Advising and Registration

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REGISTERING FOR CERTAIN ADVANCED COURSES
There is a 2-step process required in order to register for several advanced THDA courses. These courses are listed below:

	THDA 589, Practicum (0-1 cr.)	THDA 798 Senior Thesis (2 cr.)
	THDA 691/791, Internship (2-8 cr.)	THDA 798H Honors / Senior Thesis (4 cr.)
	THDA 795/796, Independent Study (1-8 cr.)	THDA 799 Capstone Project (2 cr.)
	THDA 795W/796W, Independent Study-Writing Intensive (1-8 cr.)	THDA 799H Honors / Capstone Project (4 cr.)

STEP 1: Officially Register For The Course.
Students must register by either pre-registering for the course through the THDA Main Office, adding the course themselves online using WEBCAT, or filling out an Add/Drop slip at the beginning of the semester.

STEP 2: Turn In A Completed “Special Course Approval Form.”
A “Special Course Approval Form” must be filled out for each class listed above. This form is a record of what activity the student will be doing for the course, as well as informs the department which faculty member will be supervising (and eventually grading) the student in the course. Once the student obtains the signatures of his/her supervisor and advisor, he/she may leave the form in the mailbox of the department chairperson for final signature and approval. Without this form, the student risks receiving an “F” in the course.


USING THDA COURSES TO FULFILL THE DISCOVERY PROGRAM FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS REQUIREMENT
THDA Majors are NOT allowed to use a single course to fulfill both Discovery fine & performing arts and THDA Major requirements. If, however, a THDA Major takes a THDA course that has been designated as fulfilling the fine & performing arts Discovery requirement and the course is not required for the student’s major requirements, the student may use the course to fulfill his/her fine & performing arts Discovery requirement.

If a THDA Major uses a THDA course to fulfill the fine & performing arts Discovery requirement (and does NOT need the course for major requirements), the student must contact the THDA Main Office. Special permission must be sent to the Registrar’s Office allowing the student to use the course for their fine & performing arts Discovery requirement.


PRE-REGISTRATION FOR THDA MAJORS
Pre-registration allows THDA majors and minors to register for THDA courses before the rest of the university begins registering. This way, THDA majors get priority in registering for the courses they need for their major.

About two weeks before pre-registration begins, the THDA Main Office will send a mass email to all majors and minors (and also post notices around PCAC) announcing the deadlines for pre-registration. The following guidelines explain the Theatre & Dance Department's Pre-Registration process:

1) Pick up a THDA Dept. Pre-Registration Worksheet in the metal bin outside the department's main office (PCAC, D22). Completely fill out the worksheet. Only list "THDA" courses. Remember to select lab sections for those classes that require them. 2) Once your form is complete, contact your advisor (if you don't know who your advisor is, check with the main office) and set up a meeting so that you can discuss your courses. Your advisor will then sign your pre-registration worksheet. 3) Bring your signed worksheet to the THDA Main Office. You will be given your registration access code (RAC). KEEP THIS CODE because you will need it to register for your non-THDA classes when your registration window opens. 4) The day before pre-registration opens for the university, you will be registered for your THDA courses. When your registration window opens, register for your non-THDA courses. Also, double-check to make sure you were registered into the THDA courses that you selected.

*PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING THINGS IN MIND!*
When selecting your courses for next semester, remember to select lab sections for those classes that require them. If you plan on pre-registering for a practicum, independent study, or some other type of THDA course that requires a sponsor, you MUST fill out a “Special Course Approval Form”, complete with the necessary signatures, and pass it in to the main office WITH your pre-registration worksheet. If you sign up for a practicum or independent study on your Pre-registration Worksheet but do not have an Advanced Course Approval Form along with it, you will not be pre-registered into the course. If your course is listed as PERMISSION REQUIRED in the Time & Room, you MUST see the professor teaching the course in order to have your name added to their sign-up sheet. When you register for your non-THDA courses, double-check to make sure you were registered into the THDA courses that you selected. Sometimes, students will put the course number of a certain course, but will put the CRN (Course Reference Number) of a completely different course. Make sure there are no holds on your account. If there's a hold on your account, you will not be able to register for courses until the hold is lifted. You can double-check your current status at the university by logging into webcat. After you've put in PIN and password, select "STUDENT AND FINANCIAL AID", than "REGISTRATION", then "CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS."


HOW TO REGISTER FOR 21 CREDITS PER SEMESTER
Due to the “activity” nature of this course, students are allowed one unpaid credit per semester; thus, if you register for 21 credits and 1 credit is practicum - you will not be charged. However, the student MUST petition to be allowed to carry 21 credits per semester.

During Pre-registration (any course registration taking place before the semester begins), students are limited to 18 credits. Once the semester begins (during the Add/Drop period), students may add an additional 2 credits. In addition, if students are enrolled in one or more practicum courses, they can add an additional credit per semester, bringing the total number of allowable credits per semester to 21.

CREDIT LIMITS PER SEMESTER
Pre-Registration	Limited to 18 credits
During Add/Drop Period	Add 2 more credits
During Add/Drop Period	Add 1 more credit if it’s a practicum course*
TOTAL ALLOWABLE CREDITS PER SEMESTER	21 Credits

*Students who are enrolled in 21 credits MUST fill out a “Petition for Variance in Academic Policy” requesting they be allowed to enroll in 21 credits. This form can be found on the Registrar’s Office website. Once completed, the form must be turned into the COLA Dean’s Office in Murkland Hall.

STUDENTS WHO REQUEST THE HENNESSY THEATRE FOR PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

Students wishing to reserve the Hennessy Theatre for a public performance must complete a “Student Use of the Hennessy Theatre Proposal.” Proposals must be submitted a semester in advance. This form can be found on the THDA website.

WEBCAT DEGREE EVALUATION FOR CURRENT STUDENTS

Degree evaluations are available to students and advisors on WEBCAT. Information is included on courses used to satisfy Gen Ed, Writing, and Foreign Language requirements for baccalaureate students.

When looking at your evaluation, keep the following things in mind:

1) YOUR THDA COURSES WILL BE LISTED BUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE FULFILLED MAJOR REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE REPRESENTED ON THIS EVALUATION.

When you pull up your evaluation, it says "Major Requirements - Not Met". This does not necessarily mean you have not fulfilled your major requirements. Major requirements are determined by your advisor, not the Registrar's Office. So please do not pay any attention to this part of your degree evaluation.

2) USING THDA COURSES TO FULFILL THE GROUP 6: FINE ARTS GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT.

First, below is a reminder of what the policy is regarding THDA students and the Group 6 Gen Ed requirement.

"THDA Majors are NOT allowed to use a single course to fulfill both General Education and THDA Major requirements. If, however, a THDA Major takes a THDA course that has been designated as fulfilling the Group 6: Fine Arts General Education requirement and the course is not required for the student’s major requirements, the student may use the course to fulfill his/her fine arts requirement. If a THDA Major uses a THDA course to fulfill the Group 6 General Education requirement (and does NOT need the course for their major requirements), the student must contact the THDA Main Office. Special permission must be sent to the Registrar’s Office allowing the student to use the course for their Group 6 requirement."

With that being said, keep in mind that if you use a THDA course to fulfill this requirement, that course will NEVER show up on your degree evaluation as filling the requirement. Since the official policy is to not allow majors to double-count major and Gen Ed requirements, the Registrar's Office computer system will not allow a THDA course to be listed for a major requirement. That's why the sending of the memo is so important. That memo is put into your Registrar's Office folder, and when the time comes for you to graduate, the Registrar's Office will look at that memo and approve you as fulfilling that specific requirement.

DEGREE EVALUATION ON WEBCAT