Course Form (revised 7-2008)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
School of Theatre & Dance
Course Title
Senior Project
Course #
U THTR 490
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Senior Project
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New course
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Jere Hodgin
Phone/ email :
x2877
Program Chair/Director:
Date
jere.hodgin@umontana.edu
Mark Dean
x2879
Other affected programs:
Dean:
Dr. Stephen Kalm
x4970
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
U 490 Senior Project 1 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., senior-level theatre major. The student, with
approval from his/her advisor, will complete a project during the final semester of study. An in-depth paper and
brief defense of the project are required.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
A senior project has been required in years past for each specialization in the School of Theatre & Dance, but
no corresponding course was in place. By creating this credit/no-credit course, we can ensure students
successfully complete this program requirement.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
Yes.
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment (Reference guidelines: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm)
Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions determined by the
Board of Regents. Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
YES
NO
X
From:
To:
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to
UG. Reference guidelines at:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm
(syllabus required in section V)
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
guidelines? Please check (X) space provided.
5. Other programs affected by the change
6. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
The University of Montana
School of Theatre & Dance
Fall Semester 2010
THTR 490: Senior Project, 1 cr. (C/NC)
Instructor of Record: Jere Hodgin
jere.hodgin@umontana.edu
406-243-2877
McGill 216: TR 2-3:30P
Prerequisite: Senior-level BA or BFA in Theatre.
The Senior Project for BA and BFA majors is the final demonstration of each student’s achievements
during his/her undergraduate study. It is a major project in terms of hours, effort, and quality of
expected result. The Senior Project is a requirement for graduation. It is a project that requires prior
approval of the School of Theatre & Dance faculty.
All Drama, Education Endorsement Preparation, and Acting students who intend to graduate during a
given academic year must attend a mandatory meeting held the spring before their intended
graduation year (following the season announcement) to discuss Senior Project guidelines and
timelines.
A Senior Project Proposal Form must be submitted to a student’s advisor for approval not later than
the last week of the second semester of a student’s penultimate year. Forms are available from the
School Administrative Associate (a copy is included in Appendix B of this Handbook). The student’s
advisor will serve as mentor for his/her Senior Project unless the Division Head deems that another
faculty member will better serve the mentoring of the project, in which case the Division Head will
assign another faculty member to the project.
Following the Majors Meeting at the start of Fall Term, a second mandatory meeting will be called for
all Drama, Education, and Acting seniors. At this meeting, Senior Projects will be addressed and
questions answered.
The determination of a particular project as being part of the Senior Project does not prevent the
student from earning academic credit for that activity. Normally, the Senior Project should not include
work for which the student is paid.
All work in fulfillment of a Senior Project is usually done during the regular academic year and on the
campus of The University of Montana.
Students must remember that faculty supervision and observation are required at all stages of the
Senior Project; the responsibility for accomplishing this lies with the initiative of the student. For the
purpose of making a final evaluation, the advisor must observe:
1.
Pre-planning
2.
Rehearsal/Preparation
3.
Performance/Execution.
The advisor must be given the opportunity to critique the student’s work and see the results of the
critique in subsequent rehearsal/performance situations.
There will be a final required meeting called for all Drama, Education, and Acting seniors at 5:15P on
the second Monday of Spring Term. This meeting will assess mid-year progress and challenges for
Senior Projects.
The final draft of the Senior Project is due to the student’s project advisor (and copies provided to
every other faculty member of the appropriate division) by 5P on April 30.
During the first week of May, the Acting/Directing faculty will hold Senior Project Juries, at which
each senior project will be discussed with the student, as well as related process and progress. Each
Jury will be held by appointment and shall last five-ten minutes.
BA Drama Senior Project
A Senior Project is required of all BA students. The application and letter of intent to complete the
project must be submitted to the student’s advisor early in Fall Semester of the student's senior
year. Upon approval of the proposal, an appropriate faculty advisor (if it is not the student’s
academic advisor) will be assigned to the student.
Consistent with the view of the BA as a more liberal, general degree, the BA Senior Project can be
either:
1.
An academically-oriented paper project
2.
A production-related assignment requiring both:
a.
a typed journal chronicling the creative and/or technical execution of the
project
b.
a professional resume.
BA Education Endorsement Preparation Senior Project
A formal Senior Project is required of all BA students who choose the option in Drama Education.
Consistent with this degree requirements and aim, the student works with a faculty member in this
area to develop an experience for young people that seeks to use drama and/or theatre as the
pedagogical tool. This culminating experience seeks to harness the power of the theatrical in the
service of education and is typically a service-learning project which gives both sides the opportunity
to learn from the other.
BFA Acting Senior Project
At the close of the junior year, BFA acting students must submit an application and letter to the
Head of the Acting/Directing program indicating their intention to graduate the following year.
This letter should consist of a listing of all School performance experiences, including but not
limited to roles in mainstage shows.
The BFA senior project is a thorough and specific 10-page self-assessment paper to be turned into
the Head of the Division by April 15 of the graduating year. This paper must be accompanied by a
professional resume and current headshot. The paper must critically deal with the actor’s strengths
and areas for growth and should include a discussion of faculty feedback over the years. The
following questions should also be addressed in the paper:
Describe your work when you first came to the program.
What were your goals?
What was your philosophy and experience?
What did you want/need to learn?
Describe how you have addressed your goals and deficits.
In what ways have you grown as a performer?
How have your classes informed your stage work (Acting, Voice & Speech, Physical
Performance, Dramatic Literature, Theatre History, Directing)?
How do you approach creating a character now?
What specific techniques do you use?
What steps do you take in the process?
How does this work help you?
What has been your strongest acting work here?
What made that performance strong?
What performance or role here do you feel was weak?
What would you do differently if you were to approach it again?
Where are you with the craft now?
What are your goals?
What are your strengths?
What do you need to work on?
How will you address these issues in the future, outside of the institution?
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
http://life.umt.edu/VPSA/name/StudentConductCode.
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.umt.edu/theatredance.
There is inherent risk involved in many Theatre & Dance classes as they are very physical in nature.
Please proceed through class, shop time, or rehearsal with caution. Always be mindful of your
personal safety and the safety of others. Students participating in class/shop/rehearsal/performance do
so at their own risk.
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.