Introduction
Students interested in taking on a significant, expansive, and rewarding project in their final semesters as majors may wish to apply for an Honors Project. The Honors Project (Theater H195A/B) is the culmination of an outstanding career in the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS). Projects are approved each year in recognition of excellent work within the major and strong, engaging proposals that seek to answer a research question.
Almost all UC departments offer Honors Thesis/Project opportunities, which, if completed successfully, allow a student to graduate “with honors” in their chosen major. Honors Projects in TDPS are intensive critical studies of some aspect of theater, dance, or performance studies. These projects are 2-semester endeavors—an input semester and an output semester—earning 4 units each semester.
Honors Projects can take one of two forms:
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Research & Thesis, for which the first/input semester (Fall) is spent doing research and the second/output semester (Spring) is spent writing a 40–60 page thesis. A 10-page precis, detailing the research process, sources consulted, and other essential elements of the project, is submitted at the end of the Fall Semester for approval by the Honors Project Committee. (4 units per semester)
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Research & Performance, a project with a practice component, for which the first/input semester (Fall) is spent researching and the second/output semester (Spring) focuses on a performance project tied to or shaped by the first semester of work. A 10-page precis, detailing the research process, sources consulted, and other essential elements of the project, is submitted at the end of the Fall Semester for approval by the Honors Project Committee. (4 units per semester)
The overall Honors Project, whether written only or a combination of writing and practice, explores and analyzes a significant problem or research question. For all projects, students will work with a Faculty Advisor.
Basic Prerequisites:
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Declared TDPS major by time of application.
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Minimum UC Berkeley GPA of 3.3
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The commitment covers a full academic year, with each semester carrying 4 units of credit. Credit cannot be awarded for one semester without the other.
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Before beginning the Honors Project, students must have completed at least 2 of the 3 required upper-division Performance Studies and/or History of Performance courses. The third course may be finished concurrently in the first semester of the Honors Project.
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To be eligible for a Research & Performance project, you must have completed the following courses, or take them concurrently with your application process:
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Theater 60: Introduction to Technical Theater & Production
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At least one of the following courses related to the content/nature of your project:
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Theater 162 for Directing
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Theater 146A or 146B for Choreography
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Theater 139A or 139B for Playwriting
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Theater 111 or 142 for Performance
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Specific disciplines (such as design, directing, choreography, etc.) carry with them certain expectations as to coursework completed or to be completed.
Honors Project Guidance:
If you are interested in applying for an Honors Project, please read the application guidelines and complete the interest form below. For further guidance, contact the Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Laxmi Kumaran, who will help you through the process: laxmik@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)