Feb 09, 2025

2016-2017 University Catalog

2016-2017 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Sound for the Performing Arts, BA

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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.

Degree Requirements and Supplemental Information

The full Program Requirements for 2016-17 Sound for the Performing Arts include all Supplemental Information and selective lists of those categories which a student must fulfill in order to earn their degree. These are intended to be printer-friendly, but include less descriptive course detail.

Please see below for program requirements and the necessary degree fulfillments.

Theatre-BA
THSP
120 Credits

A minimum Grade of “C-“or better is required for a Theatre course to be counted towards the major.

Liberal Arts Core 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.

For the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum click here .

Departmental/Program Major Courses (42 - 48 Credits)

Students must successfully audition & exhibit their portfolio each semester to remain in the program.

Students should include THTR 20100 - Theatre Appreciation as a choice in fulfilling the CLA core Requirements.

Requirements for the Major

A. Foundation Studies (18-21 credits)

1. The following courses in THTR (10-12 credits)

THTR 15001 - Introduction To Drafting
THTR 15002 - Introduction To Scenery Construction Tools And Techniques
THTR 15003 - Introduction To Rigging For Theatre
THTR 26300 - Introduction To Sound Studios
THTR 36800 - Theatre Production II (1-2 credits each; Course is repeatable for credit; Must be in Sound area)
THTR 16300 - Introduction To Sound Design And Technology

2. One of the following courses in Music (3 credits)

Note

³Equivalent Proficiencies in this course may allow this requirement to be waived

3. The following course in DANC (2-3 credits)

DANC 36800 - Dance Sound Design (course is repeatable for credit)

4. The following course in ECET (3 credits)

ECET 22400 - Electronic Systems *** (prior # ECET 21400 )

B. Sound in the Visual & Performing Arts (18 credits)

The following courses in THTR

THTR 35300 - Theater Audio Techniques I
THTR 36300 - Sound Design
THTR 56300 - Advanced Sound Design
THTR 56900 - Special Problems In Audio Production
THTR 59700 - Production And Design Seminar (3 credits each; repeatable for credit)

C. Electives: (6-9 credits)

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (57 credits)

ENGL 10600 - First-Year Composition or
ENGL 10800 - Accelerated First-Year Composition
COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
Other Languages (Proficiency through Level IV in one language) - Credits Hours: 12.00
Mathematics - Credit Hours: 3.00
Statistics - Credit Hours: 3.00
Western Heritage - Credit Hours: 3.00
United States Tradition - Credit Hours: 3.00
Other Cultures - Credit Hours: 3.00
Aesthetic Awareness - Credit Hours: 3.00
Racial and Ethnic Diversity - Credit Hours: 3.00
Gender Issues - Credit Hours: 3.00
Social Ethics - Credit Hours: 3.00
Individual and Society - Credit Hours: 3.00
Global Perspective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Natural Sciences - Credit Hours: 3.00
Natural Sciences Lab - Credit Hours: 3.00

Electives (18 credits)

University Core Requirements

Human Cultures Humanities
Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
Information Literacy
Science #1
Science #2
Science, Technology, and Society
Written Communication
Oral Communication
Quantitative Reasoning
For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website or click here .

Program Requirements

Fall 1st Year

ENGL 10600 - First-Year Composition or
ENGL 10800 - Accelerated First-Year Composition
SLC 10100 - Credit Hours: 3.00
THTR 16300 - Introduction To Sound Design And Technology ♦
MATH - Credit Hours: 3.00
THTR 20100 - Theatre Appreciation (Aesth Aware) ♦
THTR 15001 - Introduction To Drafting ♦
THTR 15002 - Introduction To Scenery Construction Tools And Techniques ♦
THTR 15003 - Introduction To Rigging For Theatre ♦

17 Credits

Spring 1st Year

COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
SLC 10200 - Credit Hours: 3.00
THTR 26300 - Introduction To Sound Studios ♦
STAT - Credit Hours: 3.00
Western Heritage - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Fall 2nd Year

THTR REQ A2 (MUS 26100 , MUS 36100 , MUS 36200 ) - Credit Hours: 3.00
Individual & Society - Credit Hours: 3.00
THTR 36800 - Theatre Production II ♦
SLC 20100 - Credit Hours: 3.00
Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

14 Credits

Spring 2nd Year

ECET 22400 - Electronic Systems
Natural Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
THTR 36800 - Theatre Production II
SLC 20200 - Credit Hours: 3.00
Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Fall 3rd Year

THTR 35300 - Theater Audio Techniques I
Req C - Credit Hours: 3.00
Gender Issues - Credit Hours: 3.00
Global Perspectives - Credit Hours: 3.00
Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Spring 3rd Year

THTR 36300 - Sound Design
Req C - Credit Hours: 3.00
US Traditions - Credit Hours: 3.00
Natural Science Lab - Credit Hours: 3.00
Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Fall 4th Year

THTR 56300 - Advanced Sound Design
THTR 59700 - Production And Design Seminar
Req C - Credit Hours: 3.00
Other Cultures - Credit Hours: 3.00
Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Spring 4th Year

THTR 59700 - Production And Design Seminar
THTR 56900 - Special Problems In Audio Production
Social Ethics - Credit Hours: 3.00
Racial & Ethnic Diversity - Credit Hours: 3.00
Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Note

A minimum Grade of “C-“or better is required for a Theatre course to be counted towards the major.

120 semester credits required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

32 credit hours at 30000 level or higher required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

Degree Requirements

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

Degree Works is knowledge source for specific requirements and completion

Foreign Language Courses

Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program. For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor:

American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Critical Course

The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.