Theatre (Design and Production), BA
Elevate live events with bold design and precise production. This design and production concentration prepares you to turn creative vision into stagecraft that brings performances vividly to life. You'll graduate with a professional portfolio to share with potential employers.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Theatre (Design and Production) degree description
This Bachelor of Arts program in theatre with a concentration in design and production provides you with opportunities to hone your craft while creating exciting work on stage in areas including dance, opera, theatre and more. The concentration provides you with the distinct opportunity to explore your own creative process, while enhancing your ability to collaborate with others.
The program offers specialty coursework in the following areas:
- costume construction, design and technology
- digital fabrication
- lighting design and stage electrics
- media design and technology
- properties construction
- scenic design, art and construction
- sound design and technology
- sound and media systems design
- stage management
- technical direction
In addition to building knowledge and skills, you are mentored by professional designers and technicians to successfully transition from college to your future career in entertainment design and production, or to graduate programs for additional training.
Why specialize in design and production at ASU?
At the Herberger Institute, this undergraduate concentration in design and production combines a comprehensive liberal arts education with specialized training in skills needed to be a designer, artisan, or technician across all areas of live performance and beyond.
You¿ll graduate with a firm grasp of theatre technology and design, equipped with communication, problem-solving, and creative skills that can ground you in any career within live production or outside of it. As an undergrad, you will have opportunities to serve in a variety of production roles on our three stages, including as designers, stage managers, and in other leadership positions. The concentration provides each student with the opportunity to explore their own creative process, while enhancing their ability to collaborate with others.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| THE 320 History of the Theatre I |
| THE 321 History of the Theatre II |
| THF 126 Professional Development: Communication and Collaboration |
| THF 160 Introduction to Storytelling |
| THF 215 Design and Composition for Theatre and Film |
| THF 220 Principles of Dramatic Analysis |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply individual creative and artistic processes relevant to their area of focus within theatre (production techniques, design processes, historical research for production, etc.)
- Use collaborative practices to solve complex problems; preparing, planning and communicating across areas of the theatre to successfully complete long-range creative projects.
- Explain how theatre shapes the cultural and political landscapes of societies.
- Develop a comprehensive toolkit for self-promotion and to showcase their production experiences.
Apply individual creative and artistic processes relevant to their area of focus within theatre (production techniques, design processes, historical research for production, etc.)Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
Transfer admission requirements:
Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards. Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the college must complete a minimum of 15 resident credit hours in the major as approved by the faculty.
An ASU student who would like to change majors into this program and would be new to this major must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 and understand their GPA must be brought up to a 2.50 or above within one semester to remain in good standing. An ASU student who is returning to this major (having previously studied this major in a prior semester) must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Study abroad can prepare a future professional in the arts not only with cultural experiences but also with professional skills such as collaboration and problem-solving. Global Education programs provide an opportunity for students to explore their creative side through an intercultural lens, encouraging them to build communication skills and challenging them, as artists, to think differently.
With over 300 options available, Global Education programs give students a breadth of knowledge in arts and culture distinctly different from their own. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students learn to adapt and persevere through a program that provides them with a chance to look inside themselves in a way they haven't done before, growing their self-confidence along the way.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actor | 0.0% | Not available | Learn more |
| Animator | -0.3% | $102,030 | Learn more |
| Art Professor | 2.2% | $78,620 | Learn more |
| Audio-Visual Technician | 3.9% | $58,100 | Learn more |
| Executive Producer | 4.0% | $90,360 | Learn more |
| Hair and Makeup Artist | 6.1% | $97,150 | Learn more |
| Sound Recording Engineer | -3.1% | $73,130 | Learn more |
| TV Program Director | 4.0% | $90,360 | Learn more |
| TV/Movie Set Designer | 1.4% | $75,240 | Learn more |
| Technical Director | 4.0% | $90,360 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this design and production concentration prepares you for
The bachelor's degree program in theatre with a concentration in design and production provides an excellent foundation and specialized training for those who want to work as designers or technicians in the performing arts and entertainment industries. Additionally, the program's liberal arts emphasis prepares graduates for further training in graduate schools.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
|
MUSIC E167
MDTAdmissions@asu.edu
480-965-5069
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
