Major in Interdisciplinary Visual & Performing Arts
The visual and performing arts hold an essential place in our society, promoting cultural and economic growth, and fostering creative expression, community experience, and entertainment in a wide variety of media. The VPA Major provides students with coursework in Art, Music, and Theatre, serving as a foundation for interdisciplinary work in the arts. Core courses will promote critical thinking in all three disciplines, and prepare students intellectually and creatively for work on their capstone/senior thesis projects. Students will choose a concentration in Art, Music, or Theatre, taking courses that will provide knowledge, techniques and, models of thinking designed to enhance the creative process. Studies will be applied to the production, performance, and critical study of artistic work.
Concentration in Art
The Art concentration offers a program in the creation of visual art augmented by studies in art history. Courses in design, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital arts, and integrated media provide the technical skills and concepts that form the basis for expression in visual art. Existing within the interdisciplinary major, the Art concentration presents extensive involvement in studio art while encouraging creative thinking and artistic production that are informed by and sometimes created with the performing arts of music and theatre.
Concentration in Music
The Music concentration offers a program of study in performance skills, music theory, and music history. Students will develop strong musical literacy, as well as expertise in a particular instrument or voice. By a thorough study of performance skills, music theory, and music history, graduates will be equipped to work as professional musicians or enter graduate programs in various areas of music. While a solid grounding in traditional performance will be stressed, the interdisciplinary nature of the major will encourage activity with artists, actors, directors, poets, and those in other creative fields.
Concentration in Theatre
The Theatre concentration will provide a basis in theatre arts and technical skills, preparing students for graduate level study or entry level work in theatre and related fields. Students will study acting, design, stagecraft and directing, applying those skills to departmental and self-generated productions. A solid grounding in theatre arts will be emphasized, and students will be encouraged to collaborate with those in the visual arts and music, and to explore their own impulses and talents in diverse artistic disciplines.
Requirements for a Major
Minimum requirement for the major is completion of a three course (9 credit) Foundation curriculum, a three course (9 credit) Interdisciplinary Core, and 27 credits in one of three concentrations. Students will declare concentration in Art, Music, or Theatre.
Interdisciplinary Foundation Courses
Foundation in Art 3 credits
AR 112 World Art Survey I
or
AR 100 Cross Media Studio
Foundation in Music 3 credits
MU 100 Music Fundamentals
or
MU 102 Applied Music
or
MU 115 Music Appreciation
Foundation in Theatre 3 credits
TH191 Introduction to Theatre
Interdisciplinary Core Courses
VP 200 Critical Thinking in the Arts 3 credits
VP 300 Interdisciplinary Arts Seminar 3 credits
VP 400 Arts Capstone/ Senior Thesis 3 credits
Foundation and Core Total 18 credits
Requirements for the Concentration in Art
In addition to the three Foundation courses and three Interdisciplinary Core courses students will complete nine courses (27 credits) including:
AR 100 Cross Media Studio 3 credits
AR 140 Drawing I 3 credits
AR 117 Visual Design: 2-Dimensions 3 credits
AR 122 Visual Design: 3-Dimensions 3 credits
AR 113 World Art Survey II 3 credits
AR 225 Art Since Mid-Century 3 credits
Additional AR courses* 9 credits
Concentration Total 27 credits
Major Total 45 credits
Requirements for the Concentration in Music
In addition to the three Foundation courses and three Interdisciplinary Core courses students will complete 18 credits of classes, lessons, and ensemble (or 17 credits if Class Piano is taken) including:
MU 101 Fundamentals of Music & Aural Skills 3 credits
MU 205 Harmony I 3 credits
MU 281 Music History I 3 credits
MU 282 Music History II 3 credits
MU 102-202-302-402 4Private lessons 4 credits
(four semesters @ 1 credit each)
Ensemble 2 credits
(credits earned after completion of four
semesters of ensemble participation)
MU 190 Class piano (unless proficient) 1 credit
Additional MU courses* 8 or 9 credits
Or, if MU101 Fundamentals of Music & Aural Skills is taken as Interdisciplinary Foundation
MU 205 Harmony I 3 credits
MU 210 Harmony II 3 credits
MU 281 Music History I 3 credits
MU 282 Music History II 3 credits
MU 102-202-302-402 4 Private lessons 4 credits
(four semesters @ 1 credit each)
Ensemble 2 credits
(credits earned after completion of four
semesters of ensemble participation)
MU 190 Class Piano (unless proficient) 1 credit
Additional MU courses* 8 or 9 credits
Concentration Total 27 credits
Major Total 45 credits
Requirements for the Concentration in Theatre
In addition to the three Foundation courses and three Interdisciplinary Core courses students will complete nine courses (27 credits) including:
TH 275 Introduction to Stagecraft 3 credits
TH 245 Acting I 3 credits
TH 355 Theatre Practicum 3 credits
(3 at one credit each)
and one of the following:
TH 360 Scene Design for Theatre 3 credits
TH 370 Costume Design for Theatre 3 credits
TH 390 Lighting Design for Theatre 3 credits
Additional TH courses* 15 credits
Concentration Total 27 credits
Major Total 45 credits
*With advisement, electives within a concentration may be selected from the other disciplines. For description of required and elective courses see entries in individual disciplines of Art, Music, and Theatre.