The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the relationship between social skills and dramatic arts. In an effort to explore and eventually eradicate the negative problems plaguing today's generation, this study sought to question youth who may have grappled with social and communicative problems during their matriculation in…

The life of a traditional aged college student is filled with many fast-moving decisions and new life experiences. When conflict arises in a student's life, it can upend a student's progression if they are not properly trained to deal with conflict. Current conflict management teaching curricula being given to students are insufficient due to…

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns were phenomena experienced by the majority of the modern world, but not everyone experienced it in the same way. Each person brings their own past, their own interests, and their own needs to the lived experience. Pre-pandemic research on art therapy suggests that creative expression could be helpful…

This study examines the educational journey and professional challenges faced by performing artists holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. Utilizing an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology, the research delves into the lived experiences of ten BFA holders in the performing arts, exploring their motivations, career…

During a global pandemic, another pandemic of loneliness impacted undergraduate college students and influenced the way members of the 18-25-year-old population lived and learned throughout a time of intentional distancing. Additionally, the insurgence of loneliness impacts members of the 18-25 age group in startling rates. This qualitative case…

The purpose of this project dissertation was to research, create and assess a hypothetical two-year musical theatre/music theater (MT) curriculum to serve as a model for future implementation at community colleges. As one of the fastest growing and most prolific forms of popular entertainment today, the 21st Century musical is uniquely poised to…

Since the end of the 19th century, musical theater has thrived and continued to grow as a prominent American artform. Though musical theater has roots in classical style singing, it quickly capitalized on the inclusion of contemporary music trends, notation, orchestration, and themes. Because of its influence from contemporary styles, musical…

Individuals with a growth mindset believe they have the ability to learn (Dweck, 2006). The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the shared lived experiences connected to growth mindset, self-efficacy, and grit in a population of undergraduate students at a private women's university in the Midwest who participate…

This qualitative phenomenological study thoroughly examines an art collective network within Mississippi's community colleges, specifically focusing on enhancing career preparation for students seeking opportunities in the entertainment industry. Through semi-structured interviews, this study gathered data from a purposive sample of six current…

This study was designed to examine the on-campus experience of Black male visual and performing arts students at Storytelling University (pseudonym), a predominantly white institution in the Northeast, particularly how those experiences shape their careers as storytellers in mainstream media. The analysis of this research is expressed through a…

Although systemic racism has always been a persistent problem in university theater training (Community of BIPOC Theatremakers, 2020a), heightened calls for action began in the late spring and early summer of 2020. In July 2020, some 300 BIPOC theater-makers drafted and signed an open letter to the theater industry at large (Community of BIPOC…

Although theater arts curricula have been established in most institutions of higher learning in the United States throughout the 20th century, little scholarship has been devoted to exploring the actual value of a theater arts pedagogy and its influence on students. The field of theater arts education merits attention not only because of the…

This study explores the integration of career development into performing arts curriculum and its relevance to job satisfaction in the labor market for African American Music degree graduates. Through a phenomenological analysis utilizing interpretative analysis and snowball sampling, 11 interviews were conducted across two Historically Black…

Students arrive at an institution of higher learning in pursuit of a bachelor's degree, however those who graduate leave the school with much more than a diploma. Research suggests that the challenges of college life, as well as the support provided by educators, provides countless opportunities for students to develop cognitive maturity,…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to discover, from career services practitioners' perspective, their involvement working with faculty advisors on academic and career advising of collegiate visual and performing artists (VPA). Habley (1988, 2009) wrote about the importance of research in academic advising, to promote scholarly inquiry,…