Pictured | Marlon Burnley | Theatre | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)
(Theatre and Dance production of King Lear)

About the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Design/Technical Theatre is designed to prepare students for the professional theatre or additional training at the graduate level. It features an intense focus on a selected area of concentration (Costume Design, Lighting Design, Scene Design, Scenic Technology or Costume Technology) and extensive production experience designed to promote excellence.

Academic Advising

College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s to enrollment. Advising holds are placed on all Ernesting M. Raclin School of the Arts students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are advised in their academic units. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see One.IU.

Degree Requirements (125 cr.)

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Students receiving the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, concentration in Musical Theatre Performance degree must complete 125 total credit hours including:

• IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (36 cr.)
• Major Requirements (75 cr.)
• Specialty Requirements (6 cr.)
• Theatre Electives (9 cr.)
• Free Electives (balance of credits needed to equal 125 credit requirement) (9 cr.)

• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400- level.
• Successful participation in major season productions each semester as directed by the Practicum Instructor in coordination with the Chair of the Theatre and Dance Department.

Major Requirements (75 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Select one of the following areas of concentration:

Theatre Core (31 cr.)

• THTR-T 120 Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting
• THTR-T 225 Stagecraft 1
• THTR-T 230Costume Design and Technology I
• THTR-T 340 Directing I: Fundamentals of Directing
• THTR-T 349 Theatre Practicum (1 cr.) (three semesters; freshmen are not permitted to enroll)
• THTR-T 405 Stage Management
• THTR-T 470 History of the Theatre 1
• THTR-T 471 History of the Theatre 2
• THTR-T 483 Topics in Theatre and Drama
• THTR-T 485 Capstone Project (1 cr.)

Select one of the following:

• THTR-T 326 Introduction to Scenic Design
• THTR-T 335 Stage Lighting Design
• THTR-T 433 Costume Design II

Performance (41 cr.)

• MUS-V 201 Voice Class (1 cr.)
• THTR-D 120 Ballet I (2 cr.)
• THTR-D 220 Ballet II (2 cr.)
• THTR-T 220 Acting II: Scene Study
• THTR-T 223 Vocal and Physical Preparation I
• THTR-T 224 Vocal and Physical Preparation II
• THTR-T 290 History and Design of Stage Makeup
• THTR-T 300 Musical Theatre Workshop
• THTR-T 320 Acting III: Shakespeare
• THTR-T 392 Theatre Internship
• THTR-T 420 Acting IV: Realism
• THTR-T 423 Acting V: Period Comedy
• THTR-T 431 On-Camera Techniques
• THTR-T 442 Directing II: Advanced Directing
• THTR-T 479 Problems in Performance

Design/Technical (45 cr.)   

• FINA-F 100 Fundamental Studio–Drawing
• THTR-T 327 Period Styles
• THTR-T 330 Rendering
• THTR-T 332 Scene Painting
• THTR-T 392 Theatre Internship
• THTR-T 427 Design Studio (four semesters; junior standing required)
• THTR-T 434 Historic Costumes for the Stage

Select two from the following (not repeatable):

• THTR-T 326 Introduction to Scenic Design
• THTR-T 335 Stage Lighting Design
• THTR-T 430 Costume Technology II

Specialty Requirements (6 cr.)

Costume Design

• THTR-T 290 History and Design of Stage Makeup
• THTR-T 434 Historic Costumes for the Stage

Costume Technology

• THTR-T 290 History and Design of Stage Makeup
• THTR-T 433 Costume Design II

Scene Design

• THTR-T 426 Fundamentals of Scenic Design
• THTR-T 439 Technical Drawing

Lighting Design

• THTR-T 438 Advanced Stage Lighting Design
• THTR-T 439 Technical Drawing

Scenic Technology

• THTR-T 424 Stagecraft 2
• THTR-T 439 Technical Drawing

Photo courtesy of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts