BA in Theatre and Performance Studies with Emphasis in Design / Technical

Degree Program Description

Students in the BA in Theatre with emphasis in Design / Technical study scene design, lighting design, costume design, sound design, theatre technology, and stage management. They further their studies with additional classes in beginning and advanced scenic and costume construction, makeup, stagecraft, costume crafts, pattern making, scene painting, and theatre architecture. Theatre design students sketch design ideas with pencil and paper, and render those design ideas in 3-D in our computer labs, combine traditional stagecraft techniques with state of the art computer technology, digital image projection, and digital sound mixing. Students participate behind the scenes in a variety of productions -- from main stage faculty-directed musicals and plays, to student-directed shows, ensembles and workshops, take on major roles in our production program as scenic designers, lighting designers, costume designers, sound designers, projection designers, and makeup designers, work as stage managers, carpenters, electricians, riggers, stitchers, cutters, drapers, wardrobe supervisors, props supervisors, lighting and sound board operators, followspot operators, stagehands, and crew members. Graduates work in all areas of the entertainment industry as designers, technicians, directors, teachers, Broadway producers and stage managers, theatre managers, casting agents, box office managers, and scenic artists. We have a strong network of alumni who support one another as they design and build scenery, props, and costumes, mix sound, renovate historic theatres, and work professionally backstage, behind the scenes, and behind the camera in theatre, film, and television in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and across the country.

Major Program Requirements

In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated. 

THEATR 2360	Stagecraft	3
or THEATR 3310	Costume Crafts
Choose nine credits from the following (cannot repeat from required courses):
THEATR 1360	Stage Makeup	1
THEATR 2330	Stage Management	3
THEATR 2510	Introduction to Theatre Design	3
THEATR 3320	Theatrical Patternmaking	3
THEATR 3330	Advanced Costume Construction	3
THEATR 3340	Scene Painting	2
THEATR 3540	Advanced Stage Makeup	2
THEATR 3550	Sound Design	3
THEATR 3560	Scene Design	3
THEATR 4530	Stage Lighting Design	3
THEATR 4570	Theatrical Costume Design	3
Performance classes		3
Topics/Research courses with Department approval		3

Semester Plan

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 1320 or 1340	3	THEATR 1420	3
ENGLSH 1000	3	Missouri State Law Requirement: Social Science from Arts and Science	3
Humanities	3	Behavioral Science	3
Second Language Requirement	4	Second Language Requirement	4
SSC 1150	2	Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3
	15		16
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 1720 or 2710	3	THEATR 2800W	3
THEATR 2360 or 3310	3	Theatre Elective	3
Second Language Requirement	4	Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science	4
Biological or Physical Science lab	5	Humanities, First Writing Intensive	3
		Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3
	15		16
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 2300	3	Additional Theatre Course	3
Theatre Elective	3	Additional Theatre Course	3
Social Science 2000+	3	Social Science	3
Behavioral Science 2000+ from Arts and Science	3	Humanities	3
Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3	Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 3300	3	THEATR 4990	1
3000+ Level Writing Intensive Course	3	Theatre elective	3
Humanities 2000+	3	Second major, minor, or certificate	3
Second major, minor, or certificate	3	Second major, minor, or certificate	3
Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3	Second major, minor, or certificate	3
	15		13
Total Credits: 120