Western Carolina University
Assessment Plan
Theatre BA, Theatre BFA, Theatre Minor within the
Department of Communication, Theatre and Dance
College of Arts and Sciences
Assessment Plan for 2006 – 2007
Primary Contact Information:
Susan Brown-Strauss, Department of Communication, Theatre and Dance,
381 Belk, ext. 3963
Vision Statement:
WCU’s Theatre and Dance Programs are a center for educating a creative work force in
theatre and related technologies, promoting the development of a growing regional
entertainment industry, and providing quality cultural activities to the residents of the
region in an “environment where intellectual challenge, the free exchange of ideas and
high standards of scholarship, and creativity prevail.”
Program Mission Statement:
The Theatre Program serves majors in the B.A. and B.F.A. programs, Theatre Minors,
B.M. students with a Musical Theatre concentration, students in Education with a second
academic concentration in theatre, and the general student population.
The mission of the Theatre Program is to prepare our students to take advantage of an
expanding and increasingly technology-based entertainment industry as learned and
creative members of the workforce in theatre, related disciplines, and/or to pursue
graduate studies. The Theatre Program strives to provide students with a breadth of
knowledge; theoretical foundations; in-depth experiences in studios, classrooms, and
shops; as well as experiential activities to enhance their skills and knowledge within the
context of their specific goals.
Statement of Alignment of Program Mission with University/College Mission:
The Theatre Program provides an in-depth look at the art and craft of theatre and related
disciplines within the context of its lecture classes, studios, and shops by creating an
environment where students can experiment creatively, be challenged intellectually, and
work collaboratively with their peers as well as their instructors and guest artists. An
emphasis on intensive learning activities including cross-curricular programs, service
learning opportunities, and public performances/presentations is designed to link what
happens in classes and on the stage to the profession and to the community thereby
calling attention to the role the arts and the creative process play within our culture, and
the importance of the arts to our quality of life.
The Theatre Program provides our region with numerous opportunities to observe and/or
participate in diverse and quality cultural experiences.