Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2009-10 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2009-10 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


 
  
  • THEA 1700 - Script Analysis


    The study of selected plays from the standpoint of the theatre artist. Emphasis on thorough examination of the play script preparatory to production.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • THEA 1900 - Summer Theatre


    Theatre majors may receive credit for participating in a full season of summer theatre in the performance or production areas. Students must submit a summer theatre application to the Department Chair.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Application approved by Department Chair.

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: Repeatable for credit up to six hours.
    When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer I, Summer II
  
  • THEA 2200 - Stagecraft II


    A course in technical production including the planning and construction of complex stage scenery, costumes and properties; scenery painting; lighting technology; and laboratory work on University Theatre productions. Lab fee required.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1200 and instructor approval.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 2300 - Stage Makeup


    Study and practice of the basic principles and techniques of stage makeup.

    Credits: 3 hours

  
  • THEA 2320 - Scenic Design


    A course in scenography covering the design of stage settings and properties expressed through color renderings and/or the scenic models, and including further development of skills in drafting for the theatre.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1200 and 1700.

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: Lab fee required for materials.
    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • THEA 2410 - Voice and Movement I


    Development and training of the actor’s vocal and physical instrument for theatrical performance.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1410, THEA 1420. Corequisite: THEA 2450.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 2420 - Voice and Movement II


    Continued development of the actor’s vocal and physical instrument for theatrical performance.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 2410, THEA 2450. Corequisite: THEA 2460.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 2450 - Acting II: Character and Action


    Integration of theories and practices of Introduction to Acting and Acting I with an emphasis upon character development in the process of scene study.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1410, THEA 1420, and concurrent enrollment in THEA 2410.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 2460 - Acting III: Character, Action, Language


    Integration of character development and scene study with an emphasis upon classical texts or other intensive language-oriented texts.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 2410, THEA 2450, and concurrent enrollment in THEA 2420.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 2600 - Arts Management


    A survey of procedures for Arts Management, including ticket office accounting, promotion, marketing, funding and audience development.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Spring (even years)
  
  • THEA 2720 - Musical Theatre History and Script Analysis I


    An historical overview of the development of musical theatre from its earliest beginnings to 1943. Respective scripts will be analyzed within their historical context.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall (odd years)
  
  • THEA 2900 - Theatre Practicum


    Supervised experience in various areas of theatre in the University Theatre program. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of eight semester hours (only six of which can apply toward major and three toward minor). (Lab fee required.)

    Credits: 1 to 8 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer I, Summer II
  
  • THEA 3251 - Stage Management II


    This course serves as the capstone for the stage management concentration. This course offers portfolio preparation to United States Institute for Theatre Technology’s standards and standards employed by top Actors’ Equity Association LORT theatres and U/RTA and ACTF. Standards include: organization, resume, interview/audition procedures, personal presentation, dress and decorum, job applications, etc. The course will also include group discussion and individual projects relating to current productions. The course culminates in a final portfolio presentation to the University/Resident Theatre Association’s standards and is reviewed by Theatre and Dance faculty, staff, and invited guests.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite:  THEA 1251

    Credits: 3 hours

  
  • THEA 3310 - Costume Design


    A course in the design of theatrical costumes and accessories expressed through color rendering and including an overview of the history of the costume.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1200 and 1700.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • THEA 3320 - Lighting and Sound Design


    A course in the design of theatrical lighting and sound and in the practical application of those designs to the stage, including laboratory work on University Theatre productions.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1200 and 1700.

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: Lab fee required for materials.
    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • THEA 3440 - Acting IV: Period Styles of Acting


    Study and practice of acting in plays from selected major periods of theatre activity prior to the twentieth century. Topics may include Greek, commedia dell’ arte, Shakespeare, Moliere, Restoration, and examples from eighteenth and nineteenth century drama.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 2420 and THEA 2460.

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: Repeatable.
    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 3450 - Acting V: Contemporary Drama


    Study and practice of acting in plays from current and 20th century drama.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 2420 and THEA 2460.

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: This course is repeatable for credit under a different topic.
    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 3470 - Voice and Movement Lab


    An advanced course in voice and movement with an emphasis on the individual needs of the student actor. This course provides the students with an opportunity to investigate special topics in voice and movement training and to receive individual and small group tutorials.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 2410 and THEA 2420.

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: This course is repeatable for credit under a different topic.
    Lecture Hours - Laboratory Hours: (3 - 4)
    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • THEA 3510 - Directing I


    Functions of the play director as teacher, interpreter, coordinator, and collaborator. Focus is upon principles and problems of directing on the proscenium stage.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1410, THEA 1420, THEA 1700, and junior standing.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • THEA 3520 - Directing II


    A continuation of THEA 3510. Focus is upon the principles and problems of directing for the non-proscenium stage and expansion of directorial approaches to production. Students prepare and direct scenes and one short play using non-proscenium staging.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: THEA 3510

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 3700 - Theatre History I


    Survey of theatre history from the beginnings to 1642. Playwrights, acting styles, theatre production, theatre architecture, and audience taste are studied. 

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: This course is approved as a writing-intensive course which may fulfill the baccalaureate-level writing requirement of the student’s curriculum.
    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 3710 - Theatre History II


    Survey of theatre history from 1642 to the 20th century. Playwrights, acting styles, theatre production, theatre architecture and audience taste are studied.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: THEA 3700

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 3720 - Musical Theatre History and Script Analysis II


    A historical overview of the development of musical theatre from 1943 to the present. Representative scripts will be analyzed within their historical context.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: THEA 2720

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: This course is approved as a writing-intensive course which may fulfill the baccalaureate-level writing requirement of the student’s curriculum.
    When Offered: Fall (even years)
  
  • THEA 3900 - Professional Theatre Internship


    Advanced theatre majors may receive credit for participating in the Professional Theatre Internship Program with professional theatres. Students must submit an internship application to the department’s Internship Coordinator. The Internship Coordinator will determine the number of credit hours to be awarded.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Approval of the Internship Coordinator.

    Credits: 2 to 6 hours

    Notes: This course may be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.
    When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer I, Summer II
  
  • THEA 4000 - Special Topics in Theatre


    An investigation of topics of special interest related to theatre. Repeatable for credit under a different title. Examples of topics for study may include: dialects, mime, puppetry, script writing, advanced directing, theatre administration, touring theatre, advanced improvisation, stage management, and technical direction.

    Credits: 1 to 3 hours

  
  • THEA 4310 - Advanced Design


    A course for advanced students in the design of scenery, costumes, properties, and/or lighting; the professional drafting of those designs for technical production; and the preparation of the designer’s resume and portfolio.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1310, 1320, and one of the following: THEA 2320 or 3310 or 3320.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall (even years)
  
  • THEA 4320 - Computer-Aided Theatre Design


    An introduction to the application of computer hardware and software to design for the theatre, including instruction and practice in CAD, color imaging, and 3-D modeling. Lab fee required for printing materials.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: THEA 1310, 1320, and one of the following: THEA 2320 or 3310 or 3320.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 4410 - Acting Studio


    Study and practice of auditioning and cold readings with an emphasis upon preparation for graduate schools, internships, and the professional world of the actor.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: Either THEA 2420 and 2460.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 4430 - Acting for the Camera


    The study and practice of principles of acting as applied to film and television.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Either THEA 2420 or THEA 2460.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 4700 - Development of Theatre Art


    A survey of the development of twentieth century theatre art and its relationship to concurrent developments in other arts and world politics.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: THEA 3710

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 4900 - Individualized Study in Theatre


    Designed to enable upper division theatre majors, or students in special programs, to initiate, plan and execute projects in particular aspects of theatre. Must be planned in collaboration with a member of the theatre faculty who will act as supervising teacher. No more than six credit hours may count toward the major. Projects may involve study and research in an area of special interest, special performances or other creative activities.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Approval of performance or tech/design area, departmental advisor, and departmental chair.

    Credits: 1 - 6 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer I, Summer II
  
  • THEA 4950 - Music Theatre Performance Workshop III


    Students will participate in rehearsal and performance of staged readings from a broad spectrum of music theatre repertoire. Readings will incorporate technique and skills from the prior two semesters of MTP Workshop coursework. Readings will be performed before a public or invited audience. Students will be directed and evaluated by a faculty team from Theatre, Music and Dance.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite:  DANC 4950

    Credits: 2 hours

    When Offered: Spring
  
  • THEA 4990 - Music Theatre Showcase


    The purpose of this course is to prepare students who will soon graduate in Music Theatre Performance to be competitive as they face auditioning for the professional industry they will be entering. The focus of the course is to select and prepare musical audition material. Students will have the opportunity to rehearse and receive staging, vocal, and interpretation coaching on up to three songs, as well as direction and choreography for an ensemble number. In addition, the course will include discussion of the nature of the professional music theatre industry and what is expected of artists entering the field. The small section size will allow students to address their individual needs and issues and receive ample coaching and attention.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites:  Senior status and Music Theatre Performance majors only.

    Credits: 1 hour

    When Offered: Fall
  
  • THEA 5600 - Audience Development


    This course will focus on the goals, functions, and means of audience development, with special attention to audience education in the arts. Topics will include the use of quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques to determine bases for creating programs to reach targeted, potential audiences based on demographics; developing master classes, residencies, special presentation, instructional material and post-performance experiences for targeted groups; and methods of evaluating the results of specific programs developed for a specific purpose.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Admission to the M.F.A. in Performing Arts Administration program or permission of program director.

    Credits: 2 hours

  
  • THEA 5610 - Facility and Ticket Office Operations


    This course will address issues in facility management for presenting and producing performances and special events (e.g., handling food service for premieres and openings of shows, fundraisers, rentals, etc.) with consideration for the size of the performance space including an overview of the physical operations of such a facility, and the use of auxiliary spaces (e.g., Miller Auditorium, Gilmore Theatre Complex, Dalton Center Recital Hall, Multi-Media Room, Dance Studio B, etc.). The course will also include basics of setting up and running a ticket office for both manual and computerized systems, as well as special sales, audit requirements and artist payments based on percentages. Personnel requirements will be included in relation to the variable above.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: Admission to the M.F.A. in Performing Arts Administration program of permission of program director.

    Credits: 2 hours

  
  • UNIV 1010 - Freshman Seminar


    This course is designed to assist students to encounter experientially, intellectually, and emotionally the various avenues of learning, and to foster the academic, personal, social, and career development of each student. The activities and assignments of the course aid students in the development of an intellectual awareness and provide the skills and self-management required for a successful transition from high school to the University. The course is intended to excite students about learning and living in the new and challenging world of Western Michigan University. For freshmen only.

    Credits: 1 to 3 hours

  
  • UNIV 1020 - Career Exploration and Development


    This course is designed to help the undecided student assess and develop skills in self-awareness, career awareness, decision-making, and planning. It will include activities to identify and explore the following areas: values, interests, career information, decision-making, and University resources. Assignments will involve written exercises and research in the Career Resource Center.

    Credits: 1 hour

  
  • WMS 1000 - Media and the Sexes


    The course investigates how films, television, music videos and advertising present images of women and men to different audiences.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • WMS 2000 - Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies


    This interdisciplinary core course provides analytical frameworks for the study of gender and gender-defining institutions, exploring the social conditions associated with gender in the U.S. society in a global context. Course emphasizes approaches that study the diversity and similarity of gendered experience across class, racial and ethnic groups.

    Credits: 4 hours

    Notes: This course satisfies General Education Area III: The United States: Cultures and Issues.
    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • WMS 3000 - Working Women, Past and Present


    Analysis of the social significance of women’s work in the United States. Emphasis is on the history of women’s participation in the paid labor force, with consideration of women’s changing role in the family and society.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • WMS 3200 - Women, Multiculturalism, and Social Change


    This course focuses on the interrelationship of women, multiculturalism, and social change. The course pursues an interdisciplinary analysis of multicultural gender roles and change in social institutions, such as law, medicine, education, media, business, and politics. Study will consider gender, ethnicity, class, and cultural experience in the context of national and global forces.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: WMS 2000

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall
  
  • WMS 3300 - Gender Issues in Education


    Various gender issues in education are studied from both an historical and a contemporary perspective. The course will analyze current research on self-esteem and gender inequities in education and seek solutions. Attention will be given to theoretical and pedagogical concerns and to development issues affecting students.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • WMS 3500 - Psychological Perspectives on Gender


    The course investigates the meanings of gender in diverse segments of American society. Study will focus on psychological and sociological perspectives on the formation of gender roles and characteristics. The course provides a theoretical and practical analysis of the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of men and women and examines the ways gender is structured through parental and institutional socialization.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • WMS 3700 - Special Topics in Gender and Women’s Studies


    Variable topics in Gender and Women’s Studies. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

    Credits: 1 - 4 hours

  
  • WMS 4010 - Foundations of Feminist Theory


    An investigation of various texts historically significant in the development of feminist concepts and theories. Includes texts from the past as well as the present. 

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: WMS 2000

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: Fulfills the baccalaureate-level writing requirement.
    When Offered: Fall
  
  • WMS 4100 - Special Topics in Women’s Studies


    Variable topics in Women’s Studies. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

    Credits: 3 hours

  
  • WMS 4400 - Internship Seminar


    Course offers an opportunity for the advanced student to apply theory and knowledge in Women’s Studies to a professional or community project. Student will work under the supervision of a faculty advisor or a community sponsor. Opportunities available in areas such as television production, K-12 classroom presentations, and a variety of community organizations and agencies serving women and children.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: 12 hours of course work from the WMS approved list (including WMS 2000) and at least junior status, or departmental approval.

    Credits: 3 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • WMS 4980 - Independent Study


    Individual study available to the advanced student by permission of faculty advisor with department approval of project application.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: 12 hours of course work from the WMS approved list (including WMS 200) and at least junior status, or departmental approval.

    Credits: 1 to 4 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
  
  • WMS 5500 - Contemporary Feminist Theory


    An advanced course focusing on the analysis of American and European texts in feminist theory. The course will also consider the relation of these texts to other contemporary theoretical approaches.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: WMS 4010.

    Credits: 3 hours

    Notes: The prerequisites for admission of undergraduates to 5000-level Women’s Studies classes are twelve hours of course work from the Women’s Studies approved list (including WMS 2000) and at least junior level status, or departmental approval.
  
  • WMS 5970 - Issues in Women’s Studies: Variable Topics


    Group study of special issues in Women’s Studies. Variable topics may address theoretical, critical, or practical issues in the historical or contemporary context. The courses will be offered in response to the special needs and interests of students and may be organized around special events or available guest speakers. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Course open to graduate students.

    Credits: 1 to 3 hours

    Notes: The prerequisites for admission of undergraduates to 5000-level Women’s Studies classes are twelve hours of course work from the Women’s Studies approved list (including WMS 2000) and at least junior level status, or departmental approval.
  
  • WMS 5980 - Readings in Women’s Studies


    Individual study project available to the advanced student by permission of faculty advisor with departmental approval of project application.

    Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: The prerequisites for admission of undergraduates to 5000-level Women’s Studies classes are twelve hours of course work from the Women’s Studies approved list (including WMS 2000) and at least junior level status, or departmental approval.

    Credits: 1 to 4 hours

    When Offered: Fall, Spring
 

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