Whether you need to fulfill an arts Gen Ed requirement or simply want to participate and express yourself artistically, the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts provides a wide range of courses.

Fall/Spring

Summer

Summer session (SS) classes are broken up into the first half (SS1) and second half (SS2) of summer.

Descriptions For New Courses

BCMD 0830
Sounds of Philadelphia—SS2
This course will explore the history of music in Philadelphia, using music as a gateway to understand and challenge assumptions regarding issues of race, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity and identity. In this course, students will learn about composers, musical artists and institutions with deep roots in Philadelphia in the framework of issues related to race and diversity.

DANC 2844
Hip Hop I (2 credits)—SS2
We will go on a virtual crash course to learn the foundational techniques and cultural legacy of three forms under the hip-hop dance umbrella: locking (aka campbellocking), hip-hop/party dance and house dance. For the final, students will create a dance video of their learning, which will be edited by the instructor.

DANC 2868, sec 701
Studies in Dance: Electronic Dance Music Styles: Tutting, Liquid and Digits (2 credits)—SS1
This course introduces students to a variety of electronic dance music (EDM) and related styles of social dance. Through synchronous online instruction, students will learn foundations in the hand-based styles of tutting, liquid and digits, each supplemented with components of footwork, such as gliding, rocking and shuffling.

DANC 2868, sec 702
Studies in Dance: Body-Mind Awareness in Ballet (2 credits)—SS2
In this course, students will explore body awareness practices including Bartenieff Fundamentals and Pilates and how they can be applied to ballet technique. Through imagery and experiential exercises, this online course will focus on the dynamic alignment of body and mind to discover new mobility and expressiveness in ballet.

DANC 2868, sec 703
Studies in Dance: Breakdancing – Moves and Meanings (2 credits)—SS2
Suitable for all ability levels, students in this course will explore the movement aesthetics and cultural heritage of the hip-hop art of “breaking.” This online course will cover key movement concepts: toprock, footwork, power moves (spins) and freezes, supported through reading, discussion, video clips and practical tasks that embrace the core elements of hip-hop knowledge.

DANC 2868, sec 704
Studies in Dance: Dance Health and Fitness (2 credits)—SS2
Students will study movement fundamentals and vocabulary of ballet, modern and African diasporic dance techniques while simultaneously exploring the physiological benefits of dance practice and the connections between diet, nutrition and fitness. Instruction will be delivered by Zoom.

FMA 3696
A Fresh Start: The Role of Reinvention in the History and Culture of Los Angeles (4 credits)—SS1, SS2
From the reality show The Hills to the series Bojack Horseman to the artist Raymond Pettibon's I Thought California Would Be Different to Paul Thomas Andersen's Boogie Nights to Sandra Tsing Loh's 1990s essays and more, this class will view documentaries and films—plus classic works of architecture, criticism and literature—that present the city in parallel with its embrace of "beginning anew." Homework will emphasize reading texts from a multitude of disciplines that explore this California characteristic shared by transplants and immigrants alike. Weekly writing responses will be designed to improve students' overall writing skills and refine critical perspectives.

FMA 3770
Entertainment Industry Perspectives (4 credits)—SS1
The objective of this course is to expose students to a variety of career path options, professional skills and career-building strategies specifically suited to the entertainment industry. Weekly visiting guests, all of whom are working professionals in various areas of the industry and at various stages in their working lives, will share with students firsthand knowledge about embarking upon and navigating entertainment industry careers. In addition, students will write weekly assignments, as well as a final paper, reflecting upon the information and advice they are learning from visiting lecturers and how that knowledge informs their career goals and plans.

FMA 4440
Hollywood Head Start (4 credits)—SS1
Los Angeles is the most prominent hub of entertainment industry jobs in the United States, and as such, it attracts aspiring professionals from all over the world. How can you make yourself stand out from the crowd in such a competitive environment? This course equips students from a range of majors with the knowledge, tools and skills they need to successfully launch their careers in LA. Whether your goal is to study, intern or work in Los Angeles—or perhaps all three—this course will give you a valuable head start.

MUST 4780
Special Topics in Music Studies: History of Rock (2 credits)—SS2
This course provides students with an appreciation and understanding of the history of American popular music and rock as it relates to culture and society. Special attention will be paid to the notion of music genre as it relates to social trends, traditions and community from the 1950s through the early 2000s.