BFA–Theatre, Sound Design major
The Design, Production & Management programs prepare talented and committed students for the professional world of theatre and related careers in the performing arts. The curriculum stresses the development of a student as a theatre artist, focusing on collaboration, imagination, critical thinking, communication skills, problem-solving, and oral critique, as well as preparation for a professional career.
During each year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, courses in major core principles follow a carefully integrated sequence of class exercises and production opportunities. The committed students who pursue the BFA–Theatre, Sound Design major in the Design, Production & Management programs at Boston University discover who they are, what they do well, and what they are capable of doing. They learn to be collaborative theatre artists who tell important stories to today’s audiences and work productively under the rigors of the theatrical profession. Most importantly, they find their own voice as a theatre artist. Training includes a rigorous curriculum, production opportunities, and exposure to the profession. Students are regularly mentored by working professional faculty and advisors through their studio coursework; hands-on, in-process production advising; and end-of-semester conferences.
Learning Outcomes
The Sound Design program aims to develop a complete theatre artist by fostering a passion for theatre, storytelling, design, and the collaborative process. Through their required coursework and production assignments, Sound Design students will:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of theatre as an art form and the essential role it plays in contemporary society.
- Demonstrate spoken and written critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills in an arts-based discipline.
- Demonstrate an ability to enrich creative storytelling and take artistic risks.
- Demonstrate an awareness and ability to engage in the diverse community of theatre artists.
- Demonstrate a high level of artistic, interpretive, and craft skills and techniques in sound design and audio production as a foundation for entering into a career in theatre and the live performing arts.
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. Students majoring in Sound Design will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation as well as some of the requirements in Communication; Quantitative Reasoning; Diversity, Civic Engagement & Global Citizenship; and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.
Program of Study (minimum of 132 credits)
| First Year+ | 1st | 2nd |
| CFA FA 100 Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience^ | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 136 Theatre Collaboration 1: Equitable & Inclusive Theatre Practice | – | 2 |
| CFA TH 171 & 172 Language & Craft of Theatre 1 & 2 | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 101 Introduction to the Study of Theatre & Performance | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 104 Dramatic Literature 1: Beginnings of Theatre to the Early 19th Century | – | 4 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 120) | 4 | – |
| CFA TH 165 DP&M Community Forum 1: Discovering Theatre through History | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 166 DP&M Community Forum 2: Contemporary Theatre Makers | – | 2 |
| CFA TH 157 Introduction to Design 1: Storytelling & Collaboration for Live Performance | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 158 Introduction to Design 2: 2D & 3D Design Fundamentals | – | 3 |
| CFA TH 173 2D Drafting & Visual Communication 1 | 2 | – |
| Drafting elective* | – | 2 |
| Total credits | 18 | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| CFA TH 349 Theatre in Practice | – | 2 |
| CFA TH 339 Production | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 257 & 258 Scenography 1 & 2 | 3 | 3 |
| CFA TH 335 Production Audio 1 | 3 | – |
| Dramatic Literature elective* | 4 | – |
| Music Appreciation elective* | – | 4 |
| Approved elective(s)* | – | 3 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major (e.g., CAS WR 151/152/153) | 4 | 4 |
| Total credits | 16 | 18 |
| Third Year | ||
| CFA TH 349 Theatre in Practice | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 339 Production | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 487 Sound Design 3 | 3 | – |
| Approved elective(s)* | 3 | – |
| BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major | 4 | – |
| Study Abroad or additional coursework† | – | 16 |
| Total credits | 14 | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice | – | 2 |
| CFA TH 539 Production | 2 | 2 |
| COM FT 502 Sound Design for Film & Television | 4 | – |
| CFA TH 488 Sound Design 4 | – | 3 |
| CFA TH 240 Directing 1 | – | 2 |
| Approved elective(s)* | 8 | 4 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major | 4 | 4 |
| Total credits | 18 | 17 |
+Please see the Theatre Core section for complete distribution guidelines for the first year. The recommended Drafting elective for Sound Design majors in the Theatre Core is CFA TH 391 VectorWorks 1.
^CFA FA 100 is not required for transfer students.
*Students select Dramatic Literature, Music Appreciation, and approved electives in consultation with their faculty mentor and academic advisor. Courses from which a student may select include but are not limited to:
Approved Electives (18 credits)
- CFA MT 105 Elements of Music Theory
- CFA MT 435 Composing with Electronic Sounds & Computers 1
- CFA MT 436 Composing with Electronic Sounds & Computers 2
- CFA TH 336 Production Audio 2
- CFA TH 339 Production
- CFA TH 349 Theatre in Practice
- CFA TH 353 Technical Production 2
- CFA TH 383 Lighting Design 3
- CFA TH 394 Lighting Design 4
- CFA TH 539 Production
- CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice
- CFA TH 581 Audio System Design 1
- CFA TH 582 Audio System Design 2
- Any course listed as a Dramatic Literature or Music Appreciation elective
- Students, in consultation with the academic advisor, may utilize approved electives to fulfill Hub units as advised.
Dramatic Literature Electives (4 credits)
- CAS CL 224 Greek Literature in Translation
- CAS EN 355 Drama & Performance, 1840–1945
- CAS EN 356 Drama & Performance, 1945–Present
- CAS EN 357 Modern British Drama: A Critic’s Perspective
- CAS EN 363 Shakespeare 1
- CAS EN 364 Shakespeare 2
- CAS LR 355 Chekhov: The Stories & Plays (in English Translation)
- CAS LR 440 Russian Drama
- CFA TH 205 Dramatic Literature: 1850–1950
- CFA TH 206 Dramatic Literature: 1950–the Millennium
- CFA TH 405 Classical Theatre through a Contemporary Lens
- CFA TH 406 Contemporary Theatre
- CFA TH 440 Experiencing London Theatre (abroad)
- CFA TH 508 Contemporary British Theatre (abroad)
Music Appreciation Electives (4 credits)
- CFA MH 106 Music and Culture
- CFA MH 211 History & Literature of Music 1
- CFA MH 212 History & Literature of Music 2
- CFA MH 246 Popular Music: The Rolling Stones
- CFA MH 331 Music and Social Protest
- CFA MH 344 Music & Society
- CFA MH 353 Popular Music: World Beat
- CFA MH 400 Music of Black Americans
- CFA MH 403 Latinos Making Music in the United States
- CFA MH 432 History of Jazz
- CFA MH 433 The Beatles
- CFA MU 343 Popular Music & Culture
Students electing to take courses to fulfill their Dramatic Literature, Music Appreciation, and approved electives that are not listed above require the approval of the School of Theatre academic advisor and completion of a course substitution form.
†In this semester, students will complete up to 16 credits of additional coursework toward their degree, including major requirements, minor requirements, and/or the BU Hub. These credits may be fulfilled through a Study Abroad experience or elective coursework inside or outside the major.
