Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Design)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Design) will equip graduates with skills in television and theatre design and technical production.

About the course

The Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Design) 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.

Supplementary consultations

To give you a complete overview of your study options within the Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Design), CSU offers you the opportunity to undertake a supplementary course 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 independent 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.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.