Practicum

Definition of Practicum:  An Academic exercise consisting of practical work.

Practicum or practical work comes in different opportunities.  To hopefully avoid confusion, the Department of Theatre Arts has different course numbers and names to track your project work: production practicum, production projects, production assignments, special projects, and graduate projects.  We will be going through these one at a time.  Though the names vary, the basics on how to receive credit are the same.

Practicum Registration (THEA 2555)

All theatre students are required to register for Practicum every semester they are taking classes on campus, except the semesters enrolled in THEA 1513 or 2203. Check your program of study to verify the total number of credits required for your area.  

Practicum Crews

Practicum Crews: 

  • Scene shop
  • Costume shop
  • Props & painting
  • Costume
  • Set 

All students are required to do 1 stage crew, 1 props & paint crew, 1 costume crew and 1 run crew assignment. Sound and lights crews will be assigned to a small number of primarily design/tech students working in those areas. Other students wishing experience in sound & lights should talk to the Design/Tech faculty advisor. Students should complete 1 crew in each area before repeating an assignment.

In Addition to the regular crews, the faculty have added an additional option:  Students who have taken the Stage Management Class and wish to have a stage management experience may sign up for an SM crew which will fulfill the practicum assignment for that semester.  Students sign up on the master list during practicum crew sign-up.  SM crew assignments will be made following auditions each semester once casting has been decided.  Once SM crew assignments are made, students must make arrangements to ensure they are able to complete the assignment given.

Majors: You may repeat an area only after all areas have been completed.

Minors: You may not repeat a practicum area

Procedure:

  1. Register for THEA 2555 Practicum.
  2. Sign up for a crew area during the major/minor meeting each semester.  Priority for crew signup will be Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, then Freshmen who have completed THEA 1513 and THEA 2203.
  3. Practicum work begins on the first day of classes so bring appropriate clothing.
  4. Find the crew supervisor at the beginning of each work session to get your work assignments and necessary training.
  5. Do the work. Follow Safety Protocols. Ask for help if needed.
  6. This is a class/work call time.  Except for emergencies, cell phone use is not appropriate.

Attire

Wearing the appropriate clothing for the task at hand is required. This means while in the scene shop, closed toe shoes, jeans, shirts with sleeves, minimum jewelry, eye protection, and gloves. 

Run Crew should be in basic blacks with appropriate shoes.  In most cases, dresses or skirts, sandals or slip on shoes are not appropriate attire.  Classroom attire should fit the type of class.

Changing Crew

Changes to your practicum assignment must be done the first two weeks of class, and must be approved by the Technical Director and instructor of record for the course. Changes will not be possible after this time period and you must complete your original crew assignment.

Incomplete

In rare & extreme cases, a student may contact the practicum advisor and request an Incomplete. The reason for requesting an Incomplete must be beyond the student’s control. The student must fill out the necessary forms and turn them into the department office. Students must make up the work and complete the missing practicum requirements the following semester, and, in addition, must register for practicum and complete the work for that crew assignment.

If you do not enroll for a practicum or do not complete the assignment satisfactorily, you will be placed on probation and must make up the missed work in the next semester. If you must make up missed work, you must also enroll in a practicum for the current semester. If the work is not made up, you will be dropped from the major or minor. Remember, you should NOT register for practicum the semester you are enrolled in THEA 1513 or THEA 2203.

Production Participation Policy for Practicum Probation

 Students on any probation, particularly those who have not successfully completed a practicum requirement which requires them to do 2 full crew assignments the following semester, are ineligible for participation in productions as performers, stage managers, designers, directors, or assistants until taken off probation.   

Design/Tech Student Practicum

All Design/Tech students meet Wednesday/Friday from 3:00-5:00 each week. Students should plan school and work schedules to allow for the practicum time commitment.

Production Projects (THEA 3555)
Production Project assignments vary depending on your course of study. Once a project has been assigned, a project sheet that includes relevant due dates, grading, and the work to be done is required to receive credit. It is the student’s responsibility to be sure the project sheet has been filled out and turned in to the office. The due dates for the project should be obtained from the Production Manager or project supervisor. In some circumstances, assignments may not be given before registration closes. In these cases, it is appropriate to register for credit the following semester, but credit WILL NOT be given more than one semester following the assignment, and ONLY IF A GRADE was placed on a project sheet the semester the project was accomplished.
Production Assignments (THEA 4555)
Production Assignments may be applied for during the Spring semester of the previous following year. The assignments should be consistent with your program of study, and in consultation with the Design/Tech faculty advisor. Once an assignment is given, a project sheet that includes relevant due dates, grading, and the work to be done is required to receive credit. It is the student’s responsibility to be sure the project sheet has been filled out and turned in to the office. The due dates for the assignment should be obtained from the Production Manager. In some circumstances, assignments may not be given before registration closes. In these cases, it is appropriate to register for credit the following semester, but credit WILL NOT be given more than one semester past, and ONLY IF a grade was placed on a project sheet the semester the assignment was accomplished.
Special Projects (THEA 5900)
Special projects are for approved projects outside of the normal course offerings or for additional stage management or design work. It is the student’s responsibility to be sure the project sheet has been filled out and turned in to the office. Project due dates, grading, and basic expectations is required for credit. In some circumstances, contracts may not be finished before registration closes. In these cases, it is appropriate to register for credit the following semester, but credit WILL NOT be given more than one semester past, and ONLY IF a grade was placed on a project sheet the semester the project was accomplished. 

 
Graduate Projects (THEA 6800, 6900, and 6920)
The majority of Graduate project work falls in these classes. Project sheets are the only documentation maintained by the department for your work. It is YOUR responsibility to have proper documentation for credit received. 

 

Procedure:

  1. Register for THEA 3555/4555/5900 depending on your production assignment.  Meet with the production manager and design/tech area advisor to ensure you register for the correct course number and credits.
  2. Fill out the appropriate project sheet documenting your assignment.
  3. Practicum work begins on the first day of classes so bring appropriate clothing.
  4. Find the faculty/grad student mentor at the beginning of each work session to get your work assignments and necessary training.
  5. Do the work. Follow safety protocols. Ask for help when needed.   
  6. This is a class/work call time.  Except for emergencies, cell phone use is not appropriate.

Attire

Wear the appropriate clothing for the task at hand. This means while in the scene shop, closed toe shoes, jeans, shirts with sleeves, minimum jewelry, eye protection, and gloves, paint clothes for paint assignments, etc. 

Incomplete

In rare & extreme cases, a student may contact the design/tech advisor and request an Incomplete.  The reason for requesting an Incomplete must be beyond the student’s control. The student must fill out the necessary forms and turn them into the department office. Students will be dropped from their production assignment and must make up that assignment or complete another project the following semester, in addition to the assignments given for that semester.

If you do not complete the assignment satisfactorily during the following semester, you will be placed on probation and may be dropped from the program. Students on any probation are ineligible for participation in productions as performers, stage managers, designers, directors, or assistants until taken off probation.