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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Theater Requirements | ||
| THTR 1003 | Creativity: Basic | 3 |
| THTR 1087 | Production Practicum (8 times) | 8 |
| THTR 1096 | Introduction to Theater Process (WI) | 3 |
| THTR 1231 | Acting I | 3 |
| THTR 1511 | Stagecraft | 3 |
| THTR 2085 | Theater Internship | 3 |
| THTR 2411 | Introduction to Design | 3 |
| THTR 2441 | Stage Management I | 3 |
| THTR 2442 | Propcraft | 3 |
| THTR 2501 | Theater Safety and Management | 3 |
| THTR 2711 | Drawing and Rendering for the Theater I | 3 |
| THTR 2712 | Drawing and Rendering for the Theater II | 3 |
| THTR 2713 | Design Drafting | 3 |
| THTR 3001 | History of the Theater I | 3 |
| THTR 3002 | History of the Theater II | 3 |
| THTR 3031 | Lighting, Sound and Video Technology | 3 |
| THTR 3261 | The Job Market | 3 |
| THTR 3421 | Technical Direction for the Theater | 3 |
| THTR 3422 | Structural Design for the Stage | 3 |
| THTR 3442 | Theater Management I | 3 |
| THTR 4097 | World of the Play (WI) | 3 |
| THTR 4401 | Theater Management Capstone | 3 |
| 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 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 86 | |
- 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
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit 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 Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| THTR 2411 | Introduction to Design | 3 |
| THTR 2441 | Stage Management I | 3 |
| THTR 2713 | Design Drafting | 3 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | 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 Hours | 17 | |
| 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 or IH 0952 | 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
- 1
Approved elective outside of theater, but related. For example, photography, textiles, business, etc. See Advisor.