Demystifying the dramatic degree: a study of post secondary theatre education in Canada

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2008
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Abstract
This dissertation explores the current state of undergraduate theatre education in Canadian universities through an examination of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BF A) degree. This study focuses on identifying the curricular variations within BFA (Theatre) degree programs across the country and attempts to understand how these variations are understood and if and how these differences affect the expectations, satisfaction, and employability of recent program graduates. In attempting to demystify the BFA (Theatre) degree, this study reveals the complex environment of university theatre programs in Canada which includes both the BA and BFA degree. The literature defines a BA (Theatre) degree as an academic liberal arts style degree that primarily emphasises advanced communication and research skills while providing some practical components. A BFA (Theatre) degree is defined as a professional conservatory­style intensive training program that emphasises hands-on practical work while providing some academic components. Over the last 40 years however, an exponential growth of theatre programs in Canada has created a blurring of this BA (academic) and BFA (professional) line. This study begins with a historical examination of theatre education and specifically the development of the BFA (Theatre) degree in Canada and connects this development to changes in the Canadian theatre scene. The second stage of he study maps out the current BFA (Theatre) degree programs offered in Canada including program overviews, curriculum and courses offered. Based on this data, universities are grouped as offering either conservatory-style or liberal arts-style BFA (Theatre) programs. The final stage of the study examines the students' experience in the BFA (Theatre) programs and provides a snapshot of he expectations, satisfaction and employability of graduates from both conservatory-style and liberal arts-style theatre programs. The final chapter provides a summary of the findings of the study and makes recommendations for further study and inquiry. The results of this study provide a comprehensive overview to the current FA (Theatre) degree in Canada. The findings provide clarity to the program options available to theatre students and produce an updated understanding of what constitutes a Canadian BFA (Theatre) degree.
Description
Bibliography: p. 269-275
Some pages are in colour.
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Citation
Johns, C. A. (2008). Demystifying the dramatic degree: a study of post secondary theatre education in Canada (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/1651
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