Academic Catalog

Theatre Technology

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Program Description

The Foothill College Theatre Technology program prepares theatre students for entry-level positions in professional and community theatre and for transfer to a four-year institution. A comprehensive two-year program, Theatre Technology offers the student an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of a variety of practical career opportunities.

Students interested in production and stage management, theatre design, and the creations of sets, props, costumes, lights, sound, and special effects are able to participate in both daytime lecture and laboratory classes and evening production experiences. The Theatre Arts department offers three major productions during the academic year and Theatre Technology students participate in the creation of technical elements for each of these productions.

Foothill College maintains direct contact with many Bay Area theatre companies and will assist advanced students in obtaining internships or employment.

Learn more about the program on the Theatre Arts website.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to explore further educational or workforce experiences in technical theatre with a minimal fundamental adjustment period.
  • Students will be able to function effectively in a variety of roles within a collaborative technical theatre environment.
  • Students will develop skills for evaluating their own and others' contributions to successful outcomes in technical theatre.

Career Opportunities

The technical theatre program promotes skills in six basic fields of study and areas of employment: scene shop technician, costume shop technician, theatre electrician, properties artisan, stage management, and scenic artist. Theatre technicians can expand their opportunities by pursuing entry-level technical positions in other areas of the entertainment industry including film, video, music or event production.

Award Type(s)

  • AA = Associate in Arts Degree
  • CA = Certificate of Achievement
  • CCC = Career Certificate [Non-Transcriptable]

Units Required

  • Major: 36
  • Certificate(s): 20-36

Additional Information

Note: Students will have the opportunity to create and maintain a technical portfolio during their classes.

Associate Degree Requirements

English Proficiency
Select one of the following:
ENGL 1ACOMPOSITION & READING5
ENGL 1AHHONORS COMPOSITION & READING5
ENGL 1S
& ENGL 1T		INTEGRATED COMPOSITION & READING
and INTEGRATED COMPOSITION & READING		8
or equivalent
Mathematics Proficiency
Select one of the following:
MATH 105INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA5
MATH 180QUANTITATIVE REASONING5
or any MATH course approved for Foothill GE Area V, Communication & Analytical Thinking

A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:

  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • Core courses (24 units)
  • Support courses (12 units)

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificate.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses
THTR 1INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE4
or THTR 8 MULTICULTURAL THEATRE ARTS IN MODERN AMERICA
THTR 20AACTING I4
THTR 21ASCENERY & PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION4
THTR 25INTRODUCTION TO FASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION4
or THTR 26 INTRODUCTION TO FASHION HISTORY & COSTUME DESIGN
THTR 31MANAGEMENT FOR THE THEATRE & STAGE4
THTR 42INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE DESIGN4
Support Courses
Select eight units from the following:8
MTEC 51A
STUDIO RECORDING I
or MTEC 57A
 SOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO
THTR 21B
INTERMEDIATE SCENERY & PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION
THTR 21C
ADVANCED SCENERY & PROPERTIES CONSTRUCTION
THTR 25B
FASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II
THTR 27
LIGHTING DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
THTR 40A
BASIC THEATRICAL MAKEUP
THTR 43A
SCRIPT ANALYSIS
And four units from the following:4
THTR 45A
TECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION I
THTR 45B
TECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION II
THTR 45E
TECHNICAL THEATRE MANAGEMENT IN PRODUCTION
THTR 45F
TECHNICAL THEATRE MANAGEMENT IN PRODUCTION II
Total Units36

Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Achievement in Theatre Technology

  • Units: 36

The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the core and support courses. General education courses are not required.

Theatre Technology Career Certificate

  • Units: 20-22 [Non-Transcriptable]
THTR 21ASCENERY & PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION4
THTR 42INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE DESIGN4
THTR 45ATECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION I4-6
or THTR 45E TECHNICAL THEATRE MANAGEMENT IN PRODUCTION
And eight units from the following:8
MTEC 51A
STUDIO RECORDING I
or MTEC 57A
 SOUND DESIGN FOR FILM & VIDEO
THTR 25
INTRODUCTION TO FASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION
THTR 27
LIGHTING DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
Total Units20-22

Theatre Production Organization Career Certificate

  • Units: 20-22 [Non-Transcriptable]
THTR 21ASCENERY & PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION4
THTR 31MANAGEMENT FOR THE THEATRE & STAGE4
THTR 42INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE DESIGN4
And 8-10 units from the following:8-10
THTR 45A
TECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION I
THTR 45B
TECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION II
THTR 45C
TECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION III
THTR 45D
TECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION IV
THTR 45E
TECHNICAL THEATRE MANAGEMENT IN PRODUCTION
or THTR 45F
 TECHNICAL THEATRE MANAGEMENT IN PRODUCTION II
Total Units20-22

Theatre Costume and Makeup Career Certificate

  • Units: 20-22 [Non-Transcriptable]
THTR 21ASCENERY & PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION4
THTR 25INTRODUCTION TO FASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION4
THTR 25CFASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION III4-6
or THTR 45A TECHNICAL THEATRE IN PRODUCTION I
or THTR 45E TECHNICAL THEATRE MANAGEMENT IN PRODUCTION
THTR 26INTRODUCTION TO FASHION HISTORY & COSTUME DESIGN4
or THTR 25B FASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II
or THTR 40B THEATRICAL MAKEUP FOR PRODUCTION
THTR 40ABASIC THEATRICAL MAKEUP4
Total Units20-22