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Theater

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 147
Total hours required 199

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. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil 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
DES 111DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS I2
Technical Drawing Sequence I:6
TECHNICAL DRAWING I
TECHNICAL DRAWING I
TECHNICAL DRAWING I
Principles of Design Sequence:12
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
SCRIPT ANALYSIS
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement):12
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
DES 484PHOTOSHOP FOR DESIGNERS3
ANI 201ANIMATION I4-4.5
ANI 150AFTER EFFECTS WORKSHOP2
Projection Design I Sequence:12
PROJECTION DESIGN I
PROJECTION DESIGN I
PROJECTION DESIGN I
Projection Technology Sequence:12
PROJECTION TECHNOLOGY
PROJECTION TECHNOLOGY
PROJECTION TECHNOLOGY
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 641THEATRICAL COLLABORATION3
DES 642THEATRICAL COLLABORATION3
TEC 320TECHNICAL COLLABORATION3

Third Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
Projection Design II Sequence:12
PROJECTION DESIGN 2
PROJECTION DESIGN 2
PROJECTION DESIGN 2
Survey of the Arts for Theatre Sequence:8
SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE
SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE
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:12
PROJECTION DESIGN 3
PROJECTION DESIGN 3
PROJECTION DESIGN 3
Design/Technical Electives12
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