Learn More and ApplyProjection Design (BFA)

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Theatre

The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Projection Design provides training to create, manipulate, and display digital and moving images for live performances and events. The training gives students the opportunity to explore and expand their artistic and visual expression while providing practical experience in projection design. Students will work on various software programs and hardware to bring the content to life on-stage via digital projections, video walls, LED walls, and other emerging technologies.  Designers learn to visualize, create, and implement their designs by collaborating with directors, dramaturgs, actors, other designers and technicians, and our professional production staff.​

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 52
Major Requirements 141
Total hours required 193

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 present.
  • 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:

  • Read and interpret theatrical text and apply research, imagination, and personalization to create a unique, insightful, and compelling design concept.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the history of visual art and architecture in the context of social and cultural development.
  • Demonstrate and apply an expertise in projection in video technology in a variety of performance styles and theatrical environments.

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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
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 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152 MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162 MAT 170MAT 171MAT 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

First Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
ANI 150AFTER EFFECTS WORKSHOP2
ANI 201ANIMATION I4
DES 112DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS3
DES 484PHOTOSHOP FOR DESIGNERS3
Technical Drawing Sequence I:
TEC 151TECHNICAL DRAWING I3
TEC 154INTRODUCTION TO VECTORWORKS3
TEC 155ADVANCED VECTORWORKS3
Principles of Design Sequence:
DES 141ELEMENTS OF DESIGN4
DES 142PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN4
DES 143SCRIPT ANALYSIS4
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement):
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew6
THEATRE CREW

Second Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
Projection Design I Sequence:
DES 230PROJECTION DESIGN I4
DES 231PROJECTION DESIGN I4
DES 232PROJECTION DESIGN I4
Projection Technology Sequence:
TEC 230PROJECTION TECHNOLOGY4
TEC 231PROJECTION TECHNOLOGY4
TEC 232PROJECTION TECHNOLOGY4
Production Practice I6
Select Two Courses from the Following List:
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I
Theatrical Collaboration Sequence:
DES 360THEATRICAL COLLABORATION3

Third Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
Projection Design II Sequence:
DES 330PROJECTION DESIGN 24
DES 331PROJECTION DESIGN 24
DES 332PROJECTION DESIGN 24
History of Art & Architecture Electives:8
Production Practice II8
Select Two Courses from the following list:
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II

Fourth Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
DES 486PORTFOLIO PREPARATION3
Projection Design III Sequence:
DES 430PROJECTION DESIGN 34
DES 431PROJECTION DESIGN 34
DES 432PROJECTION DESIGN 34
Design/Technical Electives8
Media Electives8
Production Practice III and/or Internship10
Select two courses from the following list:
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN 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.