Complete List of Performing Arts Colleges in California

Complete List of Performing Arts Colleges in California SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If the stage calls your name, and you are interested in pursuing a degree in one of the performing arts (theatre/dance/music) in California, this article is for you. I have compiled a comprehensive list of all of the universities and conservatory programs in California that offer performing arts degrees (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate’s). How to use this article I recommend using this article as a jumping off point to do more research on which performing arts schools are right for you.If you need help with how to identify What College Should You Go To? How to Choose a College, check out our other article.Consider what you are looking for in a performing arts college: Are you looking for a conservatory? Or are you looking at a program at a four-year university with other non-art related majors? Do you want to be in a city or a small town? Do you want a big or small program? Do you want a BA, BM or BFA? MA or MFA? How much can you afford to spend? Will you get financial aid? In this article, I will list every school, location, tuition price, and degree programs offered.I am only including schools that offer Bachelor’s Degrees or higher.I have included the degrees because the schools offered varied performing arts degrees (this way you can find the school that offers the degree you want). Each school offers a slightly different curriculum for their specific performing arts degree, so I encourage you to click on the links for the major to explore the curriculum for that specific program at that school. First, here is the list of schools (scroll further down for the list of schools plus the location, tuition price, and degree information): American Academy of Dramatic Arts American Conservatory Theater California Institute of the Arts CSU, Chico CSU, Fresno CSU, Fullerton CSU, Long Beach CSU, LA CSU, Northridge CSU, Stanislaus Humboldt State University San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jose State University Stanford University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine UCLA University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of San Diego University of Southern California List of Performing Arts School in California in Alphabetical Order American Academy of Dramatic Arts Location: Los Angeles, CA Tuition: $29,900 per year Degree Programs: Associate of Occupational Studies: Two-Year Program Certificate of Advanced Studies in Acting: For Third Year, after completing Associate BA or BFA Degree: offered in conjunction with these universities St. John's University: students who complete their two-year AOS (Associate in Occupational Studies) degree may transfer up to 60 credits toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Television and Film Studies at St. John’s University. Hunter College: Students entering Hunter with an AOS degree from The Academy will receive 27 credits toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre at Hunter College. Antioch University Los Angeles: Academy students can enter Antioch with as much as half of their coursework toward a BA in Acting and Dramatic Arts degree completion. Students who complete one year at The Academy may also transfer their coursework credits of C- or better. The Academy Alumni are also eligible to participate under the terms of this agreement. Oklahoma City University: Students complete the full-time Conservatory Program at The Academy in New York City or Los Angeles and transfer to OCU in Oklahoma City for their last two years to receive a BFA in Acting. American Conservatory Theater Location: San Francisco, CA Tuition: $26,750 per year Degree Programs: MFA in Acting California Institute of the Arts Location: Valencia, CA Tuition: $43,400 per year Degree Programs: BFA in Dance MFA in Choreography BFA, MFA, DMA in Music Performer-Composer BFA and MFA in Music Composition BFA and MFA in Jazz Studies BFA and MFA in Winds BFA and MFA in Brass BFA and MFA in Percussion BFA and MFA in Guitar BFA and MFA in Harp BFA and MFA in Piano/Keyboard BFA and MFA in Strings MFA in African Music and Dance Program MFA in Balinese and Javanese Music and Dance Program MFA in North Indian Music Program MFA in World Percussion Program BFA in World Music Program BFA and MFA in Music Technology Program: Interaction, Intelligence and Design BFA in Musical Arts Program BFA and MFA in Voice Arts BFA and MFA in Acting Program MFA in Directing Program MFA in Writing for Performance Program BFA and MFA in Scene Design Program BFA and MFA in Costume Design Program BFA and MFA in Lighting Design Program BFA and MFA in Sound Design Program BFA and MFA in Technical Direction Program BFA and MFA in Management Program CSU, Chico Location: Chico, CA Tuition: $7,022 per year (an extra $382 per unit for non-California residents) Degree Programs: BA in Theatre BA in Musical Theatre BA in General Music BA in Recording Arts BA in Music Industry CSU, Fresno Location: Fresno, CA Tuition: 0-6 units per semester $4,013 per year, 6.1+ units per semester, $6,3 per year (an extra $372 per unit for non-California residents) Degree Programs: BA in Music MA in Music BA in Theatre Arts BA in Theatre Arts (Dance Option) CSU, Fullerton Location: Fullerton, CA Tuition: $6,436 per year (did not specify non-California resident cost) Degree Programs: BA in Theatre Arts BFA in Theatre Arts MFA in Theatre Arts BA in Dance MFA in Acting MFA in Musical Theatre MFA in Design Technical Production Direction CSU, Long Beach Location: Long Beach, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $5,472, Graduate $6,738 (additional per unit charge for non-California resident) Degree Programs: Bachelor of Arts in Dance Bachelor of Arts in Dance – Option in Dance Science Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Master of Arts in Dance Master of Fine Arts in Dance Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts Information Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts – Option in Acting Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts – Option in Technical Theatre/Design Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts – Option in Theatre Management Master of Business Administration/Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Management Bachelor of Arts in Music Bachelor of Music – Music Education: Instrumental Music and Choral-Vocal Music Options Bachelor of Music – Option in Instrumental Music Bachelor of Music – Option in Choral-Vocal Music Bachelor of Music – Options in Performance, Composition and History Literature Information Bachelor of Music – Option in Performance Bachelor of Music – Option in Composition Bachelor of Music – Option in History and Literature Master of Arts in Music Master of Music Degree CSU, LA Location: LA, CA Tuition: $6,344 per year (Resident), $15,272 per year (Non-California Resident) Degree Programs: BA in Music BA in Theatre Arts and Dance BA in Theatre Arts Option BA in Dance Option BA in Theatre Arts and Dance Minor BM in Composition Option BM in Jazz Studies Option BM in Vocal Performance Option BM in Instrumental Performance Option BM in Keyboard Performance Option BM in Music Education Option BM in Commercial Music Option BM in Credential Program MA in Music MA in Theatre Arts and Dance MFA in Acting MFA in Dramatic Writing CSU, Northridge Location: Northridge, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $5,472, Graduate $6,738 (additional per unit charge for non-California resident) Degree Programs: BA in Music Education BA in Music Industry Studies BA in Music Therapy BA in Breadth Studies in Music BM in Orchestral Strings Performance BM in Classical Guitar Performance BM in Winds Brass Performance BM in Percussion Performance BM in Keyboard Performance (piano and organ) BM in Vocal Arts BM in Composition BM in Commercial and Media Writing BM in Jazz Studies MA in Music Industry Administration MM in Composition MM in Conducting (choral or instrumental) MM in Collaborative Piano MM in Instrumental MM in Organ MM in Piano MM in Voice DMA BA and MA in Theatre CSU, Stanislaus Location: Stanislaus, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $6,704, Graduate $7,970 (most likely more for non-California residents, although the website did not say) Degree Programs: BM in Music Education - Choral BM in Music Education - Instrumental BM in Instrumental Performance BM in Jazz Performance BM in Piano Performance BM in Vocal Performance BM in Composition BA in General Music BA in Music Technology BA in Theatre Humboldt State University Location: Arcata, CA Tuition: $7,152 per year Degree Programs: BA in Composition Option BA in Education Option BA in Music Studies Option BA in Performance – Instrumental Emphasis BA in Performance – Guitar Emphasis BA in Performance – Piano Emphasis BA in Performance – Vocal Emphasis BA in Theatre Arts San Diego State University Location: San Diego, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $6,976 per year (Resident), $,160 per year (non-California Resident), Graduate $8,242 per year (Resident), $13,822 per year (non-California Resident) Degree Programs: BFA in Dance BFA in Dance (BFA) BA in Dance (BA) BM in Composition BM in Jazz Studies BM in Music Education BM in Performance BM in Professional Studies BM in Professional Studies: Music Entrepreneurship and Business BM in Professional Studies: Music Recording Technology and Audio Design Bachelor of Arts in Music MA in Ethnomusicology (currently not accepting applications) MA in Musicology (currently not accepting applications) MA in Music Theory (currently not accepting applications) MA in Piano Pedagogy (currently not accepting applications) MM in Performance MM in Composition MM in Conducting MM in Jazz Studies BA in Theatre Arts MA in Theatre MFA In Design and Technical Theatre MFA In Musical Theatre San Francisco State University Location: San Francisco, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $6,476 per year (Resident), Graduate $7,742 per year (Resident) (an extra $372 per unit for non-California residents) Degree Programs: BM Music BA in Music MA in Music MM Music BA in Dance BA in Drama MA in Drama MFA in Theatre Arts San Jose State University Location: San Jose, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $7,378 per year, Graduate per year $8,644 (an extra $372 per unit for non-California residents) Degree Programs: BA in Music BM in Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Composition BM in Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Performance BM in Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Music Education BA in Creative Arts (Interdepartmental) BA in Dance BFA in Dance MA in Music BA in Theatre Arts BA in Theatre Arts, Preparation for Teaching MA in Theatre Arts Stanford University Location: Stanford, CA Tuition: Undergraduate and Graduate $45,729 per year Degree Programs: BA in Theatre Performance Studies Ph.D. in Theatre Performance Studies BA in Music MA in Music, Science and Technology Ph.D.Musicology Ph.D.Computer-Based Music Theory and Acoustics DMA University of California, Berkeley Location: Berkeley, CA Tuition: Undergraduates and Graduates $13,432 per year (Resident), Non-California Resident Undergraduates $38,140 per year, Non-California Resident Graduates $28,534 per year Degree Programs: BA Music MA/Ph.D. or Ph.D. in composition and scholarship BA Theatre Performance Studies BA Dance Performance Studies MA/Ph.D. in Performance Studies University of California, Davis Location: Davis, CA Tuition: $13,951 per year (Resident), $38,659 per year (Non-California Resident) Degree Programs: BA in Theatre Dance BA in Music Ph.D. in Musicology Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology MA in Conducting Ph.D. in Composition and Theory MA/Ph.D. in Performance Studies MFA in Dramatic Art University of California, Irvine Location: Irvine, CA Tuition: Undergraduate and Graduate $,220.00 per year (Resident) Non-California Resident Undergraduates $35,928 per year, Non-California Resident Graduates $26,322 per year Degree Programs: B.A. Dance B.F.A. Choreography B.F.A. Performance B.A. Drama B.F.A. Music Theatre B.A. Music B.Mus. Performance M.F.A. in Dance M.F.A. in Drama, with emphasis in Acting, Directing, Design or Stage Management Ph.D. in Drama and Theatre M.F.A. in Music with emphasis in Collaborative Piano, Guitar/Lute Performance, Instrumental Performance, Piano Performance, Vocal Arts, Integrated Composition, Improvisation and Technology (ICIT), or Musicology M.A./Ph.D. in Integrated Composition, Improvisation, and Technology (ICIT) UCLA Location: Los Angeles, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $13,251 per year (Resident), $37,959 per year (Non-California Resident), Graduate approximately $15,900 per year (Resident - varies by program), approximately $31,000 per year (Non-California Resident) Degree Programs: BA in Theater BA in Music MM and DMA in Performance and Conducting MA and Ph.D. in Composition MFA in Acting MFA in Design for Theatre and Entertainment Media MA in Theatre Ph.D. in Theater and Performance Studies University of California, San Diego Location: San Diego, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $13,557 per year (Resident), $38,265 per year (Non-California Resident), Graduate approximately $16,435 per year (Resident - varies by program), approximately $31,537 per year (Non-California Resident) Degree Programs: BA in Music BA in Music Humanities BA in ICAM (Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts - Music) BA Theatre BA Dance BA Theatre Dance MFA in Acting MFA in Dance Theatre MFA in Design MFA in Directing MFA in Stage Management Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama MA in Music Ph.D. in Music DMA University of California, Santa Barbara Location: Santa Barbara, CA Tuition: Undergraduate and Graduate $12,240 per year (Resident), $36,948 per year (Non-California Resident), Graduate $27,342 per year (Non-California Resident) Degree Programs: BA in Theater BA in Dance BFA in Acting BFA in Dance Ph.D. in Theater Studies MA in Theater Studies BA in Music Studies BM in Keyboard BM in Strings BM in Woodwinds BM in Voice BM in Brass BM in Percussion MA and Ph.D. in Composition, Ethnomusicology, Musicology, and Theory. MM and DMA in Conducting, Keyboard, Piano Accompanying, Strings, Voice, and Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion. University of California, Santa Cruz Location: Santa Cruz, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $13,461 per year (Resident), $38,169 per year (Non-California Resident), Graduate $13,308 per year (Resident - varies by program), approximately $28,410 per year (Non-California Resident) Degree Programs: Music: M.A., D.M.A., Ph.D. Theater Arts: M.A. BA or BM in Music BA in Theater Arts University of San Diego Location: San Diego, CA Tuition: Undergraduate $44,000 per year, Graduate (varies by program, charged per unit) Degree Programs: BA in Music BA in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies MFA in Dramatic Arts University of Southern California Location: Los Angeles, CA Tuition: $49,464 per year Degree Programs: BFA in Dance BA in Theatre BFA in Acting BFA in Design BFA in Sound Design BFA in Stage Management BFA in Technical Direction BA in Visual Performing Arts MFA in Acting MFA in Dramatic Writing BA in Choral Music MM in Choral Music MM in Sacred Music DMA in Choral Music DMA in Sacred Music BA in Music (Guitar) BM in Performance (Guitar) MM in Performance (Guitar) GCRT Performance (Guitar) DMA in Performance (Guitar) BM in Composition MM in Composition DMA in Composition MM Keyboard Performance DMA in Keyboard Performance BA Music – Piano BM in Piano Performance MM in Piano Performance DMA in Piano Performance BA in Organ Music BM in Performance MM in Performance DMA in Performance BA in Strings Music BM in Double Bass Performance BM in Harp Performance BM in Violin, Viola and Cello Performance MM in Strings Performance DMA in Strings Performance BA in Vocal Arts Music BM in Vocal Performance MM in Vocal Performance DMA in Vocal Performance BA in Winds and Percussion Music BM in Winds and Percussion Performance MM in Winds and Percussion Performance DMA in Winds and Percussion Performance BA in Jazz Studies Bachelor of Arts BM in Jazz Studies MM in Jazz Studies DMA in Jazz Studies Performance BA in Popular Music Performance MM in Studio Jazz Guitar Performance DMA in Studio Jazz Guitar Performance MA in Early Music Performance DMA in Performance in Early Music Performance Ph.D. in Musicology What’s next? 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Participant Observation -- Definition

Participant Observation Definition The participant observation method, also known as ethnographic research, is when a sociologist actually becomes a part of the group they are studying in order to  collect data and understand a social phenomenon or problem. During participant observation, the researcher works to play two separate roles at the same time: subjective participant and objective observer. Sometimes, though not always, the group is aware that the sociologist is studying them. The goal of participant observation is to gain a deep understanding and familiarity with a certain group of individuals, their values, beliefs, and way of life. Often the group in focus is a subculture of a greater society, like a religious, occupational, or particular community group. To conduct participant observation, the researcher often lives within the group, becomes a part of it, and lives as a group member for an extended period of time, allowing them access to the intimate details and goings-on of the group and their community. This research method was pioneered by anthropologists Bronislaw Malinowski and Franz Boas  but was adopted as a primary research method by many sociologists affiliated with the Chicago School of Sociology in the early twentieth century. Today, participant observation, or ethnography, is a primary research method practiced by qualitative sociologists around the world. Subjective Versus Objective Participation Participant observation requires the researcher to be a subjective participant in the sense that they use knowledge gained through personal involvement with the research subjects to interact with and gain further access to the group. This component supplies a dimension of information that is lacking in survey data. Participant observation research also requires the researcher to aim to be an objective observer and record everything that he or she has seen, not letting feelings and emotions influence their observations and findings. Yet, most researchers recognize that true objectivity is an ideal, not an actuality, given that the way in which we see the world and people in it is always shaped by our previous experiences and our positionality in the social structure relative to others. As such, a good participant observer will also maintain a critical self-reflexivity that allows her to recognize the way she herself might influence the field of research and the data she collects. Strengths and Weaknesses The strengths of participant observation include the depth of knowledge that it allows the researcher to obtain and the perspective of knowledge of social problems and phenomena generated from the level of the everyday lives of those experiencing them. Many consider this an egalitarian research method because it centers the experiences, perspectives, and knowledge of those studied. This type of research has been the source of some of the most striking and valuable studies in sociology. Some drawbacks or weaknesses of this method are that it is very time-consuming, with researchers spending months or years living in the place of study. Because of this, participant observation can yield a vast amount of data that might be overwhelming to comb through and analyze. And, researchers must be careful to remain somewhat detached as observers, especially as time passes and they become an accepted part of the group, adopting its habits, ways of life, and perspectives. Questions about objectivity and ethics were raised about sociologist Alice Goffmans research methods because some interpreted passages from her book  On the Run  as an admission of involvement in a murder conspiracy. Students wishing to conduct participant observation research should consult two excellent books on the subject:  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes  by Emerson et al., and  Analyzing Social Settings, by Lofland and Lofland.