Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre Design is intended as a general preparation for the professional designer of scenery, costumes or lighting in theatre and/or film or as preparation for graduate studies. Students learn through small-class studio courses, laboratories, and involvement in productions in the University Theatre. Students in the B.F.A. Theatre Design program take 69 hours in Theatre, Visual Art, and Art History in addition to the KU Core and electives.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
B.F.A. in Theatre Design Degree Requirements
The program leading to the B.F.A. degree in theatre design is offered cooperatively by the School of the Arts and the Department of Theatre. It requires 6 hours of foundational coursework, 63 additional hours in the major, and completion of the KU Core, as well as additional general electives, for a total of 120 hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations: Art and Design | ||
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 102 | Drawing II | 3 |
| Core Theatre Courses | 30 | |
| Introduction to the Theatre | ||
or THR 106 | Acting I | |
| Approaching Design | ||
| Scenic Production | ||
| Costume Production | ||
| Lighting Production | ||
| Script Analysis | ||
| Fundamentals of Directing | ||
| History of Period Style I | ||
| History of Period Style II | ||
| Theatre History Courses. Choose two of the following: | 6 | |
| History of Theatre | ||
| History of Theatre II | ||
| History of U.S. Theatre and Drama | ||
| Theatre Design Concentration | ||
| THR 116 | Scenographic Techniques | 3 |
| THR 316 | Beginning Scene Design | 3 |
| THR 320 | Beginning Costume Design | 3 |
| THR 324 | Beginning Lighting Design | 3 |
| Theatre design required electives: choose 9 hours from the following: | 9 | |
| Theatre Practicum I | ||
| Make-Up | ||
| Theatre Practicum II | ||
| Theatre Practicum III | ||
| Undergraduate Seminar in: _____ (maximum of 6 hours) | ||
| Stage Management | ||
| Popular Culture: _____ | ||
| Stage Management and Assistant Direction | ||
| Directed Study in Theatre (maximum of 6 hours) | ||
| Scenic Painting Techniques | ||
| Scenography and the Classic Script | ||
| Collaborative Production | ||
| Special Topics in Scenography | ||
| Introduction to Film and Media | ||
| Basic Video Production | ||
| History of Art: | ||
| History of Western Art: Ancient Through Medieval | ||
| History of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary | ||
| History of art or architecture electives (HA or ARCH courses) | 6 | |
| Capstone Course | ||
| THR 560 | Collaborative Production | 3 |
| or THR 498 | Honors Directed Study in Theatre | |
| or THR 499 | Directed Study in Theatre | |
General Electives
- Additional credit hours of general electives are needed to meet the minimum total hours required for graduation.
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 69 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 27 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BFA in Theatre Design. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THR 106 or 100 (Core 34: Arts and Humanities SGE, Major Requirement)060*,1 | 3 | THR 215 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| ART 101 (Major Foundation Course) | 3 | THR 216, 220, or 224 (Theatre Production I, Major Requirement) | 2 |
| HA 150 (Major Requirement) | 3 | ART 102 (Major Foundation Course) | 3 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE)030 | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THR 216, 220, or 224 (Theatre Production II) | 2 | THR 216, 220, or 224 (Theatre Production III, Major Requirement) | 2 |
| THR 116 | 3 | THR 316, 320, or 324 (Beginning Design I) | 3 |
| THR 308 (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | Theatre Design Elective (1 of 3), Major Requirement3 | 3 |
| History of Art Elective (1 of 2), Major Requirements | 3 | HA 151 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4-5 | Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 2 | ||
| 17-18 | 14 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THR 520 (Major Requirement) | 3 | THR 521 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| THR History Elective 1 of 2 (Major Requirement) | 3 | THR History Elective 2 of 2 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| THR 324 (Major Requirement) | 3 | THR Design Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THR Design Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | THR Design Elective (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | THR 560, 499, or 498 (Capstone) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
- 2
Pre-Requisite for THR 508 and History of Theatre coursework.
- 3
See catalog for full list of approved Theatre Design Electives. 12 total hours.
- 5
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
*Courses with a * designate courses that are degree requirements but can also be taken to fulfill the KU Core 34 requirement. If another course if used to fulfill the Core 34 requirement, the course listed is still required as a degree requirement.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.