THEA 3901--THEATRE PRACTICUM/INTERNSHIP (0-10-3)
Fall 2008
Instructor: Dr. Tom Barnett
Office: G-210-F
Phone: 678-466-4711
E-mail: tombarnett@clayton.edu
Office Hours: I am usually in my office during normal business hours (9-5, M-F). At times, I am called away to meetings and other activities. So, you can drop in if you like, but to assure that I will be in my office, you should e-mail me to set up an appointment.
Class e-mail list: thea3901-01fall08@lists.clayton.edu
Important dates and deadlines:
Journal entries are due by noon on September 16, and October 21, 2008.
The Final Journal Report is due at noon, November 21, 2008.
October 10 is the deadline for withdrawing from full-semester classes without academic penalty.
The Role of this Course in the Theatre Degree Program:
The Theatre Internship is the principal "experiential learning" component of the program and is normally taken during the second semester of the junior year or the first semester of the senior year. The placement site will be a professional work environment related to the career goals of the individual student. Placement may be with for-profit, not-for-profit, or governmental entities as appropriate. Intern supervisors in collaborating theatres must agree to create and supervise meaningful experiences that will allow student interns to observe and participate in job-related projects and activities that bear directly on the challenges of contemporary theatre. Each student is responsible for obtaining his/her own internship. All final arrangements must be made through Ms. Bridgette McDonald (bridgettemcdonald@clayton.edu), with the approval of the Director of Theatre.
Course Requirements:
1. You must have identified an appropriate internship site, completed all necessary paperwork, and obtained the required approvals (see above) no later than the end of the first week of the semester.
2. You must spend a total of 150 hours during the semester engaged in activities associated with their internship. This means an average of 10 hours per week during fall or spring semesters or and average of 16 hours per week during the summer semester.
3. You must activate your "csu" account, and you should check it at least twice each week. I will be sending important messages to the class via that account. You can send me your journal reports via any e-mail account that you have as long as it is capable of sending, and receiving, MS Word attachments.
4. Success in THEA 3901 demands a basic level of computer skill. THEA 3901 requires that you are able to send and receive e-mail; that you have a basic understanding of word processing, including how to send an MS Word file via e-mail; that you are able to access and use Internet resources; and that you have a basic understanding of file management. If you do not possess these skills prior to entry into the course, then you should enroll in an appropriate workshop offered by the Hub.
5. Journal Entries. You must submit journal reports describing in detail your internship activities for the reporting period. At a minimum, each entry should include a page or two of narrative description of activities, assignments, projects, meetings, etc. (including the time spent in these activities), plus up to one page of reflection relating your activities to your learning objectives, your overall career goals, and to courses/experiences you have had at CSU. Each report must be a single-spaced Word document sent to me by e-mail attachment. Failure to submit reports in a timely manner will result in a lowering of the final course grade (depending on the severity of the problem).
6. Final Journal Report. At the end of the semester, you must turn in an overall summary of and final reflection upon your learning through the internship experience. This Final Report must be submitted in hard copy. It will be kept as part of your Theatre Program file. To ensure against loss or other delivery breakdowns, be sure to keep copies of all you journal entries, including the Final Report.
7. If necessary, you will be responsible for ensuring that your internship supervisor returns the "Employer Evaluation Form" by May 1, so that the final course grade can take this information into account.
Course Grading:
50% = Content and timely submission of the journal reports
25% = Final Report
25% = Your internship supervisor's report ("Employer Evaluation Form")
Failure to submit the journal entries or the Final Journal Report will result in a course grade no higher than D. Failure to submit any reports of any kind will result in a course grade of F (your internship supervisor's evaluation notwithstanding).