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To view the Spring 2026 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2026/spring.html.
Theatre and Performance Extended Minor
The extended minor follows the first three years of the theatre and performance major and is ideal for students interested in developing a range of contemporary theatre and performance making skills including acting, writing and directing, while completing another program of study at SFU.
Studio courses are supplemented by theatre and performance studies courses and public-facing production opportunities. The extended minor’s interdisciplinary component easily complements courses from other disciplines and at 59 units, qualifies as a second teachable subject for those interested in SFU’s Faculty of Education’s PDP (K-12 teacher certification) program.
Admission Requirements
Students may apply to the theatre and performance extended minor after completing CA 151 and CA 152, achieving a minimum 2.5 CGPA in contemporary arts, and a 2.0 overall CGPA. Contact the School for the Contemporary Arts office for details 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. Students are advised to enter in the fall term (September) and should contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.
A minimum 2.5 SCA GPA and 2.0 CGPA is required to remain in good standing in the program.
Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing
Transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions does not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the program.
About the School's Course Offerings
Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. Since many programs follow a structured sequence of courses, students should plan carefully to maximize their study benefits. Not all courses are offered every term; some are available on a rotational basis (e.g., every third or fourth term). Advisors are available to assist in planning study programs.
Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary contemporary arts department and are strongly encouraged to explore courses across various disciplines.
Prior Approval Prerequisite
Where a prerequisite includes ‘prior approval’, students must obtain approval before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.
Program Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 59 units, including core and elective courses in theatre and performance and the SCA. Students who wish to complete upper division courses must ensure they have the prerequisites and should be aware that some courses may have limited enrollment.
Students complete 59 units as specified below.
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 44 CA units, including
three core courses below
Introduction to acoustics, psychoacoustics, sound synthesis, audio sampling and signal processing, and sound production in general as relating to music, film sound, radio, new media, art installations and live performance. Students with credit for CA 184 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| OL01 |
Stefan Smulovitz |
Online |
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.
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 122, 130, 145, 150, 160, 170.
plus one additional CA course outside the major - the area strongly recommends CA 217
and all of
The first of four performance studio courses in the Live Acts cluster. A practical introduction to the foundations of live performance making from a variety of perspectives. With a rotating topic each term, students develop the foundational skills for creating original, contemporary live art. Prerequisite: By audition.
The second of four performance studio courses in the Live Acts cluster. A continued exploration of the foundations of live performance making from a variety of perspectives. With rotating topics each term, students develop the foundational skills for creating original, contemporary live art. Prerequisite: CA 151.
Introduction to the safe and effective use of studio technical equipment and systems to prepare students for collaborative creation and interdisciplinary studio projects. Basic training on the shared tools and supports available for student use at the SCA. Prerequisite: Declared status in a School for the Contemporary Arts honours, major, extended minor or minor program.
The third of four performance studio courses in the Live Acts cluster. A continued exploration of the foundations of live performance making from a variety of perspectives. With rotating topics each term, students develop the foundational skills for creating original, contemporary live art. Prerequisite: One of CA 123, 131, 146, 152, 161, 171.
The fourth of four performance studio courses in the Live Acts cluster. A continued exploration of the foundations of live performance making from a variety of perspectives. With rotating topics, students develop the foundational skills for creating original, contemporary live art. Prerequisite: One of CA 123, 131, 146, 161, 171, 251.
Emphasizes compositional skills and the rigorous exploration of movement, text, and design. Co-Lab provides directors, performers, writers, sound artists, designers, filmmakers, and choreographers opportunities to devise, rehearse, and perform new public facing performances or events to audiences over the term. May repeat once for credit. Prerequisite: One of CA 123, 131, 146, 152, 161, 171.
Further explores 'the body' as a primary material of performance using a variety of perspectives on embodied practice as aesthetic experience. With rotating topics each term, students develop the foundational skills for creating original, contemporary live art. Prerequisite: One of CA 123, 131, 146, 152, 161, 171.
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.
and one of the following
Accurately scaled prototypes are a key visioning and communication tool in artistic production. Students apply basic geometry and measurement calculations to construct scale models, technical drawings, and to estimate material requirements. Assignments are based on real world problem solving within diverse artistic environments. The first of three courses in the Production Skills cluster.
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. Students with credit for CA 174 may not take this course for further credit.
Light is an essential compositional and storytelling medium in live performance. Students experiment with foundational lighting technology and systems, discuss lighting in installation and performance, and create small studio-based lighting design projects. The first of two courses in the Lighting cluster. Prerequisite: CA 185; or 30 units; or permission of instructor.
Explores the numerous foundational processes and practices needed to create three dimensional designs for live performance. Students will develop foundational techniques through a series of creative projects, research, analysis, presentations, and critique, enabling them to engage in various process methods. The first of three courses in the Space and Materials cluster. Prerequisite: CA 175 or permission of instructor.
Introduction to various software and hardware for digital image making and content editing. Creation of multi-media installations and performances using video projection. Cultivation of skill-sets to identify and visualize student ideas, such as visual research and proposal packages. Prerequisite: CA 185; or 30 units; or permission of instructor. Students with credit for CA 276 may not take this course for further credit.
Upper Division Requiremrents
Students complete a minimum of 15 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.
and one of the following
Project management skills support artistic growth and success. Students explore the organization of material and human resources across artistic disciplines through the lens of equity and sustainability. Students formulate budgets, plan project life-cycle schedules, contracts, estimates, and feasibility comparisons. The third of three courses in the Production Skills cluster. Prerequisite: 60 units or permission of instructor.
From washcloths to high fashion, textile and fabric technologies re-pattern our lives. Students are introduced to basic sewing skills, construction, and mending techniques. Exploration of textile histories, contemporary artists, and approaches to sustainable textile practices in the arts. Students implement technique and research to create small textile design projects. The second of three courses in the Space and Materials cluster. Prerequisite: 60 units or permission of instructor. Students with credit for CA 375 under the title "Stage Design" may not take this course for further credit.
As video technology becomes increasingly prevalent in creative applications, understanding systems design and deployment is becoming essential for contemporary artistic practices. Students are introduced to video and projection technology in artistic contexts, focusing primarily on the hardware and technical planning needed for effective system design and execution. The second of three courses in the Video and Projection cluster. Prerequisite: 60 units or permission of instructor.
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.
WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit
| Requirement |
Units |
Notes | |
| W - Writing |
6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each) |
|
| Q - Quantitative |
6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more) | |
| B - Breadth |
18 |
Designated Breadth |
Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division: Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc |
|
6 |
Additional Breadth |
Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas. |
|