Course Catalog

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Performing Arts

In addition to existing minors in music, theater, and musical arts administration, the Performing Arts Program includes three possible major concentrations. The concentrations are:

Music: provides students with a full range of musical opportunities, academic and performance, guided with a high level of personal attention. We offer instrumental and vocal instruction, the opportunity to participate in ensembles, and coursework that supports an understanding of music in its wider historical, social, cultural and geographical contexts. Summer international and orchestral programs offer students the opportunity to expand horizons and deepen understanding of worlds beyond their own by engaging in conservatory-like, pre-professional training here and abroad. Taken together, these endeavors prepare our students for advanced training and careers in a variety of fields such as performance, composition, music scholarship, education and arts administration.

Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies: Students develop the knowledge and skills required to create theater, dance and performance, including visual thinking, design, dance, acting and performance, directing, movement, stagecraft, playwriting and critical analysis, writing and presentation.

Integrated Performing Arts: Students explore how performance of various kinds can serve as a method of research and communication that intersects in productive ways with other fields in the arts, sciences, and social sciences.

Minimum Grade and GPA Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C- or better in each course counted towards the major, and maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in these courses.

Degree Requirements for the Performing Arts Major

Music Concentration

Required Foundational Courses– 16 Credits

  • PERF110:Critical Creativity in the Performing Arts
  • MUSC203: Music Theory I
  • MUSC201: Sight Singing and Dictation I
  • MUSC204: Music Theory II
  • MUSC202: Sight Singing and Dictation II
  • MUSC216: Introduction to the World’s Music

Required Developmental Courses – 16 Credits (300 or 400 level)

  • MUSC318: Music History I
  • MUSC319: Music History II
  • MUSA38: Four semesters of private instruction
  • MUSA48: Four semesters of ensemble participation

Capstone Courses – 12 Credits

  • PERF475/476: Performing Arts Today I&II
  • MUSC/TFMS 493/494: SMP

OR

  • PERF490/491: Capstone Course on Ensemble Performance/Production

Theater, Dance, & Performance Studies

Required Foundational Courses – 20 Credits

  • PERF110: Critical Creativity in the Performing Arts
  • TFMS170: Stagecraft
  • TFMS171: Elements of Design
  • TFMS230: Acting I 4 Existing
  • TFMS250: Movement I

Required Developmental Courses – 8 Credits (300 level)

  • TFMS325: Methods of Study in Theater, Dance, Performance
  • TFMS371: Production Lab (to be repeated 4 times)
  • TFMS 370: Studio (Students are required to participate in at least three productions, which serve as laboratory work that accompanies their courses. This is a placeholder that bears no credit and is assigned after the production is completed).

Elective Developmental Courses – 12 Credits

  • TFMS200: Theater in History
  • TFMS300: Modern Theater
  • PERF372: Performance Studies
  • TFMS341: Directing I
  • TFMS345: Playwriting
  • TFMS390: Devising a Community-Based Play
  • TFMS331: Acting II
  • TFMS375: Costume Design
  • TFMS376: Scenic Design
  • TFMS374: Lighting Design
  • TFMS255: Modern I
  • TFMS251: African Dance
  • TFMS260: Topics in Dance/Movement
  • TFMS405: Topics in Theater, Dance and Performance Studies
  • TFMS 399: Independent Study
  • TFMS 398: Internship
  • TFMS480: Topics in Production
  • TFMS 290/490: Practicum

Capstone Courses – 12 Credits

  • PERF475/476: Performing Arts Today I&II
  • MUSC/TFMS 493/494: SMP

OR

  • PERF490/491: Capstone Course on Ensemble Performance/Production

Integrated Performing Arts

Required Foundational Courses – 24 Credits

  • PERF110: Critical Creativity in the Performing Arts
  • TFMS 170: Stagecraft
  • TFMS171: Elements of Design
  • TFMS230: Acting I

OR

  • TFMS250: Movement I
  • MUSC 201/203: (Sight Singing and Dictation I / Music Theory I)
  • MUSC 202/204: (Sight Singing and Dictation II / Music Theory II)

Required Developmental Courses – 12 Credits

  • MUSA 48-: (ensemble)
  • MUSA 38-: (private lessons)
  • PERF325: Methods of Study in Theater, Dance, Performance
  • TFMS371: Production Lab 1 (to be repeated 2 times)

Elective Developmental Courses – 8 Credits

  • TFMS200: Theater in History
  • TFMS275: Costumes and Clothes in History
  • TFMS300: Modern Theater 4 Existing
  • PERF372: Performance Studies
  • TFMS341: Directing I
  • TFMS345: Playwriting
  • TFMS390: Devising a Community-Based Play
  • TFMS331: Acting II
  • TFMS375: Costume Design
  • TFMS376: Scenic Design
  • TFMS374: Lighting Design
  • TFMS255: Modern I
  • TFMS251: African Dance
  • TFMS 371: Production Lab
  • TFMS 280/480: Topics in Production
  • TFMS 260/460: Topics in Dance/Movement
  • TFMS 405: Topics in Theater, Dance and Performance Studies
  • TFMS 399: Independent Study in Theater, Dance, Performance Studies
  • TFMS 398: Internship in Theater, Dance, Performance Studies
  • TFMS 290/490: Practicum
  • MUSA 473: (Alba) 2 Existing
  • MUSA 492: (Opera Scenes)
  • MUSC 316: (Arts Admin)
  • MUSC 318: (Music History I)
  • MUSC 319: (Music History II)
  • MUSC 360: (Conducting)
  • MUSC 365: (Diction)
  • MUSC 399: (Ind. Study)
  • MUSC 398: (Internship)

Capstone Courses – 12 Credits

  • PERF475/476: Performing Arts Today I&II
  • MUSC/TFMS 493/494: SMP

OR

  • PERF490/491: Capstone Course on Ensemble Performance/Production