May 21, 2026

2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

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2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Music Theater, BFA

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Overview

The curricula of the Acting/Original Works and Musical Theater Programs are centered around intensive acting-based studies, supported by rigorous training in voice, dance and movement along with devising and intellectual skill-building to facilitate student growth as innovative theater-makers. Students collaborate in foundational acting coursework while pursuing their specialized BFA studies in Acting & Original Works and Musical Theater.

Program Learning Outcomes

At the completion of their program of study, graduates of the Musical Theater major at Cornish College of the Arts are able to:

Synthesize the tools of acting, movement, and singing in the creation of character, intention, and dramatic action.
Integrate improvisation and experimentation into the creation of the performance.
Demonstrate proficiency in dance techniques and movement skills required for musical theater, informed by the awareness of historical styles and social context.
Articulate an emerging personal aesthetic, grounded in historic and current practices of the art form.
Communicate complex ideas in a variety of media including visual, written, and oral formats.
Apply research, critical thinking, and contextual analysis to both interpret established work and create new work.
Foster ethical, productive collaboration in their creative practice.

General Education Coursework

Complete ALL of the following Requirement Sets:

First-Year Writing

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

HS 111 - Writing and Analysis I 3 credit hours
HS 112 - Writing and Analysis II 3 credit hours

Writing Intensive

Complete at least 1 courses in the following Course Sets:

AR 433 - Critical + Contextual: Thesis 3 credit hours
DA 335 - Writing About Dance 3 credit hours
DA 440 - Special Topics in Dance History 3 credit hours
FM 335 - Film Forms 3 credit hours
FM 361 - Complex Narrative 3 credit hours
FM 435 - Major Directors 3 credit hours
HS 203 - Intro Creative Writing 3 credit hours
HS 204 - Creative Writing Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 205 - Creative Non-Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 206 - Writing Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 238 - Contemporary American Literature 3 credit hours
HS 239 - Intro to Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 240 - Critical Arts Writing 3 credit hours
HS 241 - Introduction to Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 244 - Introduction to the Novel 3 credit hours
HS 246 - Contemporary Global Literature 3 credit hours
HS 381 - Research Writing 3 credit hours
MU 354 - Topics in Music History 3 credit hours
TH 274 - Playwriting Fundamentals 3 credit hours
TH 361 - Modern Theater History & Theory 3 credit hours
TH 367 - Musical Theater History & Analysis 3 credit hours
TH 386 - Playwriting Practicum 3 credit hours
TH 483 - Playwriting Laboratory 3 credit hours

Humanities

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:

AN 333 - Special Topics in Animation History 3 credit hours
AN 233 - Animation in Context 3 credit hours
AR 233 - Global Modern Art History 3 credit hours
AR 234 - Contemporary Art History 3 credit hours
AR 362 - Special Topics in Art History 3 credit hours
DA 142 - Dance & Performance History 3 credit hours
DA 205 - Dance in the Theater: 1890-2010 3 credit hours
DA 440 - Special Topics in Dance History 3 credit hours
DE 140 - Color: Theory + Practice 3 credit hours
DE 333 - Parallel Views:Narratives of Design 3 credit hours
FM 233 - Film Language 3 credit hours
FM 234 - World Cinema Since 1960 3 credit hours
FM 335 - Film Forms 3 credit hours
FN 140 - Intro to Visual Arts Histories 3 credit hours
HS 201 - The Power of Peer Consulting 3 credit hours
HS 203 - Intro Creative Writing 3 credit hours
HS 204 - Creative Writing Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 205 - Creative Non-Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 206 - Writing Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 211 - Illustrating Science 3 credit hours
HS 217 - Curating Nature: Wildlife in Film 3 credit hours
HS 221 - Curating Nature: Taxidermy 3 credit hours
HS 222 - Natural Law and Human Nature 3 credit hours
HS 223 - Ancient Landscapes 3 credit hours
HS 224 - Morals and Manners 3 credit hours
HS 226 - Certainty and Belief 3 credit hours
HS 227 - Stoicism 3 credit hours
HS 228 - Origins of Modern Thought 3 credit hours
HS 229 - Passion and Reason 3 credit hours
HS 232 - Hist of Western Pol Thought 3 credit hours
HS 238 - Contemporary American Literature 3 credit hours
HS 239 - Intro to Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 240 - Critical Arts Writing 3 credit hours
HS 241 - Introduction to Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 244 - Introduction to the Novel 3 credit hours
HS 246 - Contemporary Global Literature 3 credit hours
HS 247 - Introduction to World Literature 3 credit hours
HS 248 - Literature: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 250 - Performance Art: History & Theory 3 credit hours
HS 260 - Humanities: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 261 - Art of Living 3 credit hours
HS 282 - Existentialism 3 credit hours
HS 286 - Ethics and Values 3 credit hours
HS 287 - Philosophy in Myth & Story 3 credit hours
HS 288 - Modern Loss of Self 3 credit hours
HS 360 - Humanities: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 361 - Text + Context in the Ancient World 3 credit hours
HS 381 - Research Writing 3 credit hours
IN 233 - Critical & Contextual Studies I 3 credit hours
IN 333 - History of Interior Architecture 3 credit hours
MU 354 - Topics in Music History 3 credit hours
TH 261 - Theater History 3 credit hours
TH 361 - Modern Theater History & Theory 3 credit hours
TH 367 - Musical Theater History & Analysis 3 credit hours

Sciences

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:

HS 211 - Illustrating Science 3 credit hours
HS 212 - Evolution by Nature 3 credit hours
HS 217 - Curating Nature: Wildlife in Film 3 credit hours
HS 221 - Curating Nature: Taxidermy 3 credit hours
HS 234 - Anatomy and Physiology 3 credit hours
HS 270 - Sciences: Special Topics 3 credit hours

Social Sciences

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:

DA 142 - Dance & Performance History 3 credit hours
HS 219 - Env. Science: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 220 - Environmental Sci. & Sustainability 3 credit hours
HS 223 - Ancient Landscapes 3 credit hours
HS 225 - Archaeological Science 3 credit hours
HS 230 - Cultural History of the PNW 3 credit hours
HS 231 - Cultural Anthropology 3 credit hours
HS 232 - Hist of Western Pol Thought 3 credit hours
HS 233 - Biological Anthropology 3 credit hours
HS 235 - Anthropology: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 236 - Survey of Anthropology 3 credit hours
HS 237 - Anthropology of Death 3 credit hours
HS 271 - Introduction to Psychology 3 credit hours
HS 272 - Psychology of the Artistic Self 3 credit hours
HS 273 - Cartography 3 credit hours
HS 276 - Psychology: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 280 - Social Science: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 283 - Geopolitics 3 credit hours
HS 284 - Intro to Sociology 3 credit hours
HS 285 - Political Science: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 286 - Ethics and Values 3 credit hours
HS 287 - Philosophy in Myth & Story 3 credit hours
HS 288 - Modern Loss of Self 3 credit hours
HS 384 - Islam in the US 3 credit hours

Floating General Education

Earn at least 6 credits from the following Sections:

Humanities Courses
Sciences Courses
Social Sciences Courses

In-Major Coursework

Completion requirement

Core Classes

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

IA 150 - The Emerging Artist 3 credit hours
TH 117 - Musical Theater: Improv & Devising 2 credit hours
TH 139 - MT Dance Fundamentals I 2 credit hours
TH 140 - MT Dance Fundamentals II 2 credit hours
TH 141 - MT Voice & Theory I 3 credit hours
TH 142 - MT Voice & Theory II 3 credit hours
TH 147 - Production Lab I 1 - 2 credit hours
TH 171 - Text Analysis I 3 credit hours
TH 172 - Text Analysis II 2 credit hours
TH 211 - Acting I 3 credit hours
TH 220 - Acting: Scene to Song I 2 credit hours
TH 221 - Vocal Technique II 2 credit hours
TH 237 - Fundamentals of Theater Dance I 2 credit hours
TH 238 - Fundamentals of Theater Dance II 2 credit hours
TH 261 - Theater History 3 credit hours
TH 311 - Acting III 3 credit hours
TH 320 - Acting: Scene to Song II 2 credit hours
TH 321 - Advanced Vocal Technique 2 credit hours
TH 324 - Voiceover 2 credit hours
TH 339 - Theater Dance III 2 credit hours
TH 340 - Theater Dance IV 2 credit hours
TH 341 - Rehearsal/Perform: Special Projects 1 - 2 credit hours
Or TH 343 - Rehearsal/Performance I: Major Prod
TH 367 - Musical Theater History & Analysis 3 credit hours
TH 431 - Musical Theater: Styles & Auditions 2 credit hours
TH 453 - Musical Theater Audition 2 credit hours
TH 472 - Senior Thesis 3 credit hours
TH 475 - Career Development: Musical Theater 2 credit hours

Private Vocal Instruction

Earn at least 12 credits from the following:

TH 135 - Private Vocal Instruction 2 credit hours
TH 235 - Private Vocal Instruction 2 credit hours
TH 335 - Private Vocal Instruction 2 credit hours
TH 435 - Private Vocal Instruction 2 credit hours

Electives

Open Electives

Earn at least 12 credits

These can be any courses at the college

College

Earn at least 6 credits

These are courses from outside of your major