Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

CCOG for TA 162 Spring 2024

View archive version »
Course Number:
TA 162
Course Title:
Introduction to Costume Construction
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours:
10
Lecture/Lab Hours:
40
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Explores principles of costume construction and alteration techniques to create finished costumes based upon an original design and/or renderings. Develops skills in sewing, measuring, beginning drafting, draping, and alterations. Requires observing or contributing to the process of producing costumes for a Theatre Arts production. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

  1. Construct, alter, and maintain costume elements for a Theatre Arts production.
  2. Choose appropriate materials used to construct unique character's costume or prop.
  3. Demonstrate an ability to time-manage multiple projects for a single production.
  4. Perform basic sewing machine functions.

Aspirational Goals

We aspire to work as a team toward the creation of functional costumes for main stage TA program productions using costume construction techniques.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Student will be assessed on consistent thoughtfulness, and the process of  planning ahead to the completion of projects assigned.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

By doing the assigned tasks, the student will be able to:

A. Understand how costumes are constructed for Theatre.

B. Learn basic hand and machine sewing skills for constructing costume elements.

C. Gain an understanding of basic pattern making skills.

By participating in the class, the student will study various ways in which traditional theatre costumes are conceived, constructed and be introduced to the numerous technologies available to manifest costumes from design to stage through performance.

This experience will vary according to the costuming demands of the TA main-stage production being mounted that term.

The student would utilize given patterns, construction tools, fitting methods,  and/or alterations to variable costumes.   By reading, and video viewing, the student will begin to understand the unique application of traditional materials and methods used on traditional fabrics for the creation of a theatre (or other) costume.  

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have satisfactorily accomplished the goals and objectives listed in the course content guide.  Course content guides are developed by college wide faculty and approved by management.