Stage Combat

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Stage Combat is designed for actors, choreographers, directors, stage managers, fight captains, and those responsible for theater hiring who want to add stage combat and fight captain skills to their repertoire. Equips theater and film professionals with the skills and training needed to pursue Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) Certified Actor Combatant credentials in eight weapons categories, preparing them for potential recognition as Advanced Actor Combatants. Students who complete the program will have access to SAFD certification exams and acquire a depth and breadth of expertise in stage combat to function as a fight captain on a stage or screen production crew.

Details

Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Stage Combat (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5239
Total credits required
16
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

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

What You'll Learn
  • Define various technical terms from a glossary of SAFD lexicon.
  • Apply stage combat techniques to safely perform in a theatrical production using all currently recognized SAFD stage combat weapons.
  • Demonstrate a variety of exercises designed to achieve and improve flexibility, strength, control, and discipline of the body.
  • Execute safely choreographed fights using the following weapon styles: unarmed, broadsword, rapier and dagger, single sword, small sword, sword and shield/buckler, quarterstaff and knife.
  • Develop scripted scenes telling a story of violence using choreographed fights between two or more characters.
  • Analyze texts, fight moves and scenes, characterization, and historical research of fighting styles to determine character intention and motivation in order to create a believable performance.
  • Evaluate stage combat performances for safety in order to identify issues that might require intervention, communication, and revision.

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 Arizona-based 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

$29.71 hourly

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

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.

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 Credits
THO130AA Specialized Stage Combat: Unarmed 8 week course 1.5
THO130AB Specialized Stage Combat: Broadsword 8 week course 1

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
THO130AC Specialized Stage Combat: Rapier and Dagger 8 week course 1.5
THO130AD Specialized Stage Combat: Single Sword 8 week course 1.5

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
THO130AE Specialized Stage Combat: Small Sword 8 week course 1
THO130AF Specialized Stage Combat: Sword and Shield/Buckler 8 week course 1

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
THO130AG Specialized Stage Combat: Quarterstaff 8 week course 1
THO130AH Specialized Stage Combat: Knife 8 week course 1.5
THO235 Principles of Stage Combat Safety/Fight Captain 16 week course 4
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses 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=184794).

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.