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2026-2027 University Catalog
Sound for the Performing Arts, BA
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 Return to: College of Liberal Arts (Undergraduate)
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About the Program
The Sound for the Performing Arts Program at Purdue University seeks to expand the young sound designer/technician/engineer’s range of knowledge and expression through the a broad based exposure to the many and various careers related to sound for the performing arts. Typically, sound designers enter this field with either a strong technical/engineering aptitude/background or extraordinary musical talent in composition and/or performance. Ideal candidates demonstrate strong aptitude in both fields. The student will receive a solid foundation in all aspects of sound for the performing arts as part of a well-rounded liberal arts education. Working as part of many different types of teams, the student learns to collaborate artistically and technically towards the realization of a multitude of auditory projects in the performing arts. The program is diverse enough to allow students to focus their energies more towards the technical side, the artistic side, or both. The major consists of core classes, specialized training and related electives. Upon completion, the student may choose to enter any sound related field or pursue further graduate study for a career in the entertainment industry. Please visit Sounds for the Performing Arts for more information. Sound for the Performing Arts Major Change (CODO) Requirements Degree Requirements
120 Credits RequiredLiberal Arts Curriculum
Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type. Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus. Departmental/Program Major Course Requirements (38-40 credits)
Students must successfully exhibit their portfolio each semester to remain in the program.
Sound for the Performing Arts students must meet with their faculty mentor during the appropriate period each semester to articulate career goals and strategies, and to ensure that their curricular and extracurricular activities are positively contributing to successful Outcomes. A. Foundation Studies (16-18 credits)
Theatre Required Courses (12-14 credits)
Music Selective (3 credits)
* Equivalent proficiencies in this course may allow this requirement to be waived. Required Dance Course (2 credits)
B. Sound in the Visual & Performing Arts Courses (21 credits)
Other Departmental - Liberal Arts Core For BFA, Professional, & Education (28-55 credits)
The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us. LA Core III: Linguistic Diversity (8-16 credits)
Completion of 10100, 10200, 20100, and 20200 -or- 10500 and 20500 in one world language. Foundational Requirements (20-39 credits)
Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. - AI Working Competency - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: AI)
- Humanities - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: HUM)
- Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: BSS)
- Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: IL)
- Science #1 - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: SCI)
- Science #2 - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: SCI)
- Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: STS)
- Written Communication - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: WC)
- Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: OC)
- Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted. (UCC: QR)
Notes
- Double counting of courses is allowed across the plan of study except within the Departmental/Program Major Course Requirements.
- All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirement, both professional BAs and BFAs, are exempt from Liberal Arts Core I & II in order to meet accreditation standards and requirements. Liberal Arts Core III: Linguistic Diversity is still required for such programs.
- “Degree +” students (students with a second major outside of Liberal Arts) are exempt from the CLA Core.
Electives (25-54 credits)
Grade Requirements
- A minimum grade of “C-“or better is required for a Theatre course to be counted towards the major. The P/NP option is not available for this requirement.
GPA Requirements
- 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy
- P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.
University Requirements
University Core Requirements
For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website. - AI Working Competency (UCC: AI)
- Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (UCC: BSS)
- Human Cultures: Humanities (UCC: HUM)
- Information Literacy (UCC: IL)
- Oral Communication (UCC: OC)
- Quantitative Reasoning (UCC: QR)
- Science #1 (UCC: SCI)
- Science #2 (UCC: SCI)
- Science, Technology, and Society (UCC: STS)
- Written Communication (UCC: WC)
Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement
To obtain the Civics Literacy credential, all Baccalaureate degree seeking students will complete the Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required quizzes per episode. After the pathway has been successfully completed, students will take the Civics Literacy knowledge test. Civics Literacy does not impact a student’s GPA or bear any financial costs. More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue. Upper Level Requirement
- Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
- Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.
Additional Information
- Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside of CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information.
Sample 4-Year Plan
The following sample plan of study is a suggested arrangement of courses. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.
Spring 1st Year
- THTR 26300 - Introduction To Sound Studios Credit Hours: 3.00
- Oral Communication (UCC: OC) - Credit Hours: 3.00
- World Language Level II - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
- Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Sciences (UCC: BSS)- Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00
Spring 3rd Year
- AI Working Competency (UCC: AI) - Credit Hours: 1.00-3.00
- Information Literacy (UCC: IL) - Credit Hours: 1.00-4.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00
Fall 4th Year
- THTR 59700 - Production And Design Seminar Credit Hours: 3.00
- Science, Technology & Science (UCC: STS) - Credit Hours: 1.00-3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00
Program Learning Outcomes
- Situate theatrical works, performances, and designs within historical, socio-economic, and stylistic modes and genres.
- Develop a portfolio of work suitable for demonstrating your skills and strengths, focusing on artistic creation or technical production in audio.
- Apply discipline-specific skills and techniques in performance, design, technical production, and project development.
- Develop creative ideas, explain these ideas based on research and artistic imagination, appraise the ideas of others, and revise ideas to achieve a collaborative artistic goal.
- Express one’s artistic/technical voice through application of theory, process, and practical experience.
- Collaborate as part of a team to create realized sound-related productions and performances.
Pre-Requisite Information
For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here. World Language Courses
World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japanese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS-Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish) Critical Course
The ♦ course is considered critical. In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program.” Disclaimer
The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion. Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. |
Return to: College of Liberal Arts (Undergraduate)
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