Diploma Course Outline and Description

COURSE OUTLINE

YEAR ONE: FIRST SEMESTER

Course Code  Course Title                                       Credit

Departmental Core Courses

THA 011         Philosophy of Theatre & Dramatic Lit           2

THA 012         History of Drama & Theatre                           2

THA 013         Traditional African Drama & Theatre 2

THA 014         Rudiments of Theatre Crafts                          2

THA 015         Basic Dance Principles & Techniques 2

THA 016         Theatre Workshop I                                        2

THA 017         News Writing & Reporting                             2

 

General University Courses

GSS 101          Use of English I                                              2

GSS 104          History & Philosophy of Science                    2

GSS 107          Nigerian Peoples & Culture                            2

Total                                                              20

 

 

 

YEAR ONE: SECOND SEMESTER

Course Code  Course Title                                                   Credit

Departmental Core Courses

THA 021         Film and Video Appreciation                         2

THA 022         Introduction to Acting & Communication     2

THA 023         Designing Radio & Television Productions    2

THA 024         Entrepreneurial Studies in Theatre Arts I       2

THA 025         Writing for Radio, TV, Film & Newspaper    2

THA 026         Advertising, Publicity and Public Relations   2

THA 027         Theatre Workshop II                                       2

General University Courses

GSS102           Use of English II                                            2

GSS 103          Introduction to Logic and Philosophy                        2

Total                                                               18

 

YEAR TWO: FIRST SEMESTER

Course Code  Course Title                                                   Credit

Departmental Core Courses

THA 031         Script Analysis & Role Interpretation                        2

THA 032         Entrepreneurial Studies in Theatre Arts II      2

THA 033         Choreography & Dance Performance             2

THA 034         Children’s Theatre and TV programmes         2

THA 035         Scripting for stage and screen                         2

THA 036         Culture and National Development                2

THA 037         Theatre & Studio Management                       2

General University Course

CSC 101         Computer programming I                               3

Total                                                               17

 

 

 

 

YEAR TWO: SECOND SEMESTER  

Course Code  Course Title                                                   Credit

Departmental Core Courses

THA 041         Theatre Design & Technology                        2

THA 042         Costume & Make up Design and

Management                                                   2

THA 043         Popular Theatre for Development                   2

THA 044         Directing for Stage and Screen                       2

THA 045         Introduction To Film & Video Production     2

THA 046         Project/Industrial Exposure                           4

General University Course

CSC 102         Computer programming II                              3

Total                                                               17

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

THA 011:       Philosophy of Theatre and Dramatic Literature

This course initiates the newcomer into the nature of theatre as cultural phenomenon, a discipline, and a storehouse of concepts and conventions. The literature that has powered and defined theatre will be examined text by text. Ideology and practice in UNIZIK Theatre will be focused.

THA 012:       History of Drama and Theatre

A chronological survey of development in theatre through the periods: Primordial origins to Classical Greece and Rome; Medieval, Elizabethan, Renaissance and Neoclassical, 18th Century and contemporary theatres, with special emphasis on trends in the growth of theatre in Africa, the orient, studying the effects of Colonialism and Festivals on theatrical developments.

THA 013:       Traditional African Drama Theatre

A study of traditional theatre in Africa in its festival, ceremonial, ritual and rustic form, as non-written drama practiced in many African communities as theatre which has evolved from the festivals and myths in its different contexts and settings.

 

 

THA 014:       Rudiments of Theatre Crafts

The course introduces the student to the various crafts in the theatre that constitute the design and technology employed in production. The student shall acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge of sketching, ground plans, fabricating props using various media and materials, costume design, scene painting, carpentry, décor, and electrical and electronic repairs and connections for lighting and sound production.

 

THA 015:       Basic Dance Principles and Techniques

This course is designed to acquaint the student with practical exercises to the fundamental principles and techniques of traditional and modern styles of Dance. Body mechanics and the dynamics of movement will be explained.

THA 016:       Theatre Workshop 1

This is a purely practical course designed to enhance students’ participation in a given production as directors, actors, managers, technicians and designers, in which supervising lecturers will educate them. This workshop ensemble enables students’ to present a production and appraise the workings of the various arms of the theatre in symbiosis.

THA 017:       News Writing and Reporting

This is a study of the techniques and principles of news gathering, writing and reporting for the electronic (Radio, TV and Internet) and Print (Newspaper, Magazine, Bulletins and Tabloids) media. Issues concerning methods, approaches and ethics will be underscored.

THA 021:       Film and Video Appreciation

The course is designed to give students the basic knowledge of the arts of Motion Picture. The concept of movies, types of films and the ideology of the cinema are studied. The course also lays emphasis on explaining the various elements of film and video as communication arts, content and political economy of films and the emergence of the video genre. Students are expected to watch and analyse different films (local and foreign) as practical work.

THA 022:       Introduction to Acting  and Communication

An introductory course in the techniques of poise and body control in interpreting a role: characterization, improvisation, character analysis and interpretation. It also involves a workshop session designed for intensive laboratory work in speech arts; voice development and speech articulation in specific roles and contexts.

THA 023:       Designing Radio and TV Programmes

A critical study of programming concept, development and strategies, and season planning for Radio and Television. Students are expected to produce practical programmes, texts for transmission as if for closed circuit, using the Univerisy FM Radio Studio. Visits to Radio and Television houses will complete the process of training.

THA 024 :      Entrepreneurial Studies in Theatre Arts I

This course teaches and prepares the student for 21st Century labour market. It outlines the various areas open to the theatre artist to operate as independent, self-employed and successful entrepreneur and employer of labour. The second segment of the course is completed in Year Two.

THA 025:       Writing for Stage, Radio, TV, Film and Newspaper

This course is designed to teach the students the basic techniques in writing scripts for the four major media of dramatic expression and performance and the techniques for collecting and writing news materials in the print medium.

THA 026:       Advertising, Publicity and Public Relations

This course is an exploration into the techniques and principles of Publicity and Advertisement for promotions. It is designed to expose students to the processes of product promotion, marketing communication and sales, target audience engineering and catering. The student also learns the basic principles of Public Relations (PR) which enhance positive corporate image and the successful marketing of individual and corporate images, products and services.

THA 027:       Theatre Workshop II

This is the second part of the practical workshop experience where the student learns backstage and “front of house” management and the other arts of the theatre as a team. Assessment is based on a practical production presented by the students to an audience and they shall be expected to write a critique of the production and/ or essay on their experiences.

THA 031:       Script Analysis and Role Interpretation

The course focuses on techniques of analysis, exploring and discovering the various meanings nderlying scripts: style, theme, structure, and language are considered the keys that unlock meanings which clarify the development of the role of the actor, designer and director. Students will learn to analyze scripts and interpret same from the perspectives of performance as actors, designers and directors using the script as guide and raw material.

THA 032:       Entrepreneurial Studies in Theatre Arts II

This course is designed to be an advanced training in self-employment and self-sufficiency for the theatre graduate. It is a logical continuation of THA 024. At this level, the students will attend skill acquisition and entrepreneurial workshops, develop ideas and concepts for business in the arts and explore possible funding avenues open to beginning entrepreneurs. It is expected that ideas generated in the course will be further tested during the industrial work exposure (THA 046).

THA 033:       Choreography  and Dance Performance

An intensive practical course in the art of making dances and their performances so as to equip the student with the tools for evaluating such works and performance methodically.

THA 034:       Children’s Theatre and Television Programmes

The course acquaints the student with the principles, techniques and media for producing educational drama, theatre and variety programmes for children and young people’s development. The psychology of children, creative dramatic processes, mascots, puppets, fantasy storytelling, colour scheme, visual aids and whimsies for children are studied. Practical aspects of the course requires producing a play on stage or creating a TV Programme for children.

THA 035:       Script Writing for Stage and Screen

An advanced study and practice of the principles of putting ideas, pictures, characters and themes together to make a script for stage and screen according to original material and sources. Experimental scripting for stage and screen will be practiced: that is, created, adapted, presented.

THA 036:       Culture and National Development

The course reviews the National Cultural Policy and the organs of its implementation. It critically appraises the Culture Industry as expressed through the Theatre, Movies, Radio, TV Programmes and content as well as Museums, Archives and Cultural Centres. The promotion and propagation of Nigerian cultures for national integration and development are evaluated. Visits may be made to Cultural Centres, Museums, Archives and Royal Palaces. The materialities and cultural content of artistic productions on stage and screen: drama, music, carnivals, dance and the visual arts are also studied.

THA 037:       Theatre and Studio Management

A study of how to manage theatres and studios from pre to post production in community, educational and professional environments or setups to cater for various audience and clientele interests, build up patronage and achieve financial targets and sustenance for the industry.

THA 041:       Theatre Design and Technology

This course is designed to develop student skills and techniques in scene design, stage lighting, props, costume and make-up, sound design and special effects. There shall be emphasis on practical work using some performances or short workshops to assess students under this course. Designing for different stages and media will be emphasized.

THA 042:       Costume and Make-Up Design and Management

A study of the history and development of designing clothes and dresses for stage, television and film productions; the relation of face and body decoration on costuming; kinds of costume: silhouettes, drapes, fits, millinery, and accessories. The place and role of masks, papier-mâché, as well as the care and management of costumes and make-up materials before, during and after productions will be studied..

THA 043:       Popular Theatre for Development

This is a study of the technique and practice of community/popular theatre for societal development, taking into consideration its practices in the Western world, Africa and beyond. The basic methods of information gathering and imparting to individuals and/ or communities through role-playing and improvisation, sensitization and mobilization on critical governmental, health, educational, social and institutional subject matters are studied. Students will embark on community theatre projects at approved locations based on selected but topical subject matter.

THA 044:       Directing for Stage and Screen

A study of the skills involved in organizing and the interpretation of a play script for performance on a given stage: or set. Group analyses and discussion, script/text reading, casting, rehearsals, blocking and general composition and picturization using actors, cameras, set elements; the inter-relationship of the designer, composer, manager, actor, audience and the director in a production ensemble will be studied. Students shall select short plays or scenes and attempt a directional interpretation as the practical work.

THA 045:       Introduction to Film and Video Production

This is an introductory course on the art and craft of film and video production. It exposes students to the processes and allied demands of film making and production. Students under the supervision of a Lecturer and Technical Staff shall script, shoot, produce, edit and submit a short film of not more than ten (10) minutes duration as the practical work.

THA 046:       Project/Industrial Exposure

This is the final long-essay in the student’s specific area of interest: directing, play scripting, technical theatre, dance and choreography, acting, costume and make-up, management, community theatre and media arts. The project shall not exceed 35 pages. The essay shall capture the content and essence of the student’s field experience. The logical links between THA 024 and 032 are underlined and strengthened in THA 046.