Th 0901 B.F.A. Qualifying Presentation:
 
Syllabus, 1999-2000, 2000-2001
 
DESCRIPTION:
Th 0901 B.F.A. Qualifying Presentation is an assessment course designed to establish an early standard for the B.F.A. program in theatre. Initial enrollment in the B.F.A. program is provisional, and the qualifying presentation--either a performance audition or the formal presentation of a technical portfolio, will be assessed by the department faculty before a student is admitted as a full candidate for the B.F.A. degree program.
  COURSE SCHEDULE:
The course follows a fifteen-week process. Students in this course and their academic advisers will meet as a group only twice; and students will present qualifying presentations during finals week.
  Spring Semester Initial Course Meeting. At a designated time this initial meeting will outline student responsibilities for the qualifying presentations, availability of properties and equipment, and time schedules for the development of the presentation. Students will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the faculty at this time.
  Final Course Meeting. The fifteenth week meeting will reiterate information about the presentations and the performance/presentation space. Students should be well-prepared by this time; but questions about the final process will be answered.
  Qualifying Presentations. At a designated time two weeks prior, each student will have booked a 10-minute slot on one of the designated presentation days. Please check your finals schedule immediately so that all arrangements can be firm and final.
  Over the fifteen weeks of the semester, students must meet with their academic advisers. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange a schedule with the adviser and to be prompt and conscientious. Please use the adviser checklist and have your adviser sign for each meeting.
 
Adviser Checklist
 
Student Name: _________________________________________________ Advisor: Arden Weaver, 726-8780
 
MEETINGS
ASSIGNMENT
DATE
INITIALS
Week 1 Establish meeting schedule, good,bad,ugly resume examples    
Week 3 Rough resume due, discuss electronic portfolio    
Week 5 Collect materials for portfolio presentation    
Week 7 Show all visual work from non-theatre course work, and previous prod.    
Week 9 Present all UMD theatre work    
Week 11 Discuss questions for the BFA presentation    
Week 13 Complete all visual materials    
Week 14 Rehearse verbal presentation    
Week 15 Rehearse verbal and visual presentation    
FINALS Rehearse at least one time this week before presentation before faculty    
  ADDITIONAL MEETINGS (as required by your adviser)    
  Design/Technical Guidelines:
The candidate will be expected to present examples of his/her own work on a least three classroom and/or production projects. The student may include examples of work or prouects like the following:
 

• Scenic construction (specific project by the individual, not general setting shots).
• Property construction (specific project). • Costume construction (specific project).
• Drawings, renderings, models from realized designs or projects in scenery, lighting, costumes, or property design.
• Slides of sequential light cues or major light cues in a realized design or project.
• Cue sheets, patch charts (lighting).
• Prompt script with cues and other pertinent information, blocking notation, choreography notation.
• Make-up designs or execution.
• Media used for the presentation may consist of any number of, or any combination of, the following:
• Slides, overhead, video and/or multi-media.
• Large format (5x7 or larger) prints
• Actual project
• Drawings, scaled
• Renderings or models
• Production books (stage managers)
  The presentation is to be approximately five minutes in length, organized and presented in a professional manner. Allow another two minutes for set-up and dismantling of the presentation materials. Dress appropriately. Provide a typed professionally prepared résumé for each faculty member present (check with your adviser for the exact number). Be prompt for the audition!
  Design/Technical Environment:
All presentations will be in MPAC 49. Faculty will be present, but there will be no public or student audience. Lighting will be the basic two scoop lights and/or overhead fluorescent lighting. A table will be provided to display work. Slide projector, screen, VCR, or comparable equipment will be made available if your presentation requires them. Make arrangements with your adviser if you need other equipment or lighting/sound capabilities.
  Questions:
The following is a set of five questions for which the students will prepare responses. Students, please go over these questions with advisers in order to clarify the intent of the questions and the “crispness” of the answers.
  a) What emphasis are you declaring, and how have you arrived at this declaration?
b) What are your reasons for pursuing a B.F.A. degree at UMD?
c) What are your short-term goals from this point until graduation?
d) What are you long-term goals after graduation?
e) Briefly describe (1) your current strengths, and (2) your current weaknesses in your area of emphasis and academics.
  Assessment:
The audition/interview, academic work, attitude and discipline, and all production work will be considered in assessing the student’s candidacy. The faculty, in conjunction with the department head, will participate in the assessment process. All faculty will submit a written assessment of the candidate’s audition/interview which will be shared with the candidate when he or she meets with their adviser following the process. Qualifying results will also be made known and discussed at that adviser candidate meeting.
   
  Intent to Qualify, is a form the advisor uses to refer to the department your readiness for the BFA.
   
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