There seem to be several theatre majors college lists, both for BA and BFA programs.
Is there a similar list for theatre tech/design majors?
I don’t think so. I sometimes feel like the techies are the forgotten side of theater.
My S17 is at SUNY Fredonia for the theater tech and production BFA, there are also programs in lighting, scenery and costume, I believe. He was also accepted to LIU-Post and Adelphi and applied to, but didn’t complete the process, for SUNY Purchase. There are other tech programs but I honed in on those he could get into academically (he received some merit money) and those we could possibly afford. Post and Adelphi were viable as commuter schools, but I am glad he chose to go away.
Thank you for your post. I, too, feel the theatre tech folks are forgotten.
We have several in-state options in Virginia (most are BA options, although GMU and VCU offer BFA and BA options). We are also focused on affordability. Will do some research on SUNY Fredonia, LIU-Post and Adelphi, although OOS may not mean affordable for us. SUNY Purchase is already on our list.
SUNY Fredonia is similar to Purchase price wise. My understanding is that Purchase is edgier… I don’t think it does MT, while Fredonia has both MT and straight plays. My son has worked on both. Good luck to you. We chose BFA because my son is dyslexic and although he is very bright, straight academics is not his forte.
Thanks @techmom99 – D19 is interested in combining theatre tech with another major (digital media?) and therefore the interest in BA options. The BFA programs we have seen do not allow for combining with another major.
Check out UNCSA -they may allow for training in both areas within the production and design major. Not positive of this but they offer a variety of specializations wihin the major.
@OrangeFish - I understand. My son is suddenly interested in some business classes, but he is dyscalculic so higher level math as required for a biz degree is not happening. I suggested he consider some arts management classes instead as they seem less math oriented.
For the folks on this thread – might you know about any of the following schools in terms of tech design?
Allegheny College
Goucher College
Juniata College
McDaniel College
Ohio University
Rowan University
Susquehanna University
Ursinus College
I’m not ignoring your post, but I know nothing about any of these schools in terms of theater. I do know students who have attended Juniata, McDaniel and Goucher within the past few years (no theater majors) and enjoyed their experiences.
Thanks, @techmom99 ! 
D has a school list clustered into BA programs, BFA programs, and not-related-to-theatre programs. Thought she might be able to meet somewhere in the middle for the BA programs so there would be some strength from the tech perspective instead of “just acting.” She has some in-state options that fit these criteria.
What are your D’s stats? He might be eligible for merit money at a school like Fredonia. Even my son, with a 3.4 and 27 ACT got $2K/year, which is about a 10% discount on the total instate cost. He also got into the honors program.
Do the schools on your list offer theater BA’s with tech components?
@techmom99 – she has a 3.4 (weighted) GPA and she will take her first ACT on Saturday. Her practice tests have all been in the 32 - 34 range.
We visited Juniata, Susquehanna, and Ursinus so far. I think those three schools are on the still interested list, but we have pretty strong BA programs in state (Virginia) so she is trying to determine if she is better dropping the private schools or keeping them in for now.
She is also planning on meeting the college reps when they visit her school this fall. We’re just trying to learn more specifics about theatre tech at these schools before the reps are in town.
I put this on another thread a few weeks ago, but I will add it here as well. This was our long list from two years ago when my D was looking for a great D/T program. Her main interest was Stage Management, though she has now expanded into lighting as well.
BFA programs:
Emerson
NYU
U of MI
CCM
Penn
CMU
Cal arts
UNCSA
Otterbein
Webster
De Paul
Point Park
Boston U
TCU
Rutgers
SUNY purchase
LIU-Post
UCF
U of Miami
Shenandoah
Cornish College of the Arts
Southern Oregon University
Viterbo
U of Rhode Island
U of Utah
SCAD
Drake
Nebraska Wesleyan
U of N Kentucky
Western Michigan
Milliken
Montclair
USC
BA programs:
Manhattan Marymount
Pace
Baldwin Wallace
Ithaca
Fordham
Elon
Indiana
Thank you, @Reckless for sharing your list. It’s very helpful!
D19 is now centered on the following schools – we have several in-state options included for affordability as well as close-to-home factors. (D also wants to have a 2nd major/minor option and her selected in-state schools will allow her to pursue these multiple interests.)
Would welcome feedback on any of these schools, of course!
in-state (Virginia) – alpha order, as she likes all of them and can picture herself attending each one:
CNU - Theater BA Design/technical theater concentration
JMU - Theatre BA and can double major
UMW - Theatre BA; can double major
VCU - Theatre BA/BFA; Scenic Design/Tech or Costume Design/Tech or Lighting Design/Tech emphasis; can double major
out-of-state – also in alpha order; she is not sure about these, and the number of schools will likely go down; she has visited some and can see herself fitting in well:
Baldwin Wallace University - liberal arts; BA Theatre: Design & Technical (has not visited)
Muhlenberg College - liberal arts BA theatre; concentration Production Design
Otterbein University - BFA Design and Technology, BA Theatre (has not visited)
SUNY - Fredonia - BFA Theatrical Production and Design (pre-screening and portfolio review); BA Theatre (non-audition) (has not visited)
SUNY - Purchase - BFA Theatre Design Technology
Susquehanna University Liberal Arts (BA); Theatre Production & Design
University of North Carolina School of the Arts - BFA Scene Design, Sound Design, Scenic Technology; others (has not visited)
University of Rhode Island - BFA Theatre - Design and Theatre Technology
Ursinus College - Liberal Arts (BA); Theatre
Wright State University - BFA Theatre Design and Technology (has not visited)
extreme reaches – she thinks all of these are great (and not all theatre!), but acceptance is iffy, never mind the $$$ factor:
Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama - BFA (has not visited)
Drexel University - Westphal College of Media Arts & Design; co-op program
Rochester Institute of Technology - BA and BFA in tech and media options, industrial design, new media design, film and animation (has not visited)
University of Cincinnati (CCM) - BFA Stage Design, Props, Scenic Art; BFA Technical Production; E-Media (has not visited)
UNCSA is amazing. My D is a BFA drama student and the work she has shown me from the production and design students is just outstanding. They have a variety of concentrations areas. It is an “extreme” reach for drama. Not sure about for tech as the major may be larger than drama. Good luck to you!
Hi Orangefish. I know it has been a while, but have been reviewing some posts. My D received acceptance yesterday from Baldwin Wallace and I see it is on your list. It is the one BA on my D’s list, as it is a bit more generalized tech instead of the heavy BFA costume focus she wants. I am still unsure whether or not she will need to submit a portfolio for program acceptance (I am thinking not, but will verify next week). However, her acceptance came with a $17K merit scholarship—essentially 1/2 yearly tuition—which your D’s GPA and test scores would automatically (I think, based on their FA web info) qualify for. Something to think about.
Congratulations to your D @momof2lefties ! Not only an acceptance but great merit $ to boot!
Thank you for posting your family’s good news. We visited the Baldwin Wallace booth at a recent college fair, and my D19 was interested not only in the scholarship money, but also in the Design and Technical Production program. (The study abroad in London opportunity also influenced her, I think. ) One of the questions in her mind is the Studio Art minor requirement.