Academic Catalog 2017–2018

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Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts

Overview

The B.A. in Performing Arts program simultaneously provides students with an overall understanding of and appreciation for the performing arts, and a more focused knowledge and expertise in one area.

The program reflects LAU’s commitment to academic excellence, student centeredness, civic engagement, the advancement of scholarship, the education of the whole person, and the formation of leaders in a diverse world. It builds upon the Department of Communication Arts’ history in graduating performers in the areas of acting, dance, and music. The program draws on

  • a rich blend of theoretical and hands-on courses which involve extensive use of technology,
  • a dedicated, community-engaged and well-published faculty, and
  • state-of-the-art facilities and software.

Mission

The mission of the B.A in Performing Arts is to equip, through a liberal arts education, students with extensive cultural, artistic, and technical proficiency and versatility to successfully pursue higher learning and a profession in a challenging world. Students will discover and develop their skills through an intense, integrated performing arts and academic program that enhances creative and critical inquiry. The program enables students to be life-long learners, innovative artists, and creative and critical thinkers. Students receive a holistic approach to learning that emphasizes artistic excellence, interdisciplinary learning, socially engaged performance, and a spirit of collaboration.

Program Objectives

The B.A. in Performing Arts strives to:

  1. demonstrate conceptual knowledge appropriate to pursuing graduate education,
  2. cultivate in students an artistic sense along with creative and basic performing arts skills needed to enter careers in the field, and
  3. develop in students the creative process of the ever changing contemporary arts landscape.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the B.A. in Performing Arts, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate the ability to research, create and produce performances for the stage,
  2. exhibit aesthetic awareness related to performing arts production,
  3. demonstrate the ability to work on productions in different media and technologies individually and as part of a creative team,
  4. develop critical thinking competencies in relation to the performing arts and express it in writing,
  5. demonstrate familiarity with key concepts and historical contexts related to the performing arts field,
  6. apply technology in creative and communicative ways.

Curriculum

For the B.A. in Performing Arts, a student must complete a minimum of 92 credits, distributed as follows:

  • Departmental Professional Core Courses (13 credits)
  • Departmental Liberal Arts Core Courses (18 credits)
  • Departmental Professional Electives (12 credits)
  • Departmental Liberal Arts Electives (12 credits)
  • Liberal Arts Curriculum  (LAC) Courses  (34 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)

Departmental Professional Core Courses (13 credits)

  • PFA241 Introduction to Acting (3 cr.)
  • PFA310 Theater in Performance (3 cr.)1
  • PFA342 Principles of Performing Arts Productions (3 cr.)
  • PFA498 Internship (1 cr.)
  • PFA499 Capstone Project (3 cr.)

1 or PFA315 Music Ensemble or PFA316 Dance Repertory Performance

Departmental Liberal Arts Core Courses (18 credits)

  • JSC312 Media & Society (3 cr.)
  • PFA210 Western Music Appreciation (3 cr.)
  • PFA214 Oriental Music Appreciation (3 cr.)
  • PFA221 Body in Performance (3 cr.)
  • PFA222 Art of Dance (3 cr.)
  • PFA242 Art of Theater (3 cr.)

Departmental Professional Electives (12 credits)

  • PFA244 Stage Production & Design (3 cr.)
  • PFA310 Theater in Performance (3 cr.)
  • PFA311 Ear Training, Sight Singing & Music Theory (3 cr.)
  • PFA313 Introduction to Music Composition (3 cr.)
  • PFA315 Music/Vocal Ensemble (3 cr.)
  • PFA316 Dance Repertory Performance (3 cr.)
  • PFA317 Recording & Sound Reinforcement Techniques (3 cr.)
  • PFA318 Writing Music for Visual Media (3 cr.)
  • PFA321 Dance Improvisation (3 cr.)
  • PFA338 Performing Arts Workshop (3 cr.)
  • PFA343 Advanced Acting (3 cr.)
  • PFA347 Principles of Creative Dramatics (3 cr.)
  • PFA418 Performing Arts Productions (3 cr.)
  • PFA421 Dance Composition (3 cr.)
  • PFA442 Play Production (3 cr.)
  • PFA445 Performing Arts Teaching Methods (3 cr.)

Departmental Liberal Arts Electives (12 credits)

  • COM213 Public Relations (3 cr.)
  • COM301 Human Communication Theory (3 cr.)
  • COM312 Communication and Gender (3 cr.)
  • COM313 Nonverbal Communication (3 cr.)
  • JSC224  Social Media (3 cr.)
  • JSC451  Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • JSC480  Global Media Literacy (3 cr.)
  • JSC481  Global Change, Cooperation, and News (3 cr.)
  • PFA249 Theater in Lebanon & the Arab World (3 cr.)
  • PFA252 Lebanese Musical Theater (3 cr.)
  • PFA314 World Music History (3 cr.)
  • PFA322 Dance History & Criticism (3 cr.)
  • PFA488 Topics in Performing Arts (3 cr.)
  • TVF221 Art of Film (3 cr.)

Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Courses (34 credits)

Free Electives (3 credits)