Department Chair
Bernadette Cheyne, MFA.
Department
of Theatre, Film & Dance
Theatre Arts Building 20
(707) 826-3566
www.humboldt.edu/theatrefilmanddance
The combination of Theatre, Film and Dance in one department offers undergraduates
an opportunity to study and participate in all three art forms while focusing
more in depth in one area. The department’s philosophy is: to provide
a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and hands-on practice in the arts
of theatre, film and dance; to integrate the curriculum of the three disciplines,
finding the common ground among them, exploring boundaries between them and
allowing concentration in one of them; and to foreground social consciousness,
cultural celebration and community alliances as responsible artists and citizens
of the world.
Our annual production season involves students at all levels and includes films,
dance performances and a variety of plays by the masters, contemporary playwrights,
and student originals. Steeped within the tradition of independent film, the Film Program at Humboldt State University gives students an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of filmmaking through an interdisciplinary program that parallels traditional motion picture production with creative avenues made available by evolving technologies. Every third year part of a season is dedicated to staging
original plays featuring new works by American playwrights. Each writer takes
up residence at Humboldt during the production and works with the performers,
director and production staff. Dance performances include faculty and student
choreography, with a majors’ production every year. Physical theatre
is featured through original work in different seasons. Musicals, in collaboration
with the Music Department, provide an array of opportunities for students every
other year. Film productions and screenings take place throughout the year
with a special focus on the Humboldt Film Festival. Coordinated
by students, this oldest student-run film festival in the US brings to the
university a week of screenings, workshops with professional filmmakers and
opportunities for students to share their work with visiting filmmakers.
Humboldt’s production facilities include a 750-seat proscenium theatre,
two smaller studio theatres, and an intimate thrust theatre. The filmmaking program utilizes a combination of traditional 16mm film and digital technologies.
Our graduates work in theatre, film, dance, education, and a variety of other
professions where the creativity, commitment and collaborative skills they
gained from their education serve them well.
The Department houses the Interdisciplinary Dance Studies Program and participates in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, the American College Dance Festival, and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology.
See also sections in the catalog on Dance, Dance Studies, and Film.
A minimum grade of C- is required for all courses in the major.
Core Curriculum
TFD
104 Storytelling
TFD
137 Production Techniques
TFD
240 Traditions in Cinematic & Performing Arts
TFD
448 Critical Analysis for Theatre, Film & Dance
TFD 494 Senior Seminar
Social/Community Focus (3-4 units). Classes that foreground social consciousness, cultural celebration and community alliance. These classes include, but are not limited to:
TFD 307 Theatre of the Oppressed
TFD 393/585 Writing from Community
TFD 394/585 Grant Writing
TFD 477 Film Production Workshop: Documentary Production
Theatre Emphasis
TFD 241 Theatre
History/Theatre & Society
TFD 330 Introduction to Performance Design
TFD 351 Directing/Performance Practicum
TFD (326-328, 408, 489) Production Practicum
Approved Theatre Electives—6-8 units:
TFD 105 Acting
TFD 107 Dramatic Writing
TFD 108 Action: Theatre Movement & Mime
TFD 121 Makeup
TFD 129 Voice Development
TFD 315 Acting Styles
TFD 321 Mask-Making & 3-Dimensional Makeup
TFD 324 Puppetry
TFD
331 Scenery Design
TFD 332 Millinery
TFD
333 Lighting Design
TFD 335 History of Costume
TFD
336 Theatre Costume Design
TFD 415 Advanced Studies in Acting
TFD 437 Technical Direction
TFD 449 Play Development Workshop
TFD 451 Advanced Directing
Film Emphasis
TFD
306 Art of Film: 1950s
to the Present (Must take concurrently with TFD 318.)
TFD 312 Filmmaking I
TFD 372 Filmmaking II
One of the following:
TFD 373 Filmmaking III
TFD 476 Film Directing
One of the following:
TFD 313 Film Theory & Criticism
TFD 465 Film Seminar
Approved Film Electives:
TFD 305 Art of Film: Beginning to 1950s
TFD 348 Writing for Film
TFD 477 Film Production Workshop
Documentary Production
Science & Film Seminar
In addition to requirements above:
TFD 313 or TFD 465
TFD 373 or TFD 476
Dance Emphasis
TFD 303 World Dance Expressions
TFD 330 Intro to Performance Design
TFD 389 Choreography
Workshop
TFD 351 Directing/Performance Practicum
TFD (326-328, 408, 489) Production Practicum
Approved Dance Electives—8-10 units:
TFD 103 Dance Techniques I
TFD 103B Dance Techniques II
TFD 103C Dance Techniques III
TFD 185 Ballet I
TFD 186 Ballet II
TFD 385 Jazz Dance Styles I
TFD 386 Jazz Dance Styles II
A total of 48-52 units comprises the major.
Minors develop an understanding of dance as an art form and as a unique cultural
and social expression. Students also attain a cumulative knowledge of dance
as a history of the world and its people. Students develop skills in physical
techniques, creative process, collaboration and performance. Dance minors are
encouraged to participate in informal and mainstage dance performances.
This minor prepares persons for careers using the basic skills of cinematography,
editing, directing, and post-production processes.
A minor requires a minimum of 15 units, 9 of which must be upper division.
A minimum 2.0 (C) grade-point average is required. Courses used for a minor
can be used for general education and a major. Areas of study include: theatre
arts, theatre production, dramatic literature, dramatic writing and performance.
Students choosing a minor in Theatre Arts, design individualized programs with
the guidance/approval of an advisor. To pursue the Theatre Arts minor, first
contact a departmental advisor.
Options in Theatre Production and Film Production
Seniors may take 500-level courses with faculty approval.
Theatre Production Emphasis:
This degree allows students to combine two or more areas for concentrated exploration
and study. Areas of study may include: acting; directing; dramatic writing;
technical direction; and the visual design areas of costumes, lighting, scenery.
After the required primary focus area is chosen, then a secondary area is selected,
which further augments the student’s needs. This MA is preparation for
further graduate studies or for career options including teaching.
Film Production Emphasis:
Steeped within the tradition of independent film, the film curriculum integrates hands-on production and film studies within a liberal arts education to foster storytellers who can artfully express well-developed and substantive ideas. All aspects of the program stress professionalism with an emphasis on quality shared between collaborative and creative processes.
The film program utilizes a combination of traditional 16mm film and digital technologies. We have re-photography facilities, a sound studio, on-site 16mm and Super-8 telecine capabilities, and digital post-production studios with film matchback capabilities. Basic pre-production, production and post-production skills are taught with emphasis on documentary, narrative and experimental forms.
Students finance their own films but there are production funds available for certain class projects. During the fall and spring semesters students can apply for answer print funds used to bring 16mm films to completion for festivals and distribution.
A major offering of the Department is the Annual Humboldt Film Festival, produced and organized by students. The festival is the oldest student-run film festival in the world. Started in 1967, this annual Spring showcase brings to the University and Humboldt County a week of exciting activities. There are workshops with professional filmmakers, screenings of international filmmakers’ recent works, and opportunities for individual sessions with visiting artists. The festival is a juried competition attracting films from around the world. There are many opportunities for student involvement in the festival, including several paid positions for festival student co-directors.
Note: Humboldt’s graduate office publishes a Handbook for Master’s Students, and the department publishes its own graduate handbook. Both sources provide more detailed information.
Admission to the Program
The Department of Theatre, Film and Dance requires all graduate applicants
to fulfill all the requirements for admission to Humboldt State University.
The Department does not require that the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) be taken
to enter its graduate programs.
To apply for the Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts, the candidate must
submit directly to the Department of Theatre, Film, and Dance:
Send all MA degree application materials to:
Chair, Graduate Screening Committee
Department of Theatre, Film and Dance
Humboldt State University
#1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521-8299
Those with a BA in theatre arts or a closely related discipline and with some background in design may pursue an MFA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Scenography. Students in this program must declare a primary and at least one secondary area of emphasis in scenery, lighting, costume design and/or technical direction. Course and project work include design/technical training and applications to theatre, film and dance.
Requirements for the MFA Degree
Complete a minimum of 78 units including:
TFD 548 Introduction to Graduate Studies
TFD 630 Introduction to Scenography
TFD 634 Rendering Techniques
TFD 638 Architectural History and Period Styles
TFD 648 Critical Analysis of Theatre, Film and Dance
TFD 649 Play Development Workshop
TFD 695 Supervised Teaching
And at least three of the following:
TFD 631 Graduate Seminar in Scenic Design
TFD 633 Graduate Seminar in Lighting Design
TFD 636 Graduate Seminar in Costume Design
TFD 637 Graduate Seminar in Technical Direction
MFA students also need to complete a minimum of 6 additional units of history/theory/literature/criticism courses, 15-20 units of primary and secondary emphasis courses, and 21 units of project work.
• Complete 60 graduate-level units within the total of 78. Not more than 16 of these shall be TFD 690 and/or 699.
• The approved program includes two assignments as assistant designer or technical director and a minimum of four projects, two in the primary emphasis area, one in the secondary area, and a culminating scenographic paper (portfolio) project that involves creating scenery, lighting, and costume designs for theatre, dance or film. Students provide an oral defense of their culminating project. All project assignments must be approved and evaluated by the student’s graduate committee.
• Submit a professional portfolio (appropriate to the primary and secondary emphasis areas) to the department faculty for acceptance based upon the graduate committee’s criteria.
• Submit a project report on the total experience in the program for acceptance as defined by the graduate committee.
• Receive recommendation by the department and graduate office on confirmation of the degree.
The department can accept up to 30 semester units transferred from other institutions.
Due to the academic and project work demands of the MFA program, it normally takes three years to complete all degree requirements.
Note: The graduate office publishes a Handbook for Master’s Students, and the department publishes its own graduate handbook. Both sources provide more detailed information.
Admission to the Program
The same criteria apply for admission into the Master of Fine Arts program as those listed for the Master of Arts with the exception that applicants for the MFA must submit to the department a portfolio of their design and other related work.
This discipline-specific program is designed to better prepare the graduate student interested in a teaching career at the community college or university level. Participation requires completion of, or current enrollment in, one of the theatre arts master's programs.
The certificate consists of five components (12 units), described below. After consulting with your graduate advisor, and under the advisement of the College Faculty Preparation Program coordinator, develop a plan of study tailored to meet your specific timelines and professional goals. The CFPP coordinator and the dean for Research and Graduate Studies must approve each plan of study.
Notation of certificate completion will appear on your official university transcript.
Introduces undergraduate teaching through a practical presentation
of the processes and issues involved in theatre arts instruction.
Students work with instructors of core courses in theatre arts.
Three units, taken first or second semester of the MA program:
TFD
695 Supervised Teaching
Guidance in the skills and knowledge relevant to teaching in
higher education. Three units, taken first or second semester
of the MA program:
EDUC
583 Teaching in Higher Education
Certificate requirements #3 & #4 come after completion of #1 (Discipline-Specific Teaching Methods) and after or concurrent with #2 (Higher Education Teaching Methods).
Explore the nature and philosophy of postsecondary institutions
and their roles and functions in higher education. One unit, concurrent
with the fourth requirement, which follows.
SP
684 Orientation to Higher Education
OR
Guidance in developing a professional teaching portfolio and job-search support
materials. Two units, taken after all previous components have been completed.
SP
685 Instructional Resources for Higher Education