Sound Design

What is Theater Design and Production - Sound Design ?

The major in sound design and technology includes study of a broad array of areas within the performing arts. Although sound design depends in many ways on the supporting technology, the focus of the program is on the artistic use of this technology. The work is not about the toys but about telling the story. Beginning with training in the fundamentals of sound technology and theatrical production, students advance to study the art of sound design through courses in script analysis, theatrical design, theatre history, art, music, system design and,  sound design itself including the designer's process and collaboration with the director and the design/production team.

The curriculum includes study of sound perception, digital audio, sound effects and music editing and reinforcement techniques. Students with a background in music and composition are encouraged to create original scores when appropriate.

The program features numerous production assignments in both drama and musical theater which may include sound operator, assistant designer, assistant mix engineer, wireless crew, mix engineer and designer. CCM offers a diverse season of shows including large musicals with live orchestras, operas and dramas staged in the 250 seat flexible Cohen Family Studio Theatre, the 360 seat modified proscenium Patricia Corbett Theatre and the 800 seat Corbett Auditorium.

Year 1

• English Composition (EC)
• Technical Production 1: Introduction to technical theater, scenic production techniques and LAB (QR,FA)
• Appreciation of Theatrical Design and Production (FA)
• Sound Workroom Practicum
• Select History Elective
• Dramatic Literature
• Script Analysis (SE,FA)
• Technical Production 2 with LAB (QR,FA
• Stage Design Graphics II - Hand Drafting Fundamentals
• Sound Workroom Practicum
• History Elective
• Social or Natural Science (SS,NS)

Year 2

• History of Theatre (FA,HP)
• Theatre Sound Technology and Design I (FA)
• Intermediate Composition (EC)
• Stage Lighting I - Fundamentals and Terminology
• Production Practicum
• History of Theatre (FA,HP)
• Theatre Sound Technology & Design II
• Select one of supportive Core
• Vectorworks for the Theatre
• Basic Score Interpretation
• Production Practicum

Year 3

• Sound Design: Drama
• Select Sound Supportive Course
• Select Elective
• Select Elective
• Dramatic Literature
• Production Practicum
• Sound Design: Musical
• Electronics for the Theater, Mechatronic
• Select Sound Supportive Class
• The Business of the Business for Theater Production Personnel
• Production Practicum
• Select One of Supportive Core

Year 4

• Digital Portfolios
• Production Practicum
• Select Elective
• Select Music or Tech Elective
• Music or Tech Elective
• Select Capstone
• Electives

History/Art Appreciation

Student must take 6 credits, two sequential courses, from this list.

• History of Art I (FA,HP)
• History of Art II (FA,HP)
• The Arts Through the Ages I (FA)
• The Arts Through the Ages II (FA)
• World History I (DC,HP)
• World History II (DC,HP)
• European History I (DC,HP)
• European History II (DC,HP)

Dramatic Literature

Student must take 6 credits, two courses, from this list.

• Shakespeare's Plays
• Introduction to Shakespeare
• EARLY MODERN DRAMA I
• EARLY MODERN DRAMA II
• Topics in Drama (HU)
• Introduction to Creative Writing: Drama (FA,HU)
• Contemporary World Literature: Drama (HU)
• African Literature II: Drama (HU)

Supportive Core

Choose two courses or six credit hours with approval from your area Advisor.

• Introduction to Costume and Makeup (FA)
• Assistant Stage Management (DC,HU)
• Introduction to Stage Design and Properties (FA)

Music or Tech electives

Student must take 6 credits, two courses, from this list must be either music for 6 or Tech for 6.

• History of the Music of Western Civilization
• Experimental Rock of the 1960s and 70s (DC,FA)
• Women in British Rock Since 1970 (DC,FA)
• The Music of The Beatles (SE,FA)3
• Jazz History - Early Jazz to Cool
• Jazz History - Hard Bop to the Present
• Technical Production 3
• Technical Production 4

Sound Capstone

one of these courses is required for the capstone in Sound Design.

• Sound Production Studio
• Sound Design Studi

• Common Application and Writing Supplement
• Application fee or application fee waiver submitted via the Common Application
• ACT and/or SAT scores sent directly from the testing agency
• Official high school transcript
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• $100 application fee
• SAT/ACT 
• Proof of English Ability and Proof of Math Ability
• TOEFL: 79 iBT
• IELTS: 6.5
• SAT-I: 480 Critical Reading
• ACT: 20 English
• PTE: 53
• ELS: 112

Scholarships

• UC Global Scholarship