Design/Technology, BFA

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Design Concentration
Stage Management Concentration
Technology Concentration

Program Description:

The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures is devoted exclusively to the training and education of undergraduate students in the areas of dance, motion pictures, and theatre. These programs lead to the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees.

The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures is empowered by the Ohio Revised Code to require particular preliminary training or talent for admission to specific programs, and each of the five B.F.A. degree programs has specific criteria for admission to each level of training. Students in all areas must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 by the end of the freshman year to continue in a theatre arts major. Students who wish to be admitted as majors in acting, acting/musical theatre, or dance must successfully pass an audition or interview. Transfer students are admitted into B.F.A. programs on the basis of a successful audition, interview, or portfolio presentation. The department has an open admissions policy for students wishing to major in the B.A. programs in theatre studies and motion pictures history, theory, and criticism, and B.F.A. programs in design/technology and motion pictures production.

All students who return after an absence of three or more consecutive semesters must reapply to the faculty for readmission to the program, and at the discretion of the faculty they may be required to satisfy program requirements in effect at the time of readmission. Details of the admission and retention policy are detailed in the Department of Theatre Arts Student Handbook.

The B.F.A. Program:

The B.F.A. program follows an open admission policy for only the first semester.

Degree Requirements–Design/Technology/Stage Management:

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree:

The program in design/technology/stage management prepares students for careers as designers, technicians, and stage managers in the professional theatre. During the junior year, students begin a concentration in either design or technology in the fields of costumes, scenery, lighting, sound, or properties. Students interested in concentrating in stage management do so beginning in the freshman year. All design/technology majors must present their portfolio for an evaluation at the end of each year of study. Students are retained in the program and accepted into the sophomore year of study based on maintaining an overall GPA of 2.0, continual growth as determined by the faculty, and successful portfolio evaluation at the end of each year of study. Before students can begin their junior or senior year, they must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in all design and technology classes and a 2.25 overall GPA. Students must also continue to show steady growth in their craft. They must demonstrate leadership skills and self-discipline and show promise of benefiting from continued training. Any student whose overall GPA falls below 2.25 will be suspended from production, graphics, and design classes and from using facilities until the GPA is raised. The faculty members reserve the right to totally suspend from a program any student who does not fulfill these continuing requirements. Students may be reinstated if the requirements are subsequently fulfilled. Students not performing in their academic or production assignments will be dropped from the program.

Program Learning Outcomes:

High level of competency and responsibility in one or more areas of theatre design and/or technology and stage management

Competency in key leadership role, such as stage management, designing, or supervising building of mainstage productions.
Proficiency in theatre design, theatre technology, or stage management.
Knowledge of technical theory, application and craft in their area of focus.
Critical thinking and problem solving ability.
Knowledge of theatre history and dramatic literature.
Skills in integrated drawing, drafting, painting, presentation and construction skills, as well as knowledge of computer design.
Pragmatic understanding of the business side of the design/technology profession.

Design Concentration

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2: Mathematics: 3 Hours

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Required:

TH 2140 - Theatre in Western Culture Credit Hour(s): 3

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Hours

Required:

ART 2140 - Themes in Visual Culture Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Departmental Requirements: 81-86 Hours

TH 1020 - Introduction to Technical Theatre Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 1240 - Theatre Graphics I: Fundamentals Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 1510 - Introduction to the Performance Process Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 2100 - Theatre Technology Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 2190 - Stage Lighting I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 2250 - Theatre Graphics II: Media and Color Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 2260 - Theatre Graphics II: Drafting Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3010 - Introduction to Theatrical Design Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3200 - Applied Theatre Technology I Credit Hour(s): 3 to 5
TH 3210 - Scene Painting I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3250 - Set Design Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3260 - Costume Design Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3280 - Decorative Style through the Ages Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3760 - Design Studio Credit Hour(s): 2
TH 3800 - Theatre History and Literature I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3810 - Theatre History and Literature II Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4200 - Applied Theatre Technology II Credit Hour(s): 2 to 5
TH 4240 - Advanced Design Studio I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4250 - Advanced Design Studio II Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4350 - Portfolio Preparation and Presentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Plus:

Set Design: 15 Hours

TH 3220 - Scene Painting II Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3290 - Costume History Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3330 - Computer Graphics for Theatre I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4330 - Computer Graphics for Theatre II Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4360 - Theatre Graphics II: Rendering Credit Hour(s): 3

OR

Lighting Design: 12 Hours

TH 2020 - Sound Design Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3320 - Automated Lighting Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3330 - Computer Graphics for Theatre I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3510 - Stage Management Credit Hour(s): 3 or
TH 4360 - Theatre Graphics II: Rendering Credit Hour(s): 3

OR

Costume Design: 16 Hours

TH 1200 - Make-up for the Theatre Credit Hour(s): 1
TH 2290 - Fabric Dyeing and Modification Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3290 - Costume History Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3340 - Costume Construction Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3350 - Costume Crafts Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3360 - Pattern Drafting and Draping Credit Hour(s): 3

OR

Sound Design: 11 Hours

TH 2020 - Sound Design Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3320 - Automated Lighting Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 3330 - Computer Graphics for Theatre I Credit Hour(s): 3
TH 4340 - Theatrical Rigging Credit Hour(s): 2

III. Related Requirements

Lighting Design, Sound Design focus only: 3 Hours

MP 1800 - Motion Pictures Production I Credit Hour(s): 3

Sound Design focus only: 3 Hours

Music course (decided w/advisor) Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Foreign Language and Research Methods: 0 Hours

V. Electives: 2-4 Hours

Total: 127 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.