The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in performing arts – design and technical theatre is a professional degree focused on theatre design and technology, including training in the areas of costuming, scenery, lighting and leadership. Additional courses include history and theory complimented by applied courses and mentorship in production design, technology, management and professional internships.

Interviews and portfolio reviews are required for acceptance into the design and technical theatre program.

Program Requirements

A minimum total of 120 credit hours is required for the BFA in design and technical theatre with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.000 (2.500 for department scholarship consideration). A C or better is required for all major required courses, including THEA and/or DANC electives. Students must complete 45 credit hours of upper-division courses. In addition to meeting the requirements of the WSU General Education Program and the requirements of the School of Performing Arts, students in the BFA in design and technical theatre must take the following courses:

Course Title Hours
General Education
Select courses to meet General Education requirements 134-35
School of Performing Arts Core
THEA 180EPerforming Arts Seminar1
THEA 150PProduction Experience1
THEA 150RProduction Processes1
THEA 280Inclusion in Performing Arts1
THEA 368Collaborative Community Project1
THEA 370Professional Practices for the Performing Arts2
THEA 499Capstone Project1
Acting Course
THEA 243Acting 1 - Foundations3
Design and Technical Theatre: Foundation Courses
THEA 228Script Analysis3
THEA 231Foundations: Theatre Design and Technology3
THEA 272Stage Management3
THEA 285Period Styles3
THEA 300Design Drawing, Rendering and Drafting3
Design and Technology Courses
THEA 244Stagecraft and Scenic Technology3
THEA 245Stage Lighting Technology3
THEA 253Costume and Wardrobe Technology3
THEA 344Scene Design3
THEA 346Lighting Design3
THEA 357Costume Design3
Design and Technical Theatre: Applied Courses
THEA 380APracticum: Stagecraft1
THEA 380BPracticum: Costume1
THEA 451Portfolio Review (take two semesters for 1 credit hour each)2
THEA 480Theatre Internship (Two semesters required for 3 credit hours each. Internships must be with two different professional theatre companies.)6
Select 6 additional credit hours from the following three courses6
Directed Projects - Stage Management (repeatable for a maximum of 12 credit hours)
Design Project (repeatable for a maximum of 12 credit hours)
Theatre Internship (repeatable for a maximum of 15 credit hours)
Theatre History
THEA 323Theatre History I3
THEA 324Theatre History II3
Design and Technical Theatre: Electives
Select 17 credit hours from the following courses17
Stage Makeup
THEA 350A-Z
Workshops in Theatre
Directed Projects - Stage Management (repeatable for a maximum of 12 credit hours)
Independent Projects in Theatre
Practicum: Stagecraft
Practicum: Costume
Practicum: Management
Design Project (repeatable for a maximum of 12 credit hours)
Scene Painting
Theatre Internship (repeatable for a maximum of 15 credit hours)
Foundation 2-D Design
Foundation Drawing
Foundation 3-D Design
Vector Applications
Pixel-Based Applications
Play and Art History
Bodies and Art History
Power and Art History
Dress and Art History
Theories of Art and Culture
Introduction to Life Drawing
Digital Studio
Introduction to Painting Media
Introduction to Sculpture and Extended Media
Digital 3-D Tools in Sculpture
An Introduction to Entrepreneurship in the Arts
Introduction to Media Aesthetics and Analysis
Introduction to the Recording Studio
Aural Skills for Audio Engineers
Introduction to Music Technology and Industry
Film History
Figure Drawing for Animators
Introduction to Sound for Digital Media
Audio Science and Acoustics
Modern Audio Production
Props and Character Design
Microphones
Immersive Audio
Live Sound Design
Analog Audio
Open Electives
Select enough electives to reach 120 credit hours2-3
Total Credit Hours120
1

Required major courses may also count towards General Education requirements. Students will need to select additional electives to reach 120 credit hours required for graduation with assistance from an advisor.

Applied Learning

All students in a School of Performing Arts bachelor degree track or concentration are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing a formal capstone project. Students create a major project whether self-generated, an extension of coursework, or through advanced participation in producing a public performance. Through the capstone experience, students develop and demonstrate, in a hands-on, real world context, the skills, knowledge and competencies required in their area of emphasis. Students in the School of Performing Arts develop a diverse portfolio of experiences, materials and intellectual properties through a broad offering of applied experiences in their four years. The capstone project provides a practical context for academic, experiential and personal growth through the college experience. The final, real product of the SPA's program of applied learning is a young professional prepared for the future.