Mission, Goals, and Objectives
(APPENDIX A)
After reflecting on the University’s 2020 plan in our small groups, the department agreed to slightly adapt the language of our Mission Statement to reflect the Mission of the University and College. Additionally, a new articulation and ordering of the Learning Goals and a more comprehensive and detailed expression of the Learning Objectives was also adapted this year.
Mission Statement
(ADAPTED IN 2015)
Santa Clara University’s Department of Theatre and Dance is a community of artist-scholars, faculty, staff, and students celebrating the creativity of the human spirit through a shared commitment to undergraduate liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition. Developing competence, cultivating conscience, and inspiring compassion, the Theatre and Dance Department requires study in the academic and creative processes which include the practice and analysis of: skills required in the performing arts; critical evaluation of literature, history, and theory of Drama and Dance; collaborating in production; and public presentation of performance.
As teaching artist-scholars, members of our faculty make significant contributions in their fields while addressing the vital issues of our time. In the context of the global community and its needs, the Theatre and Dance Department believes that the performing arts embody human interaction. Study in the Department of Theatre and Dance fosters an ethical and intellectual community, cultivates in our students the ability to think critically and creatively and communicate with clarity and conviction, promotes understanding and values diversity, and develops a vision of a better world together with the means to contribute to the common good.
Learning Goals and Objectives
(WITH MINOR REVISION IN 2015)
Goal 1 : Effective Presence - Upon completion of the Theatre and Dance program, students will be able to express ideas effectively in artistically compelling performances and/or presentations.
Objective 1.1: Performance & Presentation: Students demonstrate verbal and physical eloquence—strength, confidence, clarity and passion—in the quality and technique of performed/presented work.
Goal 2 : Critical, Creative and Integrative Thinking - Upon completion of the Theatre and Dance program, students will have analyzed theatre arts topics through the process of critique, created works, designs or plans, as well as synthesized different areas of knowledge.
Objective 2.1: Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate critical, analytical thinking in written and oral presentations on performance events, historical periods, justice issues, and other theatre arts topics.
Objective 2.2: Creative Thinking: Students demonstrate creative thinking through the generation of unprecedented, imaginative, original work not relying solely on pre-existing elements or ideas, and demonstrate creative problem-solving in any of the multiple areas of the theatre arts.
Objective 2.3: Integrative Thinking: Students demonstrate integrative thinking through the synthesis of research, creative process, and assemblages of elements in the development of processes or the creation of projects.
Goal 3 : Leadership - Drawing upon the integral components of an artistic process--sensitivity, generosity, creativity, empathy and inter-disciplinary communication-- students will develop leadership skills in executing a vision or concept, organizing time and process, building an ensemble (team).
Objective 3.1: Undergraduate Leadership: Students will be able to describe the experience of serving in program-related leadership roles and explain the development of their artistic vision or project and which skills (organizational, interpersonal, research, entrepreneurial, etc.) they utilized to achieve their goals.
Goal 4 : Discipline - Upon completion of the Theatre and Dance program, students will demonstrate responsible, professional work habits, contribute constructively to group processes and show evidence of understanding the interdependent relationships of all facets of theatrical/dance production.
Objective 4.1: Responsibility: Demonstrates responsible, professional work habits in timeliness, readiness and initiative.
Objective 4.2: Collaboration: Contributes constructively to group processes through attitude/behavior toward ensemble work & demonstration of complex problem-solving capabilities.
Objective 4.3: Understanding and Functioning in Multiple Contexts of the Theatre Arts: Understands and participates in interdependent relationships of theatre and dance disciplinary areas by functioning effectively in live production contexts and is versed in multiple dimensions of the performing arts.
Goal 5 : Reflection - Upon completion of the Theatre and Dance program, students will have examined both familiar and less familiar traditions, practices and applications of the theatre arts that help them reflect on the roles of history, social justice, spirituality, creativity, diversity, and sustainability.
Objective 5.1: Reflective Practice: Students will analyze, synthesize and reflect as artists verbally, in writing or through multimedia presentations on their evolving understandings of the relationship between themselves and diverse spheres of thought and action.
Other Program Goals
In keeping with the Mission and Goals of the department, and in consideration of the growth of our program, we reflected on other program goals that we hope will include: continued curriculum development focused on student creative initiatives; more Theatre and Dance outreach opportunities (Perform Meaningfully – Beyond the Classroom); incorporating more interdepartmental collaboration amongst the stakeholders of the new Arts District; staying abreast of the advancing technologies in our field and incorporating the latest technologies into our programming; following a consistent plan of assessment in our classes and programs; securing the future of the department with a detailed hiring plan for smooth faculty transitions.