Acting for Business I at Carnegie Mellon University

About

The course teaches empathetic listening and assertive influence achieved through practical Acting tools rooted in the basic concepts of "Action" and of the Speaker's "Best Possible Self" , and through the cumulative Seven Stages to Executive Presence . Participants must validate their own participation by working with openness and enthusiasm toward improving their ability to influence others. Note: This is not a course in professional lying . Instead, it teaches expressive power with which to better communicate what you believe to be true. It does not prescribe formulaic, "correct" answers regarding behavior in particular business situations, nor does it deal with or value copying movie or television acting. Instead, the course teaches how to effectively influence and impact people live in a room -- and lays out a system for doing so. The course has been referred to as "Cross Training For Business People", "Ethical Acting", "Executive Presence" and even "Charisma 101". It's a course that will not improve your PowerPoint - but the communicator in front of your PowerPoint. Key take-aways of this course are: New awareness of your public persona and public credibility. A useful understanding of "Action" and how to use Actions to influence others. A new, empathetic and assertive Speaker-to-Listener mindset. Visual, aural and temporal communication tools, including: focus, posture and body language, movement and stillness, gesture, key words, inflection, vocally commanding a room, progression of thought and of passion, Goal or Objective, and dynamic diversity. Methods to manage tension or "stage fright". A focus on making a greater human connection when communicating. Event Line for the Course: The event-line of this course focuses on "Action" in the following sequence: Participatory in-class group exercises teaching the nature of Action and Re-Action. Group physical and vocal warm-ups that focus on relaxation, audibility and clear articulation (in-class exercises). Some lessons will be taught through brief lectures on the Seven Stages to Expressive Power; other lessons will be captured in response to in-class performances. Assignment #1: The "Shoutables" Exercise: playing an Action through a shouted sentence (performed assignment). Assignment #2: The "One Sentence / Three Actions" Exercise: varying one's Actions and their performance (performed assignment). Assignment #3: Empathetically Understanding and Describing Your "Best Possible Self": defining yourself as a character, providing the template for subsequent work (written assignment). The 3 Assertive Actions or "Physical Object" Exercise (a performed, structured improvisation) focusing on Circumstances, choice of Actions, Goals or Objectives, Obstacles, and Progressions. Assignment #5 (only as needed): The 3 Assertive Actions or "Goal or Objective" Exercise (a performed, structured improvisation) another in-class exercise focusing on Circumstances, choice of Actions, Goals or Objectives, Obstacles, and Progressions. Assignment #6:"The Map of Actions for a Monologue's Journey": identifying varied Actions in the pursuit of an over-all Objective - within written work (written assignment). Assignment #7: Empathetically Observing and Recreating the Activity of a Person An Audience Would Find Interesting to Watch focusing on empathy, observation skills, and the importance of audience interest (a performed assignment). Assignment #8: Preparing The Progression in A Duet Scene - Initial Presentation (a prepared and performed exercise; not memorized Within two-person, scripted scenes written by modern American writers, working with the focus on listening to and talking to each other, identifying and playing specific and varied Actions toward the pursuit of Goals or Objectives, and constructing a performance with clarity, commitment and dynamic variety. Assignment #9:Duet Scene, Intermediate Runthrough; (a prepared and performed exercise; preferably memorized .) Continued work on the same two-person scene, working for clearer understanding, deeper commitment, and more varied dynamics. Assignment #10: Duet Scene, Final Performance (a prepared and performed exercise; memorized .) Final presentation of the same two-person, work-in-progress scene, working for maximum audience impact. Assignment #11: Using The Map Of Actions To Prepare An Audience-Pleasing Shape in A Dramatic Monologue, Initial Presentation (a prepared and performed exercise; not memorized) identifying and playing the varied Actions toward the pursuit of a Goal or Objective within scripted monologues written by modern American writers, working with the focus on clarity, commitment, commanding the room, constructing a performance with dynamic variety, and keeping an audience interested and nvolved for two minutes by your own devices only. Assignment #12: Dramatic Monologue, Intermediate Runthrough (a prepared and performed exercise; preferably memorized .) Continued work on the same monologue, working for clearer understanding, deeper commitment, and more varied dynamics. Assignment #13:Dramatic Monologue, Final Performance (a prepared and performed exercise; memorized.) Final presentation of the same work-in-progress monologue, working for maximum audience impact. Attendance and Punctuality: Attendance and Punctuality for all classes are mandatory. Attendance is an individual's presence and full participation for the entire session. Each time a student arrives late or leaves early -- being absent for part of a class will be counted as half an absence. You are expected to attend, and to participate with enthusiasm and curiosity. Most sections of this course meet twice per week. However, if your section meets only one time per week, missing that one week's class is equivalent to two absences. Requirements: Attendance and punctuality. Your enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to attempt the tasks given and to comply with the stages presented . Your full compliance with the instructions for each performed or written exercise. Your cumulative learning of the Seven Stages to Executive Presence. Full preparedness for each assignment, including written work or rehearsals outside of class time. (10/12-GH)

Requirements

Entry Requirements

GPA

3.41 Average

3.43 Median

3.03-3.76

Middle 80%

English Program Requirements

Candidates are required to demonstrate a level of competence in English to meet the admissions requirements of the university. You are required to take a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam unless:

You attended an undergraduate institution, earning a bachelor’s degree, where the sole language of instruction was English.
You earned a graduate degree where the sole language of instruction was English. (Although not required, we do recommend that you take the English Language Proficiency exam.)

You must request that the official score be sent from the testing agency to our program for us to verify the score entered into the application. Request that the official score be sent to us using the following codes:

TOEFL Program Code: Institutional Code = 2074; Departmental Code = 02
- Pro Tip: The recommended TOEFL score is 25 on each section of the Internet-based test. The minimum TOEFL scores required to apply for admission are: Reading: 20, Listening: 20, Speaking: 20, Writing: 20
IELTS Program Code: Select Carnegie Mellon and the Tepper School of Business
- Pro Tip: The recommended IELTS score is 7 overall and 7 in each band. The minimum IELTS scores required to apply for admission are: Listening: 7, Reading: 7, Writing: 7, Speaking: 7, Overall Band: 7
Duolingo Program Code: Select Carnegie Mellon University – Tepper School of Business
- Pro Tip: The recommended Duolingo English Test (DET) score is 120 overall

Pro Tip: TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years and must be valid at the time you submit your application.

Pro Tip: If you earned a degree from a non-U.S. institution, your academic documents should state that the sole language of instruction for the entire university was English in order to be eligible for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo waiver. If your academic documents don’t include this, you should upload an official letter from the University Registrar indicating English as the mode of instruction for the entirety of the degree.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

USD 50,320

Application Fee

USD 75

Acting for Business I

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University

Key Facts

Start & Deadlines