Student Learning Outcomes

Adopted March 14, 2017

SLO 1: Research and Critical Thinking

While conducting scholarly, creative and tactile research, Theatre and Theatre Education students will demonstrate research and critical thinking skills.

Associated Ways of Knowing:

  • Recognize the social, political, religious, and related cultural circumstances reflected in various periods and genres of theatrical texts.
  • Recognize the role that technology research plays in the execution of theatrical production.
  • Prepare for graduate-level study, internships or jobs in the field of theatre.
  • Apply theatre-sourced learning to other fields of learning and employment.
  • Push transactional learning (traditional classroom acquisition of knowledge) into transformative learning (promoting a change in student’s deep understanding and/or capacity for empathy) and transcendental learning (the application of new knowledge to further disciplinary knowledge).

Associated Skills/Habits of Mind and Body:

  • Interpret theatre and dance texts (play scripts and live performances) and their aesthetic and social values through time and cultures.
  • Define traditional and emerging dramaturgical principles in various historical and contemporary performance scripts.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of historical and contemporary theatre production practices as preparation for understanding the themes in dramatic works from those periods.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of a range of new and emerging research methods (scholarly, creative and technological).
  • Work independently in preparation for collaborative learning.

SLO 2: Analytical and Problem Solving Skills

While engaging in traditional classroom and laboratory/production work, Theatre and Theatre Education students will demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills.

Associated Ways of Knowing:

  • Recognize a global variety of complex performance-based structures through a deepening understanding of the cultural contexts for a range of performance styles and genres throughout history.
  • Recognize the relationship between individual identity and modes of practice in society, past and present.
  • Prepare for graduate-level study, internships or jobs in the field of theatre.
  • Apply theatre-sourced learning to other fields of learning and employment.
  • Push transactional learning (traditional classroom acquisition of knowledge) into transformative learning (promoting a change in student’s deep understanding and/or capacity for empathy) and transcendental learning (the application of new knowledge to further disciplinary knowledge).

Associated Skills/Habits of Mind and Body:

  • Analyze possible interpretations of a play script or performance clearly and effectively.
  • Analyze, both in writing and in oral presentations, the socio-political context of a range of performance styles and genres throughout history.
  • Analyze possible technical solutions to production-related tasks.
  • Score a script for objectives, obstacles, tactics, and beats.
  • Implement fundamental design skills in at least one domain of design.
  • Create convincing characters from scripted texts and improvisation.
  • Perform basic practices in costume crafts (e.g. sewing, pattern drafting, fabric manipulation).
  • Implement fundamental design skills in at least one domain of design.
  • Manipulate basic practices in stagecraft (e.g., set construction, rigging, prop construction)
  • Apply problem solving and analytical skills in a real-time, high stakes environment by participating in departmental performance productions.
  • Work independently in preparation for collaborative learning.

SLO 3:  Oral Communication.

While participating in verbally-based communication, Theatre and Theatre Education students will demonstrate the ability to employ clear and expressive speech habits in performances practices, cross-disciplinary studies, and everyday life.

SLO 4: Practice and Collaboration

While engaging in studio and production courses and service learning experiences, Theatre and Theatre Education students will demonstrate skills in practice and collaboration.

Associated Ways of Knowing:

  • Explore the connections between mind-body intelligences.
  • Understand risk-taking as an essential element of the performing arts.
  • Recognize the role that technology research and application play in the execution of performance works.
  • Prepare for graduate-level study, internships or jobs in the field of theatre.
  • Apply theatre-sourced learning to other fields of learning and employment.
  • Push transactional learning (traditional classroom acquisition of knowledge) into transformative learning (promoting a change in student’s deep understanding and/or capacity for empathy) and transcendental learning (the application of new knowledge to further disciplinary knowledge).

Associated Skills/Habits of Mind and Body:

  • Develop abilities in self-reflection, multicultural sensitivity, and the comparison of social values and ethical systems through production-related collaboration with a range of communities and cultures.
  • Develop discipline, organizational skills, confidence and problem-solving etiquette—all capacities that are regularly applied in collaborative production experiences and can be fruitfully applied to a career in theatre as well as a wide range of other professions.
  • Strengthen interpersonal skills, including the capacity for problem solving, conflict resolution, and inter-generational and multi-cultural communication.
  • Test applied skills beyond the classroom environment in a real-world, time sensitive production environment.
  • Explore interdisciplinary artistic collaboration and dialogue with related disciplines such as Art, Creative Writing, English, Film Studies, Dance, Architecture and Music.
  • Recognize, through rehearsal, final performance and evaluation, the benefits and consequences of creative and aesthetic risk.
  • Advance aesthetic knowledge and sensibility by participating in or observing a wide range of national and international aesthetic interpretations and styles of performance.
  • Recognize the vital connection between theory and practice through direct engagement with the application of classroom work to production experience, thus providing a critical pathway for the transition from theory to praxis.  

SLO 5: Written Communication.

While participating in written communication, Theatre and Theatre Education students demonstrate the ability to express and communicate evidence, ideas, and opinions through clear and cogent writing.

SLO 6: [For Theatre Education only] Teaching.

Candidates use domain-specific research and theory to design, implement, assess, and reflect on student learning.

Associated Ways of Knowing:

  • Recognize the social, political, religious, and related cultural circumstances reflected in various periods and genres of theatrical texts.
  • Recognize the role that technology research and application play in the execution of performance works.
  • Push transactional learning (traditional classroom acquisition of knowledge) into transformative learning (promoting a change in student’s deep understanding and/or capacity for empathy) and transcendental learning (the application of new knowledge to further disciplinary knowledge).

Associated Skills/Habits of Mind and Body:

  • Conceive and create effective theatre classroom session designs that include clear, relevant learning objectives, appropriate, effective assessment methods, and comprehensive, engaging learning plans.
  • Skillfully facilitate sessions with K-12 students and/or community members in both classroom / laboratory settings and in the field.
  • Develop discipline, organizational skills, confidence and problem-solving etiquette—all capacities that are regularly applied in educational production experiences.
  • Develop abilities in self-reflection, multicultural sensitivity, and the comparison of social values and ethical systems through production-related collaboration with a range of communities and cultures.
  • Strengthen interpersonal skills, including the capacity for problem solving, conflict resolution, and inter-generational and multi-cultural communication.