Theatre and Media Arts
Department of Theatre and Media Arts
Administration
Chair: Megan Sanborn Jones
Department Information:
3201 Arts Building (AB)
801-422-6645
tma_secretary@byu.edu
Advisement Center:
2105 Arts Building (AB)
801-422-3777
cfacadvise@byu.edu
Admission to Degree Program
Several degree programs—Acting, Media Arts (major and minor), Music Dance Theatre, and Theatre Education in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts are limited enrollment and have an application process. The Theatre Arts Studies programs (major and minor) are open enrollment. Please see the college advisement center for specific details at their website https://advisement.cfac.byu.edu/ or by phone at 801-422-3777.
Mission
Our mission is to promote literacy, creativity, and spirituality in the arts of theatre and film. We strive to illuminate and confirm truth, tell the most important stories, and celebrate the infinite potential of the human soul. We hope to develop scholar artists who are inspired by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and who build on the great works of the past to become the innovators of the future.
The Discipline
As a department we understand the spiritual power of the performing arts to uplift and inspire. President Kimball clearly understood the same—he mentions the fine arts more often than any other field of study in “The Second Century” address. As we train our students to be leaders in their fields of Theatre and Film, they are prepared to go into some of the most influential professions—creating the stories available on live stages, television, movies screens, and the internet. We accomplish this training through a careful balance of foundational critical studies and exciting mentored-learning activities that culminate in run an award-winning theatre season of seven faculty-directed and five student-directed productions in three different theatres, and the production of about eight fiction, non-fiction, and animated short films each year. As we use gospel methodology in this training, our students are in the powerful position of understanding how to use their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ to be a light in the entertainment industries that shape much of our world.
Career Opportunities
The five majors in TMA—Acting, Film, Music Dance Theatre (MDT), Theatre Arts, and Theatre Education — provide both a strong liberal arts foundation and specialized technical training. These programs emphasize professional practices, creative problem-solving, and collaboration. Students from TMA programs are prepared for careers in the fields of theatre and film, including but not limited to acting on community, regional, and Broadway stages; acting in film and television; design and technology in costume, set, lights, sound, and props; directing for stage and screen; K-12 teaching in theatre and film; stage management; playwriting and screenwriting; video editing, video producing, and fiction and documentary filmmaking. Students are prepared for graduate studies, and have a wide range of transferrable skills that will set them on a path for success no matter what their future holds.
General Information
1. The BYU Media Arts Studies program provides a strong liberal arts foundation for film-related careers or future graduate studies. Graduates gain skills in film history, theory, critical analysis, and filmmaking. The Media Arts Major and Minor are both limited enrollment programs. Students interested in the Media Arts Studies major should declare the Media Arts Studies pre-major under the Change Major link in MyMAP. Declaring the Media Arts Studies pre-major does not guarantee entrance into the Media Arts Studies program. An application is required for entrance into the major and minor programs. Students applying to the Media Arts Studies program must have completed or be enrolled in TMA 102 and TMA 187 at the time they submit their application. Visit the programs section on the TMA Website (tma.byu.edu) for more information about the Media Arts application.
2. The Theatre Arts Studies major (or minor) is an open enrollment program. Students interested in general theatre studies, dramaturgy, playwriting, directing, stage management, critical studies, or design and technology (costume, lighting, makeup, scenic, or sound), should declare the theatre arts studies major (or minor), under the Change Major link in MyMAP.Students interested in the Theatre Arts Education major should declare the Theatre Arts Education pre-major under the Change Major link in MyMAP. Declaring the pre-major does not guarantee entrance into the theatre arts education program. Students must fulfill particular requirements for entrance. See program description for details.
3. The Theatre Education (K-12) degree program is designed to prepare students to become creative teachers who can meet the educational needs of elementary and secondary school theatre students. Students interested in the Theatre Arts Education major should declare the Theatre Arts Education pre-major under the Change Major link in MyMAP. Declaring the pre-major does not guarantee entrance into the theatre arts education program. Students must fulfill particular requirements for entrance. Visit the programs section on the TMA Website (tma.byu.edu) for more information.
4. The Acting, BFA program teaches students the necessary skills to be a professional actor who can tell the great stories of humanity. The Acting program is a limited enrollment program. Students interested in BFA acting should declare the Acting pre-major under the Change Major link in MyMAP. Declaring the pre-major does not guarantee entrance into the BFA program. Students must fulfill particular requirements for entrance. Visit the programs section on the TMA Website (tma.byu.edu) for more information.
5. The Music Dance Theatre (MDT), BFA program is an interdisciplinary degree program within the Theatre and Media Arts Department and fully supported by the School of Music and the Department of Dance. It is a limited enrollment program designed to train performers for a career in musical theatre and related performance disciplines. Students interested in Music Dance Theatre (MDT) should declare the MDT pre-major under the Change Major link in MyMAP. Declaring the MDT pre-major does not guarantee entrance into the MDT program. Students must fulfill particular requirements for entrance. Visit the programs section on the TMA Website (tma.byu.edu) for more information.
6. Students interested in the Animation limited enrollment program should contact the Design Department for application requirements.
Graduation Requirements
To receive a BYU bachelor's degree a student must complete, in addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following university requirements:
The University Core, consisting of requirements in general and religious education.
At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence on the BYU campus in Provo as an admitted day student
A minimum of 120 credit hours
A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
Be in good standing with the Honor Code Office
Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.
