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 is at work on a book, "Crossroads in the American Theatre: New Leaders in a New Age," which will be published by Smith and Kraus in the Spring of 2025. 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.
Assumed Prior Knowledge
This is the first course in the program, and there are no official prerequisites. However, this course is built primarily with students in mind who have work experience in this field. If you have little or no work experience in the field or knowledge of nonprofits in the arts, consider reading the following to get caught up on the basics:
- Derrick Chong, Arts Management, Introduction (pp, 1-30).
- Anthony Rhine, Jay Pension, eds., Business Issues in the Arts, Ch. 1. Understanding Nonprofit Organizations by Jen Budney (pp. 5-32)
Required Course Materials
- InGenius: A crash course on creativity by Tina Seelig (2012).
- Harvard Business Review Case Studies Course Pack
- Other materials will be provided via Canvas.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points/Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Case Studies | Each week, you will create an original discussion post in response to a case study. This will take the form of a visual presentation/slide deck such as a PowerPoint, Prezi, Padlet, or Canva. | 20% |
| Concept Checks | These will take the form of a Canvas quiz or assignment in which you will answer questions demonstrating that you understand the material from the resources for the week. You will have one opportunity to take each quiz, but they will be open book and open note. | 20% |
| Application Assignments | You will submit a document in each module outlining how you will apply the content of the module to your work based on the prompts. | 20% |
| Podcast & Steps Toward Projects | By the end of the course, you will create and submit a podcast of yourself interviewing an industry professional. Throughout the semester, you will work on one piece of this at a time and get feedback from your professor. You will also have a few other short assignments unrelated to the podcast that will help you to build toward larger goals. | 20% |
| Presentations | During the term, you will present about course materials in the Live Sessions to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively about the course content. If you are not able to attend any of the Live Sessions, you may submit recorded versions of your presentation before the Live Session for the week so that your peers can watch it during the Live Session. | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Overviews
Each module will have an overview page that will offer necessary context and direct your attention as you review the resources. This will be done through an introductory graphic, module objectives, and a checklist.
Resources & Concept Checks
After reviewing the resources for a given module, you will be asked to answer a series of questions to ensure that you understand the resources. This will help you to identify areas of the resources that you may not have understood so that you can go back and review them. Your responses will also help your instructor to guide the discussion in the Live Session.
Case Study Discussion Boards
You will read a case study and then post your initial solution idea each week. After you have posted, you will review further resources and learn from the Live Session discussion. This will help you to integrate your new knowledge with what you already know, and it will help you to apply that knowledge to a real-world situation. It will also help you to form and communicate educated stances on topics relevant to arts management & entrepreneurship.
Live Sessions & Presentations
There will be a Live Session each week in which student(s) will present about the resources in the module. You will be allowed to choose date(s) that work best with your schedule as well as which resource(s) you would like to present about. If you are not able to attend any of the Live Sessions, you can record and send your presentation to the instructor before the Live Session, and those in attendance at the Live Session will watch it together. You will need to coordinate with your classmates which resource you are presenting to avoid overlap. Your presentation will encapsulate key concepts of your chosen resource, and your presentation will be 5–7 minutes long. Your instructor may also use Live Session time to correct misunderstandings and extend your learning on the module topic. You will also work collaboratively to discuss issues and perspectives and work toward better solutions for the case study.
Application Assignments
You will submit a document explaining how you will apply your new knowledge to your own life and career, showing that you can use your new knowledge in a meaningful and personal way.
Podcast
At the end of the semester, you will submit a podcast of yourself interviewing someone in the arts management industry. You will research guests, draft questions, record the podcast, transcribe it, and upload the audio or video file to SoundCloud (audio), Kaltura (video), or another streaming platform. If you are using text, you will upload it directly to Canvas. You will also upload a transcription (if audio/video). You will share your podcasts with your classmates and listen and reply to at least one peer's podcast. This assignment will help you to build research, networking, and communication skills.
"Step Toward Project" Assignments
In each module, you will submit a small assignment that helps you make progress toward a larger assignment or goal. Many of these are steps toward the creation of your podcast, but some of them are steps toward networking goals and career goals. Having these small assignment check-ins is a great way for you to get feedback from your instructor to help you improve in these areas, and it also assists you in pacing your assignments appropriately.
Course Policies
Communication
Please contact me directly by email at sethg@ou.edu. Feel free to address me as Seth; my preferred pronouns are he/him. 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. 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 a live session every Tuesday at 7pm Central. Please note the time zone in case it's not yours. While the live sessions are not mandatory, please make every effort to participate with your camera on should you do so. If the choice is between being there or not- you're driving or tending to a child and cannot have your camera on but wish to listen in- please always choose to participate. This will be a two-hour window of time where you can come in and out to seek feedback from me. These are not mandatory. You will upload your assignments on Canvas and I will provide feedback 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, the 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 in 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 can 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 or 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
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
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 your instructor 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 the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
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 who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|