Theatre provides students with a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the academic study of theatre and performance in both its historical and contemporary contexts and to prepare students for work in the industry or for further research by developing the skills of leadership, self and group management, initiative, personal responsibility, interpersonal skills, decision-making and independent learning; film and television studies focus on both mainstream and alternative practices, the latter including American independent cinema, 3rd cinema and alternative film and video practices; popular genres such as horror and comedy and studied alongside, and informed by, more theoretically oriented material.