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 THTR 338A (DRAM
327)
Course Title
Theatre in Elementary Education
Prerequisite
Credits
2
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Dr. Randy Bolton
x2880
randy.bolton@umontana.edu
Program Chair Mark Dean
x2879
Dean
Dr. Stephen Kalm
x4970
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
X
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Date
Instructor
Phone / Email
Description of change
Change
Remove
We are resubmitting this course for General
Education inclusion for Group IV (Expressive
Arts). This course had previously qualified for
an Expressive Arts designation for seven
years. This course was excluded from the
Expressive Arts designation last year
because it had a major restriction—the
course was open only to Education and
Drama majors; we have since removed that
restriction.
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
This course addresses the use of theatre in the elementary-school classroom for the aesthetic and
personal development of elementary students. Students work directly in the theatre process to create
artistic performances. They develop critical insights concerning involvement in artistic processes
especially as they relate to human development. The purpose is to develop critical insights and
involvement in artistic processes especially as they relate to human development.
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 Students perform in dramatic storytelling
or group settings, to acquire foundational skills exercises and creative projects in every class.
to engage in the creative process and/or in
These performances take the concepts they are
interpretive performance.
reading about and discussing into action in their
performances. They are given grades for these
performances in the areas of process and
product. Each performance set is followed up with
a group discussion and often with individual
writing assignments.
2. Through direct experience (for example,
Students attend at least three School of Theatre
attendance and involvement with live
& Dance productions and respond critically to the
performance, exhibitions, workshops, and
work via written papers and discussion. They also
readings), students will engage in critical
perform in dramatic storytelling, creative projects,
assessment of their own work and the work of
and critically assess their own work and the work
others.
of their classmates.
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
1. Upon completion of this perspective, students Students create at least three majors dramatic
will be able to express themselves in the making storytelling projects over the course of the
of an original work or creative performance.
semester, and perform in dramatic storytelling
exercises and creative projects in every class.
2. Upon completion of this perspective, students
will be able to understand the genres and/or
forms that have shaped the medium.
Through the attendance of and response to
School of Theatre & Dance productions and
participation in their own creative projects,
students will be exposed to and come to
understand various genres and forms of theatre.
Students participate in dramatic imagination and
play as an actor/doer/builder in order to
understand how children do this. The first part of
the course is designed to understand the art
form, theatrical language and vocabulary. The
second part of the course takes this new
knowledge and uses it to make meaning.
Through written responses to and discussion of
productions they attend and through discussion
and critique of their creative projects, students
will critique the quality of their own work and that
of others.
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, 300-level class. The requirements for the course,
while academically rigorous, equal the number of hours required for two credits. Rather than increase the
credits and thus the course requirements, we feel the two-credit designation is sensible and reasonable.
This foundational, general-education course is best suited for students who are able to think
metaphorically using dramatic imagination. Thus we have given it a 300-level designation.
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
3. Upon completion of this perspective, students
will be able to critique the quality of their own
work and that of others.
THTR 338A
School of Theatre & Dance
Theatre in Elementary Education
2 Credits
Dr. Randy Bolton: randy.bolton@umontana.edu/ PARTV 193/ 243-2880
Office Hours: T TH 11;00-2:00 or by appointment
Creative Theatre is an improvisational, non-exhibitional, process-centered form of theatre
in which participants are guided by a leader to imagine, enact, and reflect upon human
experiences. Built on the human impulse and the ability to act out perceptions of the
world in order to understand it, creative theatre requires both logical and intuitive
thinking, personalizes knowledge, and yields aesthetic pleasure.
—The Children’s Theatre Association of America
Objectives
1. To participate in dramatic imagination and play as an actor/doer/builder; to understand
how children do this.
2. To investigate the relationship between dramatic imagination/play and learning.
3. To create and implement designs for learning and experiencing dramatic imagination
and play. Teaching is basically designing learning experiences.
4. To create and implement designs for learning and experiencing in various subjects
supplemented and facilitated by dramatic imagination and play.
Required Texts
A Child’s Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play by Vivian Gussin Paley
Scheduling
Mon. Dec. 8 8:00-10:00.
Final Session
Grading
Attendance and active participation in discussions, readings, exercises and performances 40%
Projects 40%
Drama production attendance and response 20%
Academic Misconduct and the Student Conduct Code
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic
penalty by the course instructor and/or disciplinary sanction by the University. All students
need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at
www.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/Index.cfm/page/1321.
All Theatre & Dance students must have an in-depth knowledge of the practices and
procedures outlined in the School of Theatre & Dance Handbook. The Handbook is
available online at http://www.sfa.umt.edu/drama/index.html.
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.