California State Polytechnic University Pomona s9

CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

ACADEMIC SENATE

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

REPORT TO

THE ACADEMIC SENATE

AP-009-056

Option Proposal: Theater in Education and Community

Academic Programs Committee Date:

Steering Committee Received and Forwarded Date: 6/21/06

Academic Senate Date: 7/27/06 First Reading

AP-009-056, Option Proposal: Theater in Education and Community 2

BACKGROUND:

The department of Theater of the College of Arts and Social Sciences has submitted a proposal for the Theater in Education and Community Option.

RESOURCES CONSULTED:

Claudia Pinter-Lucke, Barbara Way, Richard DeNovellis, William Morse, Bernardo Solano, Charles Gossett

DISCUSSION:

Theatre in Education and Community Option aims to educate artists, teachers and advocates for theatre in educational settings and in a wide variety of communities. The option aims to expose students to the history, theories and methodologies of theatre in education, community-based theatre and theatre for youth, and to prepare its graduates for employment in these fields. The option also aims to prepare students for a life-long commitment to civic engagement, socially responsible art and progressive citizenship.

The option has two distinct, yet interdependent components: Theatre in Education and Community-Based Theatre.

Theatre in Education is primarily theatre in an educational setting—the study of drama in and of itself, and/or the uses of drama to teach the overall curriculum. This portion of the proposed option is necessary for the preparation of future teachers in primary and secondary education who wish to either teach drama or who wish to use drama as a teaching tool.

Community-Based Theatre is one of the fastest growing forms of theatre in the United States. It examines the relationship between theatre and community and helps to stimulate community dialogue and cohesion.

Proposed Curriculum:

The Theater in Education and Community Option Core courses includes the 24 required distinct units from any of the other options in the department. No new courses are needed to implement this new option. The required courses are already offered in the Department of Theater.

THEATRE IN EDUCATION & COMMUNITY OPTION CORE:

TH 421/421A: Theatre In Education 3/1 TH 425/425A: Community-Based Theatre 2/2 TH 177: Applied Theatre in Educ. & Community 2 TH 377: Applied Theatre in Educ. & Community 2 AP-009-056, Option Proposal: Theater in Education and Community 3

TH 321: Peer Theatre I 4 TH 322: Peer Theatre II 4 TH 323: Peer Theatre III 4 TH 471/471A: Theatre for Young Audiences 2/2 TH 252/252A: Vocal Techniques 2/1 TH 401: Playwriting 4

Total Number of Units of the Option 32 units

THEATRE MAJOR CORE COURSES:

TH 131/131A: Tech Production I 2/2 TH 132/132A: Tech Production II 2/2 TH 151/151L: Acting I 2/2 TH 231/231L: Princ. & Pract. of Theater Design 2/2 TH 254L: Movement for Stage 2 TH 311: History of Theatre I 4 TH 312: History of Theatre II 4 TH 313: History of Theatre III 4 TH 356/356L: Directing 2/2 TH 461: Undergraduate Seminar 2 TH 462: Senior Project 2 TH 463: Senior Project 2 40 units

THEATRE MAJOR SUPPORT COURSES

TH 244L: Play Production Activity 6 TH 441L: Advanced Projects in Theatre 6 Art Course 2-3 Music Course 1-4 CLS 430: Arts Integration I 4 15-27 units

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES 68 units

UNRESTRICTED ELECTIVES

16-19 units ______Total Number of Units: 180 AP-009-056, Option Proposal: Theater in Education and Community 4

Faculty members who will be teaching the courses for the Minor in Theater in Education and Community are:

Bernardo Solano, Assistant Professor, MFA, 1988 in Playwriting. (Extensive professional experience in the field of Community-Based Theatre and Theatre in Education, as well as in Theatre for Youth).

William H. Morse II, Professor, MFA, 1983 in Set & Lighting Design. (Extensive professional experience in the field of Community-Based Theatre).

Elizabeth Bourgeois, Assistant Professor, MFA, 2000 in Theatre Design. (Extensive educational experience in the field of Community-Based Theatre).

Some additional resources are needed to implement and sustain the proposed aggregate of courses. $4,600.00 is needed every year to hire one additional adjunct faculty to teach TH 471/471A Theatre for Young Audiences. Another $300.00 per year is needed to obtain some library resources (such as books, journals, magazines, and DVD/Videos) related to the fields of study. Another $700.00 per year is also needed to cover production materials related to the Peer Theatre and Applied Theatre in Education and Community courses, blank digital videotapes to record classroom work and archive productions. Dean Way indicated that she is aware of the resource needs and these will be accommodated through the regular budgeting process in the College. Resources consulted also indicated that CLASS has received an NEA grant to support the Peer Theatre Program, which would defray some of the costs indicated.

In terms of space no additional on-campus space is required. However, the continued use of the Downtown Center (including the Theatre, Multipurpose Room, Computer Lab and any extra classroom space on the second floor) would be essential. The Downtown Center spaces would be used primarily for the Peer Theatre series of courses. Assuming the College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences continues to provide Downtown Center spaces at no cost. Also, no additional equipment beyond the Department of Theatre’s current inventory is needed.

Consultation has been completed. Theater Department faculty members developed the option proposal. Professor Bernardo Solano also discussed the proposal with the Dean of CEIS.

After careful consideration the Academic Programs Committee concluded that this is a sound proposal and recommends its approval.

RECOMMENDATION:

The Academic Programs Committee recommends that Option Proposal: Theater in Education and Community be approved. AP-009-056, Option Proposal: Theater in Education and Community 5