A student smiles at the camera while holding piping for stage lighting

Theatre: Design and Technology Major

Set the stage for a career in theatrical technology in Drake University’s Theatre: Design and Technology major.

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What You'll Learn

Set design. Costumes and wardrobe. Light and soundboard operation. Stage management and crew. Long before the curtain goes up on any play or musical, a team of dedicated professionals works hard to bring that world to life. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre: Design and Technology from Drake, you’ll learn what it takes to build sets and props, create period looks, and arrange lighting—first in the classroom and then in productions both on- and off-campus.

Practical experience is a cornerstone of the program. Every year, our Main Stage theatre season puts on six Main Stage productions, from experimental black box shows to full-scale musicals. You’ll also receive training to work on professional productions not only in Des Moines but also around the country and the world.

In addition to completing an application, prospective Theatre: Design and Technology majors must submit a portfolio and schedule an interview for entry into the program. Information is available here.

About the Theatre: Design and Technology Major

Study all aspects of production, including scene painting, stage lighting, sound, and stage management.
Serve as assistants to faculty designers and even design main stage productions.
Work with faculty who have extensive experience in theatre, stage, and television.
Participate in the Des Moines theatre scene to get real-world experience and grow your résumé.

Program Facts

On campus
Full-time
123–128 total credits; 92 credits for the major
Theatre Design and Technology minor: 26 credits

B.F.A. in Theatre: Design and Technology

Students must take a minimum of 92 credit hours in the major to earn their degree, including nine in art and design, nine in literature, and nine in theatre electives. You’ll learn and practice design from research to rendering to construction.

Theatre: Design and Technology Minor

This 26-credit minor, open to students in any major, is meant for anyone with an interest in stage production. In addition to classes in stagecraft, design, and costuming, you’ll get hands-on experience working on Main Stage shows and via Technical Theatre Practicums.

Noah Files

Director, Theatre Design/Technology Program

John Pomeroy

Professor, Theatre Arts

During a production, two Drake Theatre-Acting students sit on a bench while gazing at the aurora borealis

On-Campus Design Opportunities

Bring your vision to the world while working on any of the six Main Stage productions put on each year, or serve as an assistant to our faculty designers.

A Drake Theatre Major wearing a headset operates a soundboard during a campus production

Internships

Make insider connections and gain professional experience through real work. In recent years, Drake students have interned for the Santa Fe Opera, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Goodman Theatre company.

Two students smile while sitting on a staircase set piece backstage

Conferences

Drake students are regulars at industry conferences, including the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, where they present their work and get feedback from theatre design professionals. They also use these opportunities to interview for jobs with theatres, touring productions, and entertainment technology companies.

A student smiles at the camera standing in front of a table of design pieces

The Drake Curriculum

Sets and lighting create the atmosphere of a production. Complementing your technical and creative studies, the Drake Curriculum encourages you to think about your work in historical, cultural, and other contexts that will shape your approach.

A student smiles at camera while sitting in a theatre seat

Scholarships

In addition to Drake’s Presidential Scholarships—awards worth $26,000 to $34,000 offered to every incoming full-time student—additional Theatre scholarships recognize your creative talents.

Careers & Skills

Our graduates work in all aspects of production, including lighting design, costumes, and sets. While some begin their careers immediately, others pursue their craft through advanced degrees. All Theatre: Design and Technology majors leave with a well-rounded education that sets them up for long-term employment. Recent graduates have gone on to work in Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, and Los Angeles.

Opportunities

Regional theatre
Teaching
Radio/television
Graduate study

Skills

Scene painting
Stage lighting
Stage management
Set design
Communication
Critical thinking and problem solving
Theatre writing, acting, and directing

A group of students on stage in costume during a theatre production

Salary & Growth Outlook

Average salary in 2024 for set designers. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

When the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival honored Joe Barnard’s scenic design on a campus production of Carrie: The Musical, Joe Barnard’s (AS’24) previous work on two Drake mainstage productions served as a building block to that recognition. And so did his long-standing passion for Legos. “That’s been something I’ve done for most of my life and so the artistic side of that, the design skills, transfer,” Barnard told the Drake student newspaper. “I am interested in learning more about scenic design and pursuing those design spots in the future—more than I probably would have been prior to working on Carrie—and then also just working on the festival in general.”

Take the Next Step

Raise the curtain on your career with a B.F.A. in Theatre: Design and Technology from Drake.

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