Apr 25, 2024  
ARCHIVED 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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ARCHIVED 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

Curriculum

The courses listed herein have been approved by the faculty as authorized by the Board of Trustees. Courses are subject to change through normal academic channels, and information about new courses approved after publication of this catalog can be obtained in the Office of the Registrar or from appropriate departments. Typically, 13.5 hours per week of combined class and study time are expected for each three credit hour course.

The frequency of offering each course is determined by the department or division as demand indicates. Course numbering is intended to reflect the level of preparation which a student should have to enroll in a specific course, but courses are not numbered according to difficulty within a hundred series. Courses numbered below 100 affect the cumulative grade point average, but are not applied to the 120 credit hours required for graduation at North Central College.

Course Descriptions

Prerequisites (if any) and the General Education Requirement(s) which each course fulfills (if any) are noted following each course description.

If a course qualifies as an Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education course, then an IAI code appears to the right of the course title. The letter codes are C (Communications), F (Fine Arts), H (Humanities), L (Life Sciences), M (Mathematics), P (Physical Sciences) and S (Social Behavioral Sciences). Note that some courses meeting NCC general education requirements are not approved by the IAI. Students intending to transfer to another school participating in the IAI are strongly encouraged to take only courses approved by the IAI for general education core requirements.
 

Speech Communication
  
  
  
  
  
  

  • SPC 405 - Advanced Radio Production and Direction

    3.00 credit hours
    The preparation and direction of program materials (commercials, promos, PSAs, music, drama, etc.) on an advanced level. Laboratory uses WONC-FM production studios.

    Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and SPC 262 .


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • SPC 410 - Rhetorical Criticism

    3.00 credit hours
    A study of contemporary approaches to the critical analysis of communication. Students examine numerous examples of contemporary rhetoric (speeches, speakers, movements) and consider key factors that can be used to explain the effects of public address acts.

    Prerequisite(s): SPC 287 .


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • SPC 412 - Media Criticism

    3.00 credit hours
    A critical study of media analysis theories, with an emphasis on television and film. Students learn to use the theoretical tools media scholars use to analyze the content and effects of media messages. Ethical questions and other related issues are also examined.

    Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior standing; SPC 185  and SPC 287 .


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • SPC 417 - Advanced Video Production

    3.00 credit hours
    Advanced video production work with an emphasis on the aesthetics of film-style directing and editing. Students work to communicate visually through dramatic, comedic, documentary and experimental forms. Students shoot entirely on location and have access to computer-based graphics, animation and editing software in the Pfeiffer Hall edit suite.

    Prerequisite(s): SPC 269 


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • SPC 430 - Advanced Organizational Communication

    3.00 credit hours
    This course bridges theory and practice by emphasizing key organizational communication processes. Paying particular attention to contemporary research and applications, this course focuses on several topics such as superior-subordinate and peer-to-peer communication, socialization processes, globalization and diversity issues, emotional labor, conflict and decision-making, organizational identity and image, new technology in organizations, organizational change and leadership.

    Prerequisite(s): SPC 330 ; Junior or Senior standing.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  
  
  
  

  • SPC 493 - Seminar in Organizational Communication

    3.00 credit hours
    This advanced seminar course offers an in-depth study of a particular topic of organizational communication. Topics may include communication and organizational cultures, organizational rhetoric, crisis communication, corporate social responsibility and communication in non-profit and alternative organizations. The topics chosen depend upon faculty and student interest and are publicized in the course schedule for the terms during which the seminar is offered.

    Prerequisite(s): SPC 330 ; Junior or Senior standing.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  
  

Theatre
  

  • THE 100 - Script Analysis

    3.00 credit hours
    This course focuses on reading a script as the basic element in theatre. Through a careful examination of a variety of plays from different periods, a pattern emerges for discerning what options exist for interpreting a script. Students read from classic and contemporary theatre, engage in class discussions and write analyses of the chosen plays. Students gain practical knowledge useful for actors, directors and designers.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 101 - Introduction to Acting

    3.00 credit hours
    Specifically designed for students with little to no stage experience, this course emphasizes the development of the actor’s instruments through warm-ups, games, improvisations, scenes and monologues. By helping students to overcome stage fright and and become more at ease with facing crowds, and by making students more informed observers of the theatrical experience as a whole, this course is highly beneficial to non-majors, as well as to beginning actors.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 115 - Theatre Practicum I

    0.00-1.00 credit hours
    Theatre is studied through the staging, mounting and production of a faculty-directed, all-College theatrical production. This course is repeatable up to a maximum of six credit hours earned. Students are expected to take this course for credit unless exceeding 12 credit hours in a term.

    Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 116 - Theatre Practicum II

    0.00-2.00 credit hours
    Theatre is studied through the staging, mounting, and production of a faculty-directed, all-College theatrical production. Students must hold major performance roles or take on major production positions to enroll. This course is repeatable up to a maximum of four credit hours earned. Students are expected to take this course for credit unless they will exceed 12 hours in the term.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 115  and instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 145 - Musical Theatre Dance I

    1.50 credit hours
    (Same as: HPE 145 .) An introductory course in jazz, ballet and tap techniques for the stage. The course includes instruction in the history and theory of musical theatre, dance and the basic building blocks of choreography. This course assumes no prior dance experience and is open to all students interested in dance training for performance. This course may be repeated for credit once.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 175 - Introduction to Theatre Arts

    3.00 credit hours
    A comprehensive overview of the process of creating theatre productions, this course explores theatre through criticism, history, design and aesthetic principles.

    Core: Humanities.
    IAI: F1 907


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 180 - Stagecraft

    3.00 credit hours
    Stagecraft incorporates fundamental skills that are required to move a scenic design from inception to construction and completion. In this course, students will gain knowledge of basic construction and painting techniques for stage scenery. Tool use and stage/shop equipment will be mastered along with the safety rules that are essential and mandatory for running an effective scenic shop.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 182 - Fundamentals of Acting

    3.00 credit hours
    Designed for students with previous acting experience, including high school and/or community theatre, this course consists of exercises in voice, movement, improvisation and text study. The course seeks to give the student an awareness of what acting is in both theory and performance. Presentation of scenes and attendance at productions are required.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 185 - Fundamentals of Theatrical Design

    3.00 credit hours
    This course covers the fundamentals of the process of designing for the theatre. Students will work on developing a fully realized design from the initial textual analysis through the collaborative process of working with the director and other designers. Students will explore basic theories and design principles including script analysis, research methodology, conceptual development, color theory, balance and proportion, visual composition and other elements of design. Students will also learn practical skills including drawing techniques, figure drawing, drafting and modeling.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 190 - Stage Management

    3.00 credit hours
    This course serves as an introduction to the administrative work of the stage manager, while exploring the relationship between the artistry and execution of producing plays and musicals. Students study production protocols, create a prompt book and learn the forms and formats needed to maintain professional standards while working with directors, actors, and the technical crew.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 207 - Musical Theatre Workshop I

    0.00-1.00 credit hours
    The relationships of music and drama studied through the staging, mounting and production of an all-College musical. This course is repeatable up to a maximum of six credit hours. Students are expected to take this course for credit unless they will exceed 12 hours in the term.

    Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 208 - Musical Theatre Workshop II

    0.00-2.00 credit hours
    The relationship of music and drama studied through the staging, mounting and production of an all-College musical. Students must hold major performance roles or take on major production positions to enroll. This course is repeatable up to a maximum of four credit hours. Students are expected to take this course for credit unless they will exceed 12 hours in the term.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 207  and instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 221 - Voice Lessons: Musical Theatre

    0.00, 0.50, 1.00 credit hours
    Available to all students. May be repeated. 1/2 hour lessons=0.50 credit; 1 hour lessons=1.00 credit; 0.00 credit option is only for students who have reached 12 credit hour full time limit.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 240 - Voice and Movement

    3.00 credit hours
    This class focuses on the human voice and body as an instrument of communication both on stage and in everyday life. The course seeks to give the student an understanding of voice and movement and their use as expressive tools for the performance.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 182  or instructor’s consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 245 - Musical Theatre Dance II

    1.50 credit hours
    (Same as: HPE 245 .) An extension of Musical Theatre Dance I. This course has its emphasis in jazz, tap and ballet techniques as applied to musical theatre at an intermediate level. This course also covers choreography in jazz and tap, and auditioning techniques. This course may be repeated for credit once.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 145  or instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 246 - Jazz Dance

    0.00-1.50 credit hours
    (Same as HPE 246 ) A concentration on jazz dance from an historical, theoretical and performance perspective. This course builds and expands upon the tap dance portion of THE 245 . Repeatable course.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 245  or instructor consent


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 248 - Tap Dance

    0.00-1.50 credit hours
    (Same as HPE 248 ) A concentration on tap dance from an historical, theoretical and performance perspective. This course builds and expands upon the tap dance portion of THE 245 . Repeatable course.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 245  or instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 252 - Ballet

    0.00-1.50 credit hours
    (Same as HPE 252 ) A concentration on ballet from an historical, theoretical and performance perspective. This course builds and expands upon the ballet portion of THE 245 . Repeatable course.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 245  or consent of instructor.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 254 - Choreography

    1.50 credit hours
    A choreography workshop that explores the technique and skills required to create dance and movement for the stage. The course explores methods of approaching various types of work, from musical staging to dance numbers. Repeatable course.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 245  or instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  
  

  • THE 257 - Dance History

    3.00 credit hours
    A study of the history of Western theatrical dance from the first court ballets in the late 16th century through early 21st century Postmodernism. The course explores the dances, choreographers, dancers and theories in the cultural context of each period.

    Core: Humanities.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 265 - American Musical Theatre

    3.00 credit hours
    A study of the American musical theatre from the 19th century to present. Composers and librettists covered include George M. Cohan, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kerr, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim. Field trip to an area production is required.

    Core: Humanities.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 270 - Directing

    3.00 credit hours
    The course serves as an introduction to the art of directing plays for the theatre. It utilizes background information and experience with acting, stagecraft and dramatic literature to provide the groundwork for discussion of various approaches to, and techniques of, play production. The course culminates in the public performance of student-directed short scenes and one acts.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 182  and Sophomore standing.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  
  

  • THE 282 - Contemporary Acting Styles

    3.00 credit hours
    This course builds on the ideas and work of THE 182 . More advanced and intensive scene work is integrated with voice, movement and textual improvisation during the term.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 182 .


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 290 - Scenic Design

    3.00 credit hours
    The scenic designer is the person charged with the responsibility of finding the form of the physical world of the play. In order to accomplish this task, the designer must develop and call upon a number of skills. In this course students work with some of the problems scenic designers encounter in their attempts to find and develop form, and learn the process of developing design solutions.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 185 .


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 343 - Improvisation

    3.00 credit hours
    This course builds on the improvisational skills introduced in THE 182  and THE 282 . More advanced and intensive improvisational work is integrated with performance theory, research and advanced critical thinking during the term.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 182  and Sophomore standing.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 350 - Advanced Performance Styles/Musical Theatre

    3.00 credit hours
    This courses examines the different vocal techniques and movement styles necessary for musical theatre. It focuses on a performer’s approach to developing a song in the context of contemporary musical theatre, examining the work in terms of structure and content. This course may be taken twice.

    Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing; one of THE 282 , two terms of MUS 221  or instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 352 - Advanced Ballet

    0.00-1.50 credit hours
    This course continues the development of all beginning areas of ballet, and expands the ballet vocabulary. This course may be repeated for credit once.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 252  or instructor consent.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 353 - Acting on Camera

    3.00 credit hours
    This course explores the acting methods used for film and television. Students are trained in camera techniques used for commercial, industrial, film and television auditions. Students work in front of the camera each week, utilizing actual copy from popular shows, commercials and movies. Students leave this course audition ready. The course includes extensive scene memorization, class discussions, performance critique writing and journal self-assessment writing.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 182 .


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 355 - Business of Theatre

    3.00 credit hours
    This course explores the requirements for the business portion of theatre, from building a theatrical resume to selecting a head shot, to registering with an agent. The course includes several field trips to visit experts in specialized areas of theatrical business. The course includes establishing a small business for the actor.

    Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 359 - Theatre History and Literature I

    3.00 credit hours
    A study of the theatre and its literature from its ancient beginnings through the English Restoration. The course explores the drama, productions, theories, personages and physical theatre in the cultural context of each period.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 361 - Theatre History and Literature II

    3.00 credit hours
    A study of the theatre and its literature from the 19th century Age of Romanticism to the present day. The course explores the drama, productions, theories, personages and physical theatre in the cultural context of each age.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 363 - Classical Asian Theatre

    3.00 credit hours
    A survey of classical Asian theatre traditions, including the Noh, Kabuki and Bunraku theatres of Japan; Beijing Opera and Yuan drama of China; Sanskrit and Kathakali dance dramas of India; Korean p’ansori dramas and mask dances; and the Balinese Dancers of Indonesia. The course explores the ways in which these performance traditions reflect each country’s heritage, religion and culture.

    Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.
    ACR: Intercultural.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 382 - Classical Acting Styles

    3.00 credit hours
    An advanced acting class focusing on period styles and an actor’s approach to the Classics. Scene study includes the plays of Ancient Greece, Shakespeare, Moliere and the Restoration.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 182  and Sophomore standing.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  
  
  
  
  

  • THE 450 - Senior Musical

    3.00 credit hours
    This is the capstone course for Musical Theatre majors. Graduating seniors work with the faculty advisor to select the show, divide responsibilities for production, and present a fully mounted production on the stage.

    Prerequisite(s): Musical Theatre major and Senior standing.
    ACR: Leadership, Ethics and Values.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 470 - Devising Theatre: Radical and Community-Based Performance

    3.00 credit hours
    This course explores three overlapping subfields in theatre and performance studies: devised theatre (also referred to as collective creation), radical theatre and community-based theatre. The course begins with an exploration of the terms “devised,” “radical” and “community.” The remainder of the course proceeds with a case study model; it examines a variety of ways theatre practitioners have imagined relationships between radicality, community and performance. Students split their time equally between making performance and reading/writing about performance theory.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • THE 482 - Period Styles

    3.00 credit hours
    This course could be described as an integration of body, mind and voice techniques for the purpose of developing a way to conventionalized period acting. For the intermediate and advanced student actor, this course places primary emphasis on the development of characterization techniques, participation in physical and vocal acting exercises, and practical performance application through stylistic scene and monologue work. Period/Styles covered in this course include the following: Ancient Greek, Commedia, Restoration Comedy and Absurdism.

    Prerequisite(s): THE 282  and THE 382 .


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  
  
  

Urban and Suburban Studies
  

  • USS 300 - Urban and Suburban Studies

    3.00 credit hours
    Interdisciplinary exploration of the cultural and sociological dimensions of metropolitan regions. The course is international in scope, explores both cities and their suburbs and provides the opportunity to examine leadership, ethics and values in a metropolitan context through the concept of social justice.

    ACR: Intercultural.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  

  • USS 325 - Leadership and Place

    3.00 credit hours
    (Same as: LEV 325 .) Leadership and Place traces the influence of home towns and home places on contemporary and historical leadership paradigms while considering such ethical questions as: What role does place play in forming a responsible and responsive leader? How does one lead responsibly and well far from home? How and where do rural, urban, and suburban ethical standards and value judgments converge and diverge? Where have the leaders of the past come from and where are they likely to be found in the future? Paying close attention to small communities and neighborhoods as key loci in the production of twentieth-century civic leaders and as ethical centers in a Jeffersonian republic, course texts, lectures and discussions feature real-life case studies designed to engage students in debates weighing ethical and moral positions viewed through the lens of place. Leadership and Place uniquely encourages students in the study of personal (inside-out) as well as cultural (outside-in) place-based, ethical perspectives while inviting them to consider the foundational role home communities play in ethical leadership on the local, regional and national level.

    Prerequisite(s): Junior Standing.
    ACR: Leadership, Ethics and Values.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
  
  

Verandah
  

  • VER EXP - Verandah Experience

    0.00-1.00 credit hours
    This short-term, topics-based course supports unique opportunities for student and faculty engagement in a special inquiry, activity or other initiative that fosters connected learning. Repeatable course, with varying topics. A maximum of four credit hours may be applied towards the 120 credit hours required for graduation. The course is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis.


    Click here for the schedule of classes.
 

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