BFA in Theatre Arts—Design & Production

The Design, Production & Management programs prepare talented and committed students for the professional world of theatre and related careers in the performing arts. The program curriculum stresses the development of a student as a theatre artist, focusing on collaboration, imagination, critical thinking, communication skills, problem-solving, and oral critique, as well as preparation for a professional career.

The Theatre Arts–Design & Production major offers in-depth and integrated training for students seeking a broad and holistic approach to the art form, allowing students to deeply explore a wider range of areas of interest, including but not limited to design, production, management, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, and producing. This program will best serve a student who demonstrates the maturity to create an interdisciplinary program that will allow for more flexibility and movement within the art form, as well as possible outside academic pursuits.

During each year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, courses follow a carefully integrated sequence of class exercises and production opportunities. The committed students who pursue the BFA Theatre Arts–Design & Production major at Boston University discover who they are, what they do well, and what they are capable of doing. They learn to be collaborative theatre artists who tell important stories to today’s audiences and work productively under the rigors of the theatrical profession. Most importantly, they find their own voice as a theatre artist. Training includes a rigorous curriculum, production opportunities, and exposure to the profession. Students are regularly mentored by working professional faculty and advisors through their studio coursework; hands-on, in-process production advising; and end-of-term conferences.

Learning Outcomes

The Theatre Arts–Design & Production program aims to develop a complete theatre artist by fostering a passion for theatre, storytelling, and the collaborative process. Through their required coursework, Theatre Arts–Design & Production students will:

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of theatre as an art form and the essential role it plays in contemporary society.
• Demonstrate spoken and written critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills in an arts-based discipline.
• Demonstrate an ability to enrich creative storytelling and take artistic risks.
• Demonstrate an awareness and ability to engage in the diverse community of theatre artists.
• Demonstrate a high level of artistic, interpretive, and craft skills and techniques in theatre making as a foundation for entering into a career in theatre and the live performing arts.

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Theatre Arts–Design & Production will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation as well as some of the requirements in Communication; Quantitative Reasoning; Diversity, Civic Engagement & Global Citizenship; and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

Program of Study (minimum of 132 units)

First Year+	1st	2nd
CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience^	2	–
CFA TH 136 Theatre Collaboration 1: Equitable & Inclusive Theatre Practice	–	2
CFA TH 171 & 172 Language & Craft of Theatre 1 & 2	2	2
CFA TH 101 Introduction to the Study of Theatre & Performance	3	–
CFA TH 104 Dramatic Literature 1: Beginnings of Theatre to the Early 19th Century	–	4
First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 120)	4	–
CFA TH 165 DP&M Community Forum 1: Discovering Theatre through History	2	–
CFA TH 166 DP&M Community Forum 2: Contemporary Theatre Makers	–	2
CFA TH 157 Introduction to Design 1: Storytelling & Collaboration for Live Performance	3	–
CFA TH 158 Introduction to Design 2: 2D & 3D Design Fundamentals	–	3
CFA TH 173 2D Drafting & Visual Communication 1	2	–
Drafting elective*	–	2
Total units	18	15
Second Year
CFA TH 349 Theatre in Practice	2	–
CFA TH 339 Production	2	–
Theatre elective(s)*	3	3
CFA TH 257 Scenography 1	3	–
Approved elective(s)	3	6
Dramatic Literature elective*	–	4
BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major (e.g., CAS WR 151/152/153)	4	4
Total units	17	17
Third Year
CFA TH 349 Theatre in Practice	2	–
CFA TH 339 Production	2	–
Theatre elective(s)*	3	–
Art/Theatre History elective*	4	–
Approved elective(s)*	3	–
BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major	4	–
Study Abroad or additional coursework†	–	16
Total units	18	16
Fourth Year
CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice	–	2
CFA TH 539 Production	–	2
Theatre elective(s)*	3	4
Approved elective(s)	8	4
BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major	4	4
Total units	15	16

⁺Please see the Theatre Core section for complete distribution guidelines for the first year.

^CFA FA 100 is not required for transfer students.

*Students select Theatre electives, approved electives, Dramatic Literature electives, and Theatre/Art History electives in consultation with their faculty mentor and academic advisor. Courses from which a student may select include but are not limited to:

Theatre Electives (16 units)

Theatre Arts–Design & Production students will select two theatrical disciplines that will serve to focus their journey as an interdisciplinary theatre maker, and select courses offered within the School of Theatre (CFA TH) to fulfill their Theatre electives in support of those areas. Two paths are available within the Theatre Arts–Design & Production program:

Design & Production

Students will select two disciplines from the following areas at the end of their first year.

1. Costume Design & Production—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 258 Scenography 2
• CFA TH 279 Costume Production 1
• CFA TH 280 Costume Production 2
• CFA TH 375 Costume Design 3
• CFA TH 378 Costume Design 4
• CFA TH 475 Costume Design 5
• CFA TH 478 Costume Design 6
• CFA TH 343 Costume Production 3: Modern Tailoring 1
• CFA TH 344 Costume Production 4: Modern Tailoring 2
• CFA TH 357 Costume Production 5: Historical Tailoring
• CFA TH 358 Costume Production 6: Ladies Tailoring
• CFA TH 479 Costume Production 7: Advanced Draping–19th Century
• CFA TH 492 Costume Production 8: Advanced Draping–20th Century

2. Lighting Design—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 258 Scenography 2
• CFA TH 285 Lighting Crafts 1
• CFA TH 286 Lighting Crafts 2
• CFA TH 318 Automated Lighting Technology
• CFA TH 319 Automated Lighting Design
• CFA TH 383 Lighting Design 3
• CFA TH 394 Lighting Design 4
• CFA TH 483 Lighting Design 5
• CFA TH 486 Lighting Design 6

3. Scene Design—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 258 Scenography 2
• CFA TH 265 Scene Painting 1
• CFA TH 266 Scene Painting 2
• CFA TH 273 Graphic Rendering 1
• CFA TH 274 Graphic Rendering 2
• CFA TH 363 Scene Design 3
• CFA TH 368 Scene Design 4
• CFA TH 463 Scene Design 5
• CFA TH 466 Scene Design 6

4. Sound Design—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 258 Scenography 2
• CFA TH 335 Production Audio 1
• CFA TH 336 Production Audio 2
• CFA TH 487 Sound Design 3
• CFA TH 488 Sound Design 4
• CFA TH 581 Systems Design 1
• CFA TH 582 Systems Design 2
• COM FT 502 Sound Design for Film & Television

5. Stage Management—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 240 Directing 1
• CFA TH 294 Stage Management 1
• CFA TH 299 Stage Management 2
• CFA TH 399 Stage Management 3
• CFA TH 494 Stage Management 4
• CFA TH 493 Production Management 1
• CFA TH 496 Production Management 2
• CFA TH 590 Theatre Management

6. Technical Production—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 351 Technical Production 1
• CFA TH 352 Technical Production 2
• CFA TH 471 Technical Production 3
• CFA TH 472 Technical Production 4
• CFA TH 561 Scenic Automation for Theatre

Design & Production with Dramaturgy, Playwriting, or Directing

Students will select a primary discipline from the Design & Production options listed above at the end of their first year. Students will enroll in CFA TH 235 Theatre Collaboration 2: Theatre Arts Introduction during the fall of their sophomore year. Upon completion of this course, students will then select a second discipline from the following.

1. Dramaturgy—suggested courses:

• CAS CL 224 Greek Literature in Translation
• CAS EN 355 Drama & Performance, 1840–1945
• CAS EN 356 Drama & Performance, 1945–Present
• CFA TH 405 Classical Theatre through a Contemporary Lens
• CFA TH 406 Contemporary Theatre

2. Playwriting—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 227 Dramatic Writing 1: Autobiography
• CFA TH 228 Dramatic Writing 2: Adaptation
• CFA TH 303 Dramatic Writing 3: Essentials of Structure
• CFA TH 403 Dramatic Writing 4: Advanced Playwriting
• CFA TH 404 Dramatic Writing 5: Playwriting Colloquium
• CFA TH 405 Classical Theatre through a Contemporary Lens
• CFA TH 406 Contemporary Theatre  

3. Directing—suggested courses:

• CFA TH 240 Directing 1
• CFA TH 327 Directing 2: Directing and Acting Lab
• CFA TH 341 Directing Colloquium: Directors’ Project
• CFA TH 441 Directing Colloquium: Senior Capstone Project Development
• CFA TH 442 Directing Colloquium: Senior Capstone Project

Dramatic Literature Electives (4 units)

• CAS CL 224 Greek Literature in Translation
• CAS EN 355 Drama & Performance, 1840–1945
• CAS EN 356 Drama & Performance, 1945–Present
• CAS EN 357 Modern British Drama: A Critic’s Perspective
• CAS EN 363 Shakespeare 1
• CAS EN 364 Shakespeare 2
• CAS LR 355 Chekhov: The Stories & Plays (in English Translation)
• CAS LR 440 Russian Drama
• CFA TH 205 Dramatic Literature: 1850–1950
• CFA TH 206 Dramatic Literature: 1950–the Millennium
• CFA TH 405 Classical Theatre through a Contemporary Lens
• CFA TH 406 Contemporary Theatre
• CFA TH 440 Experiencing London Theatre (abroad)
• CFA TH 508 Contemporary British Theatre (abroad)

Theatre or Art History Electives (4 units)

• CAS AH 111 Introduction to Art History 1: Antiquity to the Middle Ages
• CAS AH 112 Introduction to Art History 2: Renaissance to Today
• CAS AH 201 Understanding Architecture
• CAS AH 215 Arts of Africa and Its Diaspora
• CAS AH 220 Islamic Art
• CAS AH 222 Art and Architecture in Ancient America
• CAS AH 225 The Arts of Asia
• CAS AH 233 Art of Greece
• CAS AH 234 The Art of Rome
• CAS AH 240 Medieval Art
• CAS AH 242 Latin American Art Since Contact
• CAS AH 284 Arts in America
• CAS AH 333 Classical Art
• CAS AH 377 American Furniture
• CAS AH 379 Nineteenth Century American Art
• CAS AH 387 Boston Architecture & Urbanism
• CAS AH 391 Twentieth Century Art to 1940
• CAS AH 392 Twentieth Century Art 1940 to 1980
• CAS AH 395 History of Photography
• CAS AH 398 Twentieth-Century Architecture
• CAS AH 399 History & Theory of Landscape Architecture
• CAS AH 500 Global Perspectives on Modern Architecture and Urbanism
• CAS AH 563 Global Baroque: Art and Power in the Seventeenth Century
• CAS HI 480 The Theater of History
• CFA MH 211 History & Literature of Music 1
• CFA MH 212 History & Literature of Music 2
• CFA TH 307 History of Period Styles 1
• CFA TH 308 History of Period Styles 2
• CFA TH 555 History of Theatre 1
• CFA TH 556 History of Theatre 2

Approved Electives (24 units)

• CFA AR 121 Foundation Sculpture
• CFA AR 131 Drawing 1
• CFA AR 132 Drawing 1: Drawing as Visual Language
• CFA AR 141 Foundation Painting
• CFA AR 193 Visual Arts Drawing
• CFA AR 221 Materials and Methods in Sculpture
• CFA AR 223 Installation Art: Subject-Object Relationship in Contemporary Landscape
• CFA AR 243 Photography 1
• CFA AR 589 Interactive Design
• Any course offered by the School of Theatre (CFA TH)
• Any course offered by the College of Fine Arts (CFA FA)
• Any course listed as a Dramatic Literature or Art/Theatre History elective
• Students, in consultation with the academic advisor, may utilize approved electives to fulfill Hub requirements as advised.

Students electing to take courses to fulfill their Theatre electives, approved electives, Dramatic Literature electives, and Theatre/Art History electives that are not listed above require the approval of the School of Theatre academic advisor and completion of a course substitution form.

†In this term, students will complete up to 16 units of additional coursework toward their degree, including major requirements, minor requirements, and/or the BU Hub. These units may be fulfilled through a Study Abroad experience or elective coursework inside or outside the major.