Academic Catalog 2025–2026

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Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts

Mission

The mission of the BA degree in Performing Arts is to generate, through a liberal arts education, students with extensive cultural, artistic, and technical proficiency and versatility to successfully pursue higher learning and a profession in theatrical productions. Students will discover and develop their skills through an intense, integrated practical and academic program that enhances creative production and critical inquiry. The degree enables students to be life-long learners, innovative performing artists, and creative and critical thinkers. Students receive a holistic approach to learning that emphasizes artistic excellence, interdisciplinary learning, socially engaged performance, and a spirit of collaboration.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates shall be able to:

  1. Demonstrate conceptual knowledge appropriate for continuing their graduate education.
  2. Cultivate artistic discipline along with creative and basic performing arts skills needed to enter careers in the field.
  3. Develop the creative process of the ever-changing contemporary arts landscape.

Student Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the ability to research, create and produce for all types of performance genres, styles and venues.
  2. Exhibit aesthetic awareness related to theatrical productions.
  3. Develop theatrical productions within different mediums and technologies both individually and as part of a creative team. 
  4. Develop critical thinking competencies in relation to the theatrical arts and be able to express it in writing.
  5. Analyze key concepts and historical contexts related to the theatrical productions field.
  6. Demonstrate key skills in various artistic, production and technical areas; such as: acting, directing, producing, designing, writing, managing and crewing.

Curriculum

For the B.A. in Performing Arts, a student must complete a minimum of 92 credits, distributed as follows:

  • Major Requirements (28 cr.)
  • Major Electives (12 cr.)
  • Technical Electives (4 cr.)
  • General Electives (18 cr.)
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Courses (30 credits)
  • Free Electives (1 credit)

Major Requirements (28 cr.)

  • PFA201 Performing Arts Appreciation (3 cr.)
  • PFA221 Theories of Body in Performance (3 cr.)
  • PFA240 Fundamentals of Acting (3 cr.)
  • PFA303 Stage Management (3 cr.)
  • PFA319 Directing for the Stage (3 cr.)
  • PFA342 Principles of Performing Arts Productions (3 cr.)
  • PFA418 Performing Arts Productions (3 cr.)
  • PFA488 Topics in Performing Arts (3 cr.) 
  • PFA498 Internship (1 cr.)
  • PFA499P Capstone Project (3 cr.)

Major Electives (12 cr.)

  • PFA217 Fundamentals of Music Technology (3 cr.)
  • PFA223 Kinesiology (3 cr.)
  • PFA244 Fundamentals of Theatrical Design (3 cr.)
  • PFA257 Musical Theater (3 cr.)
  • PFA305 Performance Repertoire (3 cr.)
  • PFA318 Writing Music for Visual Media (3 cr.)
  • PFA326 Dance for the Camera (3 cr.)
  • PFA343 Advanced Acting (3 cr.)
  • PFA401 Dramatic Literature (3 cr.)
  • PFA421 Dance Composition (3 cr.)
  • PFA442 Play Production (3 cr.)
  • PFA445 Performing Arts Teaching Methods (3 cr.)
  • TVF222 Intro to Audio Visual Media (3 cr.)

Technical Electives (4 cr.)

  • PFA225 Dance Fundamentals I (1 cr.)
  • PFA235 Technical Stage Craft (1 cr.)
  • PFA308 Rehearsal Techniques (1 cr.)
  • PFA320 Choral Conducting (1 cr.)
  • PFA321 Movement Improvisation (1 cr.)
  • PFA325 Dance Fundamentals II (1 cr.)
  • PFA330 Voice for the Actor (1 cr.)

General Electives (18 credits)

Workshops (0 cr.)

Up to 5 workshops (4 are listed below) covering the fields of drama, music and dance.

Sample Study Plan

Important: English Level

The below 3-year study plan is based on the English level of ENG101, or ENG102. Please refer to the advisor if you are starting at ENG009, for proper guidance.

The PFA program is only offered in Beirut.

Students starting in Byblos

Students who start in Byblos may complete the first year in Byblos. For the second and third years, they need to transfer to the Beirut camps and complete their program there.

Year One

Fall (15 credits)

  • PFA201 Performing Arts Appreciation (3 cr.)
  • PFA240 Fundamentals of Acting (3 cr.)
  • General Elective (3 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • PFA221 Theories of Body in Performance (3 cr.)
  • PFA319 Stage Management (3 cr.)
  • COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)
  • Major Elective (3 cr.)
  • Technical Elective (1 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

  • PFA303 Directing for the Stage (3 cr.)
  • Major Elective (3 cr.)
  • General Elective (3 cr.)
  • General Elective (3 cr.)
  • Technical Elective (1 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • PFA342 Principles of Performing Arts Productions (3 cr.)
  • General Elective (3 cr.)
  • Major Elective (3 cr.)
  • Technical Elective (1 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)

Summer (1 credit)

Year Three

Fall (15 credits)

  • PFA418 Performing Arts Productions (3 cr.)
  • PFA488 Topics in PFA (3 cr.)
  • Major Elective (3 cr.)
  • Technical Elective (1 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)

Spring (13 credits)

  • PFA499P Capstone Project (3 cr.)
  • General Elective (3 cr.)
  • General Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)
  • Free Elective (1 cr.)