College of Arts and Sciences
113 Introduction to Dance (3)
An introductory study of dance forms and function and of specific practices in a range of different cultures. Designed to heighten the student’s understanding and appreciation of how dance expresses aesthetic values and how it embodies social, religious and political values.
115 Theatre: Introduction to Performance (3)
Introduction to acting and use of total instrument of the theatre. Emphasis upon dramatic theory and literature and their relationship to performance. Every semester.
121 Beginning Acting (3)
The basic principles of acting. On demand.
125 Dance Technique I (3)
A studio introduction to dance including physical and musical disciplines, form, style, and standard professional practice. On demand.
141 Theatre Practice and Theory (3)
Introduction to production organization. Survey and application of technologies, materials, and techniques of theatrical production. Fall semester.
143 Basic Design in Theatre (3)
Introduction to the principles and practices of designing theatrical environments and costumes for plays. Study and practice in analysis of various styles and types of plays; basic visual and spatial principles; developing theatrical imagery; and communicating design ideas. Spring semester.
151 Play Analysis (3)
Nature of drama and theatre in its historical context with emphasis upon analysis of play scripts as the basis for creation of theatrical images. Formerly 105. Fall semester.
199r Special Projects (1-4)
Individual or group projects. Every semester. Maximum credit 4 hours.
200r Performance and Production (1)
Lower division laboratory course in all aspects of theatre performance and production. Project assignments in departmental productions and workshops. Every semester. Prerequisite: approval of department head. Graded by faculty jury. May be repeated for credit.
209 Business and Professional Speech Communication (3)
Study of the modes and processes of speech communication in organizations. Development of individual skills in group interaction and decision-making as well as informative and persuasive speech. On demand.
210 Interpersonal Communication (3)
Examination of the basic theories and practices of face-to-face communication: how communication messages are designed, produced, exchanged, and interpreted in a variety of interpersonal contexts. Practical exercises in speech communication will be required.
221 Acting I (3)
Fundamentals of acting and of speech for the theatre. Formerly 227. Fall semester. Prerequisite: 151 and/or approval of instructor. Corequisite: 200r.
225 Dance Technique II (3)
A studio course for students with previous training in dance. Attention to choreography. On demand. Prerequisite: Theatre and Speech 125 or approval of instructor.
230 Contemporary Francophone African Cinema (3)
See Modern Language 230.
255 The Theatre to the Renaissance (3)
History of the theatre as an art and as an institution from its beginnings to the 17th century. Fall semester. Prerequisite: 151 or approval of instructor.
257 The Theatre from the Renaissance to the 20th Century (3)
History of the theatre as an art and as an institution from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Spring semester. Prerequisite: 151 or approval of instructor.
259r Playwrights’ Seminar (2)
Development of the playwright’s craft through exercises in dramatic writing, critique, and examination of dramaturgical principles. On demand. Prerequisites: Theatre and Speech 151, 255 or 257, or approval of the instructor. May be repeated for up to 6 hours credit.
280 Introduction to Film (3)
The history and language of motion pictures studied by viewing and analyzing selected film masterpieces and the ideas they explore. Every semester.
300r Performance and Production (1)
Upper division laboratory course in all aspects of theatre performance and production. Project assignments in departmental productions and workshops. Every semester. Prerequisite: 2 semesters of 200r and approval of department head. Graded by faculty jury. May be repeated only once for credit.
307 Advocacy and Debate (3)
A study of contemporary procedures in deliberation, persuasion, and debate utilizing current topics of public interest. Emphasis on the development of individual skills in rational decision-making and advocacy through actual experiences in intercollegiate and parliamentary forms of debate. Formerly 320. On demand.
308 Readers’ Theatre (3)
The study of literature through group performance and the development of skilled verbal and nonverbal expression based on the critical examination of written texts. On demand.
309 Contemporary Public Speech Communication: Concepts and Cases (3)
Study of rhetorical principles employed in addresses by contemporary leaders concerning significant current questions: practice in the application of rhetorical principles in speeches and oral reports. On demand.
331 Directing I (3)
Basic elements of play directing: play analysis, director-actor communication, and the uses of improvisation. Each students will direct a short scene and participate in diagnostic criticism. Formerly 317. Fall semester. Prerequisites: 143, 255, 257, and approval of instructor. Corequisite: 300r or 400r.
340 Theatre Arts for Children (1)
Implementation of discipline-based theatre arts concepts and creative drama techniques for the child. Laboratories in addition to regularly scheduled classes will be included. Fall and Spring semester. Prerequisites: Theatre and Speech 115, Psychology 221 OR Human Ecology 240, Music 111, Art 301. Corequisites Music 340, Art 340.
343 History of Costume (3)
Study of wearing apparel, principally in the western world from ancient Egypt to the present with a particular emphasis on clothing as a reflection of the cultural milieu. Formerly 313. Spring semester alternate years.
400r Performance and Production (1)
Upper division laboratory course in all aspects of theatre performance and production. Projects assigned in departmental productions and workshops. Every semester. Prerequisite: 2 semesters of 300r and approval of department head. Graded by faculty jury. May be repeated only once for credit.
412 Theatre for Youth (3)
All phases of producing plays for or by junior audiences examined, including the techniques of creative dramatics. On demand.
423 Advanced Problems in Acting (3)
Further development of the actor’s instrument with emphasis upon performance style in the theatre. Spring semester alternate years. Prerequisites: Theatre and Speech 151, 221, 2 semesters of 200r and/or approval of instructor. Pre- or Corequisite: THSP 300r.
431 Directing II (3)
Directing of short scenes for laboratory presentation and participation in diagnostic criticism. Spring semester. Prerequisite: 331 and approval of instructor. Corequisite: 300r or 400r.
450r Topics in Drama and Theatre (3)
Study of dramatic genres, dramaturgy, playwrights, theatre and performance theory, applications and/or interpretations by theatre artists. A specified topic will be listed in course schedule. On demand. May be repeated for up to 6 hours credit when specified topics differ.
457 Conceptual Foundations of the Modern Theatre (3)
Studies in the concepts of selected playwrights, directors, and designers who helped to shape the directions of the twentieth-century theatre and its drama. Spring semester alternate years. Prerequisite: approval of instructor.
459 Playwrights’ Workshop (2)
Use of rehearsal, performance, and production process for the development of student writing for the stage. On demand. Prerequisites: Theatre and Speech 259r, 331, 300r and/or approval of instructor.
461r Directed Studies in Advanced Production (1-4)
Advanced problems in design and technical theatre. On demand. Prerequisite: approval of department head. May be repeated for credit.
463r Directed Studies in Advanced Performance (1-4)
Advanced problems in acting, directing, and musical theatre. On demand. Prerequisite: approval of department head. May be repeated for credit.
465r Directed Studies in Theatre Education (1-4)
Problems in teaching theatre, creative drama, arts integration, etc., to K-12 students. On demand. Prerequisite: Approval of Department Head. May be repeated for up to six hours credit.
485 Film Topics (3)
Directors, genres, styles, or theories of film studied by viewing and analyzing representative films. On demand.
495r Departmental Honors (1-3 hours per term, 4 hours for the two terms)
On demand. See “Departmental Honors,” page 39.
497r Research (1-4)
On demand.
498r Individual Studies (1-4)
On demand.
499r Group Studies (1-4)
On demand.
