2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/faa/theatre-bfa/sound-design-technology/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Level 21: Design, Technology and Management Concentrations
Level 21 reflects the design, technology and management disciplines in theatre arts. It has seven unique yet inter-related concentrations in: Arts + Entertainment Technology, Costume Design + Technology, Lighting Design + Technology, Scene Design, Scenic Technology, Sound Design + Technology, and Stage Management. Freshman and sophomore students learn the foundations of theatrical production with a focus on acquiring practical skills for application in advanced course work and in theatre productions. Junior and senior students participate in advanced study in their chosen discipline supported by one-on-one faculty mentoring of assigned projects. Students in this area are the designers, technicians, managers, artisans and crew for over a dozen theater, musical theater, dance and opera productions at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and work on these shows in various roles throughout their entire course of study.
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 128 hours.\ Twelve hours of 300 and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | fulfilled by THEA 304 | | | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by THEA 122 & THEA 208 | | | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | | 0-15 |
Core Requirements for all Theatre Majors
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 | | THEA 100 | Practicum I | 2 | | THEA 200 | Practicum II | 2 | | THEA 121 | Theatre Foundations: Performance | 3 | | THEA 122 | Theatre Foundations: Theory and Practice | 3 | | THEA 123 | Theatre Foundations: Production | 3 | | THEA 208 | 21st Century Dramaturgy | 3 | | THEA 304 | Global Theatre Performance | 3 | | THEA 364 | Topics in Theatre History | 3 | | THEA 404 | Professional Career Development | 1 | | Total Hours | | 24 |
Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Concentration Requirements | | | | THEA 100 | Practicum I (in addition to the THEA 100 credits required in the theatre core) | 1 | | THEA 119 | BFA Production Seminar (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 | | THEA 126 | Stagecraft | 3 | | THEA 151 | Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations | 3 | | THEA 153 | Introduction to Theatre Sound | 3 | | THEA 300 | Practicum III (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 | | THEA 400 | Practicum IV (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 | | THEA 437 | Software for Lighting Design | 2 | | THEA 451 | Principles of Stage Management | 3 | | THEA 454 | Sound Design I | 3 | | THEA 497 | Audio Engineering I | 3 | | Choose 9 credits from: | | 9 | | THEA 222 | Introduction to Scenic Design | | | THEA 223 | Introduction to Stage Rigging | | | THEA 231 | Intro to Lighting Design | | | THEA 242 | Introduction to Costume Production | | | THEA 243 | Introduction to Costume Design | | | THEA 426 | History of Decor | | | THEA 456 | Properties Design | | | THEA 461 | Introduction to Media Design | | | Choose 9 credits from: | | 9 | | THEA 455 | Sound Design II (can be repeated) | | | THEA 498 | Audio Engineering II (can be repeated) | | | Total Hours | | 51 |
General Non-Theatre Electives
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | General Non-Theatre Electives | | 9 |
Summary of Credits for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, concentration in Sound Design & Technology
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | General Education Requirements | | | | Core Requirements for All Theatre Majors | | 24 | | Sound Design & Technology Concentration Requirements | | 51 | | General Non-Theatre Electives | | 9 | | Free Electives as needed to total 128 hours | | | | Total Credits for BFA in Theatre, concentration in Sound Design & Technology | | 128 |
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| THEA 121 | 3 | THEA 122 | 3 |
| THEA 153 | 3 | THEA 151 | 3 |
| THEA 200 | 1 | THEA 200 | 1 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| FAA 101 | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| THEA 100 | 1 | THEA 100 | 1 |
| THEA 100 | 1 | THEA 119 | 1 |
| THEA 123 | 3 | THEA 208 | 3 |
| THEA 222 (or THEA 223, THEA 231, THEA 242, THEA 243, THEA 426, THEA 456, or THEA 461) | 3 | THEA 222 (or THEA 223, THEA 231, THEA 242, THEA 243, THEA 426, THEA 456, or THEA 461) | 3 |
| THEA 126 | 3 | THEA 454 | 3 |
| THEA 497 | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| THEA 222 (or THEA 223, THEA 231, THEA 242, THEA 243, THEA 426, THEA 456, or THEA 461) | 3 | THEA 119 | 1 |
| THEA 300 | 2 | THEA 300 | 2 |
| THEA 304 | 3 | THEA 364 | 3 |
| THEA 451 | 3 | THEA 455 or 498 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| THEA 119 | 1 | THEA 119 | 1 |
| THEA 437 | 2 | THEA 400 | 2 |
| THEA 400 | 2 | THEA 455 or 498 | 3 |
| THEA 404 | 1 | General Non-Theatre Elective | 3 |
| THEA 455 or 498 | 3 | General Non-Theatre Elective | 3 |
| General Non-Theatre Elective | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 4 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 128 |
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrates a mature, effective ability to analyze, interpret, write critically and creatively, and discuss thoughtfully in the field of theatre and performance.
- Demonstrates ability to actively engage in the collaborative process in preparation, construction, and performance of works for the stage.
- Demonstrates practical application of learned methodologies including the ability to communicate ideas, concepts, and requirements in order to successfully fulfill a role related to sound design for a stage production.
- Demonstrates working knowledge of professional practices across genres of theatre, musical theatre, opera and dance.
- Demonstrates necessary skills and knowledge to acquire an entry-level position in the field of sound design and technology including significant technical mastery, showing the capacity to produce work and solve problems independently.
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Theatre, Sound Design & Technology Concentration
Theatre
Theatre Department website\ Theatre Department faculty\ 4-122 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801\ (217) 333-2371\ theatre@illinois.edu
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Admissions
Overview of the College of Fine & Applied Arts Admissions & Requirements\ University of Illinois Undergrad Admissions\ admissions@illinois.edu