Professional Practices in Design and Technical Production

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Build a packet of early-career ready portfolios, resumes, and other hiring materials

• Critique personal portfolios and peer portfolios in a collaborative and critical manner

• Investigate personal and professional goals related to pursuing careers in theatrical design and production

• Prepare a plan to achieve early-career professional goals

• Explore common topics related to standard practices in the theatre industry

• Identify questions related to working professionally in theatrical design and technical production

• Identify reasonable practices related to productivity, health, and wellness in an early-career professional environment

  In this course, students evaluate their portfolio materials and explore topics related to standard theatre practices. Students leave this course with a Launch Plan, laying out their post-graduation goals and plans to achieve them. Discussion topics may include freelancing, graduate school, design and technical unions, hiring practices, and adjacent industries.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Goal Setting and Self Evaluation	10 points
Peer Resume Review	20 points
Midterm Portfolio Review	10 points
Launch Plan	15 points
Portfolio Presentation	15 points
Community Participation Quizes	20 points
Final Self Reflection	10 points

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
92%-100%	A
90%-91%	A-
86%-89%	B+
82%-85%	B
80%-81%	B-
76%-79%	C+
72%-75%	C
70%-71%	C-
66%-69%	D+
62%-65%	D
60%-61%	D-
00%-59%	F

Attendance/Participation:

This class will be conducted in person. Because this is a hands-on class and moves quickly, attendance is essential. You are responsible for communicating with me and/or your peers in order to learn what happened in class if you miss a scheduled class period. You will be granted 2 excused absences, no questions asked.

Email is the best way to reach me for an excused absence. I will do my best to respond in a timely fashion. Sending me an email does not necessarily automatically equate to an excused absence. However, communication before class begins generally equals an excused absence.

If your attendance is 70% or below at the midterm, you will be dropped from the class with a WF (withdraw failing) grade. An attendance grade of 70% or less at the end of the semester will result in an automatic grade of F in the class.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Tollefson, Kristina. Get the Job in the Entertainment Industry : A Practical Guide for Designers, Technicians, and Stage Managers, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2022.