Theatre and Dance

[ graduate program | courses | faculty ]

202 Galbraith Hall, Revelle College
(858) 534-3619
http://theatre.ucsd.edu

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

The Undergraduate Program

The Department of Theatre and Dance teaches performance as a way to innovate, create, produce knowledge, and critically engage the world and the public. In our bachelor of arts (BA) programs, we achieve this through experiential learning inside and out of the classroom. We train our students to develop not only technical and artistic capacities, but also strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Ultimately, our graduates are equipped to reflect and act upon the pressing challenges of our time through a lens of creativity, interconnectedness, and community.

In addition to providing a program for students desiring a theatre or dance major that focuses on interdisciplinarity and collaboration, the curriculum provides a sequence of courses to fulfill specific requirements of various colleges: the fine arts and/or humanities requirements for Muir College; courses fulfilling Warren College’s program of concentration requirements; courses to fulfill Revelle, Thurgood Marshall, and Eleanor Roosevelt Colleges’ fine arts requirements; courses fulfilling Sixth College’s art-making and experiential learning requirements; courses to fulfill the arts requirement and high-impact requirement of Seventh College; courses fulfilling Eighth College’s arts requirement; public speaking courses to fulfill requirements in the Jacobs School of Engineering and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; and elective courses for the general student desiring experience in theatre or dance.

Any student who has been accepted to the University of California San Diego is eligible to declare theatre or dance as a major, double major, or minor. Auditions are not required. Continuing UC San Diego students who are changing their major to theatre or dance must file a Change of Major form with the UC San Diego Registrar’s Office.

Department of Theatre and Dance Advising

The department’s undergraduate faculty advisers can provide guidance and answers to students’ questions concerning specific course content, transfer course work, honors research projects, academic success, production, auditioning procedures, postgraduate opportunities, and departmental policy changes.

The undergraduate coordinator can answer students’ questions regarding major requirements, procedural matters, class enrollment, and the petition process, and give referrals to faculty and other campus resources for specific information.

Undergraduate student representatives are another important resource for theatre and dance majors. In conjunction with the director of undergraduate studies and the undergraduate coordinator, the student reps organize quarterly meetings at which students and faculty discuss departmental issues and concerns.

The department regularly communicates with the majors and minors, as well as other students involved in classes and productions, through the campus email and listserv systems. Students are strongly urged to check their campus email accounts for timely messages or to make arrangements with Academic Computing Services to have campus email forwarded to any other email account they may use.

Programs Abroad

The department encourages students to enrich their undergraduate experience by studying abroad. Students majoring in theatre and/or dance are encouraged to participate in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) and to investigate other options of foreign study through the Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). By petition, credits earned through EAP/OAP can fulfill UC San Diego degree and major requirements. Please visit the Study Abroad UC San Diego website at http://studyabroad.ucsd.edu/ for further details. Financial aid is applicable and special study abroad scholarships are readily available.

The Department of Theatre and Dance will accept a maximum of three courses per semester abroad, and students are encouraged to take courses abroad that will fulfill major elective requirements. Please meet with the undergraduate coordinator prior to the EAP/OAP application deadline.

The Theatre Major

The BA in theatre provides students with a balanced approach to performance through both theory and practice. The required lower-division courses equip the student with the skills and knowledge necessary for more advanced work. The major is structured to respond to the needs of students who seek a broad-based liberal arts education in theatre as well as those who plan to pursue their studies at the graduate level with the aim of acquiring either an MFA or a PhD degree. Students should meet with the department’s undergraduate coordinator during the quarter in which they declare a theatre major in order to plan an appropriate individual course of study.

The major requirements are those published in the catalog in effect for the first quarter that a first-year student attends UC San Diego; transfer students will be held to the catalog requirements two years previous to their first quarter at UC San Diego. Any student in good standing may declare a theatre major online through TritonLink. A department stamp is not required.

The Dance Major

The BA in dance offers students the opportunity to specialize their practices in movement, dancemaking, and performance and to understand these practices within history, society, and the world. The dance major allows students to study a range of techniques and dance practices that include traditional and contemporary forms, world dance, somatic movement approaches, dance making, history, and theory. Our program emphasizes innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, encourages hybridization of dance vocabularies, and aims to push forward the boundaries of dance as a culturally and aesthetically diverse art form. Our program fosters an open, respectful, imaginative, inventive, and noncompetitive approach to all areas of practice, and encourages students to be self-motivated, rigorous, proactive, and reflective to prepare them for the demands of a variety of professional careers.

Dance students have the opportunity to perform in two fully produced dance concerts in each academic year: winterWORKS in winter quarter features choreography by faculty and guest artists. In spring quarter, students perform in the experimental choreographic works of other students in the New Directions concert.

The major requirements are those published in the catalog in effect for the first quarter that a first-year student attends UC San Diego; transfer students will be held to the catalog requirements two years previous to their first quarter at UC San Diego. Any student in good standing may declare a dance major online through TritonLink. A department stamp is not required.

The Theatre-Dance Double Major

The double major in theatre and dance provides students with a solid academic and artistic base in both theatre and dance disciplines. Furthermore, requirements for this double major will create stronger and more experienced directors (for their exposure to choreography), choreographers (for their exposure to directing), actors (for the poise and strength they will attain from dance), and dancers (for having confronted text and character). In other words, the double major trains students to understand performance within a larger art ecology and disciplines.

Students should meet with the department’s undergraduate coordinator as soon as practical (but no later than the quarter in which they declare the major) in order to plan an appropriate individual course of study.

Double majors should complete the Petition for Double Major form obtained from their college and submit it to the department for review and approval.

The Theatre Minor

The theatre minor consists of seven theatre courses, one of which is the Practicum. It is recommended that students declare the theatre minor as soon as possible as priority enrollment in the Practicums is given to majors and minors.

The Dance Minor

The dance minor consists of seven courses, one of which is the Practicum. The dance minor will provide a balanced educational experience for the student who has a strong interest in dance but who wishes to major in another area of study. The minor provides movement courses in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and various world dance perspectives. It is recommended that students declare the dance minor as soon as possible as priority enrollment in Practicum is given to majors and minors.

Satisfying Your Major Requirements

Fifty percent of all course work required for the theatre or dance major (including both upper- and lower-division courses) must be taken at UC San Diego, regardless of approved transfer work and petitions. Theatre practicum (TDPR) classes completed elsewhere do not satisfy the theatre and dance department’s requirements unless they have been formally petitioned and approved. Only one practicum class from another institution may be petitioned. All courses required for the major or minor must be taken for a letter grade and for a minimum for four units. A theatre and dance department course for which a student earns a grade lower than C– will not satisfy any of the department’s graduation requirements. Four units of Instructional Assistance (TDGE 195, P/NP credit) may be used as an upper-division elective for the theatre major, double major, or minor. Courses taken outside the Department of Theatre and Dance will not satisfy core or elective major requirements.

Major Requirements

Theatre majors are required to complete ten lower-division courses. Dance majors are required to complete nine lower-division courses. All lower-division courses should be satisfied before starting upper-division course work in the respective areas.

Theatre and dance majors and minors should complete a Practicum course—TDPR 6—within three quarters of declaring their major or minor. Theatre majors should plan to complete their second Practicum requirement as soon as possible thereafter, as space in these classes is limited.

Theatre History 10, 21, 22, and 23 are prerequisites for most upper-division theatre history and theory courses. Introduction to Acting (TDAC 1), Theatre Design (TDDE 1), and Theatre Playwriting (TDPW 1) are all prerequisites for any upper-division course work in their respective areas. Students should take these classes as soon as possible after declaring their major. Prerequisites ensure that students are properly prepared for the work required.

The Theatre Major

Please refer to the major requirements section for an overview of the theatre major.

Lower-Division Requirements

1. Two courses selected from
   TDPR 6. Theatre Practicum
   
2. Each of the following:
   TDHT 10. Introduction to Play Analysis
   TDHT 21. Ancient and Medieval Theatre
   TDHT 22. Theatre 1500–1900
   TDHT 23. Twentieth-Century Theatre
3. TDGE 1. Introduction to Theatre
4. Each of the area threshold classes:
   
   1. TDAC 1. Introduction to Acting
   2. TDDE 1. Introduction to Design
   3. TDPW 1. Introduction to Playwriting

   Note: The threshold classes listed above must be completed before taking upper-division courses in their respective areas.

Upper-Division Requirements

5. One upper-division four-unit acting course
6. One upper-division four-unit design course
7. One upper-division four-unit directing course
8. One upper-division four-unit playwriting course
9. One upper-division four-unit stage management course
10. Three upper-division four-unit theatre history courses
11. Four upper-division four-unit theatre electives

Note: TDGE 197 and 199 may not be used as upper-division electives by theatre majors unless approved by petition.

The Dance Major

Lower-Division Requirements

Six Lower-Division Courses

1. Studies (two courses):

Two of the three listed:

2. Practice (four courses):

One from the following:

One from the following:

Upper-Division Requirements

Twelve Upper-Division Courses

1. Studies (three courses):

Somatic Research (One of the three listed):

Theorizing Dance:

2. Practice (nine courses):

One from the following:

One from the following:

Seven from the following (each course can be taken no more than twice to count toward the major):

Theatre and Dance Double Major

Lower-Division Requirements

1. TDPR 6. Theatre Practicum
2. TDAC 1. Introduction to Acting
3. TDDM 1. Introduction to Dance Making
4. TDDE 1. Introduction to Design
5. TDPW 1. Introduction to Playwriting

Upper-Division Requirements

6. One upper-division four-unit acting course
7. One upper-division four-unit design course
8. One upper-division four-unit directing course
9. One upper-division four-unit playwriting course
10. One upper-division four-unit stage management course
11. Six upper-division four-unit theatre and dance history courses (TDHT 114 required as one of the six upper-division history courses)
12. TDTR 104. Dance Theory and Pedagogy
13. TDDE 121. Theatre Process: Lighting
14. TDDM 100. Dance Making 1
15. TDDM 101. Dance Making 2
16. Two movement courses in TDMV 122. Advanced Contemporary Dance
17. Two advanced movement courses from any of the following:
    TDMV 111. Advanced Ballet
    TDMV 123. Contact Improvisation
    TDMV 133. Advanced Jazz
    TDMV 149. Advanced Hip-Hop
18. One elective movement course from any of the following:
    TDMV 142. Latin Dance of the World
    TDMV 143. West African Dance
    TDMV 144. Asian Dance
    TDMV 146. Intermediate Latin Dances of the World
    

Note: TDGE 197 and 199 may not be used as upper-division electives by theatre and dance majors unless approved by petition.

The Theatre Minor

Minors must be declared online at TritonLink. Minor courses may not be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis.

The minor requirements are those published in the catalog in effect for the first quarter that a first-year student attends UC San Diego; transfer students will be held to the catalog requirements two years previous to their first quarter at UC San Diego.

Lower-Division Requirements

1. One course from
   TDPR 6. Theatre Practicum
2. One course from the following list:
   TDHT 21. Ancient Medieval Theatre
   TDHT 22. Theatre 1500–1900
   TDHT 23. Twentieth-Century Theatre
   TDAC 1. Introduction to Acting
   TDDE 1. Introduction to Design
   TDPW 1. Introduction to Playwriting

Upper-Division Requirements

3. Any five four-unit, upper-division theatre courses chosen from the following subjects: TDAC, TDDE, TDDR, TDGE, TDHT, TDPR, TDPW.

The Dance Minor

Minors must be declared online at TritonLink. Minor courses may not be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis.

The minor requirements are those published in the catalog in effect for the first quarter that a first-year student attends UC San Diego; transfer students will be held to the catalog requirements two years previous to their first quarter at UC San Diego.

Dance Minor Requirements

Lower-Division Requirements

1. Studies (two courses):

2. Practice (four courses):

One from the following:

Upper-Division Requirements

Four Upper-Division Courses

1. Studies (one course):

2. Practice (three courses):

Honors Program

The department offers a special program of advanced study for outstanding undergraduates majoring in theatre, dance, or theatre and dance. Successful completion of the Honors Program enables the student to graduate With Highest Distinction (A+), With High Distinction (A), or With Distinction (A–), depending upon performance in the program.

Eligibility

1. Junior standing (ninety units or more completed)
2. 3.7 GPA or better in the major
3. 3.5 GPA or better overall, which student must maintain until final graduation
4. Completion of at least four upper-division theatre courses

Guidelines

Application to the Honors Program may be made upon completion of ninety units or no later than the fifth week of the quarter preceding the final two quarters before graduation. The theatre and dance faculty will consider the application for approval.

Students are required to take TDGE 196A, Honors Studies in Theatre, and 196B, Honors Thesis in Theatre, in addition to the thirteen upper-division required courses for the major. TDGE 196A-B are to be taken consecutively and may not be taken concurrently.

Placement and Proficiency for Dance Majors

The dance area is defined by a varied and dynamic blend of approaches to physical practice, choreographic inquiry, historical investigation, and critical analysis. We recognize that the technical command and the expansion of a range of movement vocabularies is essential to the dancer’s capacity for creative expression. The faculty recognizes that students may be entering into this program with a range of different backgrounds and that there is value in developing a strong shared base of movement practice. Therefore, the faculty advises incoming dance majors to participate in beginning classes in a variety of dance forms for the first year, new students in dance to participate in beginning dance in all areas for a minimum of one year, as well as enrolling in TDTR 10, Introduction to Dance. Students are encouraged to continue to train in forms aligned with previous training and to challenge themselves to expand their understanding and embodiment of a diverse range of movement practices and styles. Beginning classes may be taken multiple times for credit. Dance majors are encouraged to take a minimum of one to two TDMV movement-based classes each quarter. Students are encouraged to remain in a beginning level of a dance form until proficiency is reached. Intermediate and advanced dance courses require a higher level of rigor and move more quickly. Faculty will advise students during the first week of a class if more preparation is needed for these higher-level courses and will provide other class options that would be more suitable.

Undergraduate Student Petitions

Undergraduate student petitions are required whenever an exception to a rule is being requested. They are required for major or minor requirement substitutions, substitution of courses from other departments or institutions, late course adding or dropping, or requesting a retroactive incomplete grade. Students should submit petitions for course substitutions well in advance of taking the course. If they have difficulty with the form, students should have the Department of Theatre and Dance undergraduate coordinator assist them with the petition process to ensure that the petition is complete and well documented. Students may obtain an undergraduate student petition form on TritonLink. Any petition relating to courses within the Department of Theatre and Dance should be submitted to tdadvising@ucsd.edu.

Receiving Transfer Credit

Students must petition the department to substitute courses taken in another department or institution for courses required by the Department of Theatre and Dance. The following procedures and guidelines will help students with the transfer petition process.

The Department of Theatre and Dance head of undergraduate studies will review petitions for all transfer courses. Students may obtain an undergraduate student petition form on TritonLink. A detailed syllabus for the course to be evaluated must be attached to the completed petition form. Any petition relating to courses within the Department of Theatre and Dance should be submitted to tdadvising@ucsd.edu.

Transfer credits must be accepted by the Admissions Office at the appropriate level and for the appropriate number of units for the substitution to be effective. Upper-division credit cannot be given for lower-division work. Course work done at a junior college can only transfer to UC San Diego as lower-division credit.

Theatre and Dance Performance and Production Opportunities

The Department of Theatre and Dance produces numerous productions throughout the academic year. These productions range in scale from student directed “black box” productions to full-scale faculty directed productions on the main stage.

Each of these productions is staged with undergraduate and graduate actors and dancers. Historically, where there are design assignments to be made (sets, costumes, lights, sound), those assignments are given to qualified undergraduates. Upper-division credit is available for students involved in the design or staging of department productions. Students may not work on department productions unless they are formally enrolled in a related class. Information regarding design and advanced crew opportunities is typically available from the design faculty or may be posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of Galbraith Hall as opportunities arise.

Studio Projects

Studio projects or LABs are independent productions that are produced by students in department space. Students may submit proposals for studio projects one quarter in advance to the production manager. The studio project policy is subject to revision on a quarterly basis. Please check your inbox for quarterly details and deadlines.

Undergraduate Audition Policy

Undergraduates are encouraged to audition for all shows produced in the department. Auditions are typically held in the quarter preceding the staging of a production. Audition announcements will be emailed to the theatre and dance listserv. Undergraduates who have completed or are currently enrolled in TDAC 1, Introduction to Acting are eligible to audition.

Annual Dance Concerts

Two undergraduate dance concerts are presented each year. In winter quarter’s winterWORKS concert, students perform choreography created by professional faculty and guest artists in Mandell Weiss Center for the Performing Arts, Forum Theatre, or the Potiker Theatre. In spring quarter’s New Directions student dance concert, students perform the faculty-directed experimental choreographic works for other students at the Potiker Theatre, Forum Theatre, or Epstein Family Amphitheater. In addition, smaller productions, student cabarets, and honors thesis projects take place in our intimate Studio 3 Theatre, located in the Molli and Arthur Wagner Dance Building. Undergraduate students also have opportunities to perform as part of the fall and winter production season. Additionally, students may audition for spring productions that are written and directed by MFA playwrights and MFA directors in The Wagner New Play Festival. Auditions are held at the end of the quarter before the production. Students interested in performing in the winter concert (winterWORKS) must audition and will be cast for a specific repertory class taught by the faculty or guest choreographer. Students who are then cast must enroll in both the appropriate Dance Repertory (TDPF 160, 161, 162) and Studies in Performance (TDPF 163). Students interested in performing in the spring concert (New Directions) must audition at the beginning of spring quarter; if cast, students must enroll in Studies in Performance (TDPF 160, 161, 162). Students participating in either dance production are required to be concurrently attending a technique class. Students who wish to choreograph for the spring concert (New Directions) must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in TDHD 20, Looking at Dance, and at least one TDDM dancemaking course by the time of their pitch.

Comps

Declared theatre or dance majors are eligible to receive one free complimentary ticket per departmental production. The complimentary tickets are on a first-come-first-served basis. Majors will be sent a complimentary ticket code at the start of each school year. For the complete Complimentary Ticket Policy, please visit our website (http://theatre.ucsd.edu).