The Department of Theatre offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts that may be entered into during the third year. All freshman and transfer students entering the department are initially classified as Theatre Foundation students. After successfully completing the first two years of core theatre courses in their foundation areas of emphasis, students apply for admission to a specific degree program (B.F.A. or B.A.). In the B.F.A. students concentrate on areas in performance, including musical theatre, and stage management, as well as three areas of design/technology: scenic, lighting and costume. (See the individual concentration pages for curricular outlines.) Note: Entry into the musical theatre foundation program requires a change of major form.
Student participation in both credit- and noncredit-bearing department activities may be required. Students matriculating in School of the Arts degree programs are bound by the policies and procedures stipulated in this bulletin and in any other current handbook or policy document adopted by the individual programs.
Because of the environment that exists in these preprofessional programs, all aspects of theatre as art, craft, business and education are experienced together. The curriculum immerses students in the practicalities of theatre. Throughout the four years, the performer works daily with voice, body and imagination, while the designer/technician is involved in studio classes and practical application.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Demonstrate skills and techniques needed to enter the profession as a lighting designer/technician
- Demonstrate knowledge of history, theory and literature and their practical application
Degree requirements for Theatre, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a concentration in lighting design/technical production
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| THEA 100 | Technical Production | 1 |
| THEA 111 | Fundamentals of Performance | 3 |
| THEA 112 | Fundamentals of Theatrical Design | 3 |
| THEA 211 | Introduction to Drama | 3 |
| THEA 251 | Rehearsal and Performance I | 3 |
| THEA 307 | History of the Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 308 | History of the Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 385 | Diverse Voices | 3 |
| THEA 495 | Senior Project: Portfolio Review | 1 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| THEA 103 | Stagecraft | 3 |
| THEA 104 | Costume Construction | 3 |
| THEA 121 | Introduction to Drawing | 2 |
| or THEA 161 | Figure Drawing: Superficial Anatomy | |
| or THEA 162 | Figure Drawing: Draping the Human Form | |
| THEA 122 | Color Theory | 2 |
| THEA 217 | Theatrical Drafting | 2 |
| THEA 221 | Introduction to Scene Design | 3 |
| THEA 225 | Electricity for the Stage | 3 |
| THEA 229 | Introduction to Lighting Design | 3 |
| THEA 237 | Advanced Lighting I | 3 |
| THEA 324 | Practicum in Stage Lighting (taken four semesters) | 12 |
| THEA 327 | Computer-assisted Design and Drafting for the Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 334 | Sound Design for Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 337 | Advanced Lighting Design II | 3 |
| or THEA 333 | Sound Technology | |
| THEA 351 | Rehearsal and Performance | 1-3 |
| THEA 437 | Advanced Lighting Design III | 3 |
| or THEA 326 | Audio Mixing | |
| THEA 451 | Rehearsal and Performance | 1-3 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| ARTH 103 | Survey of Art I | 3 |
| or ARTH 104 | Survey of Art II | |
| SPCH 121 | Effective Speech | 3 |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| THEA 100 | Technical Production | 1 |
| THEA 103 | Stagecraft | 3 |
| THEA 112 | Fundamentals of Theatrical Design | 3 |
| THEA 121 | Introduction to Drawing or Figure Drawing: Superficial Anatomy or Figure Drawing: Draping the Human Form | 2 |
| THEA 217 | Theatrical Drafting | 2 |
| THEA 225 | Electricity for the Stage | 3 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| THEA 104 | Costume Construction | 3 |
| THEA 111 | Fundamentals of Performance | 3 |
| THEA 122 | Color Theory | 2 |
| THEA 229 | Introduction to Lighting Design | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| THEA 211 | Introduction to Drama | 3 |
| THEA 324 | Practicum in Stage Lighting | 3 |
| THEA 327 | Computer-assisted Design and Drafting for the Theatre | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 103 or ARTH 104 | Survey of Art I or Survey of Art II | 3 |
| THEA 237 | Advanced Lighting I | 3 |
| THEA 324 | Practicum in Stage Lighting | 3 |
| THEA 334 | Sound Design for Theatre | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| THEA 221 | Introduction to Scene Design | 3 |
| THEA 307 | History of the Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 324 | Practicum in Stage Lighting | 3 |
| THEA 337 or THEA 333 | Advanced Lighting Design II or Sound Technology | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| THEA 251 | Rehearsal and Performance I | 3 |
| THEA 308 | History of the Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 324 | Practicum in Stage Lighting | 3 |
| THEA 437 or THEA 326 | Advanced Lighting Design III or Audio Mixing | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| SPCH 121 | Effective Speech | 3 |
| THEA 351 | Rehearsal and Performance | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| THEA 385 | Diverse Voices | 3 |
| THEA 451 | Rehearsal and Performance | 1-3 |
| THEA 495 | Senior Project: Portfolio Review | 1 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 14-16 | |
| Total Hours: | 120-122 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.