College: Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance
Degree: BFA in Stage Management
Specialized Admission: Yes
Contact: Michele Diamonti
Address: 223 Fine Arts Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1160
Phone: (850) 644-5548
Email: mdiamonti@admin.fsu.edu
Students cannot begin enrolling in this major until Fall 2026. Also, please note: FSU is not yet authorized to enroll F-1 international students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Stage Management. International students who need an F-1 visa, should NOT apply to these majors at this time.
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Stage Management at FSU is a highly competitive program providing students with the essential training and practical experience required to become a professional stage manager and a successful theatre artist. The curriculum educates students through a series of academic coursework, one-on-one mentoring, and individualized practical production experiences. Students take dedicated coursework in stage management from professionally-practicing faculty while also receiving well-rounded training in areas such as hospitality, arts administration, score reading, stage combat, and theatrical production. The program lays the groundwork for professional practice upon graduation, and it is also an excellent foundation for continued graduate study.
Prerequisite Coursework: (none)
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Admission Requirements to Major
Admission is by interview and portfolio review. Interviews are held every January for fall admission. Interviews are open to incoming freshmen. The interview must be accompanied by an acceptance academic record and up-to-date transcripts and resume. Contact The School of Theatre for details. Students applying to the BFA program need to apply to both The School of Theatre and University Admissions.
Additional information can be found at: https://theatre.fsu.edu/programs/bfa-stage-management/ .
Foundation Coursework: (23 hours)
TPA 2290 (1) Tech Theatre Lab I
THE 2000 (3) Introduction to Theatre
THE 1925 (3) Colloquiums/Symposiums/Workshops
THE x000-x999 (3) Theatre Studiees and General Resources
THE x000-x999 (3) Theatre Production and Administration
THE x000-x999 (3) Theatre Performance and Performance Training
TPA 1200 (3) Inroduction to Technical Theatre OR TPA 2210 (3) Stage Craft I
THE 2305 (3) Survey of Dramatic Literature OR THE 2300 (3) Dramatic Literature
TPP 2190 (1) Rehearsal and Performance I
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (84 hours)
The BFA student is assessed each semester to review competencies; a 3.00 GPA must be maintained in all major requirements, with a 3.00 or better GPA in all coursework.
Program Core Requirements (19 hours)
THE 4990 (0) All School Events (Every Fall and Spring Semester)
THE 2020 (3) Introduction to The School of Theatre
TPA 2000 (3) Introduction to Design
TPA 2201 (3) Introduction to Technical Theatre
TPA 2291 (1) Technical Theatre Laboratory
THE 3213 (3) World Theatre History I
THE 3214 (3) World Theatre History II
THE 4303 (3) Play Analysis
Core Competency Courses (59 hours)
TPA 4601 (2) Stage Management
TPA 4602 (3) Advanced Stage Management
TPA 4608 (3) Stage Management III
THE 4954 (1) Culminations
TPA 3609 (6) Stage Management Seminar (taken 6 times for 1 credit each)
TPA 4XXX (2) Advanced Stage Management Seminar
TPA 3605 (2, 2) Assistant Stage Management Practicum (taken 2 times)
TPA 3606 (4) Stage Management Practicum
TPA 4400 (3) Theatre Management
THE 4913 (1) Theatre Tutorial OR MVK 1001 (1) Piano for Non-Majors
TPP 4310 (3) Directing I
TPP 4531 (3) Stage Combat
TPA 3230 (3) Costuming I
TPA 3353 (3) Introduction to Lighting and Sound
TPA 3006 (3) Introduction to Stage Properties
TPA 4060 (3) Principles of Scenic Design
HFT 1000 (3) Introduction to Hospitality & Tourism OR HFT 3542 (3) Event Management
SPC 2608 (3) Public Speaking
DAN 4501 (3) Production and Stage Management for Dance
Additional Requirements
Nine (9) hours of Electives
Digital Literacy: (0 hours beyond the major)
THE 4954 (1) Culminations meets this requirement for students in this major.
Oral Communication Competency: (0 hours beyond the major)
THE 2020 (3) Introduction to Theatres for Major meet this requirement for students in this major.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hours Required: 120
General Education: 36
Major Coursework: 84
Minor Coursework: 0
Digital Literacy: 0 beyond major
Oral Competency: 0 beyond major
Electives: 9
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Producer, Event Manager, Deck Manager, Show Caller, Production Manager
Representative Employers: Theatre Companies, Opera Companies, Dance Companies, Corporate Event Companies, Television Studios, Community Theatres, Dinner Theatres, Stock Companies, Theme Parks, Cruise Ships, Children’s Theatres, Event Entertainment Companies.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Fall 2026 and after)
Students cannot begin enrolling in this major until Fall 2026. Also, please note: FSU is not yet authorized to enroll F-1 international students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Stage Management. International students who need an F-1 visa, should NOT apply to these majors at this time.
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning; starting in Fall 2026.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses.
Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
The curriculum for the BFA degree is a pre-professional program that provides intensive, in-depth training. It will provide the foundation necessary and essential for continued specialization in stage management at the graduate level or in the professional theatre.
The BFA degree in Stage Management is a Specialized Admission major. Admission is by interview and portfolio review. Interviews are held every January for fall admission. Interviews are open to incoming freshmen. The interview must be accompanied by an acceptance academic record and up-to-date transcripts and resume. Contact The School of Theatre for details. Students applying to the BFA program need to apply to both The School of Theatre and University Admissions.
Additional information can be found at: https://theatre.fsu.edu/programs/bfa-stage-management/ .
Mapping Coordinator: Michele Diamonti
Email: mdiamonti@admin.fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| 1st GE Core Mathematics course3 |
| THE2020 Introduction to Theatre for Majors 3 |
| TPA2000 Introduction to Design3 |
| TPA2291 Technical Theatre Laboratory1 |
| TPA3609 Stage Management Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete THE2020 ( ≥ B minus ) |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| Humanities & Cultural Practices course3 |
| Natural Science course w/matching Lab4 |
| TPA2201 Introduction to Technical Theatre3 |
| THE4913 Theatre Tutorial or MVK 1001 Piano for Non-Majors1 |
| TPA3609 Stage Management Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course3 |
| Social Sciences/History course3 |
| THE3213 World Theatre History I3 |
| TPA3006 Introduction to Stage Properties3 |
| TPA3605 ASM Practicum2 |
| TPA4601 Stage Management I2 |
| TPA3609 Stage Management Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| Humanities & Cultural Practices/SIP course3 |
| HFT1000 Introduction to Hospitality or HFT3542 Event Managment3 |
| TPA3230 Costuming I3 |
| TPA4602 Advanced Stage Management3 |
| THE3214 World Theatre History II 3 |
| TPA3609 Stage Management Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| Natural Science course3 |
| TPA3353 Intro. to Lighting/Sound3 |
| THE4304 Play Analysis3 |
| TPP4531 Stage Combat3 |
| TPA4608 Stage Management III3 |
| TPA3609 Stage Management Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| Social Science course3 |
| Writing/E-Series course3 |
| SPC2608 Public Speaking3 |
| THE4400 Theatre Management3 |
| TPA3605 ASM Practicum2 |
| THE4954 Culminations1 |
| TPA3609 Stage Management Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete a Stage Management graduation check |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| Writing/E-Series course3 |
| TPA3606 Stage Managment Practicum4 |
| DAN4501 Dance Stage Management3 |
| Elective course3 |
| TPA 4xxxx Advanced SM Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| Ethics course3 |
| Elective course3 |
| TPP4310 Directing I3 |
| TPA4060 Scenic Design2 |
| TPA 4xxxx Advanced SM Seminar1 |
| THE4990 Forum: Attend All School Events 0 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Must receive “S” in THE4990 |
| Apply for Graduation in 1st two weeks |