Program Revision Guidelines
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
OUTLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO REVISE PROGRAMS
Use this outline to prepare proposals to revise existing programs, including undergraduate majors and minors
and graduate degree programs and certificates. Proposals for revising programs should be submitted in
narrative form, using the following outline. Guidelines are on the following page.
PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE:
THEATRE ARTS
REVISED PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE (IF APPLICABLE):
DEGREE:
MASTER OF ARTS
DEPARTMENT(S)/SCHOOL(S):
CONTACT PERSON:
COMMUNICATION, MEDIA & THEATRE ARTS
DR. LEE STILLE
CONTACT PHONE:
CONTACT EMAIL:
REQUESTED START DATE: TERM
FALL
YEAR
COLLEGE(S):
ARTS & SCIENCES
487-6846
LSTILLE@EMICH.EDU
2012
I. Rationale
At present the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts offers two Master of Arts degrees and two
concentrations within the performing arts area.
They are the following:
•
Master of Arts in Drama & Theatre for the Young
•
Master of Arts in Theatre Arts
o
Concentration in Arts Administration
o
Concentration in Interpretation & Performance Studies
Realignment of CMTA-based performing arts disciplines (i.e., intra-departmental merge of previously distinct areas of
Drama & Theatre for the Young, Interpretation & Performance Studies and Theatre Arts) , recent program review and
assessment considerations regarding our respective graduate programs have revealed challenges to the existing
program configuration. These include:
•
limited curricular-based opportunities for assessment of graduate programs
•
ambiguity of core curriculum and indeed curricular offerings for each program
•
presence of arbitrary curricular boundaries between seemingly intersecting disciplines
•
limited opportunity among graduate students to interact with others in related departmental programs
•
access to faculty mentors has grown increasingly narrow
No core courses are currently listed for any of the programs under discussion, i.e., individual programs in DTFY,
Theatre Arts, nor the concentrations of Arts Administration or Interpretation & Performance Studies. Recent years
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
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have witnessed an increase of students drawing upon both coursework contained in adjacent performance disciplines
when crafting Programs of Study and adjacent faculty for final thesis/project mentorship. In fact most graduate course
offerings within the area are taken by students from at least two separate degree tracks and/or existing concentrations.
It seemed a natural step to unify the umbrella under which all areas could be contained.
In order to lessen curricular ambiguity and streamline our offerings, the department proposes a reduction in the number
of separate Master’s degrees program titles and a consolidation of these under the single heading of Master of Arts in
Theatre Arts with concentrations in any of the following disciplines:
•
Applied Drama & Theatre for the Young
•
Arts Administration
•
Interpretation & Performance Studies
•
Theatre Arts
This will enable a streamlining of administrative oversight and assessment, while honoring both the individualized
identity of and interconnectivity between each of these four concentrations.
This consolidation will promote a richer experience for students by:
1) establishing a common standard for academic rigor and assessment of student learning outcomes both within
concentrations and across the parent program;
2) clarifying a core curriculum for each concentration,
3) exposing students to a broader range of elective coursework and applied experiences,
4) encouraging cross fertilization of student knowledge across traditional disciplinary boundaries, and
5) increase access to faculty mentorship.
Each of these concentrations reflects programs or program concentrations which already exist. This reconfiguration,
therefore, does not require approval as a new degree program. Additionally this consolidation should not jeopardize
graduate student enrollments since all students can be served under the new degree title as they were under the several
older ones. In fact, it is anticipated that a clarified design for the graduate degree offerings will actually attract student
and will enable the department to serve them better.
The design of this degree makes it possible to address individual student needs, interests, experiences, and goals much
more satisfactorily than ever before. Also, this degree will encourage the development of a closer relationship between
students and mentor faculty who must help to design, assist in implementing, and monitoring the progress of individual
courses of study.
II. Description of Current Program
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
Program Revision Guidelines
At present the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts offers two Master of Arts degrees and two
concentrations within the performing arts area.
They are the following:
•
Master of Arts in Drama & Theatre for the Young
•
Master of Arts in Theatre Arts
o
Concentration in Arts Administration
o
Concentration in Interpretation & Performance Studies
Please see Appendix A for comparison sheet of current and proposed revisions for Theatre Arts MA.
III. Proposed Revision
The proposed revision would collapse the MA program in Drama & Theatre for the Young into the existing MA in
Theatre Arts. Drama & Theatre for the Young would become one of four “concentrations” under the Theatre Arts
heading. These would include:
•
Applied Drama & Theatre for the Young*
•
Arts Administration
•
Interpretation & Performance Studies**
•
Theatre Arts
Under this revised configuration all students would be required to take the following 7-9 hours of coursework:
•
CTAR 601: Performance Inquiry (fall term)
3 hrs
•
CTAR 677: Research Techniques (winter term)
3 hrs
•
CTAR 690/691/692: Degree Requirement (final semester of degree)
1/2/3 hrs
These three courses would provide opportunities for assessment at the beginning, mid and final stages of a degree.
Additionally, each concentration would require 9-15 hours of core coursework, and allow for 6-15 credits of elective
courses identified in consultation with an advisor based upon each student’s individual background and interests.
*Recently approved, the Master of Fine Arts degree in Applied Drama & Theatre for the Young was previously titled
“Drama & Theatre for the Young.” This revised concentration title would mirror with the MFA revision.
**The uniquely interdisciplinary nature of performance studies is situated between the fields of Communication and
Theatre. The concentrations offered under both the Communication MA and Theatre MA would be maintained.
Students would apply under the traditional INPS code and would subsequently be directed to the Communication or
Theatre Arts programs respectively according to their career goals.
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
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IV. Impact
The proposed program revisions will likely have little or no impact other University programs. This revision will
increase credit hour production in this major. The proposed revision will benefit our program in recruitment/attracting
students. It will also align us both with regional and national Theatre Arts programs, and provide a solid foundation
for seeking national accreditation.
V. Budget
Current faculty resources, equipment, and established course offering patterns are all sufficient to accommodate the
program revision being proposed. The Communication, Media & Theatre Arts Department has the necessary
resources required to absorb the costs of the proposed program changes. No budget allocations are requested at this
time.
VI. Action of the Department/College
1. Department/School:
Vote of faculty:
For
25
Against 0
(Enter the number of votes cast in each category.)
I support this proposal. The proposed revision can X
cannot
Department(s)/School(s) without additional College or University resources.
Abstentions
0
be implemented within the affected
4/11/12
Department Head/School Director Signature
Date
2. College/Graduate School:
A. College
I support this proposal. The proposed program can
College without additional University resources.
cannot
College Dean Signature
be implemented within the affected
Date
B. Graduate School (Graduate Program Revisions ONLY)
Graduate Dean Signature
Date
VII. Approval
Associate Vice-President for Academic Programming Signature
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
Date
Program Revision Guidelines
VIII. Appendices
A. Market Analysis/Needs Assessment
B. Mandates
C. Request for New/Revised Course Forms
D. Letters of Support from Impacted Departments
E. Cost Analysis (Complete only if the revision cannot be implemented without additional University resources. Fill in
Estimated Resources for the sponsoring department(s). Attach separate estimates for other affected departments.)
Estimated Resources:
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Faculty / Staff
$_________
$_________
$_________
SS&M
$_________
$_________
$_________
Equipment
$_________
$_________
$_________
Total
EASTERN MICHIGAN
$_________
$_________
$_________
UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING PROPOSALS TO REVISE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Departments/Schools intending to submit proposals for revising programs are encouraged to consult with the
Course and Program Development Office and, if appropriate, the Graduate School prior to submitting such
proposals. Proposals for program revisions should be submitted in narrative form, according to the following
guidelines:
I. Rationale: Explain completely the rationale for the proposed revision. If it is the result of a market analysis or needs
assessment, include documentation as Appendix A. If the revision is the result of state of Michigan, federal or accrediting
agency mandate, attach documentation, including required implementation date, as Appendix B.
II. Description of Current Program: Describe the current program as it appears in the most recent University catalog.
Include information about major/minor requirements, restricted and general electives, and the minimum number of total credit
hours students completing the program will have taken by the time they graduate.
III. Proposed Revision: Provide a complete description of the revised program, organized so that the current and revised
programs can easily be compared. Include a list of any new or revised courses. Indicate whether the proposed revision will
increase the number of credit hours in the program, and provide a rationale for any increase.. Attach completed Request for New
Course and/or Request for Course Revision form for each proposed new or revised course as Appendix C.
IV. Impact: Indicate whether and how the proposed revision will impact other University programs. Attach letters of support
from affected departments as Appendix D.
V. Budget: Describe the budgetary impact of the proposed revision. If new resources will be needed, indicate their source.
If the revision will require resources beyond those the department/school or college can provide, attach a cost analysis as
Appendix E. (Note: If a significant portion of the cost of the revised program will be borne by Continuing Education, include
evidence of Continuing Education’s willingness to bear those costs.)
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09