Please note:
To view the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/spring.html.
Theatre Extended Minor
This program is for students interested in technical, design and administrative aspects of theatre. Interdisciplinary requirements place theatre study in the context of contemporary art theory and practice.
Admission Requirements
Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs in the School for the Contemporary Arts is by audition, interview or application. Contact the school’s office for information on procedures and deadlines or visit our website.
Although the University operates on a trimester system, most CA courses are planned in a two term (fall and spring) sequence. Consequently, students enter in the fall term (September) and are advised to contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.
A minimum 2.4 SCA GPA and 2.0 CGPA is required to remain in good standing in the program.
Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing
Unassigned or general elective (type 2 and 3, respectively) transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions will not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the school’s programs. Advanced standing is generally given on an individual basis as a result of an audition or interview.
About the School’s Course Offerings
Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. As many programs depend on a continuing sequence of courses completed in order, students should plan carefully to gain the maximum benefit and efficiency from their study. Note that not all courses are offered every term and several are offered on a rotational basis, i.e. every third or fourth term. An advisor is available to help plan study programs.
Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary contemporary arts department, and are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the many disciplinary courses that are available.
Special Topics Courses
The subject matter (and prerequisites) of special or selected topics courses vary by term.
Prior Approval Prerequisite
Where a prerequisite is or includes ‘prior approval,’ approval must be obtained before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.
Program Requirements
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum total of 42 units including
two core courses below
Introduces the many ways artists have employed moving images across artistic disciplines. By the completion of the course students should have a good sense of both the historical innovations and traditions in moving-image arts as well as the use of moving images in the contemporary art scene. Students with credit for FPA 186 may not take this course for further credit.
An introduction to the techniques of artistic composition as experienced in a collaborative interdisciplinary studio environment. The emphasis is on the creation, analysis and critique of new compositions created in collaborative groups by students in dance, music, theatre, film/video and visual art. Prerequisite: One of CA (or FPA) 122, 130, 145, 150, 160, 170. Students with credit for FPA 285 may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| D100 |
Robert Kitsos |
May 6 – Jun 17, 2024: Tue, Thu, 9:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
|
GOLDCORP |
plus one additional CA history/theory course outside their extended minor*
and all of
A practical introduction to the foundations of sound and music from a variety of perspectives including but not limited to acoustics, psychoacoustics, western music harmony and ear training as well as the basics of sound synthesis and digital audio editing. Emphasis will be working towards a practical application in a creative/expressive context. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the major, or permission of instructor. Corequisite: CA 145 or permission of instructor.
An introduction to the processes, tools and technology used in the production and presentation of the contemporary arts. Course requirements will include hands-on assignments in the production of theatre, dance, and music events. Students will work directly with equipment and materials, and are expected to be involved in work on productions and exhibitions outside of lecture and lab hours. Laboratory fee required. May be of particular interest to students in other areas and departments. Students with credit for FPA 170 may not take this course for further credit.
Explore how objects transform in relationship to body, space, and story. Techniques may include: mask-making, costume, puppetry, and toy theatre. Students will engage design concepts through iteration, rapid prototyping, and project scaling, as well as individual and collaborative materials based performances.
An introduction to the practice, techniques and concepts underlying contemporary electronic music fixed media composition, with an emphasis on facilitating a personal creative approach. Process-focused exercises will develop creative fluency in studio composition working with digital audio workstations, field recording, studio recording and editing techniques, digital audio processing, and sound synthesis. Exposure to new work and artists working in studio-related practices will serve as context and backdrop. Prerequisite: CA 140, 144, 146 or permission of instructor. Quantitative.
The first of two courses in the Context cluster. With a grounding in performance studies, this course explores histories and theories of the avant-garde, live art, and theatre. With a rotating topic each term, students develop the foundational skills for analyzing, researching, and writing about contemporary performance. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Students having a basic familiarity with elements of production and design participate in an in-depth theoretical and practical exploration of staging, audio and lighting for theatre, dance and music production. Assignments will be conducted in class and through practicum work on productions. May be of particular interest to students in other departments. Prerequisite: CA (or FPA) 170.
Students having a basic familiarity with elements of production and design participate in an in-depth theoretical and practical exploration of stage and production management for theatre, dance and music production. Students in this class will develop skills necessary to provide technical support for the school's productions. Assignments will be conducted in class and through practicum work on productions. Maybe of particular interest to students in other departments. Prerequisite: CA (or FPA) 170. Quantitative.
and one of
A studio course devoted to the development of movement skills through specific styles of dance. The content of the course changes every term including techniques in Bhangra, Afro-Caribbian, Hip Hop and Contemporary. May repeat for credit. May be of particular interest to students in other departments.
Movement improvisational skills will be explored in a variety of solo, duet, group forms through structured movement themes and scores. Emphasis will be on sensory awareness, elements of movement, and composition. Prerequisite: Declared dance major, extended minor, or permission from instructor.
This studio/theory course is an exploratory movement laboratory designed for first year dance majors/minors. This course incorporates techniques of body awareness, centering, and structural realignment. This course may be of interest to dancers, actors, kinesiologists, and athletes with an extensive movement background. Prerequisite: Declared dance major, extended minor, or permission from instructor. Students with credit for FPA 129 may not take this course for further credit.
An approach to the elements of acting for non-theatre performance majors. Work will include development of individual powers of expression - vocal, physical, intellectual, imaginative, and emotional. Students with credit for FPA 150 may not take this course for further credit.
A hands-on studio course modeled on the progressive development of artistic practice from simple mark-making to full scale installation. Through a process of continuous transformation, an original idea is developed in a sequence of methods, materials and scales. Some research is required. A course materials fee is required. Students with credit for FPA 160 may not take this course for further credit.
A continuation of the work begun in CA (or FPA) 160, with emphasis on particular problems in the visual arts worked through a series of projects, culminating in the Campus Project, a site-specific public work designed, built and installed at the end of the term. Some research is required. A course materials fee is required. May be of particular interest to students in other departments. Prerequisite: CA (or FPA) 160. Students with credit for FPA 161 may not take this course for further credit.
* See advisor for course options.
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum total of 17 units, including all of
The second of two courses in the Context cluster. Work will include reading, writing and experiments in live performance creation. With a grounding in performance studies, this course offers a variety of frameworks and approaches to the histories and theories of the avant-garde. live art, and theatre. With a new topic each term, students develop skills for analyzing, researching, and writing about contemporary performance. Prerequisite: CA 257W. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Explores contemporary stage lighting for theatre, dance and opera. Participants will review the principles of theatrical lighting instruments and control systems and will experiment with the components of lighting design in a variety of studio projects. This course will require a practicum in an actual performance. Laboratory fee required. Prerequisite: CA (or FPA) 270 or prior approval. Students with credit for FPA 374 may not take this course for further credit.
Explores the numerous complex processes and practices needed to create two and three dimensional designs for stage and performance. Students will engage in a series of creative projects, research, analysis and presentations to enable them to develop and realize their design solutions. Laboratory fee required. Prerequisite: CA (or FPA) 270 or prior approval. Students with credit for FPA 375 may not take this course for further credit.
and one of
Provides students with training and an historical and contemporary context for their related practicum roles as production heads and stage management and design personnel. Issues will be drawn from the School's current production season and from national and international forums in related fields. Assignments will be conducted in class and through practicum work on productions. May repeat for credit. Prerequisite: CA (or FPA) 270 and 271 or prior approval.
Provides students with training and an historical and contemporary context for their related practicum roles as production heads and stage management and design personnel. Issues will be drawn from the School's current production season and from national and international forums in related fields. Assignments will be conducted in class and through practicum work on productions. May repeat for credit. Prerequisite: CA (or FPA) 270 and 271 or prior approval.
* May be repeated for credit.