About the Department
The Visual and Performing Arts Department includes the disciplines of music, theatre and visual arts. These programs share a commitment to providing a comprehensive undergraduate education dedicated to the liberal arts philosophy through innovative curricula, hands-on learning and expert faculty. Each program actively works to prepare students for success in their chosen career field or graduate studies. Finally, the Visual and Performing Arts Department is dedicated to graduating students of competence and character and who personify the college’s academic vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility.
 Visual Arts Program
Music Program
Theatre Program
About the Visual Arts Program
The visual arts program at Olivet College is studio-oriented with an emphasis on training students to work figuratively in the traditional two- and three-dimensional arts. The faculty has developed a curriculum that accommodates entering students at all skill levels and develops them into professionally competent graduates. Students entering the program may attain advanced placement relative to their artistic abilities.
Studio classes operate as ateliers (workshops) where students are treated as responsible learners in a general atmosphere of individual attention and informal contact. As a teaching strategy, the instructor often works on his/her art alongside the students. A system of competency validation is employed to assess and grade students. Students also have the opportunity to improve upon most of the grades they have earned in the program by taking advantage of the Credit Revalidation policy.
Within the program the faculty/student ratio is small and there is maximum access to studio facilities. In addition to the introductory courses, a full complement of studio classes in sculpture, painting, graphics and ceramics is offered. The program offers a visual arts major with concentrations in biological illustration, commercial design or studio art, a visual arts education teaching group major (K-12) and a visual arts minor.
Along with skill development, the program engages students in issues of character and responsibility through readings, writings, discussions, etc. As seniors, students are required to develop a senior project that articulates, in image and word, the synthesis of their experiences at Olivet and the relevance of the college's academic vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility to their lives now and in the future.
Department Chair
Faculty Members
Adjunct Faculty
Cynthia Eller
Adjunct Instructor of Art and Interdisciplinary Studies
celler@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7120
Susan C. Rowe
Adjunct Instructor of Art
srowe@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7120
Richard Larson
Adjunct Instructor of Art History
rlarson@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7120
Sid Paradine
Adjunct Instructor of Art
sparadine@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7120
About the Music Program
The Olivet College music program offers several degrees including a bachelor of arts in music with a concentration in vocal or instrumental music; bachelor of arts in music education; bachelor of arts with elective studies in business; and a bachelor of arts in sacred music. Each of these educational experiences has been designed to help prepare students for specific careers in music or to continue graduate level studies, and each will require intensive study in either vocal or instrumental music.
The Margaret Upton Conservatory of Music is home to the music program and contains a state-of-the-art electronic music studio, Smart Classrooms to enhance the delivery of instruction, a dozen individual practice rooms with upright and grand pianos, a music listening center, large ensemble rehearsal rooms and an intimate 123-seat recital hall.
During the course of study at Olivet, all music students are required to participate in performing ensembles, take private music lessons, participate in the music major seminar, and pass a piano proficiency examination, as outlined in the Music Student Handbook. Specific requirements for the various music degree programs are listed below.
The music program also offers opportunities for students majoring in other academic disciplines to fully participate in our performing ensembles and to study voice or various instruments privately with our faculty artists. It is also possible to minor in music.
At Olivet, music is a selective admissions program and in order to major or minor in music, students must successfully complete an audition for the music faculty. Auditions are normally held twice a year; for further details regarding dates, times and appropriate repertory, please contact Timothy Flynn, Ph.D., music program director, at (269) 749-7660.
Additionally, there are many opportunities for generous scholarship support in music. Upon successful audition, music majors and minors will receive talent-based scholarships, and other scholarship funding is available to students who would like to participate in the choirs or instrumental ensembles. In order to be considered for these special scholarships, students must demonstrate both talent and need, and audition for the conductor of the ensemble. For more information regarding music scholarship opportunities, please contact the Office of Enrollment Management at (269) 749-7635.
Program Director
Faculty Members
Meredith Bowen
mbowen@olivetcollege.edu
Julia DeRosa
jderosa@olivetcollege.edu
Jonathon Gewirtz
jgewirtz@olivetcollege.edu
Roger G. Humphrey
Adjunct Instructor of Music
rhumphrey@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-6627
About the Theatre Program
Theatre at Olivet College is dedicated to the liberal arts philosophy, providing educational growth for all students in cultural understanding, arts appreciation, arts expression, aesthetics, personal expressiveness and oral communication.
The Olivet College Theatre Program produces three plays each year, including a musical. Previous plays have included "Waiting for Godot," "Into the Woods," "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Antigone." A theatre major gives students the chance to:
Work closely with other artists express oneself creatively and effectively
Work with area theatres as an intern or consultant
Theatre prepares students for a wide variety of careers. Recent theatre students have chosen vocations in cruise ship management, law, sales and education.
Finally, students who desire to direct plays may, after meeting qualifications, have them produced in the Oaks Theatre. Workshop classes allow advanced students to hone their skills in directing, design and performance.
Theatre Major Requirements
This major will furnish the student with foundations in:
Dramatic literature
Dramatic history
Theatrical production and techniques
The aesthetics of performance
Strong opportunities to improve oral and non-verbal communication skills
Theatre students’ knowledge and skills will be evaluated through the exhibits in his or her portfolio. These exhibits are expected to evolve from the successful completion of academic courses. A substantial part of an Olivet theatre student’s experience will come from dramatic productions both on- and off-campus. Any experience in theatrical production or scholarship, once evaluated and validated, can serve toward the completion of the major or related minors.
Specializing
Besides the specialties given above, a student can choose to specialize in directing, playwriting, stage management or other aspects of theatrical performance or production. The student will devise an academic plan with his or her major advisor. This plan will include:
A statement of purpose
Learning objectives
Documentation guidelines
Courses or experiences that will satisfy these objectives
A timeline for these courses and experiences
Approval from the director of theatre
General Requirements for Theatre program portfolios
Any individual exhibit may meet any combination of graduation and major objectives.
A theatre student’s portfolio shall include:
Participation in six or more theatrical productions
Mastery of one or more area specialties:
Acting
Technical theatre
Theatre history, dramatic literature and criticism
Directing
Playwriting
Stage management
Competence in three or more additional area specialties
Mastery is defined as meeting the specific requirements of the above area specialties. Competence is defined as meeting the general major requirements (as listed below).
The portfolio should contain:
The Graduation Portfolio Certification form.
Table of Contents
Personal statement of the student’s personal philosophy, outlining the student’s goals, including an updated self-assessment.
Résumé, which provides a clear picture of the student’s stage experience, follow professional standards, and also be available in electronic format.
Professional documents, including the Field of Interest Research Document, which includes a survey of relevant graduate programs or a study of relevant job prospects.
Other relevant documents, such as Student Development transcripts, honors certificates and letters of appreciation or recommendation.
Exhibit matrix. Although the major objectives as described below can cover overall college graduation objectives as well, the student is responsible for showing how all objectives are met in the portfolio.
Portfolio exhibits, each consisting of an exhibit cover sheet, the exhibit narrative and the exhibit itself (exhibits may cover core learning objectives and those of the Theatre major).
The student’s portfolio will demonstrate:
1. Basic knowledge of the production process, to be documented by examinations, papers, journals or visual evidence such as video or audiotape.
2. One or more speaking roles documented through video or a combination of audiotapes and still photography.
3. Two or more different responsibilities as a stage technician (the position of stage manager/assistant director will satisfy one of the roles of this requirement). This shall be documented through recordings of the final projects in which the student took part. These may be either videotape or still photography.
4. One or more written works exploring a stage character or a design or directing rationale to be no less than 10 pages in length.
5. Basic knowledge of the history of theatre, to be demonstrated by either a research paper (no less than 10 pages) demonstrating a knowledge of theatrical production in a past era or culture or a collection of examination documents demonstrating familiarity with the development of theatrical production in various eras and cultures.
6. Basic knowledge of dramatic literature (to be shown through research papers [no less than 10 pages] or collections of examinations), including the ability to define basic dramatic genres, familiarity with important works from major historical and cultural periods, and the ability to examine a work of dramatic literature in terms of its historical and cultural perspective and its theatrical effectiveness.
7. Completion of one or more off-campus internship or production experience. This exhibit shall contain: an evaluation of the student’s work from his or her supervisor (stage manager, director, crew head, etc.), and visual evidence such as videotape or a combination of audiotape and still photography and a journal of the experience.
8. Competence in verbal and non-verbal communication on public and interpersonal levels, to be demonstrated by sensory evidence such as videotape or audiotape of the performance and written evidence such as outlines, the text of speeches or journals.
Acting
In addition to the general requirements of the major, the portfolio for the student specializing in acting will demonstrate:
1. The development of vocal, physical and creative abilities documented through videotaped performance or combinations of audiotapes and still photography. Exhibits will show the student’s competence in vocal production and diction, familiarity with basic techniques of dance and movement, and clear expression of the process of character creation and development.
2. Familiarity with techniques of theatrical improvisation, to be shown through either a visual record such a videotape or written records such as a journal, paper or activities file.
3. Mastery of character and script analysis through written analysis of a character (no less than 10 pages). The exhibit will show the student’s familiarity with one or more technique of analyzing a character and the ability to follow the creative process from first reading to final performance.
4. Documentation of four or more speaking roles in theatrical productions. Two or more of these shall be major supporting roles. Roles shall be documented with a brief description of the play, the role, an analysis of the part the character plays in the script and a description of the performer’s approach to the character. It should also include a videotape or the performance or a combination of audiotapes and still photography.
Technical Design and Operations
In addition to the general requirements of the major, the portfolio for the student specializing in technical design and operations will demonstrate:
1. Documentation of four or more technical positions of responsibility in theatrical productions. One or more of these shall be as principal designer.
2. Proficiency in one or more positions demonstrating responsibility supervising other students in a theatrical production. The position of stage manager/assistant director may fulfill one role in this requirement.
3. A range of abilities, such as the ability to design (in theory or in practice) a stage set, a theatrical costume, a lighting plot and a promotional campaign.
4. Competence in three or more of the following: stage construction (including both sets and stage properties), costume creation, lighting or sound production, and theatrical advertising and promotion.
5. Ability to analyze a script in order to express it physically, ability to draft basic plans and renderings, ability to realize these plans though construction and fabrication techniques.
6. Knowledge and abilities described above shall be shown through both written work, such as a brief description of the production, a statement of the design rationale; and visual documentation, such as initial sketches, final production design drawings and blueprints and visual documentation (slides, photographs or video) of the finished product.
Dramatic History, Literature and Criticism
In addition to the general requirements of the major, the portfolio for the student specializing in dramatic history, literature and criticism will demonstrate:
1. Familiarity with the dramatic literature, production techniques, performance methods and the relationship of theatre to its audience in significant historical periods: Classical Greek and Roman, Medieval, Elizabethan, French Neoclassic, Restoration, 19th century (Romanticism and Realism), 20th century; one or more non-Euro-American cultures; and one or more important trends in modern theatre.
2. Familiarity with the major works of the above periods, demonstrating knowledge of dramatic structure, the creation of character, the playwright’s use of theatrical convention, the formation of dramatic genre; demonstrating awareness of the influence of culture upon theatre; demonstrating the interrelationship of differing works from different periods and culture.
3. Knowledge described above through the completion of four or more papers, no less than 10 pages in length. One or more of these shall be an examination of historical issues in theatre. One or more of these shall be an examination of a play, the works of a playwright or similar works of dramatic criticism. A student may substitute experience as a dramaturge for one of these papers. Such experience must be documented with a paper summarizing the research and conclusions reached, a summary of contributions made to the production, and copies of programs, lobby exhibits or other material deriving from this experience.
Speech Teaching Major & Minors
Due to the requirements of the Michigan State Board of Education, speech teaching majors and minors are expressed in terms of the following required courses. This does not waive the Portfolio requirements of the theatre program.
Speech Secondary Teaching Major
Students must successfully complete each of the following:
COM 102 Fundamentals of Communication
THR 105 Introduction to Oral Communication
THR 106 Theatre and Culture
THR 111 Acting
THR 203 Public Speaking
Students must successfully complete nine semester hours of the following:
COM 201 Group Processes
THR 202 Dramatic Literature
THR 205 Oral Interpretation of Literature
COM 302 Interpersonal Communication
COM 304 Advocacy and Persuasion
Students must successfully complete an additional three semester hours of speech electives.
Students must successfully complete three semester hours of the following:
COM 402 Communication Theory
COM 490 Problems and Projects in Speech
THR 490 Problems and Projects in Theatre
Students are required to successfully complete each of the following education courses:
ED 201 Foundations of American Education
ED 202 Psychology of Human Development and Learning
ED 203 Education of the Exceptional Learner
ED 302 Methods of Teaching Reading in the Secondary School
ED 365 Methods of Teaching Language Arts
ED 402 Secondary Methods
ED 408 Observation and Directing Teaching in the Secondary School
Speech Elementary Teaching Minor
Students must successfully complete each of the following:
COM 102 Fundamentals of Communication
THR 105 Introduction to Oral Communication
THR 106 Theatre and Culture
THR 111 Acting
THR 121 Introduction to Dance
THR 200 Play Production
THR 206 Creative Drama
Students must successfully complete three semester hours of the following:
COM 201 Group Processes
THR 203 Public Speaking
THR 205 Oral Interpretation of Literature
COM 302 Interpersonal Communication
Students are required to successfully complete each of the following education courses:
ED 201 Foundations of American Education
ED 202 Psychology of Human Development and Learning
ED 203 Education of the Exceptional Learner
ED 300 Methods Of Teaching Reading In The Elementary School
ED 301 Individual Reading Instruction in the Elementary School
ED 401 Elementary Methods
ED 407 Observation and directing Teaching in the Elementary School
Speech Secondary Teaching Minor
Students must successfully complete each of the following:
COM 102 Fundamentals of Communication
THR 105 Introduction to Oral Communication
THR 111 Acting
THR 203 Public Speaking
Students must successfully complete three semester hours of the following
COM 201 Group Processes
COM 302 Interpersonal Communication
Students must successfully complete three semester hours of the following:
THR 205 Oral Interpretation of Literature
COM 304 Advocacy and Persuasion
Students must successfully complete three semester hours of the following:
COM 402 Communication Theory
COM 490 Problems and Projects in Speech
THR 490 Problems and Projects in Theatre
Students are required to successfully complete each of the following education courses:
ED 201 Foundations of American Education
ED 202 Psychology of Human Development and Learning
ED 203 Education of the Exceptional Learner
ED 302 Methods of Teaching Reading in the Secondary School
ED 402 Secondary Methods
ED 408 Observation and Directing Teaching in the Secondary School
Program Director
Faculty Members
Adjunct Faculty
Mike Love
Adjunct instructor of theatre
mlove@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7246
William Minihan
Adjunct instructor of theatre
wminihan@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7246
Deborah Ricker
Adjunct instructor of theatre
dricker@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7246
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Olivet College commencement scheduled for May 17