May 21, 2024  
College Catalog 2023-2024 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  2023-2024 Calendar
  Mission, History and Religious Affiliation
  Admissions
  Expenses
  Financial Aid
  Academic Policies
  The Curriculum
  Areas of Study
  Courses
  Student Support Services
  Scholarships and Special Endowed Funds
  Directories
  Special Programs
  Archived Catalogs
HELP
College Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Courses

 

Spanish
  

  • SPAN 361 - The Fight Against Tradition: From the Enlightenment to the Avant-Garde

    The course offers a panorama of Hispanic culture from the nineteenth century to the Spanish Civil War. It centers on the literature and the arts during the periods of the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, and the Avant-Garde. The period from 1800 to 1936 is crucial to the development of art. We will examine critical issues such as the limits of authority and the freedom of choice; the origins of modern subjectivity/ the pursuit of the ideal and the impossible; the conflict between individualism and nationalism, and that between empire and colonies; the rise of the bourgeoisie and the transition to a secular world; the crisis of reason; and the autonomy of art. Our goal will be to shed light on the Janus-faced mingling of progress with tradition that defines modernity in the Hispanic world. to this end, we will deal with the social, cultural, aesthetic and political dimensions that shape the evolution of literature and the arts during the 19th- and the first half of the 20th- centuries. This course satisfies the area 2 requirement for the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 307  or consent of the instructor. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 362 - Modern Hispanic Novel and the Visual Arts

    Cross-Listed as LATI 362  
    We use an interdisciplinary approach to narrative that focuses on the cooperation between the written and the visual text. For example, how did nineteenth-century painting influenced the novel? Or, what are the connections between cinematic adaptations of narratives? We also consider the perennial dilemma of literal versus personal interpretation. This course satisfies the Area 2 requirement for the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 307  or consent of the instructor.   Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 373 - Translation: Theory/Practice

    This course is an introduction to the field of translation studies focusing on the linguistic, ethical, and cultural aspects of translation and interpretation. It aims to give students an understanding of the principles of translation and the role of the translator. It provides an opportunity to improve their language skills and to gain a deeper understanding of the intercultural aspects of the translation activity both in theory and practice. The cousre has a civic engagement component and is taught in partnership with a different community organization each semester (e.g. The Advocates for Human Rights, Centro Tyrone Guzman; James H. Binger Center for New Americans). Prerequisite(s): SPAN 305  and two other 300-level Spanish courses. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 375 - History of the Spanish Language

    Cross-Listed as   
    An overview of Modern Spanish as it has developed over time. Course will trace the historical evolution of the most salient phonological, morpho-syntactic and lexical traits of Modern Spanish and will introduce some of the principle theories of language change. Concepts will be reinforced through work with authentic historical texts. This course satisfies the Area 3 requirement for the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 309  or consent of the instructor. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 376 - Spanish Dialectology

    Cross-Listed as   and LATI 376  
    A survey of modern dialectal variations of Spanish and Peninsular Spanish varieties. Sociolinguistic issues and historical aspects of language will be addressed, along with other extralinguistic factors. Through this course, students will gain a linguistic understanding of the principal varieties of Modern Spanish. This course satisfies the Area 3 requirement for the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 309  or consent of the instructor. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 377 - Applied Linguistics: Spanish Second Language Acquisition

    Cross-Listed as   
    An overview of research projects on the acquisition of Spanish as a second language. Students will learn about the theoretical approaches used in these studies as well as the effects of various pedagogical approaches on the development of Spanish interlanguage systems. While the focus of the course is on the acquisition of Spanish as a second language, students will gain a broad and useful understanding of different pedagogical issues directly related to the acquisition/learning process(es) of other second languages. This course satisfies the Area 3 requirement for the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 309  or consent of the instructor. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 382 - Constructing the Nation

    The course focuses on the critical analysis of national stereotypes in literature and in othe forms of cultural representation known in many languages as Imagology. The course examines the role that textual artifacts have played in shaping the modern image of the Hispanic nations. These texts are sometimes canonical, highbrow manifestations such as novels, poems, or essays. More often though, they are stereotypes or symbols ingrained in the collective psyche of both the Hispanic and the non-Hispanic people: “toreros,” ” gitanas,” “gauchos/as,” “guitarras,” “somebreros,” “flamenco,” “samba,” “salsa,” “fútbol,” and many more. As cultural myths, their representational power has proven to be incredibly enduring beyond the time of their formation. This course satisfies the Area 2 requirement for the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 307 or consent of the instructor. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 385 - Frontera: The U.S./Mexico Border

    Cross-Listed as AMST 445  and LATI 385  
    The border region between the United States and Mexico exists as both a physical space and an ideological construct. This seminar uses literary and filmic narratives to explore issues of identity, opportunity, and violence that arise from this contested space. How does the border shape individual and cultural identities? In what ways does the border create opportunities for both advancement and exploitation? How do these works engage conflicts and tensions of race, nationalism, gender, and power? The course will include writers and filmmakers from both countries, and we will read original texts both in Spanish and English. This course satisfies the Area 2 requirement for the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 308  or consent of the instructor. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 386 - Constructions of a Female Killer

    Cross-Listed as LATI 386  and   
    Explorations of the relationship between women and violence typically take place from the perspective of women as victims. However, how does the discourse change when the traditional paradigm is inverted and we explore women as perpetrators of violence? This seminar examines representations of women who kill in Latin American and Latino narratives (including novels, short stories, films, and newspapers). Drawing on feminist theory, media studies, criminology, and literary criticism, we will seek to understand the ways women’s violence has been read and framed in contemporary society as well as how their violence intersects with discussions of nationalism, race, class, and gender. This course satisfies the Area 2 requirement for the Spanish major.  Prerequisite(s): SPAN 307  or consent of the instructor. Generally taught alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 387 - Latinx in the Midwest

    Cross-Listed as AMST 387  and LATI 387  
    This course uses literature, film, and scholarly works to explore the Latinx experience in the Midwest. We will examine how this population creates and sustains community, constructs their own sense of Latinidad, and how that identity and its cultural practices are informed by and impact the region. Events involving the Twin Cities’ Latinx communities will enrich our learning and discussions. This course satisfies the Area 2 requirement of the Spanish major. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 308   Alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 394 - Topics Course

    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 488 - Senior Seminar

    The senior seminar is a capstone course that explores in depth a shifting field of topics. It helps students relate the subjects they have studied in their major field and assists students in demonstrating their familiarity with Hispanic cultures and in methods of analysis and presentation, culminating in the preparation and presentation of a major research project. It is primarily a discussion course that relies heavily on individual as well as collective effort. Required for Spanish majors. Category varies. Prerequisite(s): For Spanish majors; to be completed in the final semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 494 - Topics Course

    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 601 - Tutorial

    Category varies. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (1 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 602 - Tutorial

    Category varies. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (2 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 603 - Tutorial

    Category varies. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (3 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 604 - Tutorial

    Category varies. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 611 - Independent Project

    Category varies. Not available to substitute regularly offered courses. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (1 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 612 - Independent Project

    Category varies. Not available to substitute regularly offered courses. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (2 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 613 - Independent Project

    Category varies. Not available to substitute regularly offered courses. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (3 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 614 - Independent Project

    Category varies. Not available to substitute regularly offered courses. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 621 - Internship

    Category 3. Prerequisite(s): Four courses in Spanish numbered SPAN 204  or above and permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (1 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 622 - Internship

    Category 3. Prerequisite(s): Four courses in Spanish numbered SPAN 204  or above and permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (2 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 623 - Internship

    Category 3. Prerequisite(s): Four courses in Spanish numbered SPAN 204  or above and permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (3 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 624 - Internship

    Category 3. Prerequisite(s): Four courses in Spanish numbered SPAN 204  or above and permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (4 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 631 - Preceptorship

    Preceptorships give students the opportunity to observe and practice teaching skills. Available to highly accomplished students. Prerequisite(s): Some background reading and training in foreign language teaching and permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. (1 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 632 - Preceptorship

    Preceptorships give students the opportunity to observe and practice teaching skills. Available to highly accomplished students. Prerequisite(s): Some background reading and training in foreign language teaching and permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. (2 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 633 - Preceptorship

    Preceptorships give students the opportunity to observe and practice teaching skills. Available to highly accomplished students. Prerequisite(s): Some background reading and training in foreign language teaching and permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. (3 Credits)
  

  • SPAN 634 - Preceptorship

    Preceptorships give students the opportunity to observe and practice teaching skills. Available to highly accomplished students. Prerequisite(s): Some background reading and training in foreign language teaching and permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. (4 Credits)

Theater and Dance
  

  • THDA 21 - Dances of the African Diaspora I

    This course introduces students to fundamental characteristics, techniques, and principles of African diasporic dance forms, especially from West Africa, other African regions, and that emerged in the Caribbean, and Americas. Students will have an embodied experience, develop foundational skills, and strengthen the connection between dance and music. The course is physically rigorous, and emphasizes community building. No experience required. All are welcome. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading. Every fall. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 22 - Dances of the African Diaspora II

    Dances of the African Diaspora II deepens student engagement with selected dance forms from the African diaspora, especially those coming from West Africa and that emerged in the Caribbean and the Americas. The course is physically rigorous and emphasizes community building. A drummer accompanies the class, so students experience the fundamental connection between drums and dance as they learn the histories, techniques, and characteristics of Diasporic movement forms. Assignments include movement projects developed in class and presentations. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective spring 2022. Prerequisite(s): THDA 21  or permission of instructor. Every spring. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 31 - Dance Improvisation

    This class introduces students to the process of spontaneously creating movement, and the art of composing in the moment. Creative exploration is facilitated using a variety of movement scores and structures, working with the elements of time, space, quality, sensory experiences and perception. This course emphasizes collaboration and community, as well as individual agency within that framework. Through a kinesthetic lens, using curiosity and awareness, we will delve into who we are and how we move through the world. The class includes an introduction to Contact Improvisation, the “art-sport” developed by Steve Paxton in 1972. Come with a desire to move, an open mind and a willingness to explore in a non-competitive environment. Open to students with any level of previous experience in dance and movement, from beginning to advanced. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective spring 2022. Every year. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 41 - Modern Dance I

    This introductory level course explores the theory, technique, and terminology of modern dance as a performing art. Students engage fully with their bodies and minds as they deepen their strength, sense of rhythm, flexibility, and coordination. The course develops skills in inversions, floorwork, and balance based in a deepening awareness of alignment. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective spring 2022. Every fall. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 42 - Modern Dance II

    This course builds on skills introduced in Modern Dance I. Students engage fully with their bodies and minds as they deepen their strength, flexibility, and felt sense of alignment and flow. Emphasis is placed on deepening precision, sense of rhythm, and anatomical awareness of the body in motion. Class consists of in-place warm-ups, traveling across the floor, and final combinations. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective spring 2022. Prerequisite(s): THDA41 or permission of instructor Every spring. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 43 - Modern Dance III

    This intermediate to advanced level technique course values expression, precision, and stamina. Students develop an understanding of how to use tiny muscles hidden within large muscles as they practice complex movement phrases on the ground, in the center, and across the floor. They learn a range of turns, jumps and movement sequences that build strength and agility. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): THDA41 or THDA42 or permission of instructor Every fall. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 44 - Modern Dance IV

    The purpose of this technique class is to allow the intermediate to advanced modern dance student to explore and discover themselves as an articulate and expressive mover. Classwork places specific emphasis on alignment, power, momentum, articulation, clarity of intent, musicality and stamina. Class consists of in-place warm-ups, center exercises and a range of dance phrases. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective Spring 2022. Prerequisite(s): THDA 42  or THDA 43  or permission of instructor. Every spring. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 51 - Beginning Ballet

    This is a beginning ballet class designed for students who have never had ballet before. The goal is to demonstrate fundamental understanding and execution of basic ballet technique and to develop a foundation in movement that will carry over and support any other style of dance or physical practice. It will include barre and center work, across-the-floor combinations, and stretching and strengthening practices. Correct alignment, coordination, and body mechanics will be emphasized. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective Spring 2022. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 53 - Intermediate Ballet

    This is a beginning intermediate level ballet class for students who have acquired a foundation in the basic skills of classical ballet or have successfully completed THDA 51. Students will be expected to develop or expand their ballet technique while continuing to grow as dance artists. This class will consist of ballet barre and center work, simple pirouettes and the development of basic petit allegro steps. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective Spring 2022. Prerequisite(s): THDA 51  or permission of instructor Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 55 - Advanced Ballet

    This is an advanced level ballet class for students who have achieved an advanced level of skill and artistry in classical ballet. Students will be expected to expand and develop their ballet technique while continuing to grow as dance artists. It will include barre work, pirouettes ending in all positions, and petit allegro with beats. Combinations will increase in complexity and students will be expected to pick up material quickly. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading, effective spring 2022. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 60 - Brown Spirits Dance Ensemble

    Macalester’s Brown Spirit Dance Ensemble engages techniques and histories of selected dance forms from the African diaspora, especially from West Africa, other African regions, and that emerged in the Caribbean, and Americas. It is intended for students who have completed Dances of the African Diaspora I and II, and who want to deepen their training and understanding of these forms. This course includes the creation of researched choreography culminating in the Ensemble performing in the Theater and Dance Department dance concert. Additionally, Brown Spirits Dance Ensemble has performed at Macalester events such as, Afrika Week, Black History Month Showcases, Family Fest, Rites of Passage Graduation Ceremonies, and for the Inauguration of President Rivera in 2021. Two credits awarded at the end of the semester. Four credits of fine arts general distribution may be earned after two consecutive semesters of this ensemble. May be repeated for credit. Letter grading only Prerequisite(s): Dances of the African Diaspora I and II is recommended. Audition and permission of the instructor is required. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 79 - Performance Practice in Student Projects

    Students are involved in Theater and Dance Department productions as actors or dancers in student-led pieces. Performance Practice in Student Projects is the appropriate course when students will not work under direct supervision of a faculty member, but are part of a student director’s or student choreographer’s work in an Honors production or Dance Concert. Two credits awarded at the end of the semester. May be repeated for credit. S/N grading only. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 80 - Performance Practice

    Students are involved in production as actors or dancers, assistant choreographers or choreographers, assistant directors or directors, assistant designers or designers, dramaturgs and playwrights. Two credits awarded at the end of the semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor required; please contact the Theater and Dance Department directly for audition and registration information Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 81 - Technical Practice

    Students are involved in set, costume, lighting and sound engineering and construction, and running crew. Two credits awarded at the end of the semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor required; please see instructor to be added to registration roster Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 105 - Seeing Performance in the Twin Cities

    In this course, first-year students critically attend live dance and theater performances in the exciting arts scene of the Twin Cities, and articulate their individual reactions by writing reviews, responses, and essays. In this process of studied spectatorship, students acquire the vocabularies of the field. Readings include seminal texts in dance and theatre criticism, as well as manifestos and scholarly articles. We will attend dance and theater performances at professional venues such as the Walker Arts Center, the Guthrie, Penumbra Theatre, Mixed Blood, Northrop Auditorium, and Cowles Center. This course is typically reserved for incoming first-years and not open to returning students. Only offered as a First-Year Course. Every fall. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 112 - Reading Plays

    Reading Plays guides students in close readings of dramatic literature, in particular of plays that are typically left out of the traditional theatrical canon. Students will learn about the socio-historical context of each play, and in-class exercises will introduce them to the foundation of script analysis: they will examine the play’s given circumstances, dialogue, dramatic action, characters, and style. Students will read a new play every week; assignments include weekly in-class writing exercises and short critical papers. Every year. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 113 - The Power of the Dancing Body

    This course focuses on key 20th century contemporary choreographers across four continents, including LIN Hwai-min, Pina Bausch, Akram Khan, and Ohad Naharin, among others. We examine the international impact of their work as well the cultural contexts in which they thrived, or are thriving, as artists. We compare their creative processes, aesthetics and philosophies. We examine the political, social, and spiritual power of their artistic lives and bodies of work, with special attention to issues of race and gender. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 120 - Acting

    This course introduces students to the art of acting. They will acquire fundamental acting skills and engage in  artistic experimentation. Students will learn how to create a repeatable score of psychophysical actions, script analysis, use the body/voice as the actor’s performing instrument; explore internal (memory, impulses, and so forth) and external (the other actors, the environment, objects, and so forth) stimuli as creative sources; rediscover of play and imagination; and develop work ethics and discipline. Students in this course will engage in physical activity and be required to spend 3-5 hours in rehearsals outside of scheduled class time. Every semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 125 - Technologies of Performance

    This course grounds students in the technical and construction practices of performance-making: materials and their sources and histories; conventional and contemporary technologies and techniques; quantitative methods for calculating and assessing drawings for execution. A balance of lecture and hands-on studio time allow students to learn and apply knowledge through working with materials. Students in this course also may provide support to mainstage performance projects, further extending their learning in the course. Department provides course materials. Every year. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 145 - Make-Up Design and Application

    This course teaches students the theory and practice of make-up design and application, through a combination of lecture, discussion, demonstration and intense application. Students independently complete an extensive research portfolio called a “make-up morgue” while learning the principles of make-up design and application in weekly classroom laboratory format. Department provides course materials. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 194 - Topics Course

    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 215 - Dance History: Reading the Dancing Body

    This course focuses on dance in the United States from the early 20th century to today. The historical study of dance as an embodied art form supports an intersectional examination of how gender, race, ethnicity, and class experiences both reflect and shape individual and collective identities. We will read seminal texts in dance and cultural studies, analyze dance videos and live performances, and write short papers that critically consider an array of theatrical dance forms and traditions. Every other year. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 217 - Gender and Race Theory in Performance

    Cross-Listed as WGSS 217  
    This course introduces students to debates, methods, and conceptual frameworks in race and gender, as represented in performance. It engages students in an interdisciplinary exploration of key terms–such as corporeality, embodiment, intersectionality, and performativity–that remain central to the fields of gender and sexuality, critical race theory, and performance. Through drafts and revisions of written work, critical dialogues and oral presentations in small groups, peer feedback, and analytical reading, students will engage in questions around identity formation, structural inequality, and the politics of citizenship. Occasionally. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 220 - Voice in Performance

    Students will work to discover their own voice in this class. Habits that have formed in the body will be worked on to free the voice and allow for its true potential to exist. Breathing and relaxation exercises, and developing a sense of body awareness and presence will all be a part of the journey of the class. Improvisation and games will be used as tools to help define openness, balance and creativity, strength and vulnerability. Students will consult various books and memorize a number of texts. Students are asked to write responses to readings, a report on a book of the instructor’s choice, a report on a Macalester theater production, and a review of one professional play. A large part of a student’s grade depends on the thoroughness and rigor of their work, as well as how much they develop and improve their skills throughout the semester. Students are expected attend and participate in all classes and to complete all assignments. There is one required book for the class, The Actor Speaks, by Patsy Rodenburg.​ Prerequisite(s): No previous acting or performance experience necessary. Offered occasionally. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 221 - Dance Composition

    This course is the study and discipline of dance-making.  Students learn the tools of the choreographer - time, space, energy - and how they can be shaped to give the body expressive power. The course focuses on the relationships between form, content, and technique. Students choreograph short studies, improvise, discuss, and view dance on film and in live performance. The course values risk-taking and collaboration in a supportive, shared space. Students in this class will work with those in THDA 255 - Lighting Design  in a collaborative dance project that will culminate in public performances in the Theater and Dance Department Huber-Seikaly Theater. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): THDA 31  or coursework in a dance technique; or permission of instructor. Students with dance experience prior to Macalester are encouraged to contact the instructor for permission to enroll. Every spring. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 225 - Technologies of Performance II

    This course will undertake the process of technical design;  the challenges and problems one must overcome in bringing a visual design to full realization.  We live in a performance world greatly influenced by film and spectacle; and these influences create great technical challenges. This course will expand and develop specific technical areas introduced in Technologies of Performance.  These areas will include:  stage rigging, structural design, metal fabrication and stage automation and control.  Prerequisite(s): THDA 125   Alternate spring semesters. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 230 - The Art of Play: Action, Invention, and Chaos

    Making theatre is a messy business; in this studio course, we will explore physical comedy, the haphazard world of the clown, masks, improvisation, games, and object manipulation. The goal of the course is to encourage curiosity, and to engage the student as creator, designer, and performer-we will invent everything ourselves by learning how to play with skill. In short: there are no scripts, no lines and no stage directions. Our training will include basic acrobatics, balancing, and juggling. The instructor draws inspiration from the work of French stage actor and movement coach Jacques Lecoq.  Prerequisite(s): Performance training in dance or theater is strongly encouraged. Openness to experimentation and play a must. Every spring. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 232 - Crafting the Tangible

    As our society shifts away from a human connection to the tangible, this course seeks to reconnect the student to the tangible object. Our focus will be on the process of “thinking through making.” Through a series of project based learning opportunities, students will develop a deeper understanding of themselves, the process of “critical making,” and current performance production technologies. Department provides course materials. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 235 - Fundamentals of Scenography

    Scenography is the creation of imagined spaces for performance. In this course we will study the fundamentals of scenography holistically, including scenic, lighting, costume, and sound design. Students will develop the ability to analyze and critique elements of performance design, articulate design ideas through written and verbal means, and complete a design project from textual analysis to tangible objects. This course is a prerequisite for intermediate and advanced design courses in Theater and Dance. Department provides course materials. Every fall. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 242 - Playwriting

    Cross-Listed as   
    In this course, students engage in a series of playwriting exercises and read a wide variety of plays. They will read new and contemporary plays that employ different storytelling techniques (i.e., structure, character arcs, staging elements, etc.), embrace the unlimited possibilities of theatricality, and exemplify why we write for the stage. Students will develop a “playwriting toolkit” as they explore their artistic interests following the conventions of time-bound pieces: the 1-minute, 5-minute, 10-minute, and ultimately one-act form. In-class exercises and prompts, and small-group workshopping and reading will challenge each writer’s individual development. A midterm and final play reading series of one-acts will allow students to hear their work in a supportive public setting. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): Coursework in Theater and Dance, or in creative writing is recommended. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 245 - Performance Histories and Theories: From the Historical Avant-Garde to the Present

    By examining key movements in dance and theater history from the late 19th century to the present, this seminar explores the active relationship between theoretical thought and aesthetic innovation on stage. Through close readings of primary, secondary, and critical texts, the course highlights the ways in which dance and theater advanced movement by movement, each “ism” a reaction to what came before, and how the transformation from historical avant-garde to experimental contemporary performance represents dynamic and cumulative ruptures with the mainstream. Ultimately, they shape how we imagine, see, and create dance and theater today. Students’ work in this seminar will culminate in an individual critical writing project. Required for Theatre and Dance majors. Prerequisite(s): Preference given to Theatre and Dance major and/or minors. Spring semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 250 - Experiential Anatomy and the Mind Body Connection

    The study of anatomy and somatics provide concrete pathways to deepening our understanding of self and the mind-body connection. We will study the musculoskeletal human anatomy on both a theoretical and practical level. Countering the notion that the body is an assemblage of parts to be trained, strengthened, and disciplined, we will delve into various mind-body practices that illuminate anatomy from a first-person perspective. We will focus on experiential learning including embodied anatomy and movement practices that provide direct knowledge of anatomy and alignment while providing opportunities for an integrated experience from within and increased self-awareness. In-class work will be supplemented by readings, journaling, physical practice, writing and research. Every year. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 255 - Lighting Design

    This course is an introduction to performance lighting design. While emphasis is on performance, the principles can be applied to film, television, and environmental settings. The course focus will be on the design process, but there will be some attention to lighting hardware and technologies as well. A primary goal of the course is to make the student more aware of color and light around them every day. Department provides course materials. Prerequisite(s): THDA 125  or THDA 235  or permission of instructor. Every year. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 285 - Costume Design

    Students in this class will engage with costume design as both generative and collaborative artists. They will learn to conceptualize costumes for theater and dance productions drawing from a multitude of inspirations including the fine arts, costume/fashion history, music, literature, film, opera, and textiles. Class meetings will include discussions about readings and visual literacy, as well as hands-on exploration of a real-world design process including research, drawing and painting renderings, budgeting, fittings, and oral presentations of designs. Students will engage with both traditional and devised methods of developing characters and silhouettes to develop their unique vision for theatrical and dance productions. There will be 1-2 field trips to visit key resource locations for costume designers. Prerequisite(s): THDA 235  or a course in Studio Art recommended. Every year. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 287 - Creative Technologies: Tools of Performance Design

    Today’s theatre artist has many tools at their fingertips to create the environments for performance. In this course students will develop skills in Adobe Creative Suite, QLab and Isadora. A final project of the student’s design will demonstrate use of one or more of these technologies in creating performance. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 294 - Topics Course

    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 350 - Directing for the Stage

    This course prepares advanced theater students to direct public performances, and thus focuses on the acquisition of skills such as text analysis, dynamic storytelling, stage composition, and communication (with designers, actors, stage managers, and production team). Students will choose a scene from a play proposed by the instructor, research style and aesthetic, run auditions, cast the scene, facilitate a rehearsal process, and stage a live performance. They will also learn best collaborative practices, since the class unfolds in conversation with the Acting Approaches course (THDA360) and culminates in public performances at the Huber-Seikaly Theater. Prerequisite(s): THDA 120  or THDA 235  or THDA 360 , or permission of the instructor. Every spring. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 360 - Acting Approaches

    In the different editions of this course, students have an opportunity to approach the acting method of theater masters, as well as acting styles and genres. The spring 2024 edition of the course will focus on comedy-from the subtle, existential humor, to camp and satire. Plays will be selected to suit the ensemble of students in the course. Acting Approaches also focuses on the development of collaborative skills and culminate public performances in the James A. Williams Theater. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s):  THDA 120  recommended but not required. Every spring. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 375 - Set Design

    The course explores scenic design in traditional theatrical buildings and alternative sites. Students will learn how to bridge script analysis and visual research, deepen their knowledge of spatial composition, acquire drafting skills, and practice design conceptualization with reference to historical and contemporary practices. The course outcome is a design portfolio, the collection of the various course projects each student will create during the semester. Department provides course materials. Prerequisite(s): THDA 125  or THDA 235  or permission of the instructor. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 385 - Intermediate Playwriting

    Cross-Listed as ENGL 385  

    This course-a mixture of lecture, discussion, study of dramatic texts, writing exercises and in-class analysis of student writing-is intended to reinforce and build upon the skills developed in Playwriting. Topics will include dramatic structure, conflict, characterization, language/dialogue, as well as how to analyze your own work, give and receive feedback and techniques for rewriting. Students will engage in a rigorous development process which will culminate in the writing of a one act play.

      Prerequisite(s): THDA 242 ​ or ENGL 150 , or permission of instructor Spring semester (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 394 - Topics Course

    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 490 - Capstone and Honors Seminar

    This is a reading and writing intensive course that engages theories from the fields of aesthetics and cultural studies to support each student’s in-depth research into a topic of their choice. Discussions examine how particular uses of the body, space, and narrative intersect to inform our experience of “performance,” broadly defined, and engage the interplay between real and fictional in both artistic productions and performative social contexts. Students may pursue archival and library research, analysis of live performance, and analysis of documents of various kinds, including visual materials. Required for Theater and Dance majors, open to Dance, Theater, and Performance Design and Technologies minors. Every fall. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 494 - Topics Course

    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 601 - Tutorial

    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (1 Credits)
  

  • THDA 602 - Tutorial

    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 603 - Tutorial

    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (3 Credits)
  

  • THDA 604 - Tutorial

    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 611 - Independent Project

    For the advanced student capable of independent study requiring library research and/or experimental work in the theatre. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (1 Credits)
  

  • THDA 612 - Independent Project

    For the advanced student capable of independent study requiring library research and/or experimental work in the theatre. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 613 - Independent Project

    For the advanced student capable of independent study requiring library research and/or experimental work in the theatre. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (3 Credits)
  

  • THDA 614 - Independent Project

    For the advanced student capable of independent study requiring library research and/or experimental work in the theatre. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 621 - Internship

    The theatre and dance department allows up to eight credits for approved internship experiences, which may be applicable to a major in theatre arts (and non-majors, by approval from and in consultation with a department faculty member). Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (1 Credits)
  

  • THDA 622 - Internship

    The theatre and dance department allows up to eight credits for approved internship experiences, which may be applicable to a major in theatre arts (and non-majors, by approval from and in consultation with a department faculty member). Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 623 - Internship

    The theatre and dance department allows up to eight credits for approved internship experiences, which may be applicable to a major in theatre arts (and non-majors, by approval from and in consultation with a department faculty member). Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (3 Credits)
  

  • THDA 624 - Internship

    The theatre and dance department allows up to eight credits for approved internship experiences, which may be applicable to a major in theatre arts (and non-majors, by approval from and in consultation with a department faculty member). Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 631 - Preceptorship

    Through a preceptorship, an advanced student assists a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (1 Credits)
  

  • THDA 632 - Preceptorship

    Through a preceptorship, an advanced student assists a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 633 - Preceptorship

    Through a preceptorship, an advanced student assists a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (3 Credits)
  

  • THDA 634 - Preceptorship

    Through a preceptorship, an advanced student assists a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior majors. Permission of instructor and department. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • THDA 641 - Honors Independent

    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (1 Credits)
  

  • THDA 642 - Honors Independent

    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (2 Credits)
  

  • THDA 643 - Honors Independent

    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (3 Credits)
  

  • THDA 644 - Honors Independent

    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (4 Credits)

Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  

  • WGSS 100 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

    This course is an introduction to the range and importance of 20th century as well as current feminist and queer theories and practices to our understanding of positive social change. It will analyze feminist and queer histories of resistance and alternatives to economic and political control, in the U.S. and elsewhere. The framework for the course is the intersection of gender and sexuality with race, class, nationality, and dis/ability; it will address such issues as economic marginalization, social movements, the institutions of family and marriage, migration and the role of the state/nation among others. Depending on the instructor, the course generally focuses on either LGBTQI studies or on transnational perspectives of these issues. Every semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • WGSS 117 - Women, Health, Reproduction

    Cross-Listed as BIOL 117  
    This course will deal with aspects of human anatomy and physiology of special interest to women and/or those who identify as women, especially relating to sexuality and reproduction. Biological topics covered will include menstruation and menopause, sexuality, conception, contraception, infertility, abortion, pregnancy, cancer, and AIDS. Advances in assisted reproductive technologies, hormone therapies, and genetic engineering technologies will be discussed. Three lecture hours each week. Every semester. (4 Credits)
  

  • WGSS 127 - Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome

    Cross-Listed as CLAS 127 
    This course investigates contemporary approaches to studying women, gender and sexuality in history, and the particular challenges of studying these issues in antiquity. By reading ancient writings in translation and analyzing art and other material culture, we will address the following questions: How did ancient Greek and Roman societies understand and use the categories of male and female? Into what sexual categories did different cultures group people? How did these gender and sexual categories intersect with notions of slave and free status, citizenship and ethnicity? How should we interpret the actions and representations of women in surviving literature, myth, art, law, philosophy, politics and medicine in this light? Finally, how and why have gendered classical images been re-deployed in the modern U.S. - from scholarship to art and poetry? Alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • WGSS 141 - Latin America Through Women’s Eyes

    Cross-Listed as   and  
    Latin American women have overcome patriarchal “machismo” to serve as presidents, mayors, guerilla leaders, union organizers, artists, intellectuals, and human rights activists. Through a mix of theoretical, empirical, and testimonial work, we will explore issues such as feminist challenges to military rule in Chile, anti-feminist politics in Nicaragua, the intersection of gender and democratization in Cuba, and women’s organizing and civil war in Colombia. Teaching methods include discussion, debates, simulations, analytic papers, partisan narratives, lecture, film, poetry, and a biographical essay. This class employs an innovative system of qualitative assessment. Students take the course “S/SD/N with Written Evaluation.” This provides a powerful opportunity for students to stretch their limits in a learning community with high expectations, but without a high-pressure atmosphere. This ungraded course has been approved for inclusion on major/minor plans in Political Science, Latin American Studies, and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. (4 Credits)
  

  • WGSS 150 - Language and Gender in Japanese Society

    Cross-Listed as ASIA 150 , JAPA 150  and LING 150  
    Japanese is considered to be a gendered language in the sense that women and men speak differently from each other. Male characters in Japanese animation often use “boku” or “ore” to refer to themselves, while female characters often use “watashi” or “atashi.” When translated into Japanese, Hermione Granger (a female character in the Harry Potter series) ends sentences with soft-sounding forms, while Harry Potter and his best friend Ron use more assertive forms. Do these fictional representations reflect reality? How are certain forms associated with femininity or masculinity? Do speakers of Japanese conform to the norm or rebel against it? These are some of the questions discussed in this course. Students will have opportunities to learn about the history of gendered language, discover different methodologies in data collections, and find out about current discourse on language and gender. Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • WGSS 170 - History of Childhood

    Cross-Listed as HIST 170  
    This course examines the history of childhood and youth in the United States. The historical voices and perspectives of childhood that we study will pay close attention to the significance of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, time periods, and social settings. Some questions we will consider relevant to the study of history: Do children have agency? What is the role of children as subjects in history? How has childhood been socially and historically constructed? Why are children such galvanizing social and political symbols? How is identity shaped in childhood and what impact does this have on adult society at certain historical moments? Offered occasionally. (4 Credits)
  

  • WGSS 185 - Masculinities

    Cross-Listed as SOCI 185  
    We have seen a burst of writing and thinking about men in the past several decades. Many of these writings argue that as more women are excelling professionally, earning more college degrees than their male counterparts and acting as the family breadwinner, the traditional gender landscape is quickly fading into what they identify as a matriarchy. According to this view, men, having falling from their privileged place in society, are being out competed by women for the most prestigious occupations and are now becoming emasculated in the process. We will critically explore the debate that this perspective has engendered, looking at not only the facts of whether this is true or not, but the cultural anxieties and fantasies such a perceived closure of the alpha male trope has produced. We will begin with the idea that manhood has a history, that it is a human creation rather than an edict from above or from nature. Some of the key questions we will ask are: How has manhood changed in the United States since the 19th century? Are there different forms of masculinities, especially when we take into account social indicators like class, race, and ethnicity? Can masculinity take on chameleon forms that in the past seemed antithetical to masculinity, like geeks, cosmopolitans, metrosexuals, or in upper-class gentlemanly cultures? Are we experiencing an emerging hybrid or inclusionary forms of masculinities or are these simply a repackaging of the old? Alternate years. (4 Credits)
  

  • WGSS 194 - Topics Course

    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
 

Page: 1 <- Back 10 … 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22