COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design, Technology, and Production at Kent State University is a comprehensive program designed to develop students as professional theatre designers, technicians, and artisans. The curriculum integrates traditional theatre practices with contemporary methods, materials, and technologies, allowing students to cultivate both artistic and technical expertise. Through foundational courses in art history, theatre culture, and design principles—such as Making Theatre: Culture and Practice, Fundamentals of Theatre Design and Production, Graphics for the Theatre, and Global Theatre Histories—students gain an understanding of historical and cultural contexts for creative work. Students apply these principles in practical experiences, including introductory and advanced practicum courses, portfolio reviews, and repeated production assignments, ensuring mastery of scenic, costume, lighting, sound, and projection design. Advanced courses, including Stage Management, Professional Aspects of Design and Technology, Production and Stage Management, and Capstone Projects, foster professional competence and prepare students for real-world theatre production environments. The program offers electives in specialized areas such as Costume Technology, Scene Painting, Advanced Lighting Technology, Sound Design, Theatre Fabrication, and Draping for the Theatre, allowing students to refine skills in their chosen disciplines. Kent State’s facilities—including multiple theatres, scene and costume shops, and dedicated laboratories—support hands-on training and experiential learning. Graduates leave the program equipped for a wide range of professional careers, including scenic, costume, lighting, or sound design, stage and production management, technical direction, and stagecraft. The curriculum emphasizes creative problem-solving, technical mastery, collaboration, and professional readiness, while the capstone project and portfolio reviews provide evidence of competence and artistic vision. By combining rigorous coursework, immersive practical experiences, and exposure to historical and contemporary practices, the B.F.A. program prepares students for graduate studies, including M.F.A. programs, or for successful entry into professional theatre and performance production industries.