Program Overview

Major in Theatre, Sound Design and Technology Concentration

The B.A. in Theatre, Sound Design and Technology Concentration, is a program that delves into recording, mixing, audio engineering, sound creation, and programming. In addition to coursework in sound design, students are required to explore other design fields/concentrations (such as projection design, lighting design, costume design or set design) to better understand the collaborative effort of creating a world onstage. Students also take practicum classes where they put the skills learned in design courses to use, working on departmental productions and/or live events design teams.

Concentration-Level Learning Objectives

In addition to four B.A. in Theatre Learning Objectives, the Sound Design and Technology Concentration includes the following unique learning objectives:

1. SOUND DESIGN and TECHNOLOGY FOR THEATRE, FILM, and INDUSTRY: Explore the specific techniques that sound designers use to develop and communicate their ideas through research, synthesis of skills including recording, mixing, audio engineering, sound control programming, content creation, and application of emerging technologies with a robust understanding of how the sound designer supports, collaborates, and interacts with the creative team.
2. DESIGN ARTISTRY: Develop an understanding of the Sound Designer as a collaborative artist, creative visionary, and technician, by practicing organizational, design, musical, and technical skills to realize a show from concept to production and building a portfolio of creative design and/or technical work.

Career Opportunities

Sound design and technology offers students several ways to express their creativity and artistry:

• Sound designers for theatre, musicals, opera, or dance
• Sound engineers for stage, television, and film
• Sound mixers for stage, dance, live productions, television, and film

Admission Criteria

In addition to applying to CSU through the Office of Admissions, a successful interview with CSU Theatre faculty is required to enter the Theatre Design and Technology Concentrations.

Program Requirements

The program requires a total of 120 credits, with the following distribution:

• Freshman: 29 credits
  • CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2)
  • TH 140: Text Analysis
  • TH 160: Drawing for Theatre
  • TH 161: Stagecraft
  • TH 186: Theatre Practicum I--Crew Assignment
  • TH 192: First Year Seminar--Telling Your Story
  • TH 286: Theatre Practicum II--Shop Assignment
  • Select 2 courses from the following: ART 100, D 110, MU 100
• Sophomore: 30 credits
  • TH 242: World Theatre History I
  • TH 243: World Theatre History II
  • TH 260: Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre
  • TH 266: Sound Design I
  • TH 268: Projection Design I
  • TH 269B: Makeup and Hair Design I: Designers
  • TH 386C: Theatre Practicum III: Assistant Designer Applied
  • Select one of the following: TH 386A, TH 386B
  • Biological and Physical Sciences
  • Historical Perspectives
• Junior: 31 credits
  • TH 366: Sound Design II
  • TH 460: Design Portfolio and Professional Preparation
  • Select one course from the following: TH 262, TH 264
  • Select one course from the following: TH 301A, TH 301B, TH 301C
  • Select one course from the following: TH 344, TH 345, TH 382A, TH 479, TH 487
  • Advanced Writing
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Upper-Division Electives
• Senior: 30 credits
  • TH 371: Musical Theatre History and Repertory I
  • TH 486A: Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Production/Technical
  • TH 486B: Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Conceptual
  • TH 486C: Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Applied
  • Select one course from the following: TH 362, TH 364, TH 368
  • Select one course from the following: TH 401A, TH 401B, TH 401C
  • Upper-Division Electives

Major Completion Map

The major completion map outlines the program requirements in a semester-by-semester format:

• Semester 1: 13 credits
  • CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2)
  • TH 161: Stagecraft
  • TH 186: Theatre Practicum I--Crew Assignment
  • TH 192: First Year Seminar--Telling Your Story
  • Select one course from the following: ART 100, D 110, MU 100
• Semester 2: 16 credits
  • TH 140: Text Analysis
  • TH 160: Drawing for Theatre
  • TH 286: Theatre Practicum II--Shop Assignment
  • Select one course from the following: ART 100, D 110, MU 100
  • 1B
  • 1C
• Semester 3: 16 credits
  • TH 242: World Theatre History I
  • TH 260: Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre
  • TH 268: Projection Design I
  • TH 269B: Makeup and Hair Design I: Designers
  • Select one of the following: TH 386A, TH 386B
  • Historical Perspectives
• Semester 4: 14 credits
  • TH 243: World Theatre History II
  • TH 266: Sound Design I
  • TH 386C: Theatre Practicum III: Assistant Designer Applied
  • Biological and Physical Sciences
• Semester 5: 16 credits
  • TH 366: Sound Design II
  • Select one course from the following: TH 301A, TH 301B, TH 301C
  • Advanced Writing
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Upper-Division Elective
• Semester 6: 15 credits
  • TH 460: Design Portfolio and Professional Preparation
  • Select one course from the following: TH 262, TH 264
  • Select one course from the following: TH 344, TH 345, TH 382A, TH 479, TH 487
  • Upper-Division Electives
• Semester 7: 14 credits
  • TH 371: Musical Theatre History and Repertory I
  • TH 486A: Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Production/Technical
  • TH 486B: Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Conceptual
  • Select one course from the following: TH 401A, TH 401B, TH 401C
  • Upper-Division Electives
• Semester 8: 16 credits
  • TH 486C: Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Applied
  • Select one course from the following: TH 362, TH 364, TH 368
  • Upper-Division Electives

The program requires a total of 120 credits, with at least 42 upper-division credits. Concentration-specific courses may not double-count in multiple Theatre concentrations.