Courses
The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.
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CFA TH 350: Scene Painting 2
Prerequisite: TH348 or permission of instructor. Studio class. Continuation of exposure to materials and tools used in theatrical scene painting. Exercises in general lay-in texture techniques and beginning work in nature studies. 2.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 351: Technical Production 1
Prerequisite: CFA TH 353 AutoCAD 1 or CFA TH 391 Vectorworks 1. This course is designed to introduce students to the roles and skills that the technical director fulfills. Students will focus on drafting scenery to be built, budgeting, paperwork, and communication. Throughout the semester, students will take an actual designed show and break it down to its individual parts. They will each draft, budget, and organize a load-in. 3.0 credits. Fall Semester. -
CFA TH 352: Technical Production 2
Prerequisite: CFA TH 353 AutoCAD 1 or CFA TH 391 Vectorworks 1. This course is designed to give students a working knowledge of stage rigging techniques, tools, and equipment. Course work, readings, field trips, and practical application will ensure the student can analyze loads, problem solve, and safely lead a rigging crew. 3.0 credits. Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU HUB area: Quantitative Reasoning I. -
CFA TH 353: AutoCAD 1: 2D Theatrical Drafting
Prereq: CFA TH 173 or permission of instructor. Introduction to Computer Aided Drafting program AutoCAD and its application to theatrical drafting. Basic terminology, plate organization and technical drafting for Technical Production majors. Drafting elective requirement variable for BFA Design, Production & Management Core. 2.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 354: AutoCAD 2
Prerequisite: CFA TH 353 or permission of instructor. A continuation of AutoCAD 1 as a more advanced, in-depth study of AutoCad. A heavier focus on 3D Modeling and an introduction to CAM for theatrical shops. 2.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 357: Costume Production 5: Historic Tailoring
This class emphasizes the historical evolution of tailoring in menswear dating from 1690 to 1800. Lectures focus on the historical significance of silhouettes for each time period facilitating information on changing seam lines and infrastructure of the garment. Time will be allotted in class to participate in detail sample making, pattern drafting from different systems, cutting and assembling garments. Fittings will also be used to teach different methods of construction through class participation. The final product will be a finished tailored garment in preparation for modern tailoring. Fall semester of odd academic years. -
CFA TH 358: Costume Production 6: Ladies' Tailoring
This tailoring class emphasizes the historical development of the female suit in the 20th century. Lectures focus on the development and use of inner structures of the suit and the evolution of this throughout the decades. Students will choose a suit from their research and reproduce it following the appropriate tailoring methods. Class time is allotted for drafting, fittings and also demonstrations of tailoring techniques used during the 20th century. The final product of this class will be a finished tailored women's suit. 3.0 credits. Spring semester of odd academic years. -
CFA TH 363: Scene Design 3
Prereq: CFA TH 264 or consent of instructor; Intermediate design solutions with an emphasis on conceptual approach; work in a variety of theatre spaces. Students work in collaboration with costume and lighting designers and directors. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance, opera, television, and film. 3.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 368: Scene Design 4
Prereq: CFA TH363 or consent of instructor; Continuation of CFA TH 363 Scene Design 3. Intermediate design solutions with an emphasis on conceptual approaches based on a deep script analysis and understanding of the text. Work in a variety of the unique theatre spaces that students will encounter while at Boston University. Students work on research, developing a design through preliminary sketches, storyboarding, intermediate models and and final rendered models. Readings and projects incorporate many theatre genres including opera, musical theatre and new plays, depending on the needs of the students in the class. 3.0 units. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 375: Costume Design 3
Prereq: CFA TH 276; For the intermediate design student. Geared toward practical application of design theory. Continued development of script analysis, style, research techniques and rendering skills. Exercises examine the principles of design as applied to historical costume. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance and opera depending on individuals in the class. 3.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 377: Rendering for Costume Design 1
The Rendering for Costume Design course serves to elevate conceptual design ideas with an emphasis on visual and verbal presentation. Drawings are treated as informational tools which are used when facilitating discussions with fellow designers and directors. With practice of the skills learned in class, students find that they will achieve greater individual expression in addition to the research used in the costume design process. The use of various drawing and watercolor techniques are employed to help create dynamic, expressive renderings with an emphasis on composition and style. 1.0 credits. Fall Semester. -
CFA TH 378: Rendering for Costume Design 2
The Rendering for Costume Design course serves to elevate conceptual design ideas with an emphasis on visual and verbal presentation. Drawings are treated as informational tools which are used when facilitating discussions with fellow designers and directors. With practice of the skills learned in class, students find that they will achieve greater individual expression in addition to the research used in the costume design process. The use of various drawing and watercolor techniques are employed to help create dynamic, expressive renderings with an emphasis on composition and style. 1.0 credits. Spring Semester. -
CFA TH 383: Lighting Design 3
Prereq: CFA TH 284 or Permission of Instructor. Introduction to lighting design for the stage as a medium for communicating artistic ideas to an audience. Explores the language of light, both verbal and abstract, with a strong emphasis on dramaturgical analysis and how these textual ideas can be interpreted using light. Required Labs will supplement class work with hands-on activities. 3.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 385: Photography 1
Prereq: Instructor Consent; A general survey of the art and practices of photography. Focus is especially strong in aspects of: history of artists and images, history of technology, photographic processes and basics of the camera and technology. 1.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 388: Sound Design 4
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CFATH387) consent of instructor. - Continuation of sound design exploration for the intermediate sound design student. Projects for both theoretical and realized productions. Practical projects to demonstrate sound design techniques. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance, and opera. 3 cr -
CFA TH 391: Vectorworks 1
Prereq: CFA TH 173 or permission of instructor. Introduction to Computer Aided Drafting program Vectorworks and its application to theatrical drafting. Basic terminology, plate organization and technical drafting for Lighting and Sound designers. Drafting elective requirement variable for BFA Design, Production & Management Core. 2.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 392: Vectorworks 2
Prerequisite: CFA TH 391 or permission of instructor. Advanced work in Vectorworks CAD; permission rating on the use of Spotlight as it applies to drafting light plots and related lighting paperwork. 2.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 394: Lighting Design 4
Prerequisite: CFA TH 383 or Permission of Instructor. A continuation of CFA TH 383. Introduction to lighting design for the stage as a medium for communicating artistic ideas to an audience. Explores the language of light, both verbal and abstract, with a strong emphasis on dramaturgical analysis and how these textual ideas can be interpreted using light. Required Labs will supplement class work with hands-on activities. -
CFA TH 396: Costume Design 4
Prerequisite: CFA TH375; Continuation of CFA TH 375. For the intermediate design student. Geared toward practical application of design theory. Continued development of script analysis, style, research techniques and rendering skills. Exercises examine the principles of design as applied to historical costume. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance and opera depending on individuals in the class. 3.0 units. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 399: Stage Management 3: Types & Styles
Prereq: CFA TH 299 or Permission of Instructor. Stage Management 3: Types & Styles examines approaches to leadership, management, communication, critical thinking, and ethics for the stage manager. Through the lens of the artful application of these skills to the different types of live performance the stage manager may encounter, such as new works, musicals, opera, dance, and event work, students will strengthen and hone their personal stage management style. This course requires additional work outside of class time for engagement in practice-based exercises and rehearsal/performance observations. Fall Semester. 3.0 credits. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking.
