Carroll College - Helena, MT

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department courses

Department of Fine Arts
Art
ART 112 Drawing 3 Cr.
  A studio course in basic drawing. Emphasis on visual thought and awareness through drawing exercises and portraits. See Studio Class Schedule. Each semester.
ART 114 Photography I 3 Cr.
  Brief history of the camera and photographic techniques. Introduction to the modern single lens reflex camera with studio and laboratory work. Emphasis on composition, developing, and printing techniques. Work in 35 MM film (transparencies, black and white negatives, and black and white prints). Note: THIS CLASS REQUIRES TO HAVE A 35 MM CAMERA. See Studio Class Schedule. Each semester.
ART 116 Ceramics I 3 Cr.
  An introduction to ceramic materials, processes, and techniques. This is a studio course emphasizing wheel-forming methods and varied decorating and glazing techniques. See Studio Class Schedule. Each semester.
ART 117 Intermediate Ceramics 3 Cr.
  This is an intermediate course for those who have taken ART 116. Continuing study of all aspects of ceramics is the primary focus, including problem solving and the development of ideas. Secondary topics will be the history, development and aesthetics of ceramic vessels and sculpture. Class time will be devoted to lectures/demonstrations/critiques/discussions and studio work. Students are encouraged to determine a specific area of interest to pursue. Credit will vary from 1 to 3 by individual contract. This class may be taken more than once for a total of no more than 6 credits. Prerequisite ART 116. Each semester.
ART 200 Ceramics Practicum 1 Cr.
  Students can earn one credit by participating in ceramics . A minimum of thirty (30) hours of participation is required for each hour of credit. The student will be given specific training and assignments in the technical operation of a ceramics studio. Students may earn a total of three (3) credits in three (3) separate semesters. Prerequisites: ART 116 and consent of instructor.
ART 201 Acrylic Painting 3 Cr.
  An introduction to methods of painting with acrylics. Emphasis on composition, color theory, and concept. Demonstrations in transparent and opaque techniques with a variety of subject matter are included. Experience in drawing and/or design is highly recommended. See Studio Class Schedule. Spring semester.
ART 206 Watercolor Painting 3 Cr.
  An introduction to methods of painting with transparent watercolors. Emphasis on composition, color theory, and concept. Demonstrations in a variety of techniques with a variety of subject matter are included. Experience in drawing and/or design is highly recommended. See Studio Class Schedule. Fall semester.
ART 210 Art Appreciation 3 Cr.
  A survey of the major styles of art and architecture in Western civilization from ancient Greece to the 17th century. Out-of-class video/slide viewing and term paper/project required. Two (2) 90-minute classes per week. Each semester.
ART 216 Ceramics at the Archie Bray Foundation 1-3 Cr.
  A course for those with a basic understanding of ceramics. Hand-building or throwing using various clays and firing techniques will be included. Credit by contract with Carroll faculty. Classes meet once a week for three (3) hours at the Archie Bray Foundation for ten (10) weeks. Prerequisite: ART 117 and consent of instructor. Fall and Spring only.
ART 490 Art Internship 1-3 Cr.
  A practical learning experience arranged with various art-related businesses and institutions in the community. Requirements for credit will be established by contract form at registration. Approval of the department chairperson, academic advisor, and Vice President for Academic Affairs is required. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Dance
DNC 128 Dance I: Elements of Dance 3 Cr.
  This introductory course is designed to provide a foundation for performing dance. Physical training, the study of rhythm, and the incorporation of dance technique into rhythm and movement will be covered. Students will also study the origins of dance and its significance to world cultures. Offered each semester.
DNC 228 Dance II: Partner Dancing Through the Ages 3 Cr.
  This course focuses on the most popular social dances of the 20th Century. Students will learn the basics of waltzes, tangos, and other well-known partner dances. An emphasis will be placed on how group dancing performed an important role in socialization. Spring semester.
DNC 328 Choreography 3 Cr.
  This course provides each student with the opportunity to develop an original concept into the concrete form of dance. A complete overview of developing a dance from conception and research to conflict counterpoint balance and dramatic structure will be covered. Students will cast, rehearse, and present their work in a dance recital. Prerequisite: DNC 128. Fall semester.
Music
MUS 109 Musicianship I 3 Cr.
  Introduction to music reading and keyboard playing. Emphasis on the elements of music through the study of keyboard technique and performance, solo and ensemble repertoire, music theory, harmonization, transposition, and composition. No previous musical background is required. Each semester.
MUS 119 Sight Singing and Aural Skills 3 Cr.
  An introduction to aural skills with an emphasis on sight singing, rythmic and melodic identification, analysis and creation of melody, and simple part-singing designed for aural development. Materials will focus on rhythm and meter, basic conducting patterns, diatonic melodies, and use of solfege. This course emphasizes the aural component of musicianship and is highly recommended for anyone interested in music performance of all kinds. No previous musical background is required. Each semester.
MUS 125-225 Voice I and II 3 Cr.
  A series of courses beginning with the production of sound and from there, depending on individual talent and interest, building a varied repertoire that may include folk, musical theatre, classical and operatic selections. VOICE I explores the production of sound and prepares the student for performance. Emphasis is on the individual's voice, breathing, bringing sound to the mask of the face, strengthening and expanding the range, acoustics and care of the voice. Students explore toning, Gregorian chant, technical and interpretational aspects of music and monologue. Students present staged selections for an on-campus-by-invitation-only performance final at the end of the semester. Voice I is open to all students and is a prerequisite for Voice II. VOICE II emphasizes sight-reading, ear training, blending voices into multiple harmonies, exploring the musical genre, expansion of a varied repertoire and working with a professional accompanist. The staged performance final is developed by students and performed off campus, providing practical application of communication skills learned in Voice I. Prerequisite: Voice I.
MUS 129 Vocal Ensemble 1 Cr.
  Open to qualified singers by audition. The group performs a diverse repertoire and performs for special events on and off campus. Optional credit. Pass/Fail grading. Prerequisite: Audition with instructor. Each semester. Does not satisfy CORE fine arts.
MUS 131-132 Pep Band 1 Cr.
  Pep band is open to qualified instrumentalists (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, or drums). One 2.5-hour rehearsal each week. Repertoire includes traditional and contemporary big band jazz and selected contemporary rock/pop material. Performances at special events on and off campus. One credit may be earned for each semester of participation. Optional pass/fail grading. Prerequisite: Interview/audition with instructor. Each semester. Does not satisfy CORE fine arts
MUS 165 Pop, Rock, and All That Jazz 3 Cr.
  Examination of the development and use of all types of music in the United States, covering folk traditions, church music, popular and commercial music, the musical stage, and the fine-art tradition. Special emphasis on current phenomena of commercial and media music. Guided listening to recording. No previous musical background is required. Fall semester.
MUS 209 Musicianship II 3 Cr.
  Further development of musicianship, with emphasis on keyboard repertoire, harmonization, accompanying, score reading, analysis of diatonic materials, composition, transpositions of instruments, and improvisation. Topics include further study in meter and rhythm, major and minor scales, intervals, diatonic triads and seventh chords, chord inversion, non-chord tones, melodic variation, phrase structure and form. Prerequisite: MUS 109 or consent of instructor. Fall semester.
MUS 261 Music Appreciation 3 Cr.
  An introduction to the fine-art music tradition of Western civilization. Intended to acquaint the listener and non-musician with the basic repertoire of concert music. Emphasis on guided listening; concert attendance required. No background in music is required. Each semester.
MUS 303 Music of the 20th Century 3 Cr.
  Investigation of style developments in music since Stravinsky and Schonberg (c. 1900) and in art since the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists (c. 1800). Guided listening, slide lectures, discussion, compositional projects in real and stored-time music, as well as projects in the visual and plastic arts. No background in music is required. Two (2) 90-minute classes per week. Spring semester.
MUS 309 Musicianship III 3 Cr.
  The study of chromatic harmony and 20th century compositional techniques through analysis, composition, arranging for instruments, keyboard harmony, and improvisation. Continued work on keyboard repertoire and performance. Topics include secondary dominants, modulation, large forms, extended tertian chords, jazz harmony, set theory, and 12-tone serialism. Prerequisite: MUS 209. Spring semester.
MUS 475 Applied Music 1-3 Cr.
  Private study in instrument or voice with a local private teacher approved by the music program faculty. Students are personally responsible for financial arrangements with the private teacher. Credit for participation in the Helena Symphony (subject to openings) is possible under this heading. Evaluation of each semester of work is conducted by music program faculty in consultation with each private teacher. Course may be repeated each semester. Does not satisfy CORE fine arts.
Theatre
THT 104-108 Theatre Practicum 1-2 Cr.
  Students can earn one to two (2) credits each semester by participating in theatre productions as actors, directors, or technical personnel under the guidance of qualified theatre artists. A minimum of thirty (30) hours of participation is required for each hour of credit; enrollment and grading will be arranged at the end of each semester by the staff. Each semester.
THT 111 Elements of Acting 3 Cr.
  An introduction to stage acting. This course is designed to free the beginning actor from tension and self-consciousness by becoming involved in group exercises designed to develop concentration and imagination as well as interpersonal communication skills appropriate for stage performance. As a prerequisite to other acting classes, the course provides basic terminology and technique. Each semester.
THT 118 Introduction to the Theatre 3 Cr.
  A course that aims to develop discerning audience skills through study of theatre in its different forms such as educational, community, and professional, as well as related performing media such as dance, vaudeville and comedy, and live popular musical performance. Emphasis is placed on learning the aesthetic basics of acting, design, interpretation, and performing arts theory. This course also requires attendance from a menu of performance opportunities in Helena. Fall semester.
THT 121 Stagecraft I 3 Cr.
  This is a practical course in stagecraft. This includes construction and design of scenery and properties, stage lighting and sound. Skills involve carpentry, painting, reading design plans, and methods of assembling the set on stage. Participation in current productions is arranged. Fall semester.
THT 212 Acting: Characterization 3 Cr.
  This is the study of roles and scenes with particular emphasis upon character analysis and development. Prerequisite: THT 111. Spring semester.
THT 221 Stagecraft II 3 Cr.
  A course in more advanced stagecraft techniques. Areas of focus will be stage machinery, rigging systems, sound and lighting systems. Skills will include welding and steel construction techniques, lighting and electrical safety, and construction management skills. Participation in current productions is arranged. Spring semester.
THT 223 Costuming 3 Cr.
  This is a practical course in the theory, art, and practice of costuming. Besides studying the evolution of clothing styles throughout the ages, each student, after learning how to read and follow a pattern, will build an article of clothing. Spring semester; odd-numbered years.
THT 224 Stage Make-Up 3 Cr.
  By completing a series of make-up projects, the student will learn the principles and techniques of applying make-up: realistic and non-realistic; two-dimensional and three-dimensional. In addition, the student will study facial anatomy, the aging process, and the principles of light and shadow as they apply to stage make-up. Fall semester; even-numbered years.
THT 304 Theatre Internship 1-3 Cr.
  An intensive "hands-on"learning experience designed to fit the individual student's vocational and avocational goals. Each student will be given major responsibilities in the areas of technical theatre, stage management, directing, house management, promotion and publicity, box office, etc., under the tutelage of the professional staff at Helena area theatres. Consent of instructor is required. Offered fall, spring, or summer term under special arrangement. A written report is due upon completion of the internship. The grade will be assigned by the professional at the area theatre.
THT 311 Play Directing 3 Cr.
  A practical course in the principles and techniques of bringing a play from the page to the stage. The course provides step-by-step practice in how to approach the play, how to find its dramatic values, and how to direct the production with these aims in mind. Prerequisite: THT 111; THT 212; consent of instructor. Fall semester.
THT 314 Acting: Style 3 Cr.
  The study of roles and scenes with particular emphasis upon styles of production. Areas of study include Greek, Elizabethan, and Restoration theatre as well as Theatre of the Absurd. Prerequisite: THT 111 and THT 212. Fall semester.
THT 318 History of Theatre I 3 Cr.
  The story of the theatre beginning with its origins in the rituals of primitive man through the cultural explosion of the Renaissance. In addition to the text, several plays representative of the major theatrical ages will be read for insights into how the physical stage, the styles of acting and production, and theatrical convention influenced the dramatic literature of the various periods. Fall semester; even-numbered years.
THT 319 History of Theatre II 3 Cr.
  A continuance of the story of the theatre, from the English Restoration and through its objective imitation of nature at the end of the 19th century, to its return to subjective reality and ritual in modern times. In addition to the text, several plays representative of the major theatrical ages will be read for insights into the physical stage, the styles of acting and production, and theatrical convention influenced the dramatic literature of the period as well as the modern theatre. Spring semester; odd-numbered years.
THT 322 Scene Design 3 Cr.
  This is a practical study of the scenic design process. The course focuses on drafting skills, theatrical design formats, research for design and model building. Prerequisite: THT 121 or consent of instructor. Fall semester.
THT 323 Stage Lighting 3 Cr.
  This is a practical study of the lighting design process. The course leads the student step-by-step from script analysis through plotting a finished design. Individual areas of exploration include light and color theory, electricity, and lighting instrumentation and control systems. Prerequisite: THT 121 and THT 322. Spring semester.
THT 348 History of Film 3 Cr.
  An overview of the history of film from its beginnings in the late 19th century through its exciting growth into the most popular performing art of this century, including a study of film's social impact, stars, directors, business management history, and recent video revolution. The course will also offer weekly viewing selections of many of the great films of cinematic literature. Spring semester; each year.
THT 403-404 Theatre Projects 1-3 Cr.
  An opportunity for qualified theatre students to participate in Carroll College theatre productions as primary designers. Under the guidance of the instructor, the student may direct or design the set, costumes, or lighting for a full-length play. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Offered each semester by arrangement.
THT 422 Advanced Design Practices 3 Cr.
  A senior-level course that will build upon the foundation skills learned in THT 322 Scene Design and THT 323 Stage Lighting. The intent of this course is to move students to a working knowledge of the professional design skills and methods. Activities include advanced perspective drafting, model-making, computer design/drafting, and portfolio presentation. Students will be polishing their skills in preparation for opportunities beyond graduation.
THT 426 Survey of Drama 3 Cr.
  For advanced students, this course will confront issues in world theatre. Areas to be covered include dramaturgy, criticism, play writing, dramatic theory, and the avant garde. Contemporary and historical writers will be covered. Additionally students will study the parallel development of art and physics. Spring; even-numbered years.