BFA Theatre Design and Production at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The Theatre Design & Production BFA prepares students to be collaborators and leaders in the performing arts. Students are not required to declare a specific track on admission and may focus on one area or explore several. The programme is a BFA only and focuses solely on undergraduate education.

Faculty: School of Music, Theatre & Dance  |  Department: Department of Theatre & Drama  |  Duration: Minimum 120 credits  |  Intake: Fall (application deadline December 1, 2026 for Fall 2027)  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Ann Arbor, MI, United States

What you will study

Core courses cover visual communication, aesthetics, ideation, collaboration, management, theory, history, literature, graphics, technology and allied crafts. Coursework is 68% within SMTD and 32% in the liberal arts, with credit-bearing production practicums in the professional shops and annual portfolio reviews for second- to fourth-year students.

Career pathways

Alumni work across Broadway, Disney, the Spoleto Festival, Jacob's Pillow, cruise ships and regional theatres as stage managers, designers, technicians and production staff.

Official programme page