I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 1/27/11)
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
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
XI: Natural Sciences
X VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
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 #
THTR 330H
Course Title
Theatre History I
Prerequisite
Credits
none
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Phone / Email
Date
Dr. Bernadette Sweeney
x2998
bernadette1.sweeney@umontana.edu
Jere Hodgin
Dr. Stephen Kalm
Program Director
Dean
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew
Change
Remove
X
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
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://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
This course is a foundational survey of Eastern and Western theatre traditions from theatre origins in
ancient times through the 19th century. Throughout the course, students will be considering through
various methodologies what we mean by “theatre” and “history,” ultimately addressing what the term
“theatre history” encompasses and its importance to students and practitioners of theatre and world
culture.
Students will explore various kinds of evidence theatre historians and historiographers use to construct
theatre history and discuss ways in which that evidence has been and can be interpreted. Through
readings, lectures, class discussions, videos, group presentations, writing, and research, students will
become familiar with theatre practices, practitioners, and texts from a variety of cultures and points of
view. By consistently addressing the relevance of their individual and group research, students will
approach the study of theatre history as a vital and influential aspect of the present.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Presents ideas and information with a view to
THTR 330H: Theatre History I teaches students
understanding the causes, development, and
how to present ideas and information with a view
consequences of historical events.
to understanding the causes, development, and
consequences of events and developments in
theatre history; evaluate dramatic and
theatrical texts or artifacts within their historical
and/or cultural contexts; and analyze human
behavior, performance and ideas, and institutions
of the theatre within their respective historical
and/or cultural contexts.
Evaluates texts or artifacts within their
historical and/or cultural contexts.
THTR 330H: Theatre History I follows a roughly
chronological course from Greek Theatre to the
late 19th century, includes Western and nonWestern theatre practices and histories, and uses
methods of historiography, anthropology, and
ethnography in its delivery.
Students evaluate theatre texts and practices
within their historical and cultural contexts,
working individually and in groups to assess their
influence. Students are encourages to research
and analyze how these works not only express
their contextual histories but also shape
subsequent developments in theatre history and
practice.
This course provides students with a strong
foundational knowledge of historiographic
techniques and dramaturgical methods employed
to study both past and present theatrical activity.
By consistently addressing the relevance of their
individual and group research, students will
approach the study of history as a vital and
influential aspect of the present. This knowledge,
and methodological approach, will enhance not
only their skills and experiences as readers,
writers, practitioners, audience members, and
scholars of theatre, but will also demonstrate the
significance of this art form in world history and
cultural development.
In their analysis and contextual research into
historical dramatic texts, students learn to analyze
human behavior and motivation, ideas, and
institutions as reflected in the development of
drama and theatre arts. See the syllabus included
later in this document.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Students will be able to synthesize ideas and
Students will work together in groups to present
information with a view to understanding the
their findings to the class as a whole. Each group
causes and consequences of historical
researches a particular period or style, with
developments and events
reference to its performance implications, its
contextual resonance, and historical relevance.
As we move further into the study of theatre
history, students will begin to see connections,
make comparisons, and formulate informed
questions that can lead to further inquiry. Such
study provides the basis for grounding in the
discipline, and ultimately defines the student as
adept at synthesizing and therefore prepared to
create future work.
Students will be able to evaluate texts or
Students will be asked to determine the social
artifacts within their historical and/or cultural
value and significance of theatre as an art form in
contexts
the context of its historical/cultural context.
As students prepare assignments and develop
group presentations, they will be encouraged to
use all the resources at their disposal to create a
clear picture of the values evident in the culture
creating the dramatic literature/theatre/
performance practice during the era under
investigation. Students are encouraged to bring
their discoveries—texts or artifacts— to the class
for broader discussion and consideration.
Students will be able to analyze human
Through lecture/discussions, videos, group
behavior, ideas, and institutions within their
presentations, and assignments, students will
respective historical and/or cultural contexts
analyze human behavior both within their
respective historical and/or cultural contexts and
through the collaborative development of
presentation ideas and performances. Students
will learn to questions the formation of the
dramatic canon, the evolution of theatre’s
historical narrative, and the contextual context of
each text or artifact studied.
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).
Analyzes human behavior, ideas, and
institutions within their respective historical
and/or cultural contexts.
THTR 330H: Theatre History I is a survey course with respect to the breadth of material that needs to be
covered to include as much of theatre history as possible over an extensive period. No previous
experience with historical and cultural inquiry is necessary. However, it has been evident over the years
that the amount of material presented, the communication and study skills required, and the level of
discussion generated has been more suited to advanced students at the 300 level.
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
THTR 330H.01 THEATRE HISTORY I FALL 2012 MCGILL 210
TUES 9.40-11.00 & THURS 9.40-11.00
Dr. Bernadette Sweeney
T.A Kate Morris
Office: MCGILL 212C email: bernadette.sweeney@mso.umt.edu
Office Hours: Mon 12-1pm,Weds 10am-1pm
Course Description:
Students will study each play, the context of each play and its period, selected scenes through
performance, participate in class discussion, write 2 papers for formal assessment, and collaborate with
selected classmates to present a research presentation, production proposal and/or scene for
assessment.
Course Outcomes:
On completion of this course students will:
Have a broad knowledge of theatre history, style, context and audiences.
Have a knowledge of chosen play texts through close reading
Have a critically informed understanding of chosen play texts through reading and analysis of critical
material
Have an understanding of how each play performs its time, its politics and the conditions of
contemporaneous production
Have engaged with this work through script analysis, scene study, research and analysis
Have articulated their engagement with the work through formal research and writing, through informal
review and other writing, and through written reflection on their own experience of the work as
performers, dramaturgs, researchers and/or audience members
Will have collaborated with each other to present research presentation, scenes and/or production
proposals
Required Texts:
The Norton Anthology of Drama volume one
Materials on Moodle, Reserve or Hand Outs
Work:
GRADED:
30%-- essay 1: 4 pages in length.
40%-- essay 2: 6 pages in length
30%--attendance, scene and class contribution
Students will work in groups to give one presentation per group in class at a scheduled point in the
semester – these will require time spent rehearsing/researching together outside of class time.
Presentations can include a production proposal for your chosen text, a research presentation and/or a
selected scene performed for the class. Full staging is not required, but a presented scene should
effectively communicate a chosen element of the play to your audience, be that characters’ dynamic, use
of space, attention to language etc. This is assessed on a credit/no credit basis as part of your class
contribution mark. Each presentation should be between 10 and 15 minutes long.
Ground Rules:
I do not accept late papers unless the student contacts me with a reasonable excuse before the
beginning of the class on the day the paper is due (examples of unreasonable excuses include ‘my printer
is broken’, ‘the dog ate my homework’, ‘I’m in rehearsal’.)
More than 3 unexcused absences from class will result in your grade falling by a full letter.
Please feel free to ask and answer questions inside and outside class. I or T.A. Kate Morris will
have at least one conference with each student during the semester. If you have any questions about
how you are doing, what you want to write about, or any of the material, contact me by e-mail, or
arrange to see me during my office hours.
Syllabus: (always subject to change)1
Tues
Aug/28
Class Introduction
Thurs Aug/30
Theater history, research and writing
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Sept/04
Greek Theatre Agamemnon by Aeschylus
Thurs Sept/06
Greek Theatre Agamemnon by Aeschylus
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Sept/11
Greek Theatre The Bacchae by Euripides
Thurs Sept/13
Greek Theatre The Bacchae by Euripides
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Sept/18
Chinese theatre
Thurs Sept/20
Chinese theatre
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Sept/25
Noh theatre Atsumori by Zeami
Thurs Sept/27
Noh theatre Atsumori by Zeami
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Oct/02
World folk theatre [see article on Moodle] Devising
FIRST UNDERGRAD PAPER DUE
Thurs Oct /04
World folk theatre [see article on Moodle] Devising
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Oct/09
Meetings
Thurs Oct/11
Meetings
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Oct/16
The Storytelling Tradition Arabian nights by Mary Zimmerman
Thurs Oct/18
The Storytelling Tradition Arabian nights by Mary Zimmerman
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Oct /23
Medieval theatre Everyman anon.
Thurs Oct /25
Medieval theatre Everyman anon.
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Oct/30
Commedia The Mistress of The Inn by Goldoni
Thurs Nov/01
Commedia The Mistress of The Inn by Goldoni
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Nov /06
Elizabethan drama Hamlet by Shakespeare
Thurs Nov /08
Elizabethan drama Hamlet by Shakespeare
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Nov /13
Elizabethan drama Hamlet by Shakespeare
Thurs Nov /15
Special session on Indian theatre and drama Dr Jillian Campana
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Nov /20
Tartuffe by Molière
Thurs Nov /22
THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
___________________________________________________________________
Tues
Nov /27
Tartuffe by Molière to Melodrama
Please refer to the fall 2012 schedule for relevant dates with regard to adding, dropping,
and withdrawing. Please make contact with a colleague or two to find out what has been
assigned if you miss class.
1
Thurs Nov /29
Restoration The School for Scandal by Sheridan
__________________________________________________________________
TUES Dec/04
Restoration The School for Scandal by Sheridan
SECOND UNDERGRAD PAPER DUE
THURS Dec/06
Melodrama
Grad scene presentation
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/student_conduct.php.
All Theatre & Dance students must have an in-depth knowledge of the practices and procedures outlined in the School of Theatre
& Dance Student Handbook. The Handbook is available online at http://www.umt.edu/theatredance/about/handbook.
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.
Due to safety considerations, at no point during a student’s time spent in class or serving on a production (in any capacity) should
non-enrolled persons be guests of that student without my consent. Presence of such unauthorized persons in a class, shop, or
any backstage/off-stage area will negatively affect a student’s grade.
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The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities,
instructors, and Disability Services for Students (DSS). If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your
academic performance, and you have not already registered with DSS, please contact DSS in Lommasson 154. I will work with
you and DSS to provide an appropriate accommodation.
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.