Technical Theatre

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Technical Theatre is designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers within theatre operations and production. The curriculum includes a foundation of applied skills within technical theatre including backstage personnel skills, as well as hands-on experience working on live theatre productions and events. Students may select from a choice of specializations in audio, costuming, group/solo cosplay, hair and makeup, lighting, properties, puppetry, and set/scenic construction. Program graduates can directly enter the workforce into positions such as cosplay actor, puppeteer, sound engineer, lighting technician, carpenter, scenic painter, stage crew, stage management, wardrobe crew, costume stitcher, costume crafts apprentice, and hair/makeup artist in a range of settings including live theatre, television and film, conferences and events, attractions and shows.

Students can earn an embedded Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Stage Crew along with one additional area: Audio Technician, Costuming, Group/Solo Cosplay, Hair and Makeup, Lighting, Properties, Puppetry, and Set/Scenic construction. An Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA), Emphasis in Theatre is also available for students interested in university transfer.

Details

Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Technical Theatre (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5462
Total credits required
21-48
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Students should select an area of specialization based on their personal, academic, and professional goals. Students should speak to a program director or academic advisor for details.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Interpret stage directions, plans, and paperwork to execute projects to specifications.
  2. Recognize theatre and shop roles and responsibilities.
  3. Demonstrate use of safety procedures for a variety of technical theatre activities and projects.
  4. Recognize different forms of theatrical scenery.
  5. Operate technical theatre equipment for stage use.
  6. Take accurate measurements using industry standards.
  7. Differentiate between various materials and hardware types and their uses.
  8. Utilize shop tools for the production, maintenance, and alteration of theatrical costumes, properties, and/or set dressing to industry standards.
  9. Demonstrate proficiency in the skills required in technical theatre specializations such as audio and sound, costuming, hair and makeup, cosplay, puppetry, lighting, set construction, and/or painting.
  10. Create professional materials to promote one's skills and experiences within the industry.
  11. Analyze selected works for plot, purpose, form, characters, theme, historical, cultural, and social rules of convention.
  12. Demonstrate foundational skills in design, technical, and performance practices for effective communication and persona expression across various artistic genres.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Actors

$39,352

Audio and Video Technicians

$38,148

Construction Carpenters

$43,020

Costume Attendants

$33,954

Craft Artists

$13,088

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

$33,022

Set and Exhibit Designers

$43,775

Sound Engineering Technicians

$52,363

Theatrical and Performance Makeup Artists

$99,604

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the locations, partners, and available tracks of the award.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
THE111 Introduction to Theatre HU 3
THP213 Introduction to Technical Theatre Critical course Gateway course 4
THO251 Safety Practices in Theatre and Film Production 1
THO266 Production Careers in Technical Theatre 1
ENG101 First-Year Composition Students who intend to take THE220 must take ENG101 FYC 0–3
THP201AB or
THO203		 Theatre Production II or Technical Theatre Production 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–4

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
THP201AB or
THO203		 Theatre Production II or Technical Theatre Production 0–3
THO269 Technical Theatre Portfolio Development 1
THP296++ Cooperative Education 1–4
THE220 or
THO225 or
THP291AC		 Modern Drama or Visual Script Analysis or Summer Conservatory: Script Analysis (Act) HU, L or None or None 1–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
THE111 Introduction to Theatre HU 3
THP213 Introduction to Technical Theatre Critical course Gateway course 4
THO251 Safety Practices in Theatre and Film Production 1
ENG101 First-Year Composition Students who intend to take THE220 must take ENG101 FYC 0–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
THO266 Production Careers in Technical Theatre 1
Specialization Specialization Option 3–4
THE220 or
THO225 or
THP291AC		 Modern Drama or Visual Script Analysis or Summer Conservatory: Script Analysis (Act) HU, L or None or None 1–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
THP201AB or
THO203		 Theatre Production II or Technical Theatre Production 2–3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
THO269 Technical Theatre Portfolio Development 0–1
THP296++ Cooperative Education 0–4
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
THO269 Technical Theatre Portfolio Development 0–1
THP296++ Cooperative Education 0–4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
THO269 Technical Theatre Portfolio Development 0–1
THP296++ Cooperative Education 0–4
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=184893).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.