Guidelines for T/D 270, 370 and 398

All majors in the Department of Theatre & Dance are required to complete a cumulative project in their junior or senior year which demonstrates a significant undertaking of research and production. This course, T/D 370 may be taken in the Junior or Senior year if all prerequisites have been completed in the student’s primary focus area. These prerequisites include beginning and intermediate coursework in the focus area, and completing a 270 in the focus area. For example: a student wishing to direct a play for her 370 project must have completed, at minimum, Beginning Acting, Beginning Directing, an appropriate 270 (such as Assistant Directing).

Upon the successful completion of 370, students wishing to graduate with Honors may undertake an honors project, contingent upon an overall GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in Theatre/Dance courses, an application by April 15 of the junior year, as well as a department approval. If 370 has not been completed at that point, the application may indicate plans for its completion, and its relationship to the Honors Project timetable.

Honors Projects must be significantly more challenging in scope than a 370 project, and must build on the skills and insights gained through the entire creative research process. Planning must begin no less than a full semester before the planned presentation of an Honors project. Creative Research 270 and 370 each require a written component reflecting on the process. The written component for 398 is expected to include a more significant discussion of insights gained through historical, critical and creative research.

Formal proposals for T/D 370 and T/D 398 are submitted to the department for consideration and approval on a pre-determined schedule. Proposal forms are available through the Department office or from your advisor, and should be carefully considered and thoughtfully articulated. Students should select a project that either is an exploration of an academic interest or builds upon an already existing area of interest and expertise. Students should be able to demonstrate a progression of specific course work and creative research experience preparing them for this project. 370 and 398 are not the right projects for beginning work on a fresh area of inquiry. Students are encouraged to work closely with their department advisor in the development of this project.

Examples of T/D 370 and T/D 398 honors projects

Advanced Academic Exploration

This represents a significant academic exploration of a subject of interest to the student. It usually takes the form of a lengthy research-based paper. At the Honors level, efforts should be made to find a way to present this paper at a conference or in a journal from the discipline.

Acting

The prerequisites for the acting 370 are T/D 106, at least one Special Topics intermediate acting course (Music Theatre, Physical Theatre, etc), and T/D 270 acting or assistant directing project. At the Honors level, students are encouraged to engage in an extended character or style study, rather than to develop a series of monologues. You may choose to write your own material, or collaborate in a one-act

Dance

A 370 project in dance may be a critical inquiry into either theoretical or performance based research. Students who wish to develop a project in dance should do so in consultation with their dance faculty advisor. Dance majors are encouraged to plan 370 projects to coincide with the biannual Dance Gallery produced by the department. Honors projects may be scheduled as independent or shared concerts in consultation with the faculty advisors.

Design/Tech

Prerequisites for T/D 370/398 in design or technology include T/D 103, T/D 221 or 225 or 229, and a successful T/D 270 project in design or technology.

Examples of projects include, but may not be limited to, the design and/or execution of costumes, scenery, lights, sound, props, or technical direction for a main stage faculty directed production; an independent study in a specific design technique; or the research and implementation of a new or innovative technique to theatrical design. These opportunities are designed to prove skills learned and to further develop creative expression in the field of theatrical design.

Directing

T/D 106 and TD 247 are prerequisites for Advanced Creative Research projects in directing. T/D 270 is best fulfilled as an Assistant Director or perhaps as a dramaturg for a faculty-directed show. 370 projects might involve the production of a one-act play, the development and production of an original work, or a full paper production of an imaginary project impossible to realize with current resources. Theatre majors are encouraged to plan 370 projects to coincide with the biannual Theatre Gallery produced by the department. At the Honors level, the student may stage a longer piece in a time and space to be worked out with the advisor.

Playwriting

A student may choose to write a one-act or a full-length play, which culminates in a staged reading. At the Honors level, the playwright might enlist the help of a director in staging the final reading, or may stage the play herself.

Other

Students should remember that Advanced Creative Research is not limited to a production project and could take a more theoretical, historical or community focus. A designer, for instance, may choose to design a production not included in the Anderson season. Projects in arts management, social justice theatre, educational theatre or other specialized areas of theatre or dance are also encouraged. However, this focus must begin with earlier choices, such as coursework or outside training opportunities and the choice of T/D 270 project, to show that your advanced work has a strong foundation. We encourage you to think as creatively as possible about the nature of your projects. The department will determine the appropriate venue for the public presentation of your work.