Overview

Temple Theaters has established itself as one of the finest theater training programs in the nation. The faculty are accomplished professionals and scholars who generously offer their expertise and great passion for the craft and creation of theater. As a theater department in the culturally rich city of Philadelphia, Temple University's Department of Theater is immersed in and among some of the most important regional and national theaters in the country.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Production and Management is designed to prepare students for professional work in the theater industry or top tier graduate program as Technical Directors, Production Managers or Stage Managers. Stage Managers will be work-ready at the end of the four-year program, while Technical Directors and Production Managers may or may not opt to explore graduate programs to further develop their skills. Students take a variety of courses to prepare them for the professional world, including courses in Design, Stagecraft, Technical Direction, Structural Design for the Stage, Sound, Lighting and Projection Technology, The Job Market, Theater Management, Theater Safety and Management, and Music Theory; all which lead to a capstone project, where students take on a leadership position on one of the musicals, plays or operas that Temple Theaters produces each year. The program has a strong emphasis on experiential learning, and between Temple Theaters productions and internships with theaters in the Philadelphia region, students learn critical skills from a wide variety of professionals and mentors.

The successful theater student graduates from our program with excellent communication and collaboration skills, a broad-based and substantive liberal arts background, developed abilities within the discipline of theater, a peerless commitment to achieving and appreciating artistic excellence, and a passion for life-long learning that will enable success in a wide variety of future endeavors. Our alumni are not only successful artists in theater and all of the entertainment industries, but they are also leaders in many other fields. We strive to graduate well-educated and enlightened "Citizen Artists" who possess the creative capacity and commitment to make a difference in the quality of community life regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: CA-TPAM-BFA

Accreditation

The Department of Theater is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and is a member of the University Resident Theater Association (U/RTA). These affiliations characterize it as amongst an elite group of highly-recognized Theater Programs. The Theater department was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 25 theater programs in the nation.

Contact Information

Department Office
Tomlinson Theater, Room 209
215-204-8414

Fred Duer, MFA, Chair
Tomlinson Theater, Room 210A
215-204-2804
fmduer@temple.edu

Peter Reynolds, MFA, Assistant Chair
Tomlinson Theater, Room 210B
215-204-8628
peterr@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Production and Management.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Technical Production and Management may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and by satisfactory completion of a minimum of 123 credit hours.

  • University Requirements: All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
  • There will be no requirement to take the GenEd Arts course if all of the following courses are completed with a C- or better: THTR 1003, THTR 1096 , and THTR 1231 . If the student changes majors before completing all three courses, s/he must complete a GenEd Arts course to satisfy the requirement for General Education.
  • All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses.
  • Students must complete Theater Department foundation courses with a grade of C or better in each course.
  • No more than 20 credits of work in the major field may be transferred from another institution. Students must complete at least 16 semester hours in Theater courses at Temple University.
  • All Theater majors must take placement tests in English and mathematics. If a student places into ENG 0701 or MATH 0701 or MATH 0702 , these courses must be completed prior to taking the General Education requirement for English and Quantitative Literacy.
Theater Requirements
THTR 1003Creativity: Basic3
THTR 1087Production Practicum (8 times)8
THTR 1096Introduction to Theater Process (WI)3
THTR 1231Acting I3
THTR 1511Stagecraft3
THTR 2085Theater Internship3
THTR 2411Introduction to Design3
THTR 2441Stage Management I3
THTR 2442Propcraft3
THTR 2501Theater Safety and Management3
THTR 2711Drawing and Rendering for the Theater I3
THTR 2712Drawing and Rendering for the Theater II3
THTR 2713Design Drafting3
THTR 3001History of the Theater I3
THTR 3002History of the Theater II3
THTR 3031Lighting, Sound and Video Technology3
THTR 3261The Job Market3
THTR 3421Technical Direction for the Theater3
THTR 3422Structural Design for the Stage3
THTR 3442Theater Management I3
THTR 4097World of the Play (WI)3
THTR 4401Theater Management Capstone3
Select one of the following:3
Theatrical Rigging and Mechanics
Advanced Theater Management
Select one of the following:3
Scene Painting I
Introduction to the Director's Art
Select two of the following:6
Lighting Design I
Costume Design I
Scene Design I
Creative Sound Technique
Lighting Design II
Costume Design II
Scene Design II
Approved Elective outside Department of Theater 13
Total Credit Hours86
1

Approved elective outside of theater, but related. For example, photography, textiles, business, etc. See Advisor.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Production and Management

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
THTR 1511 Stagecraft 3
THTR 1096 Introduction to Theater Process [WI] 3
THTR 1003 Creativity: Basic 3
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours14
Spring
THTR 2411 Introduction to Design 3
THTR 2441 Stage Management I 3
THTR 2713 Design Drafting 3
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
GenEd Quantitative Literacy (GQ) 4
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours17
Year 2
Fall
THTR 3421 Technical Direction for the Theater 3
THTR 3442 Theater Management I 3
THTR 2711 Drawing and Rendering for the Theater I 3
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
Select one of the following: 3
Lighting Design I  
Costume Design I  
Scene Design I  
Creative Sound Technique  
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours16
Spring
THTR 2501 Theater Safety and Management 3
THTR 2712 Drawing and Rendering for the Theater II 3
THTR 3422 Structural Design for the Stage 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
THTR 3031 Lighting, Sound and Video Technology 3
THTR 3261 The Job Market 3
Select one of the following: 3
Scene Painting I  
Introduction to the Director's Art  
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours16
Spring
THTR 1231 Acting I 3
THTR 2085 Theater Internship 3
THTR 3001 History of the Theater I 3
Free Elective 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
THTR 2442 Propcraft 3
THTR 3002 History of the Theater II 3
THTR 4401 Theater Management Capstone 3
Free Elective 2
Select one of the following: 3
Theatrical Rigging and Mechanics  
Advanced Theater Management  
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours15
Spring
THTR 4097 World of the Play [WI] 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Select one of the following (not previously taken): 3
Lighting Design I  
Costume Design I  
Scene Design I  
Creative Sound Technique  
Lighting Design II  
Costume Design II  
Scene Design II  
Approved Elective outside Department of Theater 1 3
THTR 1087 Production Practicum 1
 Credit Hours13
 Total Credit Hours123
1

Approved elective outside of theater, but related. For example, photography, textiles, business, etc. See Advisor.