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
X III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
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: BFA in
Course #
UG THTR 355 (DRAM
Theatre, Design/Tech Specialization
332)
Course Title
Computer-Aided Drafting and Computer Applications for the Theatre:
Section 01-VectorWorks, Section 02-AutoCAD
Prerequisite
Credits
THTR 255 (DRAM 231): Drafting for the
3
Theatre I
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Mike Monsos
x5138
michael.monsos@umontana.edu
Instructor
Mark Dean
Phone / Email x2879
mark.dean@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
Description of change
Bachelor of Fine Arts students in
Design/Technology are required (by School
of Theatre & Dance and National Association
of Schools of Theatre [NAST] standards) to
pass a sequence of courses that instill a
fluency in the method of communication for
theatre designers and technicians. The
course sequence depends on the design
emphasis in which the student is enrolled. All
students take the pre-requisite course of
THTR 255 (DRAM 231): Drafting for Theatre,
which addresses hand-drafting. They then
take one of three approved courses which
address specific learning outcomes for their
respective emphases. Lighting students take
THTR 355 Section 01 (DRAM 332.01):
Computer-Aided Drafting/VectorWorks,
scenery students take THTR 355 Section 02
(DRAM 332.02): Computer-Aided
Drafting/AutoCAD, and costuming students
take THTR 345 (DRAM 341): Flat Pattern
Design & Drafting.
These courses are recognized globally and
are a requirement for NAST accreditation of a
university design/technology program.
Another condition of our NAST accreditation
is the required credit load for BFA
Design/Tech students, which stands at 72
credits (excluding general education
courses). The ability to use these existing
courses as an appropriate substitute for
symbolic systems courses currently in place
would ease the current credit load on our
students, is an appropriate substitute with
respect to rigorous student learning goals,
and would be used only by a very select
group—those students wishing to earn the
pre-professional degree of a BFA in
Design/Technology.
Drafting sequence for BFA Design/Tech
students to be designated as an acceptable
substitution for the UM General Education
Symbolic Systems sequence (Group III).
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
The BFA degree with a Design/Technology emphasis in the School of Theatre & Dance has an extended
curriculum (72 credits) as mandated by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) which
requires fluency in hand drafting and computer-aided drafting. As drafting is the recognized means of
communication within the theatre design/technology industry, it is imperative that our students not only
understand, but are highly skilled in this means of dialogue. The Computer-Aided Drafting courses, of
which we have two, are intensive classroom experiences which teach students specific software and
programming so they can implement the drafting language they learned from hand drafting into a digital
and more powerful format. We offer two sections of CAD as there are two drafting programs used by
professionals in the theatre industry: AutoCAD and VectorWorks. AutoCAD is often used by architects,
scenic designers, and land-use planners, while VectorWorks is used primarily by lighting designers,
events designers, and graphic artists.
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. Rigorously presents a mapping between a
Design concepts for theatre can be quite abstract
real-world system and a human abstraction of
and are often new forms that have never before
the system.
existed. Our students are learning how to
translate these wildly creative and unique designs
into clear, understandable, and accurate drawings
that can be calculated, measured, and
constructed. It is important to note that there are
not set rules, guidelines or designs for a theatre
production. Each show exists within its own
concept and almost always generates a new
perspective and physical characteristics in a
space that may never have been used before.
Students are constantly challenged to turn
abstract expressions into concrete objects—
something that is impossible without the ability to
draft well and to communicate through measured
drawings.
Students must be able to use analysis, reasoning,
and creative thought in order to create measured
drawings which convey all the necessary
information from an unrealized three-dimensional,
sculptural object that exists only in conceptual
form to two-dimensional drawings so that
designers, carpenters, welders, craftspeople, and
electricians anywhere in the world can create the
objects. It is not uncommon for multiple pages of
drafting to be outsourced from a designer in one
location to a shop across the country or even the
world. If students do not learn to create accurate,
comprehensive, understandable drawings that
adhere to universal standards, it will be
impossible for them to succeed in this field.
3. Utilizes alternative methods of
Drafting is a means of communication that
communication, perception, and expression in
requires absolute precision and understanding in
order to encourage rigorous thinking.
order for it to function. Students must be able to
transpose the spoken and written word, along
with three-dimensional objects, into clear,
concise, multi-view two-dimensional measured
drawings.
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. Demonstrate an understanding of the symbols Students will understand all the symbols,
and the transformations of the system.
graphics, line-types, views, dimensioning,
notation, line-weights, etc., for use in light plots,
construction drawings, design elevations, and
other measured drawings for use in theatre, film,
and television. See attachments for examples.
2. Relay and interpret information in terms of
Students will learn the meaning and significance
the given symbolic system.
of all symbols and graphics so that they are
successful both in the creation and the reading of
measured drawings.
3. Apply creative thinking using the symbolic
Students will learn how to translate design ideas
system in order to solve problems and
from the conceptual stage to realized, accurate,
communicate ideas.
measurable drawings.
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).
2. Applies analysis, reasoning and creative
thinking in the understanding and manipulation
of symbolic codes.
The CAD courses have been placed at an upper-division level, and along with the one pre-requisite, there
are a number of theatre-related experiences, both in class and through production, that are beneficial to
the growth and development of our students prior to taking these courses. Historically, the complexity and
depth of understanding for satisfactory completion of these courses has been more successful with
students entering their junior years. It has been at the faculty advisor’s discretion, however, to place
students in these 300-level courses as soon as their sophomore years depending upon skills acquired
from other institutions.
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
COURSE SYLLABUS
THTR 355 (DRAM 332), section 1-FALL 2009
COMPUTER AIDED DRAFTING FOR THEATRE -3cr
CLASS SESSIONS: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY - 12:40 TO 2:00
MCGILL 213
P R O FE S S O R :
Mark Dean
Rm. 195, PART/V Bldg.
243-2879
mark.dean@umontana.edu
Bryan Kaschube
Rm. 131, PART/V Bldg
243-4481
bryan.kaschube@umontana.edu
Office Hours: 1:00pm to 2:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday except when work on University productions prohibits these times. Please
feel free to make appointments or stop by at other times.
G O AL S
AND
OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to computer aided drafting.
Students will be asked to create many different drawings using the skills they
learn on the computer.
The work for this class is designed to sequentially develop the student's
understanding and skills. Therefore it is of extreme importance that all students
complete the assignments according to the class schedule.
Students should:

Have the ability to understand and use the course objectives of DRAMA
231

Have the ability to use the computer as a drafting tool

Develop an individual drafting style

Have the ability to understand and use of the principals of computer
drafting

Have the ability to follow instructions
G RA D I N G :
This is rooted in the objectives stated above. The measurement or assessment of
the students’ success in meeting these objectives is determined at the end of a
semester in their ability to draft quality projects. And in so doing they must
demonstrate:

Student’s ability to meet all deadlines and requirements for the course

Preparation for class as evidenced by knowledge gained from previous
assignments and assigned readings; organization of work; and timely
execution of drafting projects

Increased skill in computer drafting: speed, accuracy and efficiency,
understanding of computer software

Student’s ability to approach work with increased independence,
efficiency, and creative thinking.

Complexity of work attempted by the students in relationship to their
skill level.
Note: The highest level of success is based on the student’s ability to
demonstrate through process and product a significant level of
understanding of all theories and an ability to utilize them effectively,
appropriately, and aesthetically in their creation of computer drafting.
GRADING (cont):
Final grades for this course will be based on the following
9/9
9/16
9/30
10/14
10/21
11/4
11/11
11/23
12/9
12/13 1:10-3:10
Simple Room #1
Simple Room #2
Complex Room
Piano
Furniture
Working Drawing-Flats
Working Drawing-Moldings
Complex Room-3D
Masquer Theatre-Floor Plan
Masquer Theatre-3D
Attendance and Participation
25 points
50
75
75
75
100
100
150
150
150
100
Total ----------------900 points
Since the completion of many of these projects is dependent upon the
completion of the preceding projects, projects turned in to the professors after
the due date will not be accepted for grading.
R E QUI R E D
Extra credit is possible and encouraged by the professors, but the student must
receive the instructors’ permission before starting a project that is to be used for
extra credit.
M A TE R I A L S :
1GB Flash Drive memory stick
Architect's Scale Ruler (not an Engineer's ruler)
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
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 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/13
Computer Aided Drafting
Section 2-AutoCAD
Course #:
Time:
Room:
Instructor:
Text:
THTR 355 (Drama 332) section 2
MW 11:10-12:30
LA 242
Mike Monsos
PARTV Building Room 192
243-5138
michael.monsos@umontana.edu
AutoCAD 2008, by James A. Leach
Materials Needed:
Flash drive
Course Description:
This course is designed to develop computer-aided drafting skills for theatre
using AutoCAD. Students will incorporate all their knowledge and experience
gained in Drafting for the Theatre I (Drama 231) into computer applications,
gaining an understanding for how the software is used to create complete,
accurate draftings for design and technology in theatre and theatre related
activities.
Course Objectives:
This course will give students the skills to create computer-generated draftings
from AutoCAD that are appropriate and acceptable for use in the professional
world of theatre design and technology and are consistent with drafting skills
developed in previous coursework. Students will create working drawings,
floorplans, elevations and other pertinent draftings for use in theatre design and
technology using AutoCAD 2009. Students will learn how computer generated
drawings can be created, transferred, amended and published to the web so that
the communication of information can be more easily accomplished in a digital
format.
Grading:
Students will have daily assignments; all exercises will be due by 5:00 PM each
and every Friday. Grading will be based on cumulative scores from all
classroom exercises and assignments along with the final project. Do not fall
behind! This course is intensive and requires students to keep up with the
work as each lesson builds upon previous exercises.
Attendance policy:
Attendance is extremely important; it is assumed students will attend all classes.
Only two unexcused absences are allowed, each absence after two will result in
the loss of ten points from the student’s total points. Assignments are due either
on or prior to due date. Late assignments will not be accepted, exceptions may
be made at the discretion of the instructor.
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 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: 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.
ATTACHMENTS
Additional documentation for General Education Group III: Symbolic Systems form
Substitution Request
School of Theatre & Dance
Fall 2009
Attachment #1
Architectural floorplan for University of British Colombia retrofit of the “Old
Auditorium.”
Attachment #2
Light plot for Montana Repertory Theatre’s production of the national tour
of The Grapes of Wrath.
Attachment #3
Basic floorplan of The University of Montana’s Montana Theatre.