Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Practicum Capstone Symposium (Theatre Education)

THEA 4761-01

Course: THEA 4761-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: TA
CRN: 33782

Course Description

Students will discuss, plan, fabricate and refine a public display and presentation based on the student’s Production Practicum Capstone Project. Each display will document the creative, organizational, and technical processes of their capstone experience and must be on display publicly. In addition, an oral presentation must be developed and presented publicly. Either the public display or oral presentation must be in a university wide or professional forum and the one not selected (public display or oral presentation) must be done during a department wide event. Possibilities include: University’s Festival of Excellence, Department End of Year Gala, Department BFA Event, URTA, USITT, ETA, or other venue approved by the student’s advisor.  Finally, a formal Production Capstone presentation and review, with TDAA faculty present, will be completed during finals week.  Students may also present in an additional venue as approved by the student’s advisor. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): THEA 4752 - Prerequisite Min Grade: C Can the prerequisite be taken concurrently? Yes

Required Texts

None

Learning Outcomes

  1. Critically analyze, evaluate capstone project in the selection and preparation for exhibit and presentation.
  2. Practice and demonstrate effective communication and presentation skills by articulating production concepts and processes confidently to a diverse audience during the public presentations while fostering the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and engagingly.  
  3. Prepare and present a professional, well-organized exhibit showcasing the student’s capstone work, while emphasizing the particular elements specific to the discipline. Develop the ability to engage in meaningful discussions with attendees about their projects and demonstrating a professional approach to exhibiting creative work.  
  4. Develop and generate effective visual aids by creating materials (e.g., slides, posters, handouts) that enhance presentations without overwhelming the audience. Foster skills in visual communication to complement verbal articulation.  
  5. Manage time effectively within allotted presentation time while prioritizing content and delivering concise and impactful presentations. Develop skills in planning and organizing information for optimal audience engagement.  

Course Requirements

Percentage | Classification | General Description of Components
10% | Attendance | Active and engaged participation during each class.
30% | Assignments | Weekly assignments structured to assist in preparation for each production capstone display, presentation, & review.
60% | Projects | One Public DisplayOne Formal PresentationOne Panel Review


Presentations  
Each presentation will have a faculty panel rate and score how quality of the work presented and the presentation itself through a published rubric of requirements.  
Deliverables  
The items entered into each student’s portfolio and will be assessed to how they meet with current industry practice for communication and clarity. These will be scored by the mentor and a faculty panel.  
Reflection  
Students will generate a self-reflection of the process and where they succeeded and failed within the capstone process.  The goal of the reflection is to seek out areas of improvement and celebrate the successes of the project.  

Course Outline

WEEK # | TOPIC
1 | What is the Class? Structure, Expectations, Assignments, & Assessment Where Can or Should I Present & Who is My Audience?
2 | Get Your Stuff Together: Collecting and organizing data, artifacts, & feedback from your production capstone project.
3 | Finding a Thesis: Critically analyze and evaluate your capstone looking for themes and topics.
4| Choose Your Angle: Developing the ideas for display vs. presentation.
5 | Individual Meeting w/Instructor: Approval of “Your Angle”
6 | How Will You Say What You Want To Say: Developing a thesis & “your angle” of your creative work.
7 | What Will It Look Like: Display layout and content.
8| Draft of Display for Instructor to ApproveWork Day
9 | Does it Look Good: Completed display for instructor & peer feedback.
10 | What Will I Say & What Should I Say: Developing and organizing an oral presentation of your creative work.
11 | Individual Meeting w/Instructor: Discuss the direction of your presentation.
12 | Tips & Tricks of Presenting Creative Work
13 | Do I Present Well: Instructor & peer practice & feedback of formal presentation
14 | Do I Present Well: Instructor & peer practice & feedback of formal presentation
Final | Production Capstone Presentational Review

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

No late work will be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made and approved by instructor. 


Attendance Policy

Attendance is required unless excused by the instructor or for official university travel. Students who miss more than one class shall have their grade lowered by 1/3 of a letter grade with an additional 1/3 for every additional absence.  Tardiness is defined as being greater than 5 minutes late to class. Tardies will count as an absence at a ratio of 3 tardies for 1 absence. Any student missing more than 25% of class meetings cannot receive a passing grade in this course.  

Course Fees

None

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.