The Performing Arts Certificate program was primarily developed to broaden employment opportunites for Deaf graduates in applied arts and imaging, professional and technical communication and related business areas, industrial technologies, and other fields by expanding their repertoire of marketable skills. Students develop a knowledge of standard theatrical operating procedures, as well as principles and practices of theatre accessibility for Deaf people, allowing them to work in professional, regional and community theatre. It also provides a solid foundation for those who wish to pursue further education in film, video, theatre, and related forms of performing arts.
The Performing Arts Certificate is designed to provide students with knowledge of theatre terminology, practices and protocol; issues in script analysis, ASL translation, and accessibility; and experience in performance and technical theatre. The students may take four three-credit courses in the Performance/Script track (for those students interested in acting, dramaturgy, translation, and dance/movement) or the Technical Theatre track (for those students interested in scenic design and technology, costume, and stage management). A three-credit production practicum is also required for both tracks.
Prerequisites for AdmissionApplicants for the Performing Arts Certificate (Performance/Script and Technical) must be students in good standing in an undergraduate program at RIT/NTID or hold an undergraduate degree from one of those programs.
The course Introduction to Performing Arts (0881-250) is a prerequisite to the pursuit of the certificate(s).
Required Courses| (12 credits selected from the following) | ||
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
| Script Analysis | 0881-256 | 3 |
| Acting I | 0881-210 | 3 |
| Acting II | 0881-260 | 3 |
| Intro to Play Creating | 0881-258 | 3 |
| Ballet | 0881-256 | 3 |
| Fund. of Choreography | 0881-267 | 3 |
| History of Theatre | 0881-202 | 3 |
| Deaf Theatre Hstory | 0881-204 | 3 |
| Stage Combat | 0881-217 | 3 |
| Dance History | 0881-218 | 3 |
| Sign Mime | 0881-218 | 3 |
| Arts Management | 0881-253 | 3 |
| Creative Translation | 0881-259 | 3 |
| Audition Technique | 0881-261 | 3 |
| Dance Performance | 0881-167 | 3 |
| Into. to Dramatic Lit. | 0881-257 | 3 |
| Performing Arts Practicum | 0881-298 | 3 (required) |
| 15 total credits | ||
| (12 credits selected from the following) | ||
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
| Script Analysis | 0881-256 | 3 |
| Scenic Technology I | 0881-222 | 3 |
| Scenic Technolgy II | 0881-223 | 3 |
| Scene Painting | 0881-224 | 3 |
| Costume Technology I | 0881-231 | 3 |
| Costume Technology II | 0881-232 | 3 |
| Stage Make-up | 0881-233 | 3 |
| Lighting Technology I | 0881-241 | 3 |
| Lighting Technology II | 0881-242 | 3 |
| Lighting Studio | 0881-291 | 3 |
| Arts Management | 0881-253 | 3 |
| Stage Management | 0881-272 | 3 |
| Performing Arts Practicum | 0881-298 | 3 (required) |
| 15 total credits | ||
Candidates will be granted the Performing Arts Certificate in either Performance/Script or Technical Theatre upon successful completion of the 15 credits. All the courses are currently offered as part of the RIT College of NTID Arts and Sciences component of registered degree programs, The faculty and resources are the same as those for the Arts and Sciences curriculum.