Theatre & Dance Learning Outcomes

BFA in Theatre: Acting

PLO 1: Acting: Students will demonstrate an ability to act (i.e., to project oneself believably in word and action into imaginary circumstances, evoked through improvisation or text) in plays drawn from different periods, genres, and styles in an ensemble relationship with other actors. 

PLO 2: Speech: Students will demonstrate clear, articulate, and expressive speech, with demonstrated ability to use appropriate tools and systems to learn and perform dialects, and the ability to perform effectively in verse plays in theatre spaces of varying sizes and in media productions.  

PLO 3: Movement: Students will demonstrate a flexible, relaxed, and controlled body trained in basic stage movement disciplines and combat; demonstrated ability to use the body effectively on stage as an instrument for characterization and to be responsive to changing time/rhythm demands and spatial relationships.  

PLO 4: Business Skills: Students will demonstrate a comprehension of the basic business procedures of the actor’s profession, including audition procedures, resumes, headshots, unions, agents, online actor website, and so forth. 

PLO 5: Comprehensive Understanding: Students will demonstrate a fundamental, comprehensive understanding of the various elements and basic interrelated processes of creation, interpretation, performance, and production, along with familiarity with theatre literature of various historical periods, cultural sources, and modes of presentation, and the ability to analyze plays perceptively and evaluate them critically. 

BFA in Theatre: Design and Technology

PLO 1: Design Concepts: Students will demonstrate an ability to understand and communicate design elements and principles of design theory and to conceptualize and realize a design aesthetic consistent with the overall artistic concepts of a production. 

PLO 2: Design Process: Students will demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the total design and production process, including the progression and basic engineering principles of raw materials through multiple design “shops” and the roles that various craftspeople play in the creation of a finished product as they relate to chosen design specializations. 

PLO 3: Models and Drawings: Students will demonstrate an ability to provide formalized, accurate production models and drawings by hand and/or through the use of current industry standard software programs. 

PLO 4: Understanding of Various Elements: Students will demonstrate a fundamental, comprehensive understanding of the various elements and basic interrelated processes of creation, interpretation, performance, and production, along with familiarity with theatre history, including knowledge of décor, architecture, furniture, dress, crafts, and art, as they relate to various historical periods and literature of different periods, cultural sources, and modes of presentation, and the ability to analyze plays perceptively and evaluate them critically. 

PLO 5: Business Skills: Students will prepare and present a professional resume and portfolio of design- and technology-related work that demonstrate one’s abilities, strengths, processes, and experiences. 

BFA in Theatre: Musical Theatre

PLO 1: Acting: Students will demonstrate an ability to act (i.e., to project oneself believably in word and action into imaginary circumstances, evoked through improvisation or text) convincingly from musicals drawn from different genres and musical styles in an ensemble relationship with other actors.  

PLO 2: Singing: Students will achieve the highest possible level of performance as an actor-singer and thorough development in basic musical skills, including voice performance, musicianship, and music theory.  

PLO 3: Dancing: Students will demonstrate a thorough development of skills in dance and movement as appropriate to musical theatre. 

PLO 4: Business Skills: Students will demonstrate a comprehension of the basic business procedures of the actor’s profession, including audition procedures, resumes, headshots, unions, agents, online actor website, and so forth. 

PLO 5: Comprehensive Understanding: Students will demonstrate a fundamental, comprehensive understanding of the various elements and basic interrelated processes of creation, interpretation, performance, and production, along with familiarity with theatre literature of various historical periods, cultural sources, and modes of presentation, and the ability to analyze plays perceptively and evaluate them critically. 

BA in Theatre

PLO 1: Broad Range of Knowledge: Students will demonstrate a broad range of knowledge and skills in the area of theatre within a liberal arts context.  

PLO 2: Performance and Production: Students will demonstrate ability in all areas of performance and production and intermediate to advanced competence in one or more areas appropriate to individual needs and interests. 

PLO 3: Production Processes: Students will demonstrate an understanding of production processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the way these elements shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces. 

PLO 4: Repertory: Students will demonstrate acquaintance with a wide selection of theatre repertory including the principal eras, genres, styles, and cultural sources.

BA in Dance

PLO 1: Broad Range of Knowledge: Students will demonstrate a broad range of knowledge and skills in the area of dance within a liberal arts context. 

PLO 2: Dance Production: Students will demonstrate an understanding in the many facets of dance production and other professionally oriented work. 

PLO 3: Familiarity with Repertory: Students will demonstrate familiarity with a wide variety of dance repertory and dance styles.  

PLO 4: Fluency in Practical Application of Dance: Students will demonstrate fluency in all practical applications of dance, including performance, choreography, kinesiology, and teaching.  

PLO 5: Historical and Cultural Aspects: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the major historical and cultural aspects of dance.