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Theater

​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 151
Total hours required 203

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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
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 by credit earned for advanced math coursework 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 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

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
Sound Technology Sequence I:
TEC 208 SOUND TECHNOLOGY I 3
TEC 209 SOUND TECHNOLOGY I 3
TEC 210 SOUND TECHNOLOGY I 3
Technical Drawing Sequence:
TEC 151 TECHNICAL DRAWING I 2
TEC 152 TECHNICAL DRAWING I 2
TEC 153 TECHNICAL DRAWING I 2
Principles of Design Sequence:
DES 141 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN 4
DES 142 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN 4
DES 143 SCRIPT ANALYSIS 4
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement):
THE 204 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
THE 205 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
THE 206 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew: 6
TEC 107
 THEATRE CREW
Second Year
Sound Design Sequence I:
DES 208 SOUND DESIGN I 4
DES 209 SOUND DESIGN I 4
DES 210 SOUND DESIGN I 4
Theatrical Collaboration:
DES 641 THEATRICAL COLLABORATION 3
DES 642 THEATRICAL COLLABORATION 3
TEC 320 TECHNICAL COLLABORATION 3
Survey of the Arts for Theatre Sequence:
THE 381 SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE 4
THE 382 SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE 4
Production Practice Sequence I:
DES 271 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
DES 272 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
DES 273 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
Third Year
Sound Design Sequence II:
DES 308 SOUND DESIGN II 4
DES 309 SOUND DESIGN II 4
DES 310 SOUND DESIGN II 4
Design/Theatre Electives 12
Production Practice Sequence II:
DES 371 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II 4
DES 372 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II 4
DES 373 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II 4
Fourth Year
Sound Design Sequence III:
DES 408 SOUND DESIGN III 4
DES 409 SOUND DESIGN III 4
DES 410 SOUND DESIGN III 4
Design/Theatre Electives 12
DES 490 DESIGN INTERNSHIP 5
Production Practice III:
DES 471 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III 5
DES 472 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III 5
DES 473 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III 5