Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television) will equip graduates with skills in television and theatre design and technical production.

CSU is launching new age Communication and Creative Industries programs from 2014. CSU has always been at the forefront of innovative and cutting edge delivery of communication and creative practices in Australia. The new programs recognise the changing industries and prepare students for the 21st Century and beyond. Current students will have the flexibility to graduate with their existing degrees or transfer to the new programs. More information about the new programs will be available online soon, or you can register an expression of interest.

About the course

The Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television) aims to launch graduates into rewarding careers in today's ever changing entertainment industries.

Through a range of theoretical and practical hands-on subjects, students will acquire expertise in the design aspects of theatre and television (sets, lighting, sound, costumes and properties) and the skills to implement designs (including rigging and plotting lights, sound installation, set and costume construction), lighting and sound operating skills and production and stage management for the theatre.

These skills are then put into practice through a series of television and stage productions, including projects at the Riverina Playhouse, Studio Theatre, TV Studio and location television projects, all of which foster design and management skills. These specialist vocational subjects are underpinned by contextual studies in theatre, film and television, which complete a well-rounded education.

Students may choose to exit the course with the Associate Degree in Design for Theatre and Television after completing 128 points.

Supplementary consultations

One of the unique things about CSU's Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television) is that we have small class sizes, which allow intensive learning and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students, as well as the opportunity to gain experience working on real productions, not just watch the work being done. This makes our course very competitive. To give you the best opportunity to gain entry into the Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television), CSU offers you the opportunity to undertake a supplementary consultation as part of your application process. This gives you the chance to meet with the course lecturers and demonstrate your interest, enthusiasm and talent for this career area as well as finding out more about the course, our excellent facilities and exceptional practical opportunities.

Hands-on experience

All the core skills-based subjects are rigorously practical. At the heart of the course is a sequence of classes that cover the design areas of set, lighting, sound, costume and properties design, implementation and construction. In these subjects students also learn to operate lighting and sound equipment.

The skills learned in these subjects are then applied to another sequence of subjects that provides students with the opportunity to implement what they have learned in an extensive program of practical projects: television productions and mainstage, studio and alternative theatre productions.

By second or third year, students are acting as designers on these projects, and their production and stage management skills are also developed through these productions as they learn to manage teams of their colleagues.