Course Descriptions

Department Code: THTR

111 Theatre Experience
Introduction to basic knowledge of the theatre, its origins, development, and the work and joy involved in the creative experience of theatre. Intended to increase the understanding of and appreciation for theatre by non-majors and majors. Laboratory with current productions.  Credit 3 hours

115-116-215-216-315-316-415-416 Goal and Career Development
Required every semester for theatre majors. Student and instructor will design a project plan to meet the development level of the individual student. Jury at the end.  Pre-requisite: 2.0 GPA. Credit 1 to 3 hours

121-122-221-222-321-322-421-422 Theatre Participation
Recital experience in theatrical production. Requires work in a major technical aspect of a current production. A maximum of 8 hours may be counted toward degree. Pre-requisite: 2.0 GPA. Graded S/U. Credit 1 to 2 hours

131 Dance: Tap and Jazz
Teaches basic dance movements and terminology, providing a foundation for  musical theatre dance. Credit 1 to 2 hours

132 Dance: Musical Theatre
Builds musical theatre repertoire, providing students with audition and performance technique. Credit 1 to 2 hours

133 Dance: Ballet
Teaches basic dance movements and terminology, providing a foundation for all movement and dance.  For experienced dancers it provides extended challenges and lays the foundation for choreography. Credit 1 to 2 hours

THTR 151, MUS 151M Musical Theatre Ensemble
Selected individuals work as an ensemble on musical theatre and popular performance pieces as an ensemble, in smaller groups and as soloists, building skills in vocal and theatre performance as they prepare to perform for the campus and community.  Students are required to take private voice lessons concurrently.  Cross-listed with Music. Credit 0 to 1 hour. May be repeated for credit.

170-270-370-470 Summer Theatre Workshop
Student participation as members of SC’s Horsefeathers and Applesauce Summer Dinner Theatre Programs.  May be repeated, but only six hours may count towards graduation. Credit 1 to 6 hours

223 Creative Dramatics
Designed for theatre performance and elementary education majors. Follows the philosophy that our world/reality  is always changing. Improvisation, role playing, and other  “Theatrical games” for mutual understanding and trust. Cross-listed with Education.  Credit 3 hours

224 Stagecraft
Theory and practice of technical phases of play production. Study and application of principles of construction and handling of stage scenery, lighting, and sound equipment. Laboratory with current productions. Credit 3 hours

226 Acting 1
Theory and practice of acting. Study of dramatic literature and acting theory. Practice of character analysis, rehearsal and performance techniques. Credit 3 hours

227 Make-Up for the Stage
Basic principles and practices of theatre makeup; various assignments to develop skill in theatrical makeup.  Laboratory with current productions. Credit 3 hours

234 The Expressive Voice
Development of optimal vocal production, with focus on mastery of standard American dialect and introduction to the use of other stage dialects, with application to the use of the voice in all styles of text performance. Credit 3 hours

324 Arts Management
An overview of the responsibilities of a director of an artistic organization. Management of personnel and facilities, programming, promotion, and budgeting will be studied in the classroom and in the field. Also includes visits to local arts organizations for firsthand experience. Credit 3 hours

325 Design for the stage
Study of stage design as it relates to scenic elements, lighting and sound. Prerequisite: 224. Credit 3 hours

327 Costuming
An examination of the history, development, basic principles of design and construction of stage costumes. Laboratory with current productions. Credit 3 hours

330 Stage Movement
Development of the actor’s body as an expressive tool, developing sensory and spatial awareness, structure and alignment, stage presence, gesture, and introducing its use in acting styles. Credit 3 hours.

331 Theatre Across the Disciplines 2
This lab intensive course stresses theatre involvement and methods across the disciplines. Emphasis is placed on communicating with and developing empathy for others in a variety of fields including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The course seeks to connect learning and sharing among all disciplines through theatre games, creative dramatics,and drama literature, and its performance across campus and in the surrounding community. As theatre entertains and teaches, it helps us build connections to understand ourselves and our world.  Prerequisite: LAS 231. Credit 3 hours

332 Theatre History 1
Examines history of theatre from its origins through Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Restoration and Romantic theatre. Reading of plays and study of theory, historical background, the physical theatre and its performer and their relationship to the culture and development of theatre. Credit 3 hours

333 Theatre History 2
Development of theatre and dramatic literature beginning with Realism.  Reading of plays and study of theory, historical development, genres, styles, physical theatre, performers, and the cultural diversity of the modern drama and the theatrical experience. Credit 3 hours

336 Musical Theatre Performance
Develops skills in musical theatre performance, by developing of techniques for integration of acting, singing and dancing. Will work with variety of styles of musical theatre performance. Credit 3 hours

340 Musical Theatre History
Taught as a seminar reading course, providing history of the musical foundation from its roots to contemporary musical theatre, combined with readings of librettos of major works. Credit 3 hours

343 Creative Writing: Playwriting
This class focuses on the study and creation of dramatic literature.  Students will work with the basic theories and skills of playwriting, integrating written and oral communication skills, psychology, the humanities, and the culture and diversity of our world.  Students will write plays throughout the semester, building plots, developing characters, and themes.  Reading of plays, about playwrights and about playwriting will complement student playwriting.  The learning and creative work of each student will be integrated in a final project. Cross-listed with English.  Credit 3 hours.

424 Directing 1
Theory and practice of directing. Play choice, analysis, and rehearsal
techniques. Play choice, analysis, and rehearsal techniques. Prerequisites: 226, 224, SPCH 230, or consent of the instructor. Credit 3 hours

425 Directing 2
A continuation of Directing 1. This course requires the production of a one-act play. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Credit 3 hours

426 Acting 2
Study of a variety of acting methods and styles. Preparation of a recital. Prerequisite: 226 or consent of the instructor. Credit 3 hours

438 Teaching and Directing Theatre in the Secondary Schools
A study of the problems and methodologies of teaching and directing theatre activities in the secondary schools. Includes observation and participation in, drama activities designed for the public school programs. Satisfies teacher licensure requirements. Prerequisites: all communication and theatre courses required for the major other than COMM 438 or permission of the instructor.  Credit 1.5 hours

454 Senior Project
Project chosen by student and instructor in conference.   Development of project to synthesize and integrate theatre knowledge and application. Credit 1 to 3 hours

Department Code: COMM

COMM 101 Media Writing 1
The study of basic news gathering techniques and principles of news writing. Students will learn to write for a variety of media, purposes, and audiences. Emphasis will be on style, ethics, and accuracy. Credit 3 hours

COMM 203 Interpersonal Communication
Introductory study of communication between people and in relationships. Stresses awareness of how one's communication behavior influences and is influenced by others and provides methods of improving interpersonal interactions. Credit 3 hours

COMM 208 Critical Thinking and Argumentation
Students enrolled in this course will learn the theoretical principles of critical thinking and argument as they apply to interpersonal, organizational, public and political concerns. Students will be guided in subject analysis, data gathering, evidence building, and evaluation of critical arguments. Credit 3 hours

COMM 215 Intercultural Communication
An investigation of the similarities and differences of communication patterns of various cultures. Examination of the values and cultural norms that inform and influence a culture's communication.  Credit 3 hours

COMM 250 Media Law and Ethics
This course is to introduce students to the major legal, ethical, and policy issues related to the mass media. This will be done by exposing students to primary documents and cases as well as to methods of analysis. Upon completion, students should be able to explain in broad context existing media law and policy and be able to critique and analyze future laws and policies. Students should also be able to articulate the ethical issues that are relevant to media conduct. Credit 3 hours

COMM 315 Persuasion
A study of persuasive communication and the techniques that motivate persons to act or believe in a particular way. A variety of persuasive rhetorical theories will be discussed as tools for persuasion. Credit 3 hours

COMM 317 Advanced Presentational Speaking
This is an advanced course in the theory and application of public speaking in a variety of contexts and situations. Students will demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of how to engage audiences more effectively by using critical thinking, audience analysis, organization, technological and delivery skills.
Prerequisite: COMM 102 Oral Communication. Credit 3 hours

COMM 401 Debate Question Analysis and Case Construction
This course is designed to acquaint students with critical analysis and case construction of debate questions including high school and intercollegiate organizations. Special emphasis is placed on case construction and analysis in a workshop setting. Prerequisite: COMM 102, COMM 208 or consent of the instructor.  Credit 3 hours

COMM 410 Theories of Human Communication
The focus of this course includes an overview of watershed theories and research in the major subfields of communication. Prerequisite: COMM 102 or consent of instructor. Credit 3 hours

COMM 438 Teaching and Directing Speech, Forensics and Debate in the Secondary Schools
A study of the problems and methodologies of teaching and directing forensics and debate activities in the secondary schools. This course includes observation and participation in, debate and forensic activity designed for the public school programs. Satisfies teacher licensure requirements. Prerequisites: all communication and theatre required courses for this major other than THTR 438 and permission of the instructor. Credit 1.5 hours

Theatre Arts