Costume Technology

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Theatre School

BFAEntertainment and Performing ArtsDigital FluencyCritical ThinkingIn-Person
Admission to the Conservatory
An audition or an interview (depending on your program) is required for admission to The Theatre School; students must submit an application ​to DePaul University (naming their intended major) before they can begin the audition or interview process.
Visit the Theatre School
The Theatre School hosts both in-person and online events for prospective theatre students. Due to high demand, we unfortunately cannot accommodate walk-ins.

Create costumes for the stage and screen

The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Costume Technology is designed to prepare you for success in a wide range of costume and production roles within both traditional theatre and emerging entertainment industries. Through a comprehensive four-year curriculum, you will gain hands-on experience working in our production season as a stitcher, first hand, draper, crafts person, wardrobe crew member, and costume shop assistant.

In this program, you will learn how to collaborate with designers and production teams to interpret costume designs and transform them into finished garments and accessories that support both the actor and the storytelling goals of each production. Our Costume Technology program helps you develop the technical, artistic, and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in professional costume production environments.

Classes

Coursework

  • Costume Crafts: Dyeing and Painting
  • Costume Construction I: Pattern Drafting
  • Costume Construction I: Draping
  • History of Costume, Hair, and Makeup
  • Costume Management
  • Costume Crafts: Millinery
  • Costume Construction II: Period Costumes/20th Century Tailoring/Special Topics

Career Options

Career
  • Costume Stitcher / First Hand / Draper
  • Wardrobe Assistant / Wardrobe Supervisor
  • Costume Shop Manager
  • Costume Technician (Theatre, Film, TV)
  • Costume Buyer / Set Costumer
  • Craft Specialist / Milliner
  • Commercial or Theme Park Costume Professional
Featured Faculty and Staff

Students learn from a community of distinguished award-winning faculty and staff of professional designers and artists both in the classroom and through individual guidance and advising during production work. Students receive formal and informal feedback from faculty, staff, and guests through portfolio presentations and exhibitions of their work at various points.

Alex Hagman
Draper
Maggie Hofmann
Design Technical
Head of Costume Technology
Birgit Rattenborg-Wise
Design Technical
Costume Design III
Laura Whitlock
Design Technical
Costume Crafts
McKinley Johnson
Design Technical
Costume Technology
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