I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 9/15/09)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms X IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program School of Theatre & Dance
Course #
U DANC 118A
Course Title
Dance Forms: Tap
Prerequisite
Credits
2
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Michele Antonioli
x2875
michele.antonioli@umontana.edu
Program Chair Mark Dean
x2879
Dean
Dr. Stephen Kalm
x4970
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
X
Instructor
Phone / Email
Change
Remove
Date
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Tap dance has been previously taught as a
special topic course. DRAM 108A: Dance
Forms I was proposed and approved as a
general-education, lower-division course that
allows instructors to offer differing styles of
dance, one of which was to be tap. We now
wish to offer a number of such styles as their
own courses under the Dance Forms
classification to signify each course’s unique
world dance form. As a result of our proposed
MUS Transfer Initiative common-course
numbering changes, we wish to split the old
DAN U 108A: Dance Forms I course into
three individual courses that mach our
proposed numbering system which will now
accommodate more course numbers and
group like types of courses together. DANC
118A: Dance Forms: Tap will now fit in the
DANC X15-X19 area for courses in Jazz/Tap
Dance.
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Dance Forms: Tap is a dance technique class that teaches specific styles of tap dance technique. It is a
studio course that meets each criterion for the Expressive Arts Perspective. Students learn technique in
the dance style and apply these techniques and processes in the learning of dance phrases and
combinations. Students incorporate movement structures through learning dance language and
terminology for purposes of conveying meaning through dance. All technique students are required to
attend dance performances and write a critique that reflects upon and critically assesses the merits of
others’ work. These same assessment processes are used in class to reflect upon their own work and the
work of peers. The technique class allows students to perceive and articulate the relevance of artistic
expression in human experience.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
1. Courses guide students, whether in individual
or group settings, to acquire foundational skills
to engage in the creative process and/or in
interpretive performance.
2. Through direct experience (for example,
attendance and involvement with live
performance, exhibitions, workshops, and
readings), students will engage in critical
assessment of their own work and the work of
others.
Students physically experience dance
kinesthetically. The mode of instruction includes
attention to the following areas, which lead to
technical formation of the dancer and familiarity
with the dance language: alignment, centering,
balance work; basic locomotion, basic axial
movement-flexion, extension, rotation; elevationtechniques, rhythmic awareness; basic positions
of the arms and feet; simple turns with and
without spotting; flexibility and strengthening
exercises; use of breath and vocalization.
Students reflect on and critically assess the
merits of their work in three main ways:
1. Students are required to attend three dance
concerts during a semester of dance
technique. They are encouraged to
voluntarily see all available dance
performances. The instructor requires a
written critique for these performances.
Guidelines are distributed prior to the
concert. Students must write a critique
referring to specific examples, so it is
recommended that they take notes either
during or after the concerts.
2. Students are required to perform their own
original compositions. Professors conduct
class discussion where students are held
responsible for the critique of their own work
and the creations of their peers.
3. A Dance Program critique of the Dance
Showcase is held every semester with
outside critics invited to share their
reflections on the merits of the
choreography. Choreographers are required
to attend and dancers are highly encouraged
to attend. The critique generally lasts two
hours and is held the week following the
production.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Using the movement vocabulary learned
(alignment, centering, balance work; basic
locomotion, basic axial movement-flexion,
extension, rotation; elevation-techniques,
rhythmic awareness; basic positions of the arms
and feet; simple turns with and without spotting;
flexibility and strengthening exercises; use of
breath and vocalization), students are able to
express themselves using the fundamentals of
tap dance.
2. Upon completion of this perspective, students Through attending performances of local
will be able to understand the genres and/or
companies and national/international
forms that have shaped the medium.
professional companies, and through viewing
dance works on video/DVD, students will
understand and differentiate between different
dance genres and the major forms that have
shaped the medium of dance.
3. Upon completion of this perspective, students The dance program values critique as part of the
will be able to critique the quality of their own
learning goals of all dance students. All students
work and that of others.
who study tap dance are required to attend
concerts and write critiques about the quality of
the work they are seeing. In addition, students
are involved in class critiques where they critique
their own work and the work of their peers.
Students also participate in a Formal Critique
conducted by a guest critic from the Missoula
community.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
We respectfully request an exception for this two-credit class. The requirements for the course, while
physically rigorous, equal the number of hours required for two credits, as many of our other 100-level
Group IV dance courses do. Rather than increase the credits and thus the course requirements, we feel
the two-credit designation is sensible and reasonable.
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
1. Upon completion of this perspective, students
will be able to express themselves in the making
of an original work or creative performance.
DANCE FORMS: TAP
DANC 118A, 2 cr.
MW 4:10-5:00
MCGILL 121
INSTRUCTOR: LINDA MURPHY
Email: 4mtmurphy@msn.com
Phone: 370-9979
Course Description:
This class is an introduction to tap dance technique, focusing on developing strength,
coordination, technical facility and musicality.
Course Objectives:
To participate in technical training to introduce the technique and tradition of an American art
form: tap dance.
- To familiarize students with basic tap vocabulary
- To increase the students comprehension of musicality
- To develop in the student an understanding of dance as a means of human
expression
Course Content:
Objectives will be fulfilled through the following means:
- The introduction and building of tap vocabulary
- A series of short tap combinations
- Learning traditional dances such as time steps and/or shim-sham
- A 2-page mid-term paper on a tap dancer (list of dancers will be provided for you to
choose from)
- A final performance test of tap vocabulary learned in class
!!Attendance Policy!!
The majority of the learning in this class is experiential and it is therefore difficult to make-up
the information taught in class. Make it a priority to attend class, be on time or early and
practice what you have learned in class on your own time. You are allowed three absences.
Your grade will drop incrementally for each absence thereafter (A to A-, A- to B+, etc.). If you
are more than 10 minutes late, or leave class 10 minutes early you will be counted absent. If
you are injured or ill (but not contagious), you may watch class and be counted as attending.
Class make-ups are possible through special arrangement, at the discretion of the instructor.
TAP SHOES ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS!! THEY ARE THE EQUIVALENT
OF A TEXTBOOK. YOUR GRADE WILL BE LOWERED IF YOU DO NOT HAVE
TAP SHOES!
Grading Criteria:
Your grade will be based on:
- Your attendance
- The quality of your participation in class (effort)
- The level at which you perform the material presented
- Your attitude and commitment to the work
- Your growth throughout the course
Your attendance, initiative, enthusiasm and willingness to explore unfamiliar ground will go a
long way in the determination of your final grade.
The class final will be a Performance Test, which will include the basic tap
vocabulary and/or a short dance.
The letter grade of “A” will be issued to students whose performance in the above areas is
deemed by the instructor to be Excellent. The letter grade of “B” will be issued to students
whose performance in the above areas is deemed by the instructor to be Good. The letter grade
of “C” will be issued to students whose performance in the above areas is deemed by the
instructor to be Satisfactory. The letter grade of “D” will be issued to students whose
performance in the above areas is deemed by the instructor to be Less Than Satisfactory. The
letter grade of “F” will be issued to students whose performance in the above areas is deemed
by the instructor to be Unacceptable. Plus and minus grades may be included in the assigning of
student grades. You will always be evaluated on individual growth and execution of
assignments. REMEMBER: Your attendance, initiative, enthusiasm and willingness to explore
unfamiliar ground will go a long way in the determination of your final grade.
The instructor may change the syllabus for this course at any time during the semester.
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by
the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students need to be familiar
with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at
http://www.umt.edu/SA/vpsa/index.cfm/page/1339
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.