Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Acting)
What is this course about?
CSU's Bachelor of Screen and Stage (Acting) is a highly specialised course in acting, designed for contemporary film, theatre and television industries.
About the course
Studies in acting, voice, movement and acting for the camera offer a busy practical program to learn the skills a professional performer needs. These skills are then applied to mainstage, studio and theatre productions and are supported with an active program of screen productions.
Academic expectations
For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.
Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.
Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).
Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.
Career opportunities
Graduates work professionally as actors in film and television, and on the stage including:
- feature films
- tele-features, mini-series, series drama, serial drama, comedies, infotainment programs
- television commercials
- mainstage metropolitan theatre companies
- independent metropolitan theatre companies
- regional theatre companies
- theatre for youth and educational theatre projects
- voice-overs
In addition many graduates work on a variety of related professions, including:
- casting consultants
- agents
- theatre administration
- producing
- directing
- dramaturgy
- playwriting
- primary and high school drama teaching (with the addition of a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary))
- event managing
Industry recognition
This course is recognised by the professional guild, the MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance). Though formal professional accreditation is not required to become an actor, recognition of the course by the MEAA assists the process of our graduates gaining the essential union card, without which they will not be able to gain award-rate contracts for paid employment.
Professionals teaching you
The course is taught by dedicated professionals with a wide range of industry experience. They are committed to the business of theatre and/or television, and are specialists in either acting (camera or stage), voice, or movement. All staff have wide experience in directing, ranging from mainstream to independent, from the classics to contemporary.
A visiting artist program brings professionals of national and international repute to work alongside staff and students, supplementing the skills of the regular staff. Contextual studies are taught by specialists in screen and theatre studies, and students also have regular contact with lecturers from the Television and Design specialisations.
Associate Degree in Stage and Screen
Exit point only
To exit with an Associate Degree students must satisfactorily complete 128 points to graduate. Of these, 32 points are allocated to core studies, 64 points will be allocated a discipline specialisation (note that under CSU policy students can not be awarded an Associate Degree with a specialisation noted), and 32 points allocated to an elective study strand of the student’s choice from offerings within the School of Communication & Creative Industries (or externally by approval of the Course Director).
The course structure is as follows:
Core subjects (32 points):
COM111 Professional Writing (8)
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities (8)
COM220 Script Analysis and interpretation (8)
ETH205 Ethics & Law for Creative Industries (8)
Acting Specialisation subjects (64 points):
ACT120 Fundamentals of Acting (8)
ACT101 Fundamentals of Voice & Movement (8)
ACT121 Techniques of Acting (8)
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration (8)
ACT201 The Actor & Process (8)
VPA200 Creative External Production (8)
ACT202 The Actor & Performance (8)
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice (8)
Design Specialisation subjects (64 points):
DES107 Design Implementation (8)
DES109 Introduction to Stage & Screen Design (8)
DES108 Design Communication (8)
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration (8)
DES213 Design & Production 1 (8)
VPA200 Creative External Production (8)
DES214 Design & Production 2 (8)
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice (8)
Television Production Specialisation subjects (64 points):
TVP105 Television Technology (8)
VPA110 Visual Storytelling (8)
TVP106 Television Production 2 (8)
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration (8)
TVP203 Television Post Production (8)
VPA200 Creative External Production (8)
TVP204 Outside Broadcast Production (8)
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice (8)
Elective Subjects (32 points)
Students undertake four electives (32 points) chosen from elective offerings within the School of Communication & Creative Industries, or from other schools through consultation and approval with the Course Director (eg, scriptwriting offerings from H&SS).
Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Specialisation)
Students must satisfactorily complete 192 points to graduate. Of these, 88 points are allocated to core studies and capstone collaborative projects, 64 points will be allocated to a discipline specialisation, and 40 points allocated to an elective study strand of the student’s choice from offerings within the School of Communication & Creative Industries (or externally by approval of the Course Director).
The course structure is as follows:
Core subjects (88 points):
COM111 Professional Writing (8)
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities (8)
COM220 Script Analysis and interpretation (8)
ETH205 Ethics & Law for Creative Industries (8)
VPA303 Stage & Screen Project 1 (16)
COM323 Culture, Creativity & Storytelling (8)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication and Creative Industries (24)
VPA302 Industry & Internship Experience (8)
Acting Specialisation subjects (64 points):
ACT120 Fundamentals of Acting (8)
ACT101 Fundamentals of Voice & Movement (8)
ACT121 Techniques of Acting (8)
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration (8)
ACT201 The Actor & Process (8)
VPA200 Creative External Production (8)
ACT202 The Actor & Performance (8)
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice (8)
Design Specialisation subjects (64 points):
DES107 Design Implementation (8)
DES109 Introduction to Stage & Screen Design (8)
DES108 Design Communication (8)
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration (8)
DES213 Design & Production 1 (8)
VPA200 Creative External Production (8)
DES214 Design & Production 2 (8)
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice (8)
Television Production Specialisation subjects (64 points):
TVP105 Television Technology (8)
VPA110 Visual Storytelling (8)
TVP106 Television Production 2 (8)
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration (8)
TVP203 Television Post Production (8)
VPA200 Creative External Production (8)
TVP204 Outside Broadcast Production (8)
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice (8)
Elective Subjects (40 points)
Students undertake five electives (40 points) chosen from elective offerings within the School of Communication & Creative Industries, or from other schools through consultation and approval with the Course Director (eg, script writing offerings from H&SS).
Enrolment pattern
Acting Specialisation
Full time suggested study sequence
Session 1 (30)
ACT120 Fundamentals of Acting
ACT101 Fundamentals of Voice and Movement
COM111 Professional Writing
Elective
Session 2 (60)
ACT121 Techniques of Acting
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
Elective
Session 3 (30)
ACT201 The Actor and Process
VPA200 Creative External Production
COM220 Script Analysis and Interpretation
Elective
Session 4 (60)
ACT202 The Actor & Performance
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice
ETH205 Ethics & Law for Creative Industries
Elective
Students may exit at this point with an Associate Degree in Stage and Screen
Session 5 (30)
VPA303 Stage & Screen Project
COM323 Culture, Creativity & Storytelling
Elective
Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communicaion and Creative Industries
VPA302 Industry & Internship Experience
Design Specialisation
Full time suggested study sequence
Session 1 (30)
DES107 Design Implementation
DES109 Introduction to Stage & Screen Design
COM111 Professional Writing
Elective
Session 2 (60)
DES108 Design Communication
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
Elective
Session 3 (30)
DES213 Design & Production 1
VPA200 Creative External Production
COM220 Script Analysis and Interpretation
Elective
Session 4 (60)
DES212 Design and Production 2
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice
ETH205 Ethics & Law for Creative Industries
Elective
Students may exit at this point with an Associate Degree Stage and Screen
Session 5 (30)
VPA303 Stage & Screen Project
COM323 Culture, Creativity & Storytelling
Elective
Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communicaion and Creative Industries
VPA302 Industry & Internship Experience
Television Specialisation
Full time suggested study sequence
Session 1 (30)
TVP105 Television Technology
VPA110 Visual Storytelling
COM111 Professional Writing
Elective
Session 2 (60)
TVP106 Television Production 2
VPA111 Live Studio Collaboration
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
Elective
Session 3 (30)
TVP203 Television Post Production
VPA200 Creative External Production
COM220 Script Analysis and Interpretation
Elective
Session 4 (60)
TVP204 Outside Broadcast Production
VPA209 Studio & Location Practice
ETH205 Ethics & Law for Creative Industries
Elective
Students may exit at this point with an Associate Degree Stage and Screen
Session 5 (30)
VPA303 Stage & Screen Project
COM323 Culture, Creativity & Storytelling
Elective
Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communicaion and Creative Industries
VPA302 Industry & Internship Experience
Special admission requirements
Compulsory attendance at an audition / interview in Wagga Wagga
In addition to applying through UAC, applicants must attend an audition. Audition requirements are outlined in the Audition Booklet.
Book your audition / course consultation.
If you are unable to attend the audition in person, you may either:
-
send a video audition on DVD
-
send a video audition on YouTube by uploading and then emailing the link to khardwick@csu.edu.au and josaunders@csu.edu.au Please include in the subject heading of the email your name, the word audition and the title of your piece. For example: Joan Smith, Audition, The Kid.
Students applying for this course through the Principal's Report Entry Program (PREP), should send a video audition on YouTube by uploading and then emailing the link to khardwick@csu.edu.au josaunders@csu.edu.au Please include in the subject heading of the email your name, the word "audition" and the title of your piece. For example: Joan Smith, audition, Dags.
Admission requirements
To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:
- previous studies, and
- other attainments and experience.
Previous studies
Previous studies include:
- the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
- the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
- a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
- a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
- an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
- completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.
NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.
Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.
English language proficiency
The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.
Attainment and experience
You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:
- voluntary or paid work experience;
- performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
- participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
- completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).
Internet access
CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.
The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.
Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.
Apply now
This course is available to commence study in
Session 1
Australian and New Zealand students
Apply through UAC/VTAC
Full-time on campus study only
Admission code: 211744
International Students
This course is not available to international students.
More information:
Consider also:
Follow on study:
- Bachelor of Arts (Visual and Performing Arts) (Honours) - with specialisations
- Master of Arts Practice - with specialisations
- Master of Arts (Honours)
- Doctor of Philosophy - Arts
Prospective Student Inquiries
Australian campus business hours are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm, Australian Eastern Time (GMT +10).
info.csu can provide support and guidance to prospective students on everything you need to know on the University, courses, fees, accommodation, etc.
within Australia 1800 334 733
International + 61 2 6338 6077 Fax (02) 6338 6001
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