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.

  • CFA TH 484: Lighting Design 6
    Prereq: CFA TH 483. An in-depth look at the functions and qualities of light and how to apply them in complex ways within the lighting design for stage. Focus will be placed on your continuing development as a theatre artist and on expanding your knowledge of lighting design. 3.0 credits. Spring semester.
  • CFA TH 485: Choreography and Design: Experiments in Light and Movement
    Prereq: Instructor Consent; A course intended for lighting designers, actors, directors and dancers to develop theatrical work integrating light and movement. The goal of the course is to provide a workshop environment that fosters the development of new forms of theatrical expression involving light and movement. Weekly assignments involve light sources, movement and light, conventions involving space, time, flow and hue; improvisations; and experimentation with theatrical ideas, character development and storytelling involving light and movement. Rehearsal times on Sundays and Monday evenings expected outside of regular class times. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
  • CFA TH 492: Stage Management 4
    Pre-req: CFA TH 399. Advanced exploration into the role of the Stage Manager within the design, production, and rehearsal process. Discussions will include freelancing, negotiation, networking, how to support a professional career, and contemporary issues in American Stage Management. This course requires additional work outside of class time for engagement in practice-based exercises and rehearsal/performance observations. 3.0 credits. Spring semester. Effective Spring 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II.
    • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • CFA TH 493: Production Management 1
    Study of the role of the Production Manager in the design, production, and rehearsal process, specifically concentrating on the roles and responsibilities of theatrical Production Managing on a professional level, including scheduling, staffing, budgeting, team building, time management and communication. Students will get hands-on experience in each of these through class-discussions, workshops, and the creation of a theoretical production process where they will produce digital media to effectively communicate their ideas and apply quantitative reasoning skills to make informed decisions. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Quantitative Reasoning I.
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Quantitative Reasoning I
  • CFA TH 497: Production
    Prereq: CFA TH 398; Senior Design & Production BFA candidates; students register for appropriate section based on Production assignment. Meets late afternoons, evenings, and/or weekends. Specific design and shop work in the mounting of student or professional productions. Does not include off-crew design work.Fall semester.
  • CFA TH 498: Production
    Prereq: CFA TH 398; Senior Design & Production BFA candidates; students register for appropriate section based on Production assignment. Meets late afternoons, evenings, and/or weekends. Specific design and shop work in the mounting of student or professional productions. Does not include off-crew design work. Spring semester.
  • CFA TH 503E: BU IN LA: WRTNG
    BU IN LA: WRTNG
  • CFA TH 513: Scenic Production Artist
    This laboratory course encompasses the practical application of the skills that the student develops through their collective coursework within their program of study. It covers the design and production work as a Scenic Charge Artist in the mounting of School of Theatre productions. The specific role each student is assigned is made by the SOT faculty with thought towards a student’s personal artistic and academic goals. Assignments seek to challenge the student to take artistic risks and engage with a diverse community of theatre artists. 1.0 credit. Fall & Spring semesters.
  • CFA TH 517: History of Period Styles 1
    This is the first course in a series of 4 seminar style classes where we explore periods throughout history primarily through studying Architecture and Decor along with exploring the political and social atmosphere of the times. Each student will have a weekly assignment to research and share with their classmates in a PowerPoint style presentation. History of Period Styles 1 covers the Dawn of Man through the Fall of Rome. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU HUB area: Historical Consciousness.
    • Historical Consciousness
  • CFA TH 519: AutoCAD 1: 2D Theatrical Drafting
    Introduction to Computer Aided Drafting program AutoCAD and its application to theatrical drafting. Basic terminology, plate organization and technical drafting for Technical Directors. 2.0 credits. Spring semester.
  • CFA TH 526: AutoCAD 2: 3D Theatrical Drafting & CNC Layout
    Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 519 or permission of instructor. - A continuation of AutoCAD 1 as a more advanced, in-depth study of AutoCad. Goals will be based on improving the speed of drawing production and learning new tools to help fit the specific needs of the student's area of focus. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
  • CFA TH 533: Costume Production Studio 5: Historical 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. 3.0 credits. Fall semester of odd academic years.
  • CFA TH 534: Costume Production Studio 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 535: Topics in Theatre
    Topics in theatrical study. Topics vary by semester. Consult instructor or Academic Advisor for detailed information.
  • CFA TH 536: Figure Drawing
    Studio work in figure drawing. Emphasis on drawing techniques and media through observation. May be repeated for credit. 2.0 credits. Fall & Spring semesters.
  • CFA TH 539: Production
    Production provides students with a discipline-specific laboratory experience to build knowledge, skills, and safety practices outside of their specifically assigned projects in CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice. It includes a weekly area- specific Colloquium to discuss progress on projects within the School of Theatre season, celebrate triumphs and strategize about challenges on current shows, and engage in discussion of special topics. Students will build community among their peers within their major. 2.0 credits. Fall & Spring semesters.
  • CFA TH 541: Graduate Internship: Directing
    Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Students may arrange credit for off-campus, unpaid internships with established, professional arts organizations. Before applying for internship credit the student should check with their MFA Program Head to determine whether the proposed host organization and internship position qualifies. Variable credit; a minimum of 40 hours of work is expected per unit of credit, and credit is ordinarily capped at 4.0 credits per internship. May be repeated for credit. Fall & Spring semesters.
  • CFA TH 542: Graduate Internship
    Prereq: Approval of instructor; Students may arrange credit for off-campus, unpaid internships with established, professional arts organizations. Before applying for internship credit the student should check with their MFA Program Head as well as the faculty advisor for Internship: Performance to determine whether the proposed host organization and internship position qualifies. A minimum of 40 hours of work is expected per unit of credit, and credit is ordinarily capped at 4.0 credits per internship. All off-campus internships are graded Pass/Fail. May be repeated for credit. Spring semester.
  • CFA TH 545: Directed Study: Performance
    Provides opportunity for individual students to study in a specific field or gain practical experience under the direct supervision of a faculty instructor. Approval of the student's advisor and an established focus of study required prior to registration. Students must fill out a "Directed Study Proposal Form" with their DS advisor's approval after registration. Credit amount varies, each semester. May be repeated for credit. Variable credit. Fall semester.
  • CFA TH 549: Theatre in Practice
    Theatre in Practice serves as the CFA School of Theatre's laboratory for the development of new work or new approaches to existing work and encompasses the practical application of the skills that the student develops through their collective coursework within their program of study. This course covers the design, rehearsal, production, and performance work in the mounting of School of Theatre productions. The specific role each student is assigned is made by the SOT faculty with thought towards a student's personal artistic and academic goals.¿Assignments seek to challenge the student to take artistic risks and engage with a diverse community of theatre artists. 2.0 credits. Fall & Spring semesters.