Please note:

To view the Spring 2025 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2025/spring.

School for the Contemporary Arts | Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Theatre (Production and Design Stream) Honours

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Students interested in developing live performance environments may choose the production and design stream within theatre and performance which will lead to a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) with a major in theatre.

The production and design stream provides a path for students who wish to develop as emerging artists in live performance environments across the embodied, time-based, and spatial disciplines.

Students whose interest in theatre is primarily historical, critical or theoretical are directed to the art, performance, and cinema studies major program, leading to a bachelor of arts.

Admission Requirements

Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs and to many courses is by audition, interview or application. Contact the school’s office for information on procedures and deadlines or visit our website.

Although the University operates on a trimester system, most CA courses are planned in a two term (fall and spring) sequence. Consequently, students enter in the fall term (September) and are advised to contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.

Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing

Unassigned or general elective (type 2 and 3, respectively) transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions will not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the school’s programs. Advanced standing is generally given on an individual basis as a result of an audition or interview.

About the School's Course Offerings

Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. As many programs depend on a continuing sequence of courses completed in order, students should plan carefully to gain the maximum benefit and efficiency from their study. Note that not all courses are offered every term and several are offered on a rotational basis, i.e. every third or fourth term. An advisor is available to help plan study programs.

Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary contemporary arts department, and are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the many disciplinary courses that are available.

Special Topics Courses

The subject matter (and prerequisites) of special or selected topics courses vary by term.

Prior Approval Prerequisite

Where a prerequisite is, or includes, ‘prior approval,’ approval must be obtained before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.

Program Requirements

Students complete SFU Honours Degree Requirements.  See https://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/fees-and-regulations/credentials-offered/definitions.html#honours.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 42 units including

two core courses below

CA 186 - Art and the Moving Image (3)
CA 285 - Interdisciplinary Studio - Composition/Collaboration (3)

plus one additional CA history/theory course outside their major*

and all of

CA 143 - Sound Fundamentals I (3)
CA 170 - Introduction to Production Technology (3)
CA 174 - Transforming Objects (3)
CA 247 - Creative Electronics Lab I (3)
CA 257W - Context I (3)
CA 270 - Production Ensemble I (6)
CA 271 - Production Ensemble II (6)

and one of

CA 120 - Introduction to Dance Forms: Contemporary and Popular (3)
CA 124 - Improvisation Tools and Scores (3)
CA 129 - Movement Fundamentals (3)
CA 150 - Introduction to Acting (3)
CA 160 - Introductory Studio in Visual Art I (3)
CA 161 - Introductory Studio in Visual Art II (3)

* See advisor for course options.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 48 units, including all of

CA 357W - Context II (3)
CA 370 - Production Ensemble III (6)
CA 371 - Production Ensemble IV (6)
CA 374 - Stage Lighting (4)
CA 375 - Stage Design (4)

and nine units from below

CA 424 - Making/Artistic Research (3)
CA 449 - Installation/Sound Art Lab (3)
CA 450 - Performance as Research II (5)
CA 470 - Production Ensemble V (6)
CA 471 - Production Ensemble VI (6)
CA 485 - Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts (5)
CA 489 - Interdisciplinary Project in Contemporary Arts (5)

and the remaining required units chosen from upper division CA courses (placement in courses is based on prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor). See advisor for course options.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.