May 13, 2024  
2016-2017 Catalogue 
    
2016-2017 Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


Course Numbering

The College of Wooster uses a five-digit course numbering system. The first three digits indicate the primary course number. The next two digits are the secondary course number and indicate whether there is a special focus for the course. For example:

The first letters are the department or program abbreviation. The next three digits are the primary course number (101 is the primary course number for all Introduction to Historial Study courses). The last two digits are the secondary course number. These two digits indicate that the special focus for this HIST 101 course is The History of Islam. A course with a given three-digit primary course number can only be taken once for credit unless specifically indicated otherwise by the department.

The following policy has been used in assigning primary course numbers:

  • 100-level courses are usually introductory courses; some 100-level courses do have prerequisites, and students are advised to consult the description for each course.
  • 200-level courses are usually beyond the introductory level, although many 200-level courses are open to first-year students and to majors and non-majors.
  • 300-level courses are seminars and courses primarily for majors but open to other students with the consent of the instructor.
  • The following numbers are for Independent Study: I.S. 40100 (Junior Independent Study), I.S. 45100 and I.S. 45200 (Senior Independent Study).

In addition to the regular course offerings, many departments offer individual tutorials under the number 40000 and internships under 41000. On occasion, departments will offer a course on a special topic as approved by the Educational Policy Committee, designated 19900, 29900, or 39900.

Abbreviation

In keeping with the general education requirements of the College’s curriculum
(see Degree Requirements ), course listings employ the following abbreviations:

W Writing Intensive (W† indicates that not all sections are Writing Intensive)

C Studies in Cultural Difference

R Religious Perspectives

Q Quantitative Reasoning

AH Learning Across the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities

HSS Learning Across the Disciplines: History and Social Sciences

MNS Learning Across the Disciplines: Mathematical and Natural Sciences

Except where otherwise noted, all courses carry one course credit.

 

Sociology

  
  • SOCI 21300 - Deviance and Criminology

    Course Credit: 1
    (ANTH, SOAN)
    An analysis of deviant and criminal behavior. The focus is on definitions and measurement of deviant and criminal behavior. The major types of criminal behavior that occur in the United States are discussed, followed by a review of several sociological theories that explain criminal behavior. The course concludes with a general overview and assessment of major agencies that comprise the Criminal Justice System. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 ; or permission of instructor [HSS]
  
  • SOCI 21400 - Racial and Ethnic Groups in American Society

    Course Credit: 1
    (AFST, ANTH, EDUC, SOAN)
    An analysis of racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Emphasis is placed on investigating discrimination based on race, gender, and culture; how discrimination develops; and the solutions proposed for solving the problems associated with it. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 ; or permission of instructor Annually. [C, HSS]
  
  • SOCI 21700 - Blacks in Contemporary American Society

    Course Credit: 1
    (AFST, ANTH, SOAN)
    A sociological study of the life experiences of African Americans, including a focus upon a critical analysis of race relations as it impacts intra- and intergroup dynamics. The primary focus of the course may vary (i.e., family, community, development, leadership). Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 ; or permission of instructor [C, HSS]
  
  • SOCI 21900 - Globalization and Contemporary China

    Course Credit: 1
    (ANTH, CHIN, EAST, SOAN)
    An exploration of the social causes, including globalization, and consequences of the economic, cultural, and social changes that China is undergoing today. Following a roughly chronological order, we will focus mainly on events and trends of the past twenty years: from the social movements of 1989 and the economic expansion of the early 1990s to the consequent changes in a consumer-driven popular culture, as well as renewed quests for moral and religious meaning and emerging social activism (e.g., the environment, women’s rights, etc.). Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 ; or permission of instructor [C, HSS]
  
  • SOCI 29900 - Advanced Topics in Sociology

    Course Credit: 1
    A seminar focusing on a specialized area of sociology. Topics are chosen by the instructor and announced in advance. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000  [HSS]
  
  • SOCI 29903 - Work and Organizations

    Course Credit: 1
    This course examines key concepts, theories and empirical research to build understanding of the structure and social psychology of work and organizations in a global economy. Topics include historical perspectives on work and the design of work, bureaucratic function, formal organizations, multinational corporations, the work-family nexus, flexibility, social and cultural capital, service work, care work, emotional labor, workplace diversity, inequality at work, workplace structure and culture, power, leadership and communication. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000  [HSS]
  
  • SOCI 29905 - Social Movements

    Course Credit: 1
    Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000  or permission of instructor [HSS, W]
  
  • SOCI 29906 - Latinx Sociology

    Course Credit: 1
    Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 , or permission of instructor [HSS]
  
  • SOCI 35000 - Classical Social Theory

    Course Credit: 1
    (ANTH, ARCH, SOAN)
    An examination of classical social theories of the nature of society and of human behavior. Included are the works of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Simmel. Emphasis will be placed on understanding these theories and their relevance in contemporary society. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 ; or permission of instructor Annually. [HSS]
  
  • SOCI 35100 - Contemporary Social Theory

    Course Credit: 1
    (ANTH, SOAN)
    An examination of the wide range of contemporary social theories that developed out of the classical tradition. Among the theories examined in this course are: functionalism, conflict theory, feminist theory, critical race theory, queer theory, globalization theory, and various forms of late- or post-modern theory. Students will be expected to develop an understanding of the relevance of these theories for the critical analysis of contemporary social issues and structures. Over the course of the semester all students will use one or more of these contemporary social theories to develop a theoretical perspective on a research question or topic that the students will examine in their Senior Independent Study thesis. This course, or SOCI 35000 , is a prerequisite for enrolling in SOCI 45100 . Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 ; or permission of instructor Annually. [HSS]
  
  • SOCI 40000 - Tutorial

    Course Credit: 0.5
    Maximum Credit: 1.25
    (ANTH, SOAN)
    A tutorial course on a special topic(s) offered to an individual student under the supervision of a faculty member. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000 ; or permission of instructor. The approval of both the supervising faculty member and the chairperson is required prior to registration.
  
  • SOCI 41000 - Internships

    Course Credit: 0.25
    Maximum Credit: 1
    In close consultation with a faculty member in the department, students may arrange for credit for a supervised work situation that relates to their major course of study. It is expected that in addition to the work experience itself, this course will include both regular discussion of a set of readings chosen by the faculty member and written assignments that allow the students to reflect critically on their work experiences. Internship credit will be approved by the chairperson of the department on a case-by-case basis. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000  and ANTH 11000 ; or permission of instructor
  
  • SOCI 45100 - Senior Independent Study - Semester One

    Course Credit: 1
    (SOAN)
    The first semester of the Senior Independent Study project, in which each student engages in creative and independent research guided by a faculty mentor and which culminates in a thesis and an oral examination in the second semester. The student will normally do the thesis during the Fall and Spring semesters of the senior year. The suggested fields include papers or projects in any of the standard subcategories of sociology, such as family, community, race, urban, mental health, or social work. The student is assigned to an appropriate adviser by the chairperson following submission of a proposal. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 35000  or SOCI 35100  Annually.
  
  • SOCI 45200 - Senior Independent Study - Semester Two

    Course Credit: 1
    (SOAN)
    The second semester of the Senior Independent Study project, which culminates in the thesis and an oral examination. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 45100  Annually.

Sociology and Anthropology

  
  • SOAN 20100 - Education in Sociocultural Context

    Course Credit: 1
    (ANTH, EDUC, SOCI)
    An acquaintance with selected anthropological and sociological approaches to the study of education. It seeks to communicate a cross-cultural perspective on the educative process through case studies of education and socialization in diverse societies. Theories and research on the social effects of schooling will also be covered. Special attention will be given to the situation of minorities in the schooling process and to understanding educational policy debates in American society. Alternate Years. [C, HSS]
  
  • SOAN 20200 - Globalizing Health


    An examination of public health issues from a global perspective. The twenty-first century has presented numerous public health challenges, such as the AIDS crisis, the rise of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and trafficking in human organs and tissues. Such problems can only be addressed by a combination of local and global responses. This course applies contemporary globalization theories to such public health challenges, and critically examines the ways in which Western medical techniques and attitudes toward health are disseminated throughout the world, and the tensions generated in local cultures by this globalization of health.
  
  • SOAN 20201 - Globalizing Health

    Course Credit: 1
    (ANTH, SOCI)
    The twenty-first century has presented numerous public health challenges, such as the AIDS crisis, the rise of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and trafficking in human organs and tissues. Such problems can only be addressed by a combination of local and global responses. This course applies contemporary globalization theories to such public health challenges, and critically examines the ways in which Western medical techniques and attitudes toward health are disseminated throughout the world, and the tensions generated in local cultures by this globalization of health. [C, HSS]
  
  • SOAN 34000 - Ethnographic Research

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARCH, URBN)
    This course explores a variety of methods that are essential components of ethnographic research design. The readings for this course include a selection of ethnographies that illustrate the many ways in which ethnographic research can be conducted. Students learn how to design their own ethnographic projects, and gain exposure to content analysis, participant-observation, interviewing, surveying, and research ethics. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000  or ANTH 11000  and one other 200- or 300-level SOCI, ANTH or SOAN course; or permission of instructor. Annually. [HSS]
  
  • SOAN 34100 - Social Statistics

    Course Credit: 1
    (ANTH, ARCH, SOCI, URBN)
    An examination of the statistical analysis of social science data. Students will be trained to use statistical techniques, including chi square, t-tests, and regression in the context of research design. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the logic behind the numbers. The course will enable students to think critically about statistics in social research and in the popular media. Prerequisite(s): SOCI 10000  or ANTH 11000  & one other 200- or 300-level SOCI, ANTH or SOAN course; or permission of instructor. Annually. [HSS, Q]

Spanish

  
  • SPAN 10100 - Beginning Spanish Level I

    Course Credit: 1
    Oral-aural instruction and practice with grammar, reading, and some writing. Emphasis on practical everyday language for direct communication. Instruction focuses on the cultural meaning of language. Annually.
  
  • SPAN 10200 - Beginning Spanish Level Ii

    Course Credit: 1
    Additional oral-aural instruction and continued practice with grammar, reading, and writing. Further emphasis on practical everyday language for communication. Instruction focuses on the cultural meaning of language. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 10100  Annually.
  
  • SPAN 20100 - Intermediate Spanish For Grammar, Conversation, and Composition I

    Course Credit: 1
    Extensive practice in conversation and composition with comprehensive grammar review. Reading and discussion of short texts. Structured to improve oral and written proficiency and to develop reading ability by way of vocabulary building, recognition of grammatical structures, and determining meaning from context. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 10200 , equivalent, or permission of instructor Annually.
  
  • SPAN 20200 - Intermediate Spanish For Grammar, Conversation, and Composition Ii

    Course Credit: 1
    A continuation of SPAN 20100 . Extensive practice in conversation and composition with comprehensive grammar review. Reading and discussion of short texts. Structured to improve oral and written proficiency and to develop reading ability by way of vocabulary building, recognition of grammatical structures, and determining meaning from context. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20100 , equivalent, or permission of instructor Annually.
  
  • SPAN 22300 - Readings in Spanish Peninsular Cultures

    Course Credit: 1
    (GLIS)
    The study of selected, key issues in the cultures of Spain through the close reading and analysis of appropriate texts. The focus is on the nature of cultural values, political and gender ideologies, social norms, institutions, and cultural practices as manifested in the literature and the visual arts of Spain. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , equivalent, or permission of instructor Annually. [C, W]
  
  • SPAN 22400 - Readings in Latin American Cultures

    Course Credit: 1
    (GLIS, LAST)
    The study of selected, key issues in the cultures of Latin America through the close reading and analysis of appropriate texts. The focus is on the nature of cultural values, political and gender ideologies, social norms, institutions, and cultural practices as manifested in the literature and the visual arts of Latin America. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , equivalent, or permission of instructor Annually. [C, W]
  
  • SPAN 27000 - Spanish Phonology

    Course Credit: 1
    (LAST)
    Introduction to Spanish Phonology and its historical development from Latin. The focus is on the principles of phonetics and diction. Attention is given to speech characteristics and to dialectal differences in Peninsular and Spanish American phonology. Oral drill to improve pronunciation and diction. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , and SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400 ; or permission of instructor. Annually. [AH]
  
  • SPAN 27503 - Spanish American Short Story

    Course Credit: 1
    (LAST)
    Jorge Luis Borges, one of the most influential contemporary Latin American writers, is celebrated as a master of the short story. This course will use the short story genre to trace the evolution of Latin American narrative through successive literary movements of the 20th and 21rst-centuries through the reading, discussion and interpretation of representative works of short fiction. Course readings will cover a wide range of styles and themes, from classic works by well-known writers such as Horacio Quiroga and Jorge Luis Borges to the work of emerging authors like Samanta Schweblin, as well as works by outstanding U.S. Latinx writers. [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 28000 - Hispanic Film

    Course Credit: 1
    (CMLT, FILM, LAST)
    Taught in English. A study of the history and evolution of cinema in Spain and Latin America with special attention paid to the documentaries and avant-garde films of the silent era, the neo-realist trends of the 40s, 50s, and 60s, the national cinemas of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and the new directions of the contemporary period. The course focuses on the continuity of the auteur tradition in an industry dominated by Hollywood. Topics for discussion include: film as a means of exposing or confronting social injustice, nation-building, (de)constructing identity, problematizing modernity, subverting social codification/codifying subversion. Requirements: two evening film screenings per week and pre-assigned readings on film criticism, history and theory. [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 30100 - Cervantes: Don Quixote


    An in-depth study of Don Quixote as the beginning of the modern novel in the western world. Discussion of the inherent national values of Cervantes’s masterpiece and its intrinsic universal appeal. Study of the structure, motives, and motifs of the novel, Cervantes’s narrative technique, point of view in the novel, the themes of self-conscious literature and metafiction, Don Quixote’s heroism and folly, and the ‘quixotic principle’ and its impact on the evolution of western narrative tradition. Introduction to the research methods for the study of Hispanic literature and culture.
  
  • SPAN 30500 - the Contemporary Latin American Novel

    Course Credit: 1
    (CMLT, GLIS, LAST)
    The study of selected Latin American novels of the Boom and post-Boom. Consideration of technical innovation, gender difference, literature and history. Novelists studied include Rulfo, Vargas Llosa, García Márquez, Traba, Puig, and Skármeta. Introduction to the research methods for the study of Hispanic literature and culture. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , and SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400 ; or permission of instructor [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 30900 - Trends in Spanish American Literature

    Course Credit: 1
    (CMLT, GLIS, LAST, WGSS)
    The study of major literary currents of Spanish America from the nineteenth century to the present through the readings, discussion, and criticism of key literary works that have most clearly contributed to the development of Spanish American literature. Emphasis on the realist and regionalist novel, the essay, and late nineteenth century and twentieth century theater. Introduction to the research methods for the study of Hispanic literature and culture. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , and SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400 ; or permission of instructor [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 31000 - the Structure of Modern Spanish

    Course Credit: 1
    (GLIS, LAST)
    A contrastive study of morphological, syntactic, and semantic structures of Spanish and English. This course is designed to help advanced students and prospective teachers of either language to gain knowledge of the particular areas of difficulty and correct problems. Introduction to the research methods for the study of Hispanic language and linguistics. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200  and either SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400 ; or permission of the instructor. [AH]
  
  • SPAN 31100 - Adv Seminar in Hispanic Language

    Course Credit: 1
    (CMLT, GLIS, LAST)
    An advanced seminar exploring a specific author or a limited number of authors, a literary period or genre, or a specific linguistic, literary, cultural topics or methodological approach. Topics will be chosen for their significance in Hispanic language, linguistics, literature, or culture. Introduction to the research methods for Hispanic Studies. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200  and SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400  or permission of instructor [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 31102 - Contemporary Span Thtr in Global Context

    Course Credit: 1
    (CMLT, GLIS)
    Reading, analysis, and discussion of Peninsular spanish plays from 1936 to the present whose content, form, techniques and themes reflect global realities. Study of the themes and concepts most readily associated with literary globalism: racism, sexism, racial and gender identity and equality, terrorism, war, personal and collective memory, human rights, geographical displacement, and intertextuality. Introduction to the research methods for the study of Hispanic literature and culture. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , and SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400 ; or permission of the instructor. [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 31104 - Fate & Free Will in Mod Span Narrative

    Course Credit: 1
    This course examines the themes of fate, free will and entrapment in a selection of short stories, novels and films from Spain. The course begins with an examination of “Lazarillo de Tormes”, the foundational text of the Picaresque genre and continues with Miguel de Cervantes’ “El licenciado Vidriera”, which chronicles the ingenuity of a teenage boy who believes he is made of glass. These two stories will serve as a touchstone for subsequent examination of several novels written in the twentieth century that deal broadly with individuality, selfhood, delusion, hardship, freedom and Spanish modernity. This course fulfills the Junior IS requirement for the Spanish major. Course taught in Spanish. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , and either SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400 ; or permission of instructor [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 31105 - Spanish Existentialist Writers/Filmmaker

    Course Credit: 1
    This course focuses on several Spanish essayists, novelists, and filmmakers whose work intersects with the existentialist tradition in modern western philosophy. We will read a selection of landmark works by major authors and view innovative films by renowned directors with the goal of gaining perspective on the events and issues that have played a defining role in modern and contemporary Spain. The authors and directors selected for this course have contributed to and absorbed various strains in modern existentialist thought. Therefore, existentialism will provide a conceptual framework through which to explore, discuss, and compare the texts selected for the course. Authors include: Miguel de Unamuno, Carmen Martín Gaite, Soledad Puértolas, and Javier Marías. Directors include: Carlos Saura, Julio Medem, and Laura Mañá. This course is writing intensive, and students will produce several short analytical papers before completing a final research project. This course satisfies the Spanish Department requirement for Junior Seminar. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20200 , and either SPAN 22300  or SPAN 22400 ; or permission of instructor [AH, C]
  
  • SPAN 31900 - Applied Linguistics

    Course Credit: 1
    (GLIS)
    Taught in English. Linguistic theory and its application in the teaching of foreign languages. Offered jointly by the departments of French, German, and Spanish. Individual practice for the students of each language. Required for licensure of prospective teachers of Spanish. This course does not fulfill the Junior Seminar requirement. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 20100  or equivalent.
  
  • SPAN 40000 - Tutorial

    Course Credit: 1
    Individual study of a topic developed in consultation with the faculty member of the department supervising the project. May be repeated.
  
  • SPAN 45100 - Senior Independent Study - Semester One

    Course Credit: 1
    The first semester of the Senior Independent Study project, in which each student engages in creative and independent research of a specific topic in Hispanic linguistics, literature, cinema or culture under the direction of a faculty member of the department, and which culminates in a thesis and an oral examination in the second semester. Prerequisite(s): 1 300-level SPAN course, excluding SPAN 31900  Annually.
  
  • SPAN 45200 - Senior Independent Study - Semester Two

    Course Credit: 1
    The second semester of the Senior Independent Study project, which culminates in the thesis and an oral examination. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 45100  Annually.
  
  • SPAN 410000 - Internship


    A structured, usually off-campus experience, in which a student extends classroom knowledge to a work position within a community, business, or governmental organization. Student interns work and learn under the joint guidance of a host organization supervisor and a College of Wooster mentor. The student must arrange the internship in advance through the appropriate department or program. No more than six internships, and a maximum of four Wooster course credits, will count toward graduation. The form for registering for an internship and the Internship Learning Plan are available in the office of the Registrar.

Studio Art

  
  • ARTS 15100 - Introduction to Drawing

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARCH, ARTH)
    This course introduces students to the various media and methods of freehand drawing. In order to advance their understanding of the visual and verbal language of drawing, students engage in a series of topical exercises, each combining a slide presentation, a group discussion, and a drawing assignment. Various approaches to representational drawing, including figure drawing, are explored. The course is required for the studio art major and is strongly recommended as the first course in studio art. There are six hours of weekly class time. Annually. [AH]
  
  • ARTS 15300 - Introduction to Painting

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Students are introduced to the fundamental painting techniques and principles of color. In the process, they explore issues of subject matter and content as well as the role of painting today. The course is organized around a schedule of studio work, critiques, and discussion of artists’ works. Six hours of weekly class time. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 15100  Annually. [AH]
  
  • ARTS 15500 - Introduction to Printmaking

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    The course is organized around a schedule of technical demonstrations, studio work, critiques, and discussions of artists’ works. Although intaglio techniques are emphasized in the course, students are also acquainted with monotype, relief and non-toxic printmaking media, including photo-etching. Six hours of weekly class time. Annually. [AH]
  
  • ARTS 15900 - Introduction to Photography

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARCH, ARTH, FILM)
    This course introduces the student to the technical and aesthetic issues of basic black and white photography. The class assignments are designed to emphasize the versatility of the medium and to promote individual expression. Basic camera operation, black and white processing and printing techniques will be covered. Group critiques are scheduled regularly to develop analytical skills and to provide an arena for the photographer to discuss his or her intent. Six hours of weekly class time that include lecture, demonstrations, digital slide presentations, group critiques, and in-class work time. Annually. [AH]
  
  • ARTS 16300 - Introduction to Sculpture

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    This course investigates the concepts and practices of organizing three-dimensional form through such techniques as casting and mold making, assemblage, and carving. The range of materials in the course could include wood, plaster, stone, metal, paper products, and found objects. Six hours of weekly class time that include lecture, demonstrations, slide presentations, and in-class work time. Annually. [AH]
  
  • ARTS 16500 - Introduction to Ceramics

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    This course introduces clay as an art medium through a variety of fundamental forming, surface decoration, and firing techniques commonly used by potters and sculptors. Six hours of weekly class time that include lecture, demonstrations, slide presentations, group critiques, and in-class work time. Annually. [AH]
  
  • ARTS 17100 - Introduction to Digital Imaging

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    This course is designed to examine the concepts and practices of digital imaging as an art form. As part of that process, students will explore various techniques that include digital manipulation, digital collage, animation, and interactive website authoring. A special emphasis will be placed on understanding the practice of Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Adobe Photoshop in order to generate, collage and manipulate still images and text. Flash will be utilized to create interactive websites and animations that may incorporate video and sound effects. Six hours of weekly class time that include lecture, digital demonstrations, slide presentations, critiques, and in-class work time. Prerequisite(s): Any 100-level Studio Art (ARTS) course Annually. [AH]
  
  • ARTS 25100 - Intermediate Drawing

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    This course is designed to develop a more expressive visual vocabulary through the continued exploration of media, methods, and a wide range of subjects including life drawing. Seminars and visits to exhibitions will stress visual concepts and the role of drawing in contemporary art. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 15100  Annually.
  
  • ARTS 25300 - Intermediate Painting

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Advanced study in oil painting including representational and abstract subject matter. Students engage in conceptual problems, which characterize contemporary painting practices Additional study through individual projects and field trips. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 15300 
  
  • ARTS 25500 - Intermediate Printmaking

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Advanced study in the media of printmaking and continued investigation of the ideas encountered in the initial printmaking course. Exhibitions, discussions, and field trips to museums are designed to acquaint the student with the role of printmaking in the world of contemporary art. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 15500  Annually.
  
  • ARTS 25900 - Intermediate Photography

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Continued study in the medium of photography, including an introduction to digital imaging that will include color images, fine-art digital prints, and outputting negatives for non-silver antiquated processes. The course may also incorporate camera formats and book arts. Running parallel to these technical investigations, assigned readings and discussions will address contemporary issues surrounding photography and digital imaging. Emphasis will be placed on developing creative projects and generating a cohesive body of work for each student. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 15900  Annually.
  
  • ARTS 26300 - Intermediate Sculpture

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Continued study of the medium of sculpture, including the study of theory and the creation of three-dimensional forms encountered in the initial sculpture course. Consideration of the possibilities of contemporary processes for creating and transforming three-dimensional forms and spaces. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 16300  Alternate Years.
  
  • ARTS 26500 - Intermediate Ceramics

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Upper-level problems in creative ceramics, continuing the approaches of the initial course in ceramics with emphasis on throwing and instruction in glaze formulation. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 16500  Alternate Years.
  
  • ARTS 29900 - Special Topics

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    A course for students who have taken at least one ARTS 200-level course in studio art. It provides faculty and students opportunities to study and to create in a medium not regularly taught, or to enable faculty and students to focus on an issue in creative art that is not adequately addressed in listed courses. Prerequisite(s): 200-level ARTS course in the appropriate discipline; or permission of the instructor.
  
  • ARTS 29901 - Collage

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    A course for students who have taken at least one ARTS 200-level course in studio art. It provides faculty and students opportunities to study and to create in a medium not regularly taught, or to enable faculty and students to focus on an issue in creative art that is not adequately addressed in listed courses. Prerequisite(s): 200-level ARTS course in the appropriate discipline; or permission of the instructor.
  
  • ARTS 29902 - Figure Drawing

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    A course for students who have taken at least one ARTS 200-level course in studio art. it provides faculty and students opportunities to study and to create in a medium not regularly taught, or to enable faculty and students to focus on an issue in creative art that is not adequately addressed in listed courses. Prerequisite(s): 1 200-level Studio Art course in the appropriate discipline, or permission of the instructor
  
  • ARTS 35100 - Advanced Drawing

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Advanced exercises in traditional drawing media as well as experimental techniques not covered in earlier classes. There will be structured assignments along with numerous independent projects. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 25100  Annually.
  
  • ARTS 35300 - Advanced Painting

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Advanced study in various painting media to include structured assignments and independent work. Continued investigation of contemporary issues in painting through field trips and readings of art criticism. Topics range from approaches to figure painting to open-ended conceptual problems. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 25300 
  
  • ARTS 35500 - Advanced Printmaking

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    In this course students will explore further conventional and experimental printmaking techniques. Students may concentrate on editioning, or they may develop a portfolio of individual prints. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 25500 
  
  • ARTS 35900 - Advanced Photography

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    This course is designed to develop an advanced understanding of the theory and practice of photography and digital imaging. A focus on advanced techniques will involve both structured projects with an emphasis on the development of an individual portfolio. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 25900  Annually.
  
  • ARTS 36300 - Advanced Sculpture

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    This course will be comprised of both individually arranged and structured projects in advanced sculptural concepts and techniques. There will be an investigation of critical attitudes applicable to sculpture. Individual experimentation is encouraged. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 26300  Alternate Years.
  
  • ARTS 36500 - Advanced Ceramics

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Concentration on advanced problems in both functional and sculptural ceramic design and techniques. A portion of the course will focus on plaster mold-making and slip-casting. Continued instruction in glaze formulation. Individual experimentation is encouraged. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 26500 
  
  • ARTS 40000 - Tutorial

    Course Credit: 1
    (ARTH)
    Advanced work in an area in preparation for doing Independent Study. Permission must be obtained from the instructor offering an advanced course in the special area. The student must schedule the same instructor and class hours as the advanced course. May be repeated.
  
  • ARTS 40100 - Independent Study

    Course Credit: 1
    A creative, individual program, organized within a classroom structure to integrate techniques and artistic concepts as a preparatory experience for the senior project. Students and professors meet weekly in a seminar to discuss problems and to critique projects. Prerequisite(s): 2 100-level Studio Art courses, 2 advanced level Studio Art courses, and 1 Art History course. Annually.
  
  • ARTS 41000 - Internship

    Course Credit: 0.25
    Maximum Credit: 1
    A structured, usually off-campus experience, in which a student extends classroom knowledge to a work position within a community, business, or governmental organization. Student interns work and learn under the joint guidance of a host organization supervisor and a College of Wooster mentor. The student must arrange the internship in advance through the appropriate department or program. No more than six internships, and a maximum of four Wooster course credits, will count toward graduation. The form for registering for an internship and the Internship Learning Plan are available in the office of the Registrar. May be repeated.
  
  • ARTS 45100 - Senior Independent Study - Semester One

    Course Credit: 1
    The first semester of the Senior Independent Study project, in which each student engages in the creation of a body of artwork and independent research guided by a faculty mentor. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 40100  Annually.
  
  • ARTS 45200 - Senior Independent Study - Semester Two

    Course Credit: 1
    The second semester of the Senior Independent Study project, which culminates in a one-person exhibition, a written thesis, and an oral examination. Prerequisite(s): ARTS 45100  Annually.

Theatre and Dance

Topics

Intended to create a natural extension from 100-level foundation courses, THTD 30100 -30104 Topics in the Written Text, THTD 30200-30210 Topics in Design and Technology, and THTD 30300 - THTD 30309  Topics in Performance educate students in a variety of areas pertaining to the many possible foci available in the performing arts: acting, dance, directing, design, writing, and/or history, as well as practical application to Film Studies when possible. No fewer than four 300-level Topics courses will be provided each year, rotating emphasis as appropriate. Annually.

GLCA New York Arts Program

A semester of study and work in New York with professionals in various aspects of theatre and dance according to individual interest. Students live in a dormitory-type environment where they also attend a number of seminars. The major portion of time is spent on-the-job as an intern with a well-known artist or artists and companies. Prerequisite: Recommendations by the department chairperson and adviser, and acceptance by the administrators of the program in New York. (4 credits)

  
  • THTD 10100 - Introduction to Theatre Research and Writing

    Course Credit: 1
    The Theatre and Dance program at Wooster emphasizes the importance of analyzing texts in their various modes: the written , the visual and the physical text of the performer’s body. These modes interact simultaneously with each other in the process of performance. This course specifically poses fundamental questions about the nature of written texts, and how they become transformed in the performance process. This understanding of texts is fundamental to both the enlightened theatre and dance audience member and to the work we do as actors, dancers, directors, choreographers, dramaturges, designers, technical personnel, and support staff. Annually. [AH, W]
  
  • THTD 10200 - Foundations of Theatrical Design

    Course Credit: 1
    Theatrical design is founded on the exploration of how visual meaning is created by the body, scenery, lighting, costumes, properties, film, and digital imagery, as part of the performance of theatre and dance. Students will focus on the following: how visual elements narrate the story; the basic tools and principles of design and the visual arts which communicate space, meaning, mood and emotion; and how visual communication in a performance context is culturally based and informed by historical and stylistic insight. The student is expected to develop a visual literacy and to apply this knowledge to both the understanding of how these elements create meaning and the development of creative visual representations of a text. Annually. [AH]
  
  • THTD 10300 - Fundamentals For the Performer

    Course Credit: 1
    An introductory level course intended to engage students in the study of movement as a primary text necessary for developing the art and craft of performance. Students will be introduced to the diversity of physical tools that shape movement of the performative body and how to analyze the body with critical literary and cultural theory of Western and non-western performance systems. Annually. [AH]
  
  • THTD 12101 - Performance Practicum

    Course Credit: 0.25
    Performing in a faculty directed theatre or dance production. Rehearsal and performance time must total a minimum of 40 hours. Only those students who are cast in faculty-directed productions should register for the Performance Practicum. Students cast in non-faculty directed productions may receive credit pending faculty approval through a student petition. May be repeated. Annually.
  
  • THTD 12102 - Production Practicum

    Course Credit: 0.25
    Practical experience in the production of a faculty directed play, or dance concert, including scene, costume or props design or construction; lighting design or execution; or serving on a stage or wardrobe crew. Non-faculty directed productions may receive credit pending faculty approval through a student petition. A minimum of 40 hours during the semester is required. Prerequisite: Permission and arrangements are made through the instructor and the Department’s Technical Director. May be repeated. Annually.
  
  • THTD 12103 - Design Practicum

    Course Credit: 0.25
    Practical experience as a design assistant to a faculty/staff designer of a faculty directed play, or dance concert, including scene, costume, sound or properties design. Non-faculty directed productions may receive credit pending faculty approval through a student petition. A minimum of 40 hours during the semester is required. May be repeated.
  
  • THTD 12104 - Stage Management Practicum

    Course Credit: 0.25
    Practical experience in stage management of a faculty directed play, musical or dance concert, including serving as an assistant stage manger or assistant director. Non-faculty directed productions may receive credit pending faculty approval through a student petition. A minimum of 40 hours during the semester is required. May be repeated. S/NC Annually.
  
  • THTD 20100 - Contemporary Dance History

    Course Credit: 1
    This course explores the development of contemporary dance as an art form. Rich in diversity, the modern dance is world-conscious, concerned with social, cultural, and personal issues. Beginning with an introduction to late-nineteenth-century theatrical dance, this class will examine twentieth-century concert dance choreographers and their work as evidence of identity and change through dance literature, critical essays, and film. Alternate Years. [AH, C]
  
  • THTD 20200 - Dance in World Cultures

    Course Credit: 1
    An introductory overview to selected dance traditions of the world. The course will examine such issues as the role of the physical text in dance, influences from other cultures, and culture-specific choices of the physical body. Students will gain understanding of how dance is embedded in the belief systems of the people who created it, how dance forms have changed and why, and develop skills in communicating about dance orally and in written form. Alternate Years. [AH, C]
  
  • THTD 24100 - Latina/O Drama and Performance

    Course Credit: 1
    (CMLT, LAST, WGSS)
    This course is an introduction to the history of Latina/o theatre and performance in the United States. By dismantling borders and opening up the public space of performance, students will explore topics related to identity and representation within the various Latina/o communities in the U.S. Analyzing a variety of performance genres and styles, the course examines how creative forms challenge dominant ideology and culture. Topics of emphasis include: immigration and diaspora, family and heritage, gender and sexuality, assimilation and resistance, violence, politics, and class struggle. Students will engage in historical, social, political, and cultural analyses of the theatre being created by Latinas/os and the ways that their works bridge the gap between Latin America and the United States. [AH, C]
  
  • THTD 24400 - Origins of Drama

    Course Credit: 1
    This course introduces students to the origins of eastern and western dramas, focusing primarily on Europe, the U.S, and India, emphasizing the relationships between history, dramatic literature, and theory. Alternate Years. [AH]
  
  • THTD 24500 - Feminism and Theatre

    Course Credit: 1
    (WGSS)
    This course is designed to explore theories of feminism and gender issues in relation to dramatic literature from a wide range of time periods and perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on developing student appreciation of and critical responses to traditional and non-traditional forms of drama as they relate to women as bodies in performance; the relationship of the male gaze (in film and on stage) to both canonical and non-canonical works; and marginalized voices. [AH, C]
  
  • THTD 24600 - Dramatic Theory and Criticism

    Course Credit: 1
    This course traces the various theoretical movements found in the development of world theatre beginning with the introduction of Realism, and emphasizing the relationships between history, theory, criticism, and dramatic literature. Alternate Years. [AH]
  
  • THTD 24700 - Latin American Theatre and Performance

    Course Credit: 1
    (CMLT, LAST)
    This course is an introduction to the theatrical histories of Latin America. Students will examine the histories of Latin America. Students will examine the historical development of diverse performance traditions and read texts from some of the most influential Latin American theatre practitioners. Additionally, the course will focus on performances created from within “marginal” communities of the Americas, allowing for a comparative study of theatre across the hemisphere. Although each Latin American nation possesses its own history and identity, it is violence-from the conquest of Columbus to the twentieth-century dictatorships-that has been a common link between the people of the Americas. By focusing on texts that explore issues associated with violence and conflict, we will examine the ways Latin Americans use performance as forms of nation and community building. [AH, C]
  
  • THTD 24800 - Native American Performance

    Course Credit: 1
    (FILM)
    The performance traditions within Native American/First Nation cultures are extremely rich and diverse, embracing ritual, myth, spirituality, oral literature, art, music, dance and more recently, improvised and written scripts, film, and digital media forms such as video, podcasts, contemporary music, graphic novels and websites. Given our position as outsiders, how do we discuss this body of work? These discussions may be difficult and uncomfortable. How do we foreground our discussion in the context of over 500 years of colonialism, loss, and absence? Are there things we cannot know or discuss? [AH, C]
  
  • THTD 24900 - Indigenous Film

    Course Credit: 1
    (FILM)
    Indigenous cultures throughout the world have combined ritual, myth, oral literature, art, music, and dance with contemporary film. In addition to being works of art, they are instruments of cultural expression and survival. The course will focus primarily on the films that have recently emerged from indigenous cultures of North, Central, and South America, Northern Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania and how they have created a culturally specific indigenous film genre, that resist postcolonial domination. [AH, C]
  
  • THTD 30100 - Topics in Written Text

    Course Credit: 1
    [AH, W]
  
  • THTD 30103 - Playwriting

    Course Credit: 1
    (ENGL, FILM)
    Playwriting is intended to provide beginning playwrights an opportunity to explore the craft through various writing exercises involving structure, character and idea development, setting, dialogue and more. Writing assignments include the creation of a ten-minute play and a one-act. In addition, students will be exposed to several dramatic texts, the process of writing, and the ins and outs of the professional world. Alternate Years. [W]
  
  • THTD 30201 - Scenic Design

    Course Credit: 1
    (FILM)
    This course explores the development of the scenic design as part of the collaborative performance of theater and dance. To this end, students will develop skills in textual interpretation, designer director/choreographer communication, concept development and the communication of the design to the production staff and crew through sketches, drafting, rendering and model making skills. Prerequisite(s): THTD 10200  or permission of the instructor Annually. [AH]
  
  • THTD 30202 - Scenic Painting

    Course Credit: 1
    This course intends to introduce the more advanced theatre and dance student interested in design to the art of scenic painting. This course will employ practical projects as a means to focus on color theory, basic painting methods, lay out, highlight and shadow work and trompe l’oeil techniques. The course will also include the painting and preparation of decorative properties. Alternate Years.
  
  • THTD 30203 - Costume Design

    Course Credit: 1
    Alternate Years. [AH]
  
  • THTD 30204 - Stage Makeup

    Course Credit: 1
    This class will be a hands-on introductory course on theatrical make-up techniques and tools. Students will learn the basic tools used in make-up application and how to care for these tools. Students will also learn how to protect & care for skin when faced with repeated make-up application during a production’s run. Projects will focus on recognition of light & shadow, replication of color, corrective make-up, old age make-up, period accurate make-up, gender reversal techniques, cuts and bruises, and reproducing paintings on the human face, prosthetic techniques and facial hair application. [AH]
  
  • THTD 30207 - Costume Construction

    Course Credit: 1
    (FILM)
    This course is designed to provide introductory to mid-level skills in costume and soft goods (properties) construction. Students explore aspects of costume construction, which include but are not limited to: hand sewing, machine sewing, flat patterning, textiles, fitting, and altering garments. The class allows students to apply this knowledge to the creation of both clothing and soft good properties through a serious of realized projects. [AH]
  
  • THTD 30209 - Lighting Design

    Course Credit: 1
    (FILM)
    This course focuses on the concept development, planning and execution of a lighting design as part of an integrated, collaborative expression of performance. These performances may include but not be limited to theatre, dance, ballet, and opera. Students will consider the aesthetic and interpretative elements of design, director/choreographer communication and the technical knowledge, skills and tools used to execute the design. Students will apply this knowledge directly to the design and execution of the Department’s productions of theatre and dance during the semester.
  
  • THTD 30211 - Stage Management

    Course Credit: 1
    This course is an introduction to a study of stage management procedures, paperwork and rehearsal and performance practices in theatre and dance. Through this course, students will develop a foundation for effective communication and management while exploring the many aspects and qualities that are found in successful, professional stage management in the performing arts. Annually. [AH]
  
  • THTD 30212 - Green Theatre

    Course Credit: 1
    (ENVS)
  
  • THTD 30213 - Stagecraft

    Course Credit: 1
    Theatre production relies heavily on the traditional arts of stagecraft, including theatre production organization models, theatre safety, tool and material use, sustainable construction strategies, rigging, basic scenic painting and elementary lighting technology. These will be approached through text readings, small group problem-solving exercises and practical laboratory activities.
  
  • THTD 30300 - Topics in Physical Text

    Course Credit: 1
    (FILM)
    [AH]
  
  • THTD 30301 - Theatre For Social Change

    Course Credit: 1
    (WGSS)
    According to Brazilian director and theatre scholar Augusto Boal, “Theatre is a weapon. A very efficient weapon.” If he is correct, then in what ways has theatre historically been used as a tool for change? Who yields that power? And how can people use theatre as a means to envision and create a better world? This class will examine the different ways performers have used theatre as a form of resistance and public critique. Students will read some of the most important works that speak to theatre’s capacity to transform society and will also create and devise their own performances for social change. In this way, students will become artist/scholars as they explore the critical interventions that theatre and performance can make locally and globally.
  
  • THTD 30302 - Styles of Modern Dance

    Course Credit: 1
    A comprehensive introduction to the principles of modern dance the art form will be investigated through movement explorations, movement patterning and technique, movement compositions, short essay readings and visual texts, discussion, and critical analysis of modern dance. This course will introduce foundational traditions of modern dance and examine how contemporary styles of modern dance are influenced by them. Emphasis will be placed on activities that investigate the creative, technical, and critical aspects of the art form.
  
  • THTD 30304 - Acting Methods

    Course Credit: 1
    (FILM)
    [AH]
  
  • THTD 30305 - Classic Pilates

    Course Credit: 1
    The primary focus of Pilates mat work encourages strength and flexibility of the spine and hips, and the development of a neutral spine alignment through the deep core muscles of the abdomen and back in support of this posture. Sophistication of the technique emphasizes mind/body theories of control, breath techniques, and fluidity of motion. [AH]
 

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