Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Discuss important periods and movements related to theatre and performance.
2. Demonstrate fundamental skills in theatre technology (including audio, lighting, moving image projection, and set) and theatre production.
3. Compare and contrast major dramatic authors including their social and professional contributions.
4. Create original performance material based on theatre and performance theories for presentation to a live audience demonstrating a synthesis between the professional practice of fundamental skill sets and theatre theory.

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through instruments appropriate to the course content and goals.

1. Traditional exams and essays are given so that students may demonstrate the ability to discuss significant ideas, people, technology, dramatic material, and theories related to theatre and performance.
2. Students will submit work in a competitive environment and be assessed through juried auditions, critiques of public performance, assessment of work performed on specific production teams and through juried assessment of their senior project.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Employ the conventions of standard written English.
2. Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives.
3. Select, organize, and relate ideas and information with coherence, clarity, and unity.
4. Apply performance and acting theories while properly using the body in the execution of vocal and physical techniques for the stage.

Communication skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed in ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Communication skills are also assessed in the capstone courses.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Select and organize information.
2. Identify assumptions and underlying relationships.
3. Synthesize information, and draw reasoned inferences.
4. Formulate an appropriate problem solving strategy.
5. Evaluate the feasibility of the strategy.
6. Analyze written dramatic material so that the student actor, director, or designer can create performance events.

Critical thinking skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Critical thinking skills are also assessed in the capstone courses.