The HTC program in theater offers exceptional students the opportunity to study the many aspects of theater in one-on-one relationships with theater faculty members. Maximum opportunities will be afforded for the student to progress well beyond the material found in conventional courses. The primary purpose of the tutorial program is to serve as preparation for graduate study. Students will receive a degree of Bachelor of Arts from the Honors Tutorial College.
Tutorials
Students are required to complete eight tutorials, including two devoted to the thesis. In addition to the tutorials, the student must complete one Written Communication course (ENG 1510) and one Advanced Writing course (FAW), all core courses not covered by tutorials, and an appropriate number of approved electives. Internships and/or study abroad may be included within the program with special permission from the director studies. Honor Tutorial students take a minimum of 15 hours per semester.
Advising and Monitoring
Each student receives initial advice from the director of studies regarding selection and sequencing of courses, choice of a thesis advisor, and other procedural matters. A committee, composed of the director of studies and the advisor, will monitor the thesis work. A typical tutorial will meet on a weekly basis for a minimum of one hour. The student and the tutor will discuss the current reading and written assignments, discuss problems and solutions, debate and offer critical analysis, and the tutor continuously evaluates the progress of the student. A final grade is made based on many facets of evaluation available to the tutor: written assignments, written exams, oral exams, discussions, presentations by the student, field work, etc.
The Honors Thesis
The honors thesis is a reflection of the student's special interests. Its acceptance, dependent upon an appropriate mixture of research and analysis, relies upon the judgment of the advisor and/or the director of studies. It is expected that this major paper will constitute work of the highest quality in investigating a problem of concern to both scholars and practitioners. Although an intensive study of relevant theoretical and research literatures is the underpinning of the thesis, students are encouraged to augment this scholarly base with field data whenever possible.
Evaluation
Students throughout the program earn letter grades consistent with the University grading system and are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students who earn less than a B (3.0), or who maintain less than a 3.5 GPA will need to confer with the director of studies and/or the Dean of the College. In addition to letter grade assessments, tutors complete semester based course descriptions and evaluations of each student's work. In these assessments both the student's academic standing and academic attitude are evaluated.