What you will study
This UCM BFA focuses on theatre design and technology, but you’ll also have opportunities
to act, direct and dance as part of your classwork. Take core courses in script analysis,
costumes, sets, lighting and sound.
The history and philosophy of theatre are an integral part of this program. You’ll
be able to focus on a specific area of design or tech as you develop the skills you’ll
need for a career that encompasses multiple facets of theatrical production. Some
of the exciting, hands-on courses you may take include:
- Period Research: Learn how to research various areas of theatre design.
- Drafting for the Theatre: Apply computer drafting techniques to projects on scenic elements and different theatre
views.
- Studio Theatre: Collaborate with fellow student directors as a technical director and designer in
this 30-minute production capstone project.
Our faculty are nationally recognized theatre professionals who actively participate
in regional and national organizations and festivals such as the Kennedy Center American
College Theater Festival (KCACTF) and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology
(USITT). In our small classes, your professors share their expertise and connections
to help you meet your career goals.
Excellence in Design and Technology
Unique learning opportunities in theatre design and technology
Collaboration, teamwork and technical skills are vital to any successful theatre production.
Your UCM classes and extracurricular activities are designed to help you master these
career essentials:
- Technology-driven imaging: Learn how to create digital technical drawings for scenic and lighting plans using
VectorWorks and AutoCad. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop your digital
rendering skills using Adobe PhotoShop. Hands-on practice with UCM’s upgraded sound
system and microphones and our new panoramic projector will prepare you to work in
most professional theatre settings.
- Expand your reach: UCM’s chapters of professional organizations — such as the United States Institute
for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri
(STAM) — offer technical skills development, research, events and networking. STAM,
a group of education professionals and student teachers, offers design and tech students
networking opportunities.
- Theatre Learning Community: UCM’s Learning Community for first year students minoring or majoring in Theatre is
located in Nickerson Hall. Students have easy access to our Black Box Theatre, dining
hall and lounge for rehearsing and blocking lines. This localized, built-in community
for Theatre students makes it easy to connect with like-minded peers and community
advisors.
- Real-world experience: UCM faculty oversee the Central Missouri Repertory, a professional touring company
where students create and prepare a traveling children’s show. This prepares you to
apply to work in professional summer stock theatre productions between school years
to gain more experience. These are just two examples of many professional opportunities
you’ll have access to as you prepare for your career in theatre design.
What can you do with a Theatre Design and Technology degree from UCM?
UCM graduates with a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology typically work as carpenters,
stitchers, deck crew and wardrobe managers for companies such as the Santa Fe Opera,
the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the Lyric Opera and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
Your bachelor’s degree will also prepare you for a career as a theatre technician
for a cruise line or a freelance theatre professional specializing in scenic, costume
and lighting design.
Theatre design is an exciting, ever-changing career field
Use the interactive tool below to explore the potential salaries and career pathways
available to you when you earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design and
Technology.
Financial assistance options for your Theatre Design and Technology degree
The University of Central Missouri offers numerous resources to help you finance your
college education and keep your student debt and college costs low.
Beyond the general awards and scholarships available through UCM, numerous scholarships
are available specifically for Theatre majors, including:
- David R. Peerbolte Technical Theatre Scholarship
- Charles G. and Laura Keynon Kuhn Distinguished Theatre Artist Award
- Lucy Bergman Memorial Scholarship in Theatre
- Theatre and Dance Ambassador Scholarship
Use the UCM Scholarship Finder to learn more about program-specific scholarships.
Join Professional Networks
Regional and national opportunities
The annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) celebrates young
artists and will enable you to showcase your work. UCM hosts many more organizations
for theatre and performance activities, including Theta Alpha Phi, the USITT and the
UCM Dance Club.
Well-Equipped Performance Spaces
25–30 student and main-stage productions annually
UCM’s 440-seat proscenium theatre has new lighting and sound systems, a projector
with front and rear capabilities, access to CADD programs and well-organized scenic
and costume shops to present five main-stage and two sets of studio productions annually.
The 100-seat Richard Herman Black Box Theatre hosts 10–20 student-led productions
each year.
Meet Our Faculty
Professionals in theatre design and technology
Program faculty are involved at the regional and national levels of the KCACTF, the
USITT and other theatre design efforts. You’ll have direct access to their theatrical
expertise in UCM’s small classes and meet with them in one-on-one advising sessions
to discuss your career and build your professional connections.
Program Faculty
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