Course Syllabus
Contact Information
SETH GORDON is Professor of Performance at the University of Oklahoma Helmerich School of Drama, where he teaches Directing and Theatre Management. At OU he has directed productions of Ms. Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Mad Forest, and Radium Girls. Prior to moving into academia, he was a national leader in new play development and a highly regarded director throughout the United States. He served as Associate Artistic Director at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Cleveland Play House, and Associate Producer at Primary Stages in New York. In St. Louis, he created Ignite!, a new play festival. At the Cleveland Play House, he created FusionFest, a multi-disciplinary arts festival that had a new play festival in it; and at Primary Stages, he created the New American Writers Group. He has directed plays at these three theatres, Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston, TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, AK, Shakespeare and Company in Massachusetts, Syracuse Stage, the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, the St. Lou Fringe Festival, Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, American Stage in Florida, and in New York, at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Theatre of the New City, and countless other places. He directed the Arabic premiere of Our Town in Cairo. He received the 2004 and 2006 Northern Ohio Live Award, the 2014 Houston Theatre Award, and numerous nominations by the Houston Theatre Awards and the St. Louis Theatre Critics Circle Awards for his direction. He currently serves as management and executive search consultant for non-profit theatres, and he is on the Board of Directors of Oklahoma City Rep. He considers himself a lucky man.
Areas of Interest
- Theatre Leadership
- Theatre Management
- Directing
- New Play Development
- Arts Management
- Arts Advocacy
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
- AMGT 5013 – Overview of Arts Management & Entrepreneurship
- Approval from OU faculty mentor
Course Materials
Dependent on the student - each student will collect their own materials throughout the course by way of the Self-Directed Study assignments.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Five Year Plans | You will submit several versions of a five year plan (Plan A, Plan B, revised plan). | 20 |
| Self-Directed Study | Every other week, you will turn in a collection of 5 new resources directly connected to your project and goals, along with summaries and reflections on each. | 20 |
| Project Management Reports | Every other week, you will provide a screenshot(s) of your progress within your project management platform and a reflection on your current progress. You will receive feedback over the Live Session or through Canvas. | 20 |
| Individual Project | This will consist of a plan (start of the semester), a draft/prototype (midterm), and final deliverables (end of the course). | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Module Overviews
Each module will have an overview page that will introduce what you will do during the module and why, outline the specific skills/competencies you are expected to gain, and help you to manage your expectations and time.
Resources
Throughout the course, you may need collective instructor-provided resources to help you succeed in the first module, midterm module, and final module. This might consist of information on how to write goals, information on project management tools, etc.
Five Year Plans
These assignments give you the opportunity to create goals that are specific to what you want to accomplish during your career, which will guide your project choice for your independent study.
Self-Directed Study
These assignments will require you to collect and synthesize resources that will help you to achieve your goals in your independent study. This is necessary, as each student’s topic of study will be unique.
Project Management Reports
You will upload screenshot(s) of your project management platform and reflections on your current progress, which will keep you accountable for the commitments you have made for progress throughout the semester and help your faculty mentor to assess your progress. You may receive feedback by attending the Live Sessions or through Canvas.
Individual Project
This will be the final project that all of the other assignments in the course revolve around. This project will be unique to you and could consist of market research, a research article, a conference presentation, designing a complete portfolio, a recording project, a publishing project, developing an app, and so forth. The final project and/or documentation of the project (for example, photos, promotional materials, etc. if it is an event) will be uploaded at the end of the semester. You will submit a project plan at the start of the semester and a draft/prototype at midterm.
Course Policies
Communication
Please contact me directly by email at sethg@ou.edu. I will get back to you within 24 hours Monday thru Friday. I do check email over weekends but will most likely respond first thing on Monday morning to your inquiry. Please feel free to address me as Seth. I highly encourage you to reach out to me for feedback, with any questions you may have, as I am here to help advise and mentor you to the best of my ability. I look forward to our exchanges.
Feedback
There will be live online check-ins every other week. This will be a two-hour window of time where you can come in and out to seek feedback from me. Those are not mandatory. You will upload your assignments on Canvas and I will provide feeback to you within the Canvas framework for the corresponding assignments. I will strive to provide you that detailed feedback within a one-week turnaround on your assignments.
Late Policy
I will accept late work with an acceptable explanation for the delay. I will accept late work without an acceptable explanation and grade it with points off for lateness until the following class meets, at which point I will no longer accept late work. I will accept the research paper due when the final class meets up until one week later with points off for lateness.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important within this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they are able to enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability, a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
Anyone who has been impacted by gender-based violence, including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual assault, deserves access to resources so that they are supported personally and academically.
The University of Oklahoma is committed to offering resources to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or another confidential resource (see "Can I make an anonymous report?").
You may also choose to report gender-based violence and discrimination through other means, including by contacting the Institutional Equity Office (ieo@ou.edu, 405-325-3546) or the police (911).
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in class discussions, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails, and during Student/Office Hours.
For more information, please visit the Institutional Equity Office.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits
- Assist those that may need help
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone that may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
OU Fire Safety on Campus Video
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|