First-Year Theatre Core
All first-year students are admitted into the Theatre Core curriculum for either Performance or Design, Production, and Management.
The theatre core is designed to provide an appropriate context for faculty evaluations of each student’s strengths, interests, and potential for success in the upper years of training. At the end of their first year in the program, each student declares a major. This decision is reviewed by all members of the School of Theatre faculty before a student is officially enrolled in their major.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to work and think as an ensemble.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-empowerment in relation to the creative process and artistic expression.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of a sustainable process necessary to healthily deal with the demands of life as a theatre artist and foster artistic growth.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the interconnectedness of intellect, emotion, voice, body, and context (Performance Core only).
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of visual communication through drawing, painting, design, and drafting techniques (Design, Production & Management Core only).
Requirements
All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. As part of the Theatre Core, CFA theatre students will begin to fulfill BU Hub requirements, including at least two writing courses in the Communication area, as well as requirements in Philosophical Inquiry & Life’s Meanings, Aesthetic Exploration, Historical Consciousness, Oral and Signed Communication, and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will ordinarily be satisfied in the second, third, and fourth years through coursework within and outside the major or, in some cases, through cocurricular experiences.
Performance Core
All first-year Performance students are admitted into the Theatre Performance core curriculum. The Performance core provides a foundation for all future study in either the Acting or Theatre Arts—Performance major. Through improvisation, scene study, ensemble work, and exercise, students begin the journey toward the free, integrated, and transformable expression of the voice, body, intellect, imagination, and emotion.
Program of Study
First Year |
1st |
2nd |
CFA TH 099 Matinee |
0 |
0 |
CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience* |
2 |
– |
CFA TH 101 Introduction to Aesthetics & Dramatic Literature |
3 |
– |
CFA TH 102 Drama Lit 1 |
– |
3 |
CFA TH 111 & 112 Voice and Speech 1 |
2 |
2 |
CFA TH 121 & 122 Acting 1 |
3 |
3 |
CFA TH 128 Theatre Ensemble 1 |
– |
2 |
CFA TH 131 & 132 Movement 1 |
2 |
2 |
CFA TH 138 Alexander Technique 1 |
– |
1 |
CFA TH 147 Stagecraft 1: Introduction to Theatre Practice |
1 |
– |
CFA TH 148 Stagecraft 2: Production Assignment |
– |
1 |
First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) |
4 |
– |
Writing, Research & Inquiry (e.g., WR 151/152/153) |
– |
4 |
Total credits
|
17 |
18 |
Successful completion of the Performance core will result in the choosing of a major for advancement: either BFA—Acting or BFA—Theatre Arts.
*CFA FA 100 is not required for transfer students.
Design, Production & Management Core
All first-year Design & Production students are admitted into the Theatre Design, Production & Management core curriculum.
The Design, Production & Management core provides a foundation for all future study in either design (costume, lighting, scenery, or sound), production (technical or costume), stage management, or theatre arts design & production. By creating a base of artistic and technical skills, students begin to explore the breadth and depth of what it means to be a professional theatre artist today.
Program of Study
First Year |
1st |
2nd |
CFA TH 099 Matinee |
0 |
0 |
CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience* |
2 |
– |
CFA TH 101 Introduction to Aesthetics & Dramatic Literature |
3 |
– |
CFA TH 151 & 152 Introduction to Design |
2 |
2 |
CAS WR 100 First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) |
4 |
– |
CFA TH 167 & 168 Drawing and Painting |
2 |
2 |
CFA TH 163 Drafting 1 |
1 |
– |
CFA TH 153 & 154 First Year Colloquium |
1 |
1 |
CFA TH 197 & 198 Production |
2+ |
2+ |
CFA TH 128 Theatre Ensemble 1 |
– |
2 |
Writing, Research & Inquiry (e.g., WR 150/151/152) |
– |
4 |
Foundational Methods – Choose 2: |
|
|
CFA TH 170 Scenery Construction |
– |
2 |
CFA TH 182 Costume Construction |
– |
2 |
CFA TH 186 Lighting Crafts |
– |
1 |
CFA TH 190 Audio Fundamentals |
– |
1 |
CFA TH 194 Intro to Stage Management |
– |
1 |
Foundational Drafting – Choose 1: |
|
|
CFA TH 164 Drafting 2 |
– |
1 |
CFA TH 160 AutoCAD 1 |
– |
1 |
CFA TH 162 VectorWorks 1 |
– |
1 |
CFA TH 178 Figure Drawing |
– |
1 |
Total credits |
17+ |
16+ |
*CFA FA 100 is not required for transfer students.
Successful completion of the Design, Production, and Management core will result in the choosing of a major for advancement.