The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Costume Technology is designed to train students interested in careers as theatrical drapers/cutters, crafts persons, and costume shop managers. The four-year curriculum in many ways simulates a theatrical costume technicians professional experience and process. Costume Technology students learn to translate designs into the reality of the garments and accessories worn by actors. Students learn a variety skills including: sewing, pattern making, cutting, fitting, millinery, mask making, etc. They also take a progression of business management coursework. Students collaborate with directors and our professional costume shop staff in work on productions in addition to their class work.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 52 |
| Major Requirements | 145 |
| Total hours required | 197 |
Learning Outcomes
Core Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify and describe the historical and theoretical significance of a range of theatrical artists, works and artistic approaches from antiquity to the present, encompassing a broad range of periods, cultures, and styles.
- Synthesize and apply elements of their education and training to the preparation, rehearsal and presentation of theatrical productions with discipline, respect, and maturity.
- Identify and explain their theatrical work in the context of the cultural and social impact of the arts.
Program Specific Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Understand and interpret a design concept and create a plan to fabricate the design for production.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history of clothing and fashion in the context of social and cultural development.
- Demonstrate and apply an expertise in garment fabrication skills for a variety of styles and periods.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| Not Required | ||
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Not Required | ||
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| Not Required | ||
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152 MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162 MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 1 Course Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- Not Required
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 1 Course Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 1 Course Required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 1 Lab Course or 1 SWK Course Required
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- Not Required
Other
- Choose 1 course from the above learning domains as an elective
Notes
Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
| First Year | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| DES 286 | FIGURE DRAWING FOR THEATRE | 4 |
| TEC 200 | COSTUME TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCTION | 4 |
| TEC 254 | COSTUME CRAFTS:DYEING AND PAINTING | 4 |
| TEC 354 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION I: INTRODUCTION | 4 |
| History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement) | ||
| HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE | ||
| HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE | ||
| HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE | ||
| Principles of Design Sequence | ||
| DES 141 | ELEMENTS OF DESIGN | 4 |
| DES 142 | PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN | 4 |
| Three Quarters of Theatre Crew | ||
| TEC 107 | THEATRE CREW (three quarters) | 6 |
| DES 221 | COSTUME SKILLS WORKSHOP: 1A PULLING 1B ALTERATIONS | |
| Second Year | ||
| TEC 220 | TEXTILES FOR COSTUME PRODUCTION | 4 |
| TEC 255 | COSTUME CRAFTS: GENERAL CRAFTS | 4 |
| Costume Construction I Sequence | ||
| TEC 355 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION I: PATTERN DRAFTING | 4 |
| TEC 356 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION I: DRAPING | 4 |
| Costume Design I Sequence | ||
| DES 244 | COSTUME DESIGN I | 4 |
| DES 245 | COSTUME DESIGN I | 4 |
| Global History of Costume, Hair, and Makeup Sequence | ||
| DES 260 | GLOBAL HISTORY OF COSTUME, HAIR, AND MAKEUP | 4 |
| DES 261 | GLOBAL HISTORY OF COSTUME, HAIR, AND MAKEUP | 4 |
| Wig and Makeup Design & Technology I | ||
| DES 215 | WIG & MAKEUP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY 1 | 4 |
| DES 216 | WIG & MAKEUP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY 1 | 4 |
| Production Practice Sequence I | ||
| TEC 271 | TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE I | 3 |
| TEC 272 | TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE I | 3 |
| TEC 273 | TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE I | 3 |
| Third Year | ||
| TEC 256 | COSTUME CRAFTS: MILLINERY | 4 |
| TEC 310 | COSTUME MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| Costume Construction II Sequence | ||
| TEC 454 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II: PERIOD COSTUMES | 4 |
| TEC 455 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II: TAILORING | 4 |
| TEC 456 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II: SPECIAL TOPICS | 4 |
| Production Practice Sequence II | ||
| TEC 371 | TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE II | 4 |
| TEC 372 | TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE II | 4 |
| TEC 373 | TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE II | 4 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| DES 486 | PORTFOLIO PREPARATION | 3 |
| Costume Construction II Sequence | ||
| TEC 454 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II: PERIOD COSTUMES | 4 |
| TEC 455 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II: TAILORING | 4 |
| TEC 456 | COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II: SPECIAL TOPICS | 4 |
| Production Practice and/or Internship | 15 | |
| Must complete three | ||
| DESIGN INTERNSHIP | ||
| TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE III | ||
| TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE III | ||
| TECHNICAL PRODUCTION PRACTICE III | ||
| INTERNSHIP | ||
Work on The Theatre School’s production season extends outside of the university’s academic calendar. Some production assignments may require participation up to two weeks before the beginning of fall quarter, during a portion of the winter break, or during spring break. Specific details pertaining to different programs, specific assignments, and options for students not able to participate outside of the university’s academic calendar are available in the Theatre School Student Handbook and the Theatre School website.