Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage) / Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage) (Honours) at Charles Sturt University ::

Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage) BA(ActScreenandStage)
Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage) (Honours) BA(ActScreenandStage)(Hons)

CSU’s Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage) is a highly specialised course in acting, designed for contemporary 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 television productions.

A streamed Honours year is available for those wishing to pursue advanced professional practice, including directing, or research-based higher degrees.

A Diploma of Education can also be studied for those who wish to teach drama in schools.

Where the course will take you

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
alternative metropolitan theatre companies
regional theatre companies
theatre for youth and educational theatre projects
voice-overs

Career flexibility is further enhanced by the attention the course pays to vocational activities such as:

commercials
hosting and compering television programs
announcing

In addition many graduates work on a variety of related professions, including:

casting consultants
actors
agents
theatre administration
producing
directing
dramaturgy
playwriting
primary and high school drama teaching
event managing
performance consultancy

Industry recognition

This course is recognised by the professional guild, the MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance) which incorporates what was known as Actors' Equity. 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 professional skills

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 also have wide experience in directing, ranging from mainstream to experimental, from the classics to realism.

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 Production course.

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points (normally equivalent to 24 subjects) for the Bachelor of Arts (Acting Screen and Stage) and 256 points, including a research dissertation/project, for the Bachelor of Arts (Acting Screen and Stage) (Honours).

Further study

Further study is available for graduates keen to extend their skills or train for related careers, such as:

a one-year Graduate Diploma in Education for those wishing to train to be drama teachers in high schools
the Honours course provides meritorious students with an opportunity for advanced professional practice as an actor, training as a director, or for research based study in performance or theatre
Professional Doctorates for those wishing to pursue professional practice higher degree study

For those wishing to extend either their practical skills, move into directing, or develop a research profile, CSU also offers:

Master of Arts (Honours)

Doctor of Visual and Performing Arts

Doctor of Philosophy

Graduate comment

"I found that other institutions like to mould their actors into a specific style, unlike the CSU course, which encourages students to develop their unique abilities, and so producing individual graduates with their own specific strengths."

Robert Lloyd

Graduate

Course structure

The Acting course is made up of 24 single session subjects in three distinct blocks: skills-based practical acting subjects and production subjects, and background contextual subjects, as follows:

Year one

Session 1
ACT120 Fundamentals of Acting
ACT122 Voice and Presentation
[ ] Contextual Elective
[ ] Elective

Session 2
ACT121 Techniques of Acting
ACT123 Performance Making
COM122 Australian Screen and Stage
[ ] Elective

Year two

Session 3
ACT220 The Actor and Language
ACT222 Acting for the Camera
[ ] Contextual Elective
[ ] Elective

Session 4
ACT218 Theatre History
ACT221 Naturalism
ACT223 Screen Performance
[ ] Elective

Students may exit here with an Associate Degree in Acting for Screen and Stage (exit point only)

Year three - Pass strand: Practice

Session 5
ACT318 Theatre in Australia
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
[ ] Elective

Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 Industrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
[ ] Elective

Students completing the Pass strand will exit here with the Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage)

Year three - Honours strand: Practice

Session 5
ACT310 Australian Theatre
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (Honours) (16 points commenced)

Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 I ndustrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (Honours) (completed)

Year four - Honours strand: Practice

Session 7
COM417 Professional Workplace Research (Honours)
VPA412 Project Management

Session 8
ACT423 Honours production project (32 points)

Year three - Pass strand: Research

Session 5
ACT318 Theatre in Australia
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (16 points commenced)

Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 Industrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (completed)

Students completing the Pass strand will exit here with the Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage)

Year three - Honours strand: Research

Session 5
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
ACT310 Australian Theatre
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (16 points commenced)

Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 Industrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (completed)

Year four - Honours strand: Research

Session 7
ART401 Theories of Criticism (16 points commenced)
ART402 Reading Subject (16 points commenced)

Session 8
ART401 Theories of Criticism (completed)
ART402 Reading Subject (completed)
ACT420 Seminar and Project Dissertation (32 points)

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 Universities Admissions Index (UAI) 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

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
or
have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
a TOEFL Internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
a C pass in English at the GCE ‘A’ level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
a C pass in ‘Use of English’ in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in ‘Use of English’;
completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University’s requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

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.

Study through	Wagga Wagga
Study mode and normal course duration	3 years full-time on campus
Course code	211724
Fees	Commonwealth supported place
Session available	February / July (Semester basis)
Apply through	UAC
UAI cut-offs	UAI + criteria

Study through	Wagga Wagga
Study mode and normal course duration	3 years full-time - onshore (within Australia) Honours: 1 year full-time - onshore (within Australia)
Course code	CRICOS code: 015498A Honours CRICOS code: 036163F Program code: 1411TP
Fees	Onshore - see fee list
Session available	February (Semester basis)
Apply through	CSU International Admissions
UAI cut-offs	N/A