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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Theatre Design/Technology B.F.A.

Program Overview

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Anne Toewe, Ph.D., Director

Location: Frasier Hall 008

Telephone: 970.351.1299

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:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. 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 or THEA 297 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:

THEA 135Playscript Analysis

3

THEA 149Orientation to Technology

3

THEA 160Acting Methods

3

THEA 296History of Theatre ILAA1

3

or

THEA 297History of Theatre IILAA1

3

THEA 324Masterpieces in Theatrical Production

2

Design/Technology Focus-Area Required Credits — 25 credits

Take all of the following courses — 9 credits
THEA 155Orientation to Design

3

THEA 210Drafting for the Theatre

3

THEA 449Design and Technology Senior Seminar

3

Take the following repeatable courses — 16 credits
Take the following for 8 credits:
THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

Take the following for 8 credits:
THEA 300Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre

2

Technology Courses — 15 credits

Choose five of the following courses:

THEA 222Costume Technology I

3

THEA 232Lighting Technology

3

THEA 234Media Technology for Stage and Performance

3

THEA 246Sound Technology

3

THEA 249Scenic Technology

3

THEA 311Beginning Scene Painting

3

THEA 317Properties for Stage

3

THEA 375Stage Management for the Theatre

3

Design Courses — 9 credits

Choose three of the following courses:

THEA 215Beginning Scene Design

3

THEA 220Beginning Costume Design

3

THEA 230Beginning Lighting Design

3

THEA 235Beginning Projections Design

3

THEA 245Beginning Sound Design

3

Advanced Design Courses — 9 credits

Choose three of the following courses:

THEA 315Advanced Scene Design

3

THEA 320Advanced Costume Design

3

THEA 332Advanced Lighting Design

3

THEA 345Advanced Sound Design

3

Elective Courses — 14 credits

Choose from the following courses for 14 credits:

MUS 209Introduction to Music Technology

2

MUS 313Digital Composition

2

MUS 343Recording Techniques

2

THEA 221Costume History

3

THEA 240Beginning Stage Directing

3

THEA 241Seminar in Theatre Arts Management

3

THEA 290History of Style and Decor

3

THEA 308Theatre Workshop

1- 4

THEA 321Digital Rendering for Theatre Design

3

THEA 433Dramaturgy

3

PVA 210Introduction to Arts Entrepreneurship

3

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 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 135Playscript Analysis

3

THEA 149Orientation to Technology

3

THEA 155Orientation to Design

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 210Drafting 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 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 160Acting Methods

3

THEA 296History of Theatre ILAA1

3

THEA Design or Technology Course

3

THEA Design or Technology Course

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

THEA 100Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 297History 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 300Advanced 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 300Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 324Masterpieces 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 300Advanced Individual Performance in Theatre

2

THEA 449Design 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 300Advanced 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.

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