Undergraduate students can pursue either a major or a minor in Theater and Performance Studies. Students wishing to enter the Major program should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Spring Quarter of their first year or as soon as possible thereafter.

Students must apply to the program by the beginning of Spring Quarter of their second year or, in extraordinary circumstances, no later than the end of Autumn Quarter of their third year. Participation in the program must be declared to the Director of Undergraduate Studies before registration.

Students who elect the minor program must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies before the end of Spring Quarter of their third year to declare their intention to complete the minor. Students must obtain approval for the minor program from the undergraduate adviser and submit it to their College adviser by the deadline on the form obtained from the undergraduate adviser.

Requirements for the Major

Starting with the Class of 2020, students in the TAPS program must meet the following requirements:

1. One course (TAPS 22900: Introduction to Theater and Performance Studies) designed to introduce students to foundational ideas and critical skills relevant to the study of theater and performance.
    
2. Six elective courses in theater and/or performance theory, considered broadly to include history, theory, aesthetics, or analysis. Theory courses may be selected from the TAPS course offerings listed below or from related course offerings in the College. Ideally, at least four of these courses will be taken from members of the faculty in TAPS. Course selection is subject to the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
    
3. Five elective courses in artistic practice. Many of these courses will be found in the practical course offerings of TAPS listed below, as well as the course offerings in the Committee on Cinema and Media Studies, the Committee on Creative Writing, the Department of Visual Arts, and the Department of Music, among others. Students are encouraged to work with more than one discipline and may need to supplement these course offerings with individually designed "reading" courses. Here, too, the student undertakes course selection in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the time the major is declared.
    
4. One course (TAPS 29800 Theater and Performance Studies BA Colloquium) devoted to the preparation of the BA project, to be taken in the student's fourth year.

BA Project

As the culmination of an undergraduate program combining practice and theory, BA projects in Theater and Performance Studies will encompass both original artistic work (e.g., staged reading, site-specific installation, solo performance, choreography) and a critical paper.

BA project proposals are developed by the student in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to the approval of the Chair of Theater and Performance Studies, and supervised by a faculty member.

The Theater and Performance Studies BA Colloquium (TAPS 29800) offers a weekly forum to develop the BA project in collaboration with peers. TAPS 29800 extends over two quarters; students receive one course credit and one grade.

OUTLINE OF TAPS B.A. PROJECT COMPONENTS (FOR MAJORS)
The TAPS B.A. Project is designed to offer majors an opportunity to create a meaningful dialogue between two vital components: an artistic project and a critical paper.  

CRITICAL PAPER
TAPS Majors are expected to conceive and execute a critical paper that:

• develops from a question, passion, and/or research interest.
• bears an organic and dynamic relationship to the Artistic Project (see below).
• builds upon previous scholarly work, while deepening, expanding, and challenging critical skills.
• corresponds to the following rough tripartite structure
  • Section I (approx. 18-20 pages) should offer a critical and/or theoretical exposition of a pressing question or set of questions related to the project. (For example, you may want to select a number of theorists and explore their positions on a particular question that derives from or informs the artistic project.)  
  • Section II (approx. 2-5 pages) should offer a bridge between critical inquiry and artistic project.
  • Section III (approx. 3-5 pages) should offer a critical reflection on the project. This section is normally written retrospectively, i.e., after the artistic project has been presented.
  • Plus Notation of Artistic Project (format to be determined based on the project).

ARTISTIC PROJECT
TAPS Majors are expected to conceive and execute an artistic project that:

• develops from a question, passion, and/or research interest.
• bears an organic and dynamic relationship to the Critical Paper (see above).
• builds upon previous artistic work, while deepening, expanding, and challenging artistic skills.
• represents original work, be it through writing, adaptation, interpretation, installation, creation or some other approved means.
• is archivable:
  • in writing (e.g., through a script, production book, etc.), and
  • in audio-visual form (e.g., video, photography, etc.).
• has a duration of 20-30 minutes of stage time in Logan Performance Lab 501 or 701
• must be able to be workshopped in colloquium (consider form of project and number of collaborators to make this possible)
• is expected to take place on (a) specific date(s) and time(s) before an invited audience in Logan 501 or 701 at least one week prior to the submission deadline.*

Key Deadlines for TAPS MAJORS

THIRD YEAR / SPRING QUARTER

• Attend BA Project orientation meeting(s) for TAPS majors & minors.
• Meet with TAPS Chair, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and/or BA Colloquium Instructor to discuss early project ideas.
• Monday of 11th week, Spring Quarter: Completed introductory information form including 30-word BA project statement of interest (for both Critical and Artistic components), initial reading list, advisor prospects, and summer goals
• Following submission of introductory form, steps will be recommended regarding contacting prospective advisors prior to next academic year

FOURTH YEAR / FALL QUARTER
Prior to Friday of 2nd week    Meet with Advisor
Friday of 2nd week                 Submission deadline for signed Advisor Form
Friday of 2nd week                 Submission deadline for Prospectus
Friday of 3rd week                  Deadline for feedback on Prospectus (from Colloquium Instructor)
Friday of 4th week                  Submission deadline for Critical Paper Outline & Works Cited
Friday of 6th week                  Deadline for feedback on Critical Paper Outline & Works Cited (from Advisor)**
Friday of 8th week                  Submission deadline for Draft of Shame
                                               (internal writing deadline, not for Advisor review)
Friday of 10th week                Submission deadline for Proposal for Artistic Work
                                               & Winter Quarter Workshop Plan
Friday of 11th week                Submission deadline for First Draft of Critical Paper, Part I
Friday of 12th week                Deadline for feedback on Proposal for Artistic Work
                                               & Winter Quarter Workshop Plan (from Colloquium Instructor)

FOURTH YEAR / WINTER QUARTER
Fridays Winter Quarter     Workshops of Artistic Project (to be scheduled)
Friday of 2nd week           Deadline for feedback on First Draft of Critical Paper, Part I (from Advisor)**
Friday of 5th week            Submission deadline for Second Draft of Critical Paper, Parts I & II
                                          (internal writing deadline, not for Advisor review)
Friday of 6th week            Submission deadline for First Draft of Artistic Notation
Friday of 8th week            Deadline for feedback on First Draft of Artistic Notation
                                          (from Colloquium Instructor)
Friday of 9th week            Submission deadline for Third Draft of Critical Paper, Parts I & II
Friday of 10th week          Submission deadline for Second Draft of Artistic Notation
                                          & Proposed Questions for Critical Reflection
Friday of 12th week          Deadline for feedback on Second Draft of Artistic Notation
                                         & Proposed Questions for Critical Reflection (from Colloquium Instructor)

FOURTH YEAR / SPRING QUARTER
Friday of 1st week    Deadline for final feedback on Third Draft of Critical Paper, Parts I & II (from Advisor)**

To be considered for Special Honors
No later than 4th week*    Showing of Artistic Project
Friday of 5th week    Submission deadline for hard copy of thesis including Critical Paper (Parts I, II & III), Artistic Notation, and link to video documentation of showing.

To fulfill graduation requirement
No later than 4th week*    Showing of Artistic Project
Friday of 8th week    Submission deadline for hard copy of thesis including Critical Paper (Parts I, II & III), Artistic Notation, and link to video documentation of showing.

*BA Project Day/Evening details forthcoming
**Students are expected to meet in person with their Advisors during office hours or at other arranged times to receive feedback on their drafts.

Exceptions and/or changes to deadlines, structures, and expectations must be in consultation and agreement with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Colloquium Instructor, and Chair of TAPS.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Course List

Application to the Major

Students interested in joining the program are encouraged to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Spring Quarter of their first year or as soon as possible thereafter. Students who have decided to join the program should file an Application to the Major form with the Director of Undergraduate Study by the beginning of Spring Quarter of their second year or, in extraordinary circumstances, no later than the end of Autumn Quarter of their third year.  

Grading

All courses in the major must be taken for a quality grade.

Honors

Eligibility for honors requires an overall cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the TAPS major, and a BA project that is judged by the designated advisors to display exceptional intellectual and creative merit. If the faculty advisors recommend the project for honors, the Chair of TAPS in consultation with the TAPS Faculty Curriculum Committee will issue a recommendation to the Associate Dean and Master of the Humanities Collegiate Division, who makes the ultimate decision.

Minor Program in Theater and Performance Studies

Students interested in the minor program must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in TAPS before the end of Spring Quarter of their third year to declare their intention. Students must obtain written approval by submitting a TAPS Minor Program form to the TAPS Director of Undergraduate Studies. The signed form must be submitted to the student’s College adviser by the deadline on the form.

The TAPS minor requires a total of six courses plus an original artistic work (e.g., staged reading, site specific installation, solo performance piece, choreography). TAPS 22900 Introduction to Theater and Performance Studies is required for all minors. At least two of the required courses must be advanced TAPS courses (i.e., 20000-level or higher). The remaining required courses must bear a clear and coherent relationship to the intended artistic work of the TAPS minor.

In addition, each student must register for the Theater and Performance Studies BA Colloquium (TAPS 29800). The focus of this course will be the development of the student's artistic project, as described above, to be presented by the fifth week of the quarter in which the student intends to graduate. Each student must also submit a short critical reflection on the project by eighth week of the graduating quarter.

Courses in the minor (1) may not be double counted with the student's major(s) or with other minors and (2) may not be counted toward general education requirements. Courses in the minor must be taken for a quality grade, and more than half of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.

OUTLINE OF TAPS B.A. PROJECT COMPONENTS (FOR MINORS)
The TAPS B.A. Project is designed to offer minors an opportunity to create an artistic project and a critical reflection.

ARTISTIC PROJECT
TAPS Minors are expected to conceive and execute an artistic project that:

• develops from a question, passion, and/or research interest.
• builds upon previous artistic work, while deepening, expanding, and challenging artistic skills.
• represents original work, be it through writing, adaptation, interpretation, installation, creation or some other approved means.
• is archivable:
  • in writing (e.g., through a script, production book, etc.), and
  • in audio-visual form (e.g., video, photography, etc.).
• has a duration of 20-30 minutes of stage time in Logan Performance Lab 501 or 701
• must be able to be workshopped in colloquium (consider form of project and number of collaborators to make this possible)
• is expected to take place on (a) specific date(s) and time(s) before an invited audience in Logan 501 or 701 at least one week prior to the submission deadline.

CRITICAL REFLECTION
TAPS Minors are expected to conceive and execute a written document that includes:

• Description and Notation of Artistic Project (format to be determined based on what the project is).
• 5-page critical reflection on the project. This section is normally written retrospectively, i.e., after the artistic project has been presented.

Summary of Requirements for the Minor Program

Course List