College Programs

Take your career to the next level with a fully online degree program for performing arts professionals with 5+ years of experience. Tailored for professionals with performing arts backgrounds, this program is ideal for:

> EXPERIENCED PERFORMERS
Accomplished dancers, musical theatre performers, instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, actors, popular artists, or performing artists, with at least 5 years of full-time (or equivalent) professional experience within the creative industry.

> PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS
Creative professionals ready to enhance their credentials for teaching, leadership, or expanded artistic opportunities.

> NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS
Artists with or without prior college experience who never completed their bachelor’s degree and are ready to finish what they started.

> CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS
Skilled arts professionals looking to pair their artistic expertise with business, technology, and industry knowledge.

Through a combination of innovative coursework and practical application, you will refine your artistic voice, expand your impact, and advance your career in the performing arts. The program begins with the Formative Course (PA0100), where you’ll lay the foundation for your journey, and culminates with the Capstone Project (PA1000), where you’ll showcase your growth and mastery.

Artistic Identity Development

Outcome: Clearly articulate and showcase your unique artistic vision, establishing a creative identity that sets you apart in the performing arts world.

Sample Course: PA0200: LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN PERFORMER

Community Engagement and Global Impact

Outcome: Actively engage with communities through your art, fostering collaboration and creating meaningful impact on both local and global stages.

Sample Course: PA0400: GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP IN THE ARTS

Artistic Adaptability

Outcome: Adapt your artistic practices to diverse contexts, staying agile and innovative in evolving creative landscapes.

Sample Course: PA0600: PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY AND WELLNESS FOR THE MODERN PERFORMER

Career Advancement

Outcome: Synthesize your professional experiences and skills to unlock new opportunities and pursue fulfilling paths in the arts.

Sample Course: PA0900: ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE IN THE ARTS

“Artists need to be celebrated for their art – but they need as many opportunities to fit in as the rest of us can provide. The concept of this program is a brilliant step toward allowing artists a wide spectrum of possibilities for the future. Congratulations to MSM for conceiving and carrying out this needed degree completion program.”

Ted Chapin (HonDMA ’24)
Former President of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization

“As a dancer, I know the sacrifices we make for our art, often starting professional careers before completing a degree. This program is a game-changer, giving artists the chance to earn their BFA while honoring the work they’ve already put in. Education should be accessible at every stage, and this initiative ensures that performers have the opportunity to grow, evolve, and open new doors, both in and beyond the arts.”

Misty Copeland
President, The Misty Copeland Foundation & Former Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre

“At a certain point in an artist’s life, the desire and need for a shift may present itself. If that shift requires a BFA degree, MSM has a fantastic program for them. It acknowledges and respects their professional experience, and will augment their skills with study in complementary areas needed to fulfill a degree. This is a wonderful resource for those in the Performing Arts who went straight to work, and now want to add more knowledge, study, and a BFA to their lives.”

Bebe Neuwirth (HonDMA ’15)
Actress/Singer, Broadway/TV/Film; winner of 2 Tony Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, and 2 Drama Desk Awards

“Making it” as an artist is a tricky business. We need good education to go toward it, but we need the work to actually experience it. And it is almost impossible to turn down work when we get it. So many artists sacrifice one for the other. What MSM is offering will change that. Finally.   Artists don’t have to sacrifice either source of pride when their work in the field earns them credit toward their degree. It makes total sense.”

Kelli O’Hara
Singer/Actress: Broadway, Metropolitan Opera, television; Tony Award-winner (eight-time nominee), Drama Desk Award

A structured way to showcase your prior learning and expertise, including:

1. Learning Narratives: Describe and demonstrate how your professional, lived experience meets the performance, technical skills, literature and repertoire, and general education/humanities components of the curriculum. This narrative is meant to contextualize your experience and how it meets the academic standards.

2. Supporting Evidence: Provide documentation such as playbills, programs, videos, creative projects, transcripts from previous colleges, certifications, and other relevant materials.

General Evidence

• Professional work samples
• Certifications and licenses
• Detailed resume (5+ years)
• Letters of recommendation
• Training programs or workshops
• Awards and recognitions
• Written reflections
• Community or volunteer work
• Professional memberships
• Prior college transcripts

Performing Arts Evidence

• Video recordings of performances
• Programs, playbills, or show listings
• Creative portfolios (e.g., scripts)
• Teaching or coaching experience
• Contracts or engagement letters
• Press and reviews
• Collaborative projects
• Workshops or masterclasses led
• Original compositions or scores
• Technical or production roles
• Community or outreach work in the arts
• Performing arts awards
• Written reflections on artistic growth

PHASE ONE:
Your Performance History (Prescreen)

In the first phase, candidates build only the performance section of their PLA Portfolio. This includes:

1. A learning narrative describing professional performance experience
2. Supportive evidence such as:

• Performance history spanning 5+ years
• Video/audio reels of performance
• Playbills, programs, or other career artifacts

Purpose: This submission serves as a prescreening audition to assess whether the candidate meets the eligibility requirement for significant professional experience. Only candidates who pass Phase One move on to Phase Two.

PHASE TWO:
Full Portfolio Submission

Candidates that meet eligibility in Phase One then build the rest of their PLA portfolio, focusing on three additional sections:

1. Technical Skills
2. Literature, Repertoire, and History
3. General Education and Humanities

Each section includes a learning narrative and supporting evidence.

PLA Portfolio Competency Areas Defined:

1. Technical Skills: Demonstrate the specialized and applied knowledge, skills, and abilities required to execute your performing arts discipline through coursework, training, and coaching to create, support, and enhance your performance.
2. Literature, Repertoire and History: Demonstrate knowledge of literature and repertoire relevant to your performing art discipline through coursework, certificates or workshops, essays, program notes, professional reviews.
3. General Education and Humanities: Show understanding of a well-rounded education and professional development and versatility through writing samples, coursework, lectures, research, and projects.

The Portfolio Committee, comprised of Subject Matter Experts, will review your portfolio during the admissions process. They will:

• Determine that your performance history meets program eligibility
• Review PLA for eligibility to receive credits between 60 to 90

You will receive notification of the credit awarded and the next steps for enrollment.

• This is the only conservatory-led performing arts degree completion program, open to all performing artists
• This program utilizes a unique Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to build a portfolio and transform your lived experience into academic credit
• With the Orto Center’s Distance Learning Program, the first of its kind at a major international conservatory, MSM maintains a leadership role in the use of technology to connect students, educators, and distinguished artists around the globe

• Our World-Class Faculty are Industry Leaders and Innovators who are the forefront of today’s arts landscape, bringing real-world experience, mentorship, and networks.
• Customize your learning path by you defining your artistic vision and select courses that blend identity, career development, and entrepreneurship aimed at preparing you for your final capstone.
• Join a Community of Performing Artists and collaborate with fellow working professionals—your peers are as passionate and driven as you are.

Advance your skills in NYC!
As a BFA Online student, you will be connected with industry leaders and have the option to complete your capstone on campus in the summers. Immerse yourself in NYC’s culture and grow as an artist—all affordably.

Save Money
Reduce coursework and tuition costs by leveraging your real-world experience, saving more than $40,000 compared to other BFA programs that can cost well over $60,000

Save time
Graduate in as little as one year with credit for prior experience. Our 6-week online courses blend asynchronous learning with live sessions—gaining skills in weeks, not years

• Expand your career opportunities by pivoting into teaching jobs, artistic leadership roles, and new creative ventures (Source: 2016 Market Assessment with Hanover Research and Internal Market Research).
• A bachelor’s degree opens doors to higher earning potential and long-term career stability (Source: National Center for Education Statistics).
• Graduate in as little as one year’s time with credits applied for prior professional experience.

⏳ How Fast Can You Earn Your Degree?*

Maximum Prior Learning Assessment Credits: Complete in 1 year (3 terms)

Minimum Prior Learning Assessment Credits: Complete in 2-3 years (6-9 terms)

*Projected if you are at minimum full-time status

Tuition is based on credit hours, with most courses at 3 credits. Your total program cost will vary based on credits earned through our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio. An estimated breakdown of program costs are seen below:

Spring and Summer 2026 Undergraduate Cost per 3-Credit Course: $1,800
Cost per credit: $600

General Student Fee per Semester: $400

See the BFA Online Tuition Overview to learn about the costs for the academic year.

Your education is an investment in your future and we’re here to help make it achievable. See the Financial Aid Overview for more detailed information on your options.

There are two types of financial aid available to BFA Online students:

1. Federal Loans and Grants (United States citizens and Permanent Residents only)
2. New York State Tuition Assistance Program (New York State residents only)

Please note that your particular eligibility for loans and grants will depend upon a number of factors including past borrowing history, credit, and enrollment status, among other factors. Admitted students will receive a financial aid package offer based on a review of their individual eligibility.

Connect with a member of the MSM Financial Aid Team to explore financial aid options and learn about responsible borrowing—your choices today will shape your financial future.

Ready to take the next step? Speak with a member of the financial aid team today to create a plan that works for you.

Email: finaid@msmnyc.edu
Phone: 1.917.493.4809