Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies

at Kent State University USA

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in a technological, multicultural and global environment. Our mission is to teach students to think analytically, reason critically, communicate effectively, and lead responsibly. We strive to develop communicators who are adaptive and ethical citizens who will thrive in the workplace, in the community, and in careers in government, business, non-profit, and education. We strive to understand how communication affects identities, communities, and cultures. We offer hands-on skill development opportunities to prepare students for meaningful and fulfilling careers.

The Communication Studies major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Applied Communication concentration offers an interdisciplinary program of study in which students gain expertise in organizational communication, advanced presentational speaking, professional writing and visual design. Students are trained to integrate theoretical knowledge and technical skills in order to perform professional tasks such as conducting training sessions and seminars, creating web content, designing promotional materials, managing communication campaigns and writing press releases.   
• The Communication Studies–General concentration features flexibility and choice. Students create a personalized plan of study tailored to their specific academic interests and career goals. This concentration is appropriate for those who have diverse academic interests.

Programs in the College of Communication and Information are, by nature, innovative, interdisciplinary and collaborative, which is critical to both professional and scholarly disciplines. Students are educated to work at the intersections of communication, information and technology. Through a core of diverse theory- and practice-based courses, students learn basic concepts that apply across the range of college programs and develop a sense of professional expectations and build toward interdisciplinary thinking and application.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Display competence in verbal, nonverbal, and written communication.
• Advocate courses of action to stimulate improved decision-making.
• Influence others through demonstrated presentational speaking skills.
• Communicate ethically.
• Foster inclusive dialogues and tailor messages that respect diversity, empower others, and bring about social change.
• Articulate creative, effective, and evidenced-based solutions to communication problems.
• Coordinate action, solve problems, foster well-being, engage in critical thinking, and participate in civic life.
• Communicate effectively in a technological, multicultural, and global society to bring about meaningful social change.  
• Apply information and media literacy in an effective and ethical manner.

The program learning outcomes reflect the University's commitment to excellence in teaching, research, creativity, and community outreach and engagement.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design, Technology and Production fosters the artistic development of theatre designers, technicians and artisans. Students study both traditional theatre practices and new methods, materials and technologies. Students must demonstrate continued progress through annual portfolio reviews, course work and production responsibilities. In addition, students are expected to complete a significant production assignment each semester.

Students will be able to apply design and technology concepts for the school’s theatrical and dance productions. Kent State’s Center for the Performing Arts houses three theatres, performance and rehearsal space, a scene shop, a costume shop and laboratories for costumes, drafting, lighting and scenery. In addition, the School of Theatre and Dance oversees the outdoor venue Porthouse Theatre.

The B.F.A. degree program prepares students for M.F.A. degree study, as well as such occupations as scenic designer, costume designer, lighting designer, sound/projection designer, prop master, scenic artist, stage manager, production manager, wardrobe supervisor, technical director and stage technicians.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate ability to conceptualize and realize a design aesthetic consistent with the overall artistic concepts of a production.
• Demonstrate ability to understand and articulate basic elements and principles of design theory.
• Demonstrate ability to understand and articulate basic elements and principles of composition related to line, shape, color, texture and sound.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the aesthetic use of color.
• Demonstrate understanding of aesthetic use of sound.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate design ideas and realities to other personnel involved in the production, including directors, other designers, stage managers and actors.
• Demonstrate ability to produce and communicate design ideas with freehand drawings.
• Demonstrate ability to provide formalized, accurate production models and drawings by hand and/or through the use of current industry standard software programs.
• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the total design process, including the progression of raw materials through multiple design "shops" and the roles that various craftspeople play in the creation of a finished product.
• Acquire knowledge of federal, state and local health and safety codes, best practices and industry standards as they relate to theatrical venues and production elements.
• Prepare and present a professional resume and a portfolio of design- and technology-related work that demonstrate one's abilities, strengths, processes and experiences.
• Acquire experiences in the design/technology aspects of theatre in a variety of formal and informal settings.

The Master of Education degree in Cultural Foundations, offered fully online or on campus, explores education through a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives: philosophy of education, history of education, sociology of education, comparative/international education, anthropology of education, gender studies, multicultural studies and religious studies. Students examine the social contexts of education, with particular emphasis on structural inequalities, issues of access and the distribution of educational opportunity, normative considerations about the purposes of education, and the transformative potential of education.

The degree program promotes students' responsibilities as change agents in a range of educational settings, including schools, cultural and religious institutions and civic associations. Graduates of the program have the knowledge and skills to interpret and critique educational policies and practices and to promote innovative practices in a variety of educational settings, domestically and worldwide.

The Master of Arts degree in Physics is a highly flexible program consisting of graduate coursework that can be customized according to the academic background and needs of the individual student. This flexibility is a good match for the needs of part-time students who continue to hold full-time employment in secondary education or in industry.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate cognitive skills important to a physicist, including to think critically and analytically and define and solve problems in physics.
• Demonstrate a core knowledge and understanding of the foundations of physics.

The Master of Arts degree in Music Theory is designed to enhance music theory abilities of advanced students and to prepare them for admission to doctoral study. Based on a solid undergraduate music degree, the master's degree further develops abilities in music theory, including analytical, aural, written, keyboard and pedagogical skills. The program further develops breadth and depth in the area of Western music history and literature

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Analyze music from a wide range of styles and style periods, and communicate results in written and oral formats.
• Demonstrate and apply functional aural, written and keyboard skills.
• Recognize, identify and analyze representative literature from different historical periods, countries and composers.
• Communicate knowledge of music theory and other aspects of music as would be done in classroom and private teaching.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music gives music majors an opportunity to study music and liberal arts with an optional minor, available in most academic areas of the university, or as a dual degree program with a major in another field. Although not as music intensive as the Bachelor of Music degree, the B.A. degree includes study on a main instrument and ensemble participation throughout the program.

The Music major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Contemporary Popular Music concentration provides students the opportunity to study contemporary instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass and voice, as well as participate in a variety of styles including rock, pop, Motown and other popular styles.
• The Jazz Studies concentration provides students the opportunity to study jazz improvisation, arranging and composing.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of music history and theory
• Demonstrate high-level skills in recitals, ensembles or music research

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Communication Design prepares students for the graphic design and illustration professions. Students develop technical understanding and design skills in the organization of imagery and typography to communicate information in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. Students produce work for print, motion, video, screen displays, and interactive experiences, as well as package design, exhibition design, and environmental wayfinding.

This program focuses on design and illustration in the context of a broad liberal arts program, giving students the flexibility to choose 20 percent of their coursework (with guidance). This provides the opportunity for students to take a variety of courses to complement their design degree. Students learn at the intersections of communication, information, and technology. The B.A. degree program is for students planning to attend a graduate program or plan to pair their visual communication design degree with another field of study.

For students looking to work as a design professional, the B.F.A. program is recommended.

Through a core of diverse theory- and practice-based courses, students learn basic concepts that apply across the range of college programs and develop a sense of professional expectations and build toward interdisciplinary thinking and application.

There are many study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the Office of Global Education or coordinator of the college's International Study Programs.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of visual communication.
• Demonstrate an understanding of traditional hands-on skills relative to craftsmanship. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic use of digital technologies as they relate to their areas of study.
• Demonstrate an ability to create visual response to communication problems, including understanding of hierarchy, typography, aesthetics, composition and construction of meaningful images.

The Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies is intended to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge about human communication in various social contexts, and the ways in which information is produced and processed. Curriculum focus is on the social and behavioral study of communication theory and research. The program prepares individuals to pursue a doctorate degree, as well as for non-academic careers in which a broad understanding of communication theory and research is desirable.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Read, critique and engage in theory-based research involving a broad spectrum of topics in human communication.
• Understand and master appropriate methodological skills for the study of human communication and apply them to relevant and shifting real-world contexts that often include newer communication technologies.
• Utilize theory-based and state-of-the-art knowledge to stimulate and improve communication processes in educational, business and nonprofit environments.

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Middle Childhood Education prepares students for teacher licensure in selected subject areas, plus reading, for grades four to nine. In addition to content coursework and a substantial amount of field experiences, the Middle Childhood Education major includes intensive pedagogy courses that prepare students to understand the unique social, physical, cognitive and emotional needs of the young adolescent; these courses are taken as a cohort. Student teaching occurs during the final semester of the program.

Students choose two concentrations from the following:

    The Language Arts concentration includes courses in communication, grammar, literature, reading and writing.
    The Mathematics concentration includes courses in algebra, trigonometry, calculus, geometry and statistics.
    The Science concentration includes diverse courses in chemistry, biology, geology and physics.
    The Social Studies concentration includes diverse courses in economics, history, political science and geography.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and disposition needed to work collaboratively with diverse others.
• Demonstrate content knowledge in two licensure specialization areas.
• Demonstrate in-depth instructional and planning skills to effectively meet the needs of all their students.

The Master of Fashion Industry Studies degree in Fashion Industry Studies robustly addresses the highly interdisciplinary character of practice within fashion as a product-driven industry with a unique set of parameters that transverse many traditional academic boundaries.

Fashion Industry Studies is an initial master's level degree for the academic advancement of students to engage in learning and experiences applicable to the fashion industry. The degree program prepares professionals who intentionally use cross-disciplinary and applied research methods to address complex issues derived from the industry setting and provide impactful research-based solutions for the fashion industry.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate a capacity for critical analysis of the fashion industry supply chain from fiber to the consumer to identify pertinent issues.
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize cross-disciplinary and applied research methods with appropriate knowledge and technologies.
• Demonstrate the critical generation of pragmatic solutions based on testing and experimentation that connect research findings to fashion industry issues.
• Demonstrate abilities to effectively synthesize and present innovative and pragmatic research-based solutions applicable to the fashion industry.