3 |
| FRE 12 | Introductory French II | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts Select one (1) course from the following: |
||
| ART 61 | Introduction to Visual Art | 3 |
| DNC 61 | Dance Through Time | 3 |
| JOU 61 | Journalism, Social Media, and You | 3 |
| MA 61 | Media Arts and Technology | 3 |
| MUS 61 | Music and Culture | 3 |
| THE 61 | The Theatrical Vision | 3 |
| Social Sciences I Select any introductory course from the following: |
||
| Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology | 3 | |
| Social Sciences II Select any introductory course from the following: |
||
| Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology | 3 | |
| Credit Requirements | |
| Total Major Requirement Credits | 86 |
| Total Core Requirement Credits | 34-35 |
| Total Degree Credits | 120 |
MA 102 Television Production I
Introduction to the principles and practice of multi-camera TV studio production. This course covers the basic production roles and techniques including producing, directing, switching, scripting, shooting, audio, electronic graphics and on-camera performance. Students apply the skills learned in class to producing and directing a TV talk show and musical production.
Credits: 3.00
MA 103 Television Production II
An intermediate level course expanding the techniques and applications of TV studio production covered in Television Production I. Students focus on producing and directing scripted studio productions such as TV dramas and news programs. Basic lighting techniques and set construction are also covered.
Credits: 3.00
MA 106 Video Workshop I
An introduction to the principles and practice of portable digital video production. Working in crews on field projects, students explore the techniques and aesthetics of single-camera videography, sound recording, location lighting, and video editing.
Credits: 3.00
MA 155 Directing the Moving Image
This is an advanced course in single camera style film and television production. We will explore the role of the director in modern digital filmmaking. Students will participate in projects that will develop a language for talking with actors, communicating with the director of photography and production designer. We will look at the importance of casting, script notes and how to create a dynamic shot list and shot diagrams. This class will utilize all that they have learned in previous production classes and develop new skills that will deepen the student¿s understanding of how to read a script, how to apply visual components to their story and how to transform these blueprints into a powerful film.
Credits: 3.00
MA 187 Film and Television Studies
A survey of the history and development of world cinema and television. Through screenings and discussions, students study this twentieth-century art form as developed by various countries, individuals and movements. The development of cinema and television as an industry and a part of the larger economy; as a series of technical innovations, as a history of aesthetic forms, as a social, cultural and political force and as a reflection of the ideas of its society are explored.
Credits: 3.00
MA 1481 Introduction to Playwriting
The writing and structuring of monologues, scenes, one-act plays and, possibly, full-length plays. Emphasis is on particular limitations, possibilities and specific techniques of writing for the stage. Students may be given the opportunity to see their writing produced in workshops.
Credits: 3.00
MA 1581 On- Camera Performance I
An introduction to the practice and principles of on-camera performance for broadcast and moving image media. Students work on writing and creating characters, auditioning skills (commercial vs dramatic), teleprompter news reading, improvisation and scene study. Using closed-circuit television interactively, students see their work each class.
Credits: 3.00
MA 1582 On-Camera Production II
An intermediate workshop designed to expand upon the skills and knowledge gained in On-Camera Performance I. Emphasis is on cold reading, character creation, teleprompter reading and scene analysis.
Credits: 3.00
MA 1583 On-Camera Performance III
An advanced workshop designed to enable a small group to work collaboratively on mastery of techniques learned in MA 1582. Emphasis is on audition technique and creating monologues.
Credits: 3.00
MA 1601 Directing I
The study and practice of directing for the theatre, emphasizing play selection and analysis, casting, rehearsal procedure, and the relationship of the director to the actor. Students learn staging in different performance environments. (Same as MA 160.1.) Prerequisite: At least one Theatre course or permission of the instructor.
Credits: 3.00
TFT 100 Theatre History and Play Analysis
An orientation to the nature of theatre, students will examine the history of theatre and how to analyze play text including the five elements that make up the theatre: the playwright, the director, the actors, the designers, and the audience. Students will attend live performances and view videotaped performances to analyze the components that theatre is comprised of.
Credits: 3.00
TFT 120 Studio I - Acting, Voice and Movement
Rigorous training in voice, movement, and acting will take place in professional acting schools in New York City for six semesters.
Credits: 2.00
TFT 121 Studio II - Acting, Voice and Movement
Rigorous training in voice, movement, and acting will take place in professional acting schools in New York City for six semesters.
Credits: 2.00
TFT 122 Studio III - Acting, Voice and Movement
Rigorous training in voice, movement, and acting will take place in professional acting schools in New York City for six semesters.
Credits: 2.00
TFT 123 Studio IV - Acting, Voice and Movement
Rigorous training in voice, movement, and acting will take place in professional acting schools in New York City for six semesters.
Credits: 2.00
TFT 124 Studio V - Acting, Voice and Movement
Rigorous training in voice, movement, and acting will take place in professional acting schools in New York City for six semesters.
Credits: 2.00
TFT 125 Studio VI - Acting, Voice and Movement
Rigorous training in voice, movement, and acting will take place in professional acting schools in New York City for six semesters.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 130 The Contemporary Performance Industry
Students learn how to navigate the business side of the performance industry and market themselves as actors. They will learn how to prepare headshots, resumes, reels, develop websites, and how to build an online presence through social media. Furthermore, students will learn how to connect with industry professionals such as agents, managers, and casting directors and insure their information is in the proper industry databases.
Credits: 3.00
TFT 131 Business of Theatre, Film and Television
In this course, students are guided to approach the business as an 'actorpreneur' ready to develop self-created works or artistic ventures in collaboration with partners. Students begin to understand the process of generating creative `start-ups¿ and getting work out into the world to be recognized. Topics covered include pitching projects, accessing funding bodies, applying for grants, collaborating with the industry, promoting and producing independent theatre, and driving Film and TV projects.
Credits: 3.00
TFT 180 Performance in 21st Century Theatre and Media
Students study how live performance is shaped by the integration of digital technologies and how digital media is becoming more and more the platform of choice for streaming live performance. Through screenings, site visits and experimentation, student actors explore unconventional spaces and experiences that can be used for staging, composing, improvising and inventing new drama.
Credits: 3.00
TFT 190 Production Lab I
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credit: 1.00
TFT 191 Production Lab II
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 192 Production III
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 193 Production IV
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 194 Production V
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 195 Production Lab VI
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 196 Production Lab VII
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 197 Production Lab VIII
This course offers a wide range of practical experience in a theatre production, both on stage and backstage. Students who are cast in the play get credit in this course for their work. Students who want to work backstage are assigned to the following areas of production: technical and stage craft, such as set construction and painting, costumes, props, lighting; managerial, including box office, house and stage management, and advertising. Students, instructed by theatre professionals, are involved in each step of production, from the initial planning process through rehearsal and performance. Performers are required to work backstage to gain experience in technical theatre.
Credits: 1.00
TFT 199 Internship
This course provides students with an opportunity to gain field experience in theater, film, television and entertainment organizations. Examples of appropriate organizations are BAM, St. Ann¿s Warehouse, Mark Morris Dance Group, Creative Artist Agency, Dreamworks, FOX Studios, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Sony Pictures Studio.
Credits: 3.00
TFT 200 Capstone I
Students begin to create final projects in their chosen fields of theatre, film or television or any combination thereof. Mentors will guide students through the process of creating the outline for their projects so that by the end of the semester they are ready to go into production in Capstone II.
Credits: 3.00
TFT 220 Showcase
Students will perform monologues and scenes in front of a panel of invited industry casting directors.
Credits: 3.00
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