Theatre: Sound Design & Technology, BFA
Overview
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Level 21: Design, Technology and Management Concentrations
Level 21 reflects the design, technology and management disciplines in theatre arts. It has seven unique yet inter-related concentrations in: Arts + Entertainment Technology, Costume Design + Technology, Lighting Design + Technology, Scene Design, Scenic Technology, Sound Design + Technology, and Stage Management. Freshman and sophomore students learn the foundations of theatrical production with a focus on acquiring practical skills for application in advanced course work and in theatre productions. Junior and senior students participate in advanced study in their chosen discipline supported by one-on-one faculty mentoring of assigned projects. Students in this area are the designers, technicians, managers, artisans and crew for over a dozen theater, musical theater, dance and opera productions at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and work on these shows in various roles throughout their entire course of study.
Degree Requirements
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 128 hours.
Twelve hours of 300 and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by THEA 304 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Core Requirements for all Theatre Majors
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| THEA 100 | Practicum I | 2 |
| THEA 200 | Practicum II | 2 |
| THEA 121 | Theatre Foundations: Performance | 3 |
| THEA 122 | Theatre Foundations: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 123 | Theatre Foundations: Production | 3 |
| THEA 208 | 21st Century Dramaturgy | 3 |
| THEA 304 | Global Theatre Performance | 3 |
| THEA 364 | Topics in Theatre History | 3 |
| THEA 404 | Professional Career Development | 1 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Sound Design & Technology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| THEA 100 | Practicum I (in addition to the THEA 100 credits required in the theatre core) | 1 |
| THEA 119 | BFA Production Seminar (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 |
| THEA 126 | Stagecraft | 3 |
| THEA 151 | Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations | 3 |
| THEA 153 | Introduction to Theatre Sound | 3 |
| THEA 300 | Practicum III (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 |
| THEA 400 | Practicum IV (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 |
| THEA 437 | Software for Lighting Design | 2 |
| THEA 451 | Principles of Stage Management | 3 |
| THEA 454 | Sound Design I | 3 |
| THEA 497 | Audio Engineering I | 3 |
| Choose 9 credits from: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Scenic Design | ||
| Introduction to Stage Rigging | ||
| Intro to Lighting Design | ||
| Introduction to Costume Production | ||
| Introduction to Costume Design | ||
| History of Decor | ||
| Properties Design | ||
| Introduction to Media Design | ||
| Choose 9 credits from: | 9 | |
| Sound Design II (can be repeated) | ||
| Audio Engineering II (can be repeated) | ||
| Total Hours | 51 | |
General Non-Theatre Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Non-Theatre Electives | 9 | |
Summary of Credits for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, concentration in Sound Design & Technology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Requirements for All Theatre Majors | 24 | |
| Sound Design & Technology Concentration Requirements | 51 | |
| General Non-Theatre Electives | 9 | |
| Free Electives as needed to total 128 hours | ||
| Total Credits for BFA in Theatre, concentration in Sound Design & Technology | 128 | |
Sample Sequence
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
First Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 121 - Theatre Foundations: Performance | 2 |
| THEA 153 - Introduction to Theatre Sound | 3 |
| THEA 200 - Practicum II | 1 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| FAA 101 - Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 122 - Theatre Foundations: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 151 - Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations | 3 |
| THEA 200 - Practicum II | 1 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
Second Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 100 - Practicum I | 1 |
| THEA 100 - Practicum I | 1 |
| THEA 123 - Theatre Foundations: Production | 3 |
| THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design, THEA 223 - Introduction to Stage Rigging, THEA 231 - Intro to Lighting Design, THEA 242 - Introduction to Costume Production, THEA 243 - Introduction to Costume Design, THEA 426 - History of Decor, THEA 456 - Properties Design, or THEA 461 - Introduction to Media Design | 3 |
| THEA 126 - Stagecraft | 3 |
| THEA 497 - Audio Engineering I | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 100 - Practicum I | 1 |
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 208 - 21st Century Dramaturgy | 3 |
| THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design, THEA 223 - Introduction to Stage Rigging, THEA 231 - Intro to Lighting Design, THEA 242 - Introduction to Costume Production, THEA 243 - Introduction to Costume Design, THEA 426 - History of Decor, THEA 456 - Properties Design, or THEA 461 - Introduction to Media Design | 3 |
| THEA 454 - Sound Design I | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
Third Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design, THEA 223 - Introduction to Stage Rigging, THEA 231 - Intro to Lighting Design, THEA 242 - Introduction to Costume Production, THEA 243 - Introduction to Costume Design, THEA 426 - History of Decor, THEA 456 - Properties Design, or THEA 461 - Introduction to Media Design | 3 |
| THEA 300 - Practicum III | 2 |
| THEA 304 - Global Theatre Performance | 3 |
| THEA 451 - Principles of Stage Management | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 300 - Practicum III | 2 |
| THEA 364 - Topics in Theatre History | 3 |
| THEA 455 - Sound Design II or THEA 498 - Audio Engineering II | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
Fourth Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 437 - Software for Lighting Design | 2 |
| THEA 400 - Practicum IV | 2 |
| THEA 404 - Professional Career Development | 1 |
| THEA 455 - Sound Design II or THEA 498 - Audio Engineering II | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 400 - Practicum IV | 2 |
| THEA 455 - Sound Design II or THEA 498 - Audio Engineering II | 3 |
| Free Elective courses | 8 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
Total Hours
Total hours for all requirements: 120
Learning Outcomes
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
- Demonstrates a mature, effective ability to analyze, interpret, write critically and creatively, and discuss thoughtfully in the field of theatre and performance.
- Demonstrates ability to actively engage in the collaborative process in preparation, construction, and performance of works for the stage.
- Demonstrates practical application of learned methodologies including the ability to communicate ideas, concepts, and requirements in order to successfully fulfill a role related to sound design for a stage production.
- Demonstrates working knowledge of professional practices across genres of theatre, musical theatre, opera and dance.
- Demonstrates necessary skills and knowledge to acquire an entry-level position in the field of sound design and technology including significant technical mastery, showing the capacity to produce work and solve problems independently.
Contact Information
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Theatre
Theatre Department website
Theatre Department faculty
4-122 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2371
theatre@illinois.edu
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Admissions
Overview of the College of Fine & Applied Arts Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
admissions@illinois.edu