The Theatre School's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Sound Design trains students to be successful sound designers and engineers in all levels of the theatre and entertainment industries. Sound design students learn techniques for sound editing, recording and composition using the hardware and software that are the standard tools of the industry. Students collaborate with directors, other designers and our professional production staff to get practical experience designing and rigging sound as part of our production program.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 52 |
| Major Requirements | 142 |
| Total hours required | 194 |
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 music in the context of social and cultural development.
- Demonstrate and apply an expertise in audio 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.
| 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. 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, 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 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Technology Sequence I: | ||
| TEC 208 | SOUND TECHNOLOGY I | 3 |
| TEC 209 | SOUND TECHNOLOGY I | 3 |
| TEC 210 | SOUND TECHNOLOGY I | 3 |
| Principles of Design Sequence: | ||
| DES 141 | CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS IN DESIGN TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT 1 | 3 |
| DES 142 | CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS IN DESIGN TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT 2 | 3 |
| Technical Drawing | ||
| TEC 151 | TECHNICAL DRAWING I | 3 |
| Theatre Crew Sequence: | 6 | |
| Repeat course 3 times for 6 total credits | ||
| THEATRE CREW | ||
| Computer Networking | ||
| IT 263 | APPLIED NETWORKS AND SECURITY | 4 |
| History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement): | ||
| HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE | ||
| HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE | ||
| HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Sound Design Sequence: | ||
| DES 208 | SOUND DESIGN I | 4 |
| DES 209 | SOUND DESIGN I | 4 |
| DES 210 | SOUND DESIGN I | 4 |
| Theatrical Collaboration: | ||
| DES 360 | THEATRICAL COLLABORATION | 3 |
| Production Practice I Sequence: | 12 | |
Repeat course 3 times for 12 total credits | ||
| DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I | ||
| Music Theory | ||
| MUS 107 | GUIDE TO MUSIC THEORY | 4 |
| Third Year | ||
| Production Practice II Sequence: | 15 | |
Repeat course 3 times to achieve 15 total credits | ||
| DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II | ||
| Sound Design Sequence: | ||
DES 408/409/410 will be repeated in the 4th year | ||
| DES 408 | SOUND DESIGN III | 4 |
| DES 409 | SOUND DESIGN III | 4 |
| DES 410 | SOUND DESIGN III | 4 |
| Design/Theatre Electives | 12 | |
Select 12 credits in consultation with Advisor: | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE TECHNOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO STAGE MANAGEMENT | ||
| LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY | ||
| PROJECTION DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1 | ||
| PROJECTION DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1 | ||
| PROJECTION DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1 | ||
| CONSTRUCTION AND RIGGING I | ||
| Fourth Year | ||
| DES 490 | DESIGN INTERNSHIP | 5 |
| Sound Design Sequence: | ||
| DES 408 | SOUND DESIGN III | 4 |
| DES 409 | SOUND DESIGN III | 4 |
| DES 410 | SOUND DESIGN III | 4 |
| Design/Theatre Electives | 12 | |
Select 12 credits in consultation with Advisor: | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE TECHNOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO STAGE MANAGEMENT | ||
| LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY | ||
| PROJECTION DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1 | ||
| PROJECTION DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1 | ||
| PROJECTION DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1 | ||
| CONSTRUCTION AND RIGGING I | ||
| Production Practice III Sequence: | 15 | |
| Repeat course three times to achieve 15 credits | ||
| DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III | ||
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.