Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact: Michelle Gaza, M.F.A., Interim Director
Location: Frasier Hall 105
Telephone: 970.351.2991
Fax: 970.351.4897
Website: arts.unco.edu/theatre/
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University Wide Credits
Program Description:
A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design/Technology prepares students for professional careers in: Lighting Design & Technology, Costume Design & Technology, Sound Design & Technology, Scenic Design, Technical Direction, Scene Painting, Properties Design and Technology, or Stage Management. This program is intended to produce the highest achievement possible of a design/technology student through the study of the major elements within their track along with understanding of the tracks with which each field collaborates in theatrical design and technology as well as performance. The degree prepares students to work professionally as designers and in a variety of performance styles and venues.
Program Admission Requirements:
- Admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design/Technology major is by interview.
- All students planning to major in Design/Technology are required to submit an additional application to the School.
- Information concerning interview may be requested from School of Theatre Arts and Dance, University of Northern Colorado, Frasier Hall, Greeley, Colorado 80639, phone 970.351.2991
Program Requirements:
Students must adhere to the following guidelines to remain in the BFA Theatre Design/Technology major:
- All BFA Design/Technology majors are required to participate in mainstage productions each semester, unless they receive an exemption in advance from the Area Head. In the event of a vacancy in the Area Head position, an exemption from participation must be granted by the School Director. Requests to be exempted will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- BFA Design/Technology majors must accept any assignment they are offered in a mainstage production during the academic year. If a student does not wish to be considered for a particular production, permission must be granted by the Area Head prior to production assignments being created by the Design and Technology faculty.
Non-compliance of any of the above requirements may result in disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, removal from future production assignments, loss of talent scholarship funding, or removal from the program.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the required major credits.
Any additional LAC coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
THEA 296 (3) or THEA 297 (3) is recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 86 credits
Required Core Credits — 14 credits
Take all of the following courses:
Design/Technology Focus-Area Required Credits — 25 credits
Take all of the following courses — 9 credits
Take the following repeatable courses — 16 credits
Take the following for 8 credits:
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
Take the following for 8 credits:
| THEA 300 | Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
Technology Courses — 15 credits
Choose five of the following courses:
Design Courses — 9 credits
Choose three of the following courses:
Advanced Design Courses — 9 credits
Choose three of the following courses:
Elective Courses — 14 credits
Choose from the following courses for 14 credits:
3. University-Wide Credits — 3 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree that will typically be 3-6 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 29 credits
Fall Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 135 | Playscript Analysis | 3 |
| THEA 149 | Orientation to Technology | 3 |
| THEA 155 | Orientation to Design | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 210 | Drafting for the Theatre | 3 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 2 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 160 | Acting Methods | 3 |
| THEA 296 | History of Theatre ILAA1 | 3 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 100 | Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 297 | History of Theatre IILAA1 | 3 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Year 3 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| THEA 300 | Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| | THEA Advanced Design Course | 3 |
| | THEA Required Design Elective | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 300 | Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 324 | Masterpieces in Theatrical Production | 2 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| | THEA Advanced Design Course | 3 |
| | THEA Required Design Elective | 3 |
| | THEA Required Design Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 4 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| THEA 300 | Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| THEA 449 | Design and Technology Senior Seminar | 3 |
| | THEA Design or Technology Course | 3 |
| | THEA Advanced Design Course | 3 |
| | THEA Required Design Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| THEA 300 | Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre | 2 |
| | THEA Required Design Elective | 2 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Advising Notes –
- Major Electives: All Design Technology students must complete 15 hours of Technology credits, 9 hours of Design credits, 9 hours of upper-division Advanced Design credits, and 14 hours of Design Technology Elective credits.