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 629: Sound Design Studio 1
  An overview of theatrical sound design, focusing on the process of creating sonic responses to a theatrical script. The emphasis is on critical listening and establishing mood, emotion and environment with sound. Covers basic techniques and technology used in creating a sound design. 3.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 630: Sound Design Studio 2
  Prereq: CFATH 629 A continuation of Sound Design Studio 1. An in-depth discussion of theatrical sound design focusing on professional practice and creating a design for a theatrical script. The emphasis is on soundscape creation, establishing mood, emotion and environment with sound. Covers the basics of the tools and technology used to implement a professional sound design.
• CFA TH 635: Scene Design Studio 1
  Fundamentals of set design theory. Basic mechanical and conceptual solutions for the proscenium theatre: development of presentational and research skills. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance and opera. 3.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 636: Scene Design Studio 2
  Prereq: CFATH 635. - A continuation of Scene Design Studio 1. or permission of instructor. A continuation of Sound Design Studio 1. An in-depth discussion of theatrical sound design focusing on professional practice and creating a design for a theatrical script. The emphasis is on soundscape creation, establishing mood, emotion and environment with sound. Covers the basics of the tools and technology used to implement a professional sound design.
• CFA TH 637: Costume Design Studio 1
  Fundamentals of costume design. Exercises focus on analysis-designing from the inside out. Covers a range of visual, written, and verbal techniques of communication; script analysis, style, research techniques, and rendering skills. Readings and projects may explore different theatre genres. 3.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 638: Costume Design Studio 2
  Prereq: CFA TH 637 - A continuation of Costume Design Studio 1. Fundamentals of costume design. Exercises focus on analysis-designing from the inside out. Covers a range of visual, written, and verbal techniques of communication; script analysis, style, research techniques, and rendering skills. Readings and projects may explore different theater genres.
• CFA TH 639: Lighting Design Studio 1
  Advanced lighting design for the stage as a medium for illuminating theatrical texts, music, and movement to communicate artistic ideas to an audience. Explores the language of light, both verbal and abstract, with a strong emphasis on dramaturgical analysis and how textual ideas can be interpreted using light. Required Labs will supplement class work with hands-on activities. 3.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 640: Lighting Design Studio 2
  Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 639; A continuation of Lighting Design Studio 1. Advanced exploration in the development of lighting design for the stage. Explores how to develop lighting ideas, concepts, and visual images from a text, music, or movement and how to support those ideas to the point of realization. Required Labs will supplement class work with hands-on activities. 3.0 units. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 643: Costume Production Studio 1
  This course is designed to give students a working knowledge of flat patterning and draping methods based on historical research. Course work, readings, lectures and practical application will ensure that students are capable to lead a costume build team and successfully produce costumes for an assigned production. 3.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 644: Costume Production Studio 2
  Prereq: CFA TH 643 - Continuation of Costume Production Studio 2, this class covers historical information dating from early Renaissance to the Regency Period of women's dress. Clothing of various stages in the evolution of this broad period are discussed in lectures and explored by students using a method of radial projection draping or flat patterning. Draping assignments and in class exercises supplement the historical information and provide the student with draping/ flat patterning knowledge of more elaborate garment elements. Students will produce a corset and underpinnings for a chosen period, petticoat and bodice. Upon completion of the class students will have the knowledge to Drape, Flat Pattern and Radial Project period specific garments.
• CFA TH 649: Costume Production Studio 7: Advanced Draping - 19th Century
  The study of flat patterning and draping through individual projects. Silhouette, line, and proportion become essential elements in the development of complete muslin reproductions. The study of the form and function of period underpinnings is stressed.
• CFA TH 650: Costume Production Studio 8
  Prerequisite: CFA TH 649; Continues the study of flat patterning and draping through individual projects. Silhouette, line, and proportion become essential elements in the development of complete muslin reproductions. The study of the form and function of period underpinnings is stressed.
• CFA TH 657: History of Dress 1
  This course is an intensive survey covering the history of significant cultural expression in dress from 3000 B.C.E. through the 18th century. Students will examine the evolution of fashion by studying various types of art and literature as well as socio-economic, political, and religious influences. Students will familiarize themselves with the vocabulary, theory, production, silhouettes, and trends in Western dress through effective researching, experiential learning, discussion-based learning, and interactive lectures. Class work involves research projects with emphasis on color, materials, manufacture, theory, and application. 2.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 658: History of Dress 2
  Intensive survey course covering the history of significant cultural expression in dress from the end of the 18th century to the present. Students examine the evolution of fashion by studying various types of art & literature as well as socio-economic, political, and religious influences. Students will familiarize themselves with the vocabulary, theory, production, silhouettes, and trends in Western dress through effective researching, experiential learning, discussion-based learning, and interactive lectures. Research projects emphasize color, materials, manufacture, theory, and application. 2.0 units. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 659: Social Change Through Theatre of the Oppressed
  An active, experiential learning course for theatre and non-theatre students that explores Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed and Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. This course engages and challenges students' minds, bodies and creativity as we read, discuss and apply the political, social and educational theories and ethics through Boal's physical theatre gamesercises, image techniques, and Forum Theatre. These techniques serve to "democratize theatre" by transforming the "monologue" of traditional performance into a dialogue for social change between audience and stage. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Creativity/Innovation.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Ethical Reasoning
• CFA TH 691: Sound Design Studio 3
  Prereq: CFA TH 630. 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.
• CFA TH 692: Sound Design Studio 4
  Prereq: CFA TH 691. - Continuation of Sound Design Studio 3. 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.
• CFA TH 695: 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.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Digital/Multimedia Expression
  • Quantitative Reasoning I
• CFA TH 699: Production Management Studio 2
  Prereq: CFA TH 695. - Building on the concepts introduced in Production Management Studio 1, this course will further study the role of the Production Manager within the design, production, and rehearsal process, specifically concentrating on the roles and responsibilities of Production Managing on a professional level, including season scheduling, budget & finances, personnel management and facilities management. Students will get hands-on experience in each of these through the creation of theoretical production paperwork, in-class discussions and workshops.
• CFA TH 701: Graduate Salon
  This course is a weekly roundtable gathering of contemporary artists, scholars and students. The School of Theatre's graduate students in Directing, Design, Production and Production Management will come together with guest artists to explore and discuss innovative theatre practices and progressive methods of storytelling. Students will learn what forms of material may provoke and create powerful theatre in the world today. This class is intended to revitalize and invoke students to look at challenging ways to design and produce contemporary theatre. 2.0 units. Fall and Spring semesters.