Students in the B.A., Set Design Concentration explore creative concepts of set design for theatre, musicals, opera, dance, and industry, as well as production design and art direction for film and television, on a theoretical level in the classroom and studio while reinforcing their training through practical application in main stage productions of music, theatre, and dance. In addition to their coursework, students will first work as assistants and then step into leadership roles as designers as they travel through the program.

In addition to the overall CSU Theatre Program Learning Objectives, the Set Design Concentration includes the following unique learning objectives:

  • SET DESIGN FOR THEATRE, FILM, and INDUSTRY: Explore incremental to advanced skills that set designers and craftspeople use to design and build sets and scenery for the stage, dance, film, or industry, including primary research, vocabulary and best practices, diverse aesthetic styles, and synthesis of skills including design, drafting, modeling, painting, computer-assisted design, and application of emerging technologies.
  • DESIGN ARTISTRY: Develop an understanding of the Set Designer as a collaborative artist, and creative visionary, by practicing organizational, craft, and creative skills to realize a show from concept to production and building a portfolio of creative design and/or technical work.

Set Design offers students several ways to express their creativity and artistry:

  • Set designers for theatre, musicals, opera, or dance
  • Set technicians and craftspeople for stage, dance, live productions, television, and film

Set Design Concentration Portfolio Review:

In addition to applying to CSU through the Office of Admissions, a successful portfolio review with CSU Theatre faculty is required to enter the B.A. in Theatre, Set Design Concentration. Your program portfolio review is also your scholarship audition. Please visit theatre.colostate.edu for more information.

Effective Fall 2023

Students in this concentration must satisfactorily undergo a portfolio review each spring, where their work will be celebrated and examined to provide guidance for goals for the following year. Concentration specific courses may not double-count in multiple Theatre concentrations.

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
TH 140Text Analysis 3
TH 160Drawing for Theatre 3
TH 161Stagecraft 3
TH 186Theatre Practicum I--Crew Assignment 1
TH 192First Year Seminar--Telling Your Story 3
Select two courses from the following: 6
Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1)3B 
Understanding Dance (GT-AH1)3B 
Music Appreciation (GT-AH1)3B 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Quantitative Reasoning1B3
 Total Credits 28
Sophomore
 
TH 242World Theatre History I 3
TH 243World Theatre History II 3
TH 260Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre 3
TH 263Costume Design I 3
TH 264Lighting Design I 3
TH 265Set Design I 3
TH 267Scenic Painting 3
TH 286Theatre Practicum II--Shop Assignment 1
Biological and Physical Sciences3A7
 Total Credits 29
Junior
 
TH 365Set Design II4A3
TH 386CTheatre Practicum III: Assistant Designer Applied 1
Select one course from the following: 3
Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture Only  
Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture and Lab  
Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lab Only  
Select one course from the following: 3-6
Global Theatre  
Directing I  
Study Abroad--South Africa: Performing Arts and Culture  
Theatre in London: Travel Abroad  
Select one of the following: 1
Theatre Practicum III: Production Crew  
Theatre Practicum III: Asst. Designer in Conceptual Design Process  
Advanced Writing23
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
Upper-Division Electives 11-14
 Total Credits 31
Senior
 
TH 460Design Portfolio and Professional Preparation4B,4C3
TH 465Dress and Decor 3
TH 486CTheatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Applied 1
Select one of the following: 3
Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture  
Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture and Lab  
Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lab  
Select one of the following: 1
Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Production/Technical  
Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Conceptual  
Select one course from the following: 3
Global Dramaturgies4A 
Theatre Internship  
Historical Perspectives3D3
Upper-Division Electives1 15
 Total Credits 32
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be Upper-Division (300- to 400-level). 

Students in this concentration must satisfactorily undergo a portfolio review each spring, where their work will be celebrated and examined to provide guidance for goals for the following year. Concentration specific courses may not double-count in multiple Theatre concentrations.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
TH 161StagecraftX  3
TH 186Theatre Practicum I--Crew AssignmentX  1
TH 192First Year Seminar--Telling Your StoryX  3
Select one course from the following:X  3
Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1)  3B 
Understanding Dance (GT-AH1)  3B 
Music Appreciation (GT-AH1)  3B 
Quantitative ReasoningX 1B3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
TH 140Text AnalysisX  3
TH 160Drawing for TheatreX  3
Select one course from the following:X  3
Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1)  3B 
Understanding Dance (GT-AH1)  3B 
Music Appreciation (GT-AH1)  3B 
Diversity, Equity, and InclusionX 1C3
 Total Credits   12
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
TH 242World Theatre History IX  3
TH 260Computer Assisted Drafting for TheatreX  3
TH 263Costume Design IX  3
TH 264Lighting Design IX  3
TH 265Set Design IX  3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
TH 243World Theatre History IIX  3
TH 267Scenic PaintingX  3
TH 286Theatre Practicum II--Shop AssignmentX  1
Biological and Physical SciencesX 3A7
 Total Credits   14
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one of the following: X  3
Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture Only    
Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture and Lab    
Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lab Only    
Select one course from the following:   3-6
Global Theatre    
Directing IX   
Study Abroad--South Africa: Performing Arts and Culture    
Theatre in London: Travel Abroad    
Select one course from the following:X  1
Theatre Practicum III: Production Crew    
Theatre Practicum III: Asst. Designer in Conceptual Design Process    
Advanced WritingX 23
Upper-Division Electives X 3-6
 Total Credits   16
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
TH 365Set Design IIX 4A3
TH 386CTheatre Practicum III: Assistant Designer Applied   1
Social and Behavioral Sciences X3C3
Upper-Division Electives X 8
 Total Credits   15
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
TH 465Dress and DecorX  3
Select one course from the following: X  3
Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture    
Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture and Lab    
Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lab    
Select one of the following:X  1
Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Production/Technical    
Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Conceptual    
Historical Perspectives X3D3
Upper-Division Electives X 6
 Total Credits   16
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
TH 460Design Portfolio and Professional Preparation   3
TH 486CTheatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--AppliedX  1
Select one course from the following:X  3
Global Dramaturgies    
Theatre Internship    
Upper-Division ElectivesX  9
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   16
 Program Total Credits:   120