VCU Theatre

BFA || Performance || Scene Design/Technology || Costume Design || Stage Management || Theatre Education
Lighting Design || Application Procedures for all BFA Applicants || Performance & Theatre Education Applicants
Audition Special Notes || Design/Technical Applicants

Costume Design (120 credits)

This pre-professional program is planned to give the Design/Technical Production major training in all.htmlects of theatrical costuming including costume design, costume history and period construction, technical skills and crafts, and makeup design, as well as traditional studies in history, literature and other academic pursuits.

Students in design/technology receive individualized attention in small studio classes and lectures. Training in costume design and production is augmented by opportunities to study the fundamentals of scene, lighting, or sound design and prop construction. Theatre VCU uniquely provides opportunities for exceptional undergraduate students to actualize their designs on the mainstage. Students frequently win regional and national competitions in all areas of concentration.

Curriculum Guide for BFA Costume Design (120 Credits)
1 - First Year
Course	Title	Fall	Spring
THEA 103/104	Stagecraft/Costume Construction	3	3
THEA 113/114	Acting I	3	3
Art Foundation	Technical Labs - 2 one credit labs per semester.	2	2
THEA 211/212	Introduction to Drama	3	3
ENGL 101	The Craft of Writing AND SPE 121 Effective Speech	3	3
Natural Science & Lab	General Education Requirement	4
Social/Behav Science	General Education Requirement		3
2 - Second Year
Course	Title	Fall	Spring
ARTH	Art History 103 or 104/1 non-Western	3	3
ENGL 200	The Craft of Writing w/Research		3
THEA 221/221L	Basic Scene Design and Lab	4
THEA 229/229L	Basic Lighting Design and Lab		4
THEA	Practicum+	6	6
ELECTIVE	General Education Requirement	3
3 - Third Year
Course	Title	Fall	Spring
THEA 307/308	History of Theatre	3	3
THEA 403/404	History of Dramatic Literature OR THEA 423/424 Modern Drama OR THEA 303 African American Theatre	3	3
THEA 227/228	Basic Stage Costuming and Makeup	3	3
THEA	Design Electives**	6	6
4 - Fourth Year
Course	Title	Fall	Spring
ENGL	Shakespeare	3
THEA	Design Electives **, ++	3	6
EHTICS	General Education Requirement	3
	Electives++	5	6

In accordance with the school’s general education requirements, a student who scores at least 550 on the mathematics portion of the SATs or has earned a “B” or higher grade in high school Algebra II or Geometry is exempted from the mathematics requirement. Students who meet this requirement will select an elective to fulfill three credits. *Design electives are to be chosen with advice from your faculty advisor. They may include the following classes: Scene Design 305-306; Scene Design 505-506; Scene Painting 508; Research Techniques for Costume Design 321-322; Stage Management/Advanced Lighting/Technical Drawing or Advanced Scenic Techniques. Design Electives may also consist of classes in other departments of the School of the arts such as Sculpture, Furniture Building, Jewelry, Architecture and Interior Design. +Practicums consist of working in the Scene Shop under the supervision of the Technical Director during the second and third years. This may be accompanied by morning teaching sessions in the skills required. All Scenic Design majors are required to work in the scene shop on the shows produced by Theatre VCU. This gives them the opportunity to put into practice those skills learned in classes. The faculty supervisor will determine those assignments. ++Students may be asked to act as a design assistant for a faculty designer or to design one.htmlect of one of Theatre VCU’s season. This may be taken as a Senior Seminar or as a design elective. ++Students may also elect in consultation with their advisor to have one semester of their senior year as a professional internship at an approved theatre. A minimum of 45 upper level credits is needed to graduate.