School of Fine Arts Requirements
Minors
Courses |
|
|
School of Fine Arts
David G. Woods, Ph.D.,Dean, School of Fine Arts
Ted Yungclas, Ph.D., Assistant Dean, School of Fine Arts
Eva Gorbants, M.A., Assistant Dean
Link to the School of Fine Arts website for additional information.
The School of Fine Arts encompasses the Departments of Art and Art History, Dramatic Arts and Music. The curricula in each department afford not only an intensive professional education, but a liberal university education as well.
Admission Requirements. See Admission to the University and Department Guidelines.
General Education Requirements. The University Senate has adopted General Education Requirements in a variety of curricular areas that must be satisfied as part of every bachelor's degree program. These requirements appear in the "Academic Regulations" section of this Catalog.
Courses may be used to meet both School of Fine Arts and University requirements.
Supplementary Scholastic Standard. Fine Arts students (with the exception of Art History and Theatre Studies Majors) must enroll in a minimum of six credits in major department courses (Art and Art History, Dramatic Arts, or Music) each semester of full-time study unless an exception is granted by the Director of Advising.
Bachelor's Degree Requirements
Upon the recommendation of the faculty, the various bachelor's degrees are awarded by vote of the Board of Trustees to students who have met the following requirements:
1. Earned at least 120 credits applicable toward the degree;
2. earned at least a 2.0 grade point average for all calculable course work;
3. met all the requirements listed above for the specific degree taken.
Exemptions and Substitutions
Students who desire to be excused from any of the requirements or courses should consult the pertinent department head and Eva Gorbants, Assistant Dean.
Art and Art History
Degrees offered
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Bachelor of Arts in Art History
Competency Requirements
Information Literacy and Writing in the Major. Students must successfully complete at least one Art History W course.
Computer Technology. Students must meet University entrance standards.
B.F.A. Areas of Concentration
- Communication Design
- Illustration
- Individualized
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture/Ceramics
Admission
Common Curriculum
All B.F.A. students share a common curriculum of 39 credits:
- Drawing: ART 1030, 1040
- Foundation Courses: Studio Concepts: ART 1010
- Criticism and Interpretation: ART 1020
- Basic Studios*: Painting (ART 2310), Photography (ART 2410), Printmaking (ART 2510), and Sculpture (ART 2610),
- Art History: Twelve credits in Art History, one a 1000-level offering to be taken in the first two years of study. Not more than two 1000-level Art History courses may be used toward the Art History requirement for the B.F.A. degree.
- Senior Project: ART 4901
*Note: All basic studios should be completed no later than the completion of the fifth term.
Studio Art credit minimum requirement is 66 credits, a minimum of 30 which must be at the 2000-level or higher.
Areas of Concentration
All concentrations consist of a minimum of 18 credits of 2000-level or higher courses, with area requirements as specified below.
- Communication Design - ART 2011, 2110, 2120, 3110, 3120, 4110
- Illustration - ART 2010, 2011, 2110, 2210, 3010, 3210 (repeated once), 3350, 3370 or 3020,
- Painting - ART 2010, 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340 and six additional credits in the 3000-level courses in the painting area to be determined by student interest and faculty advisement.
- Photography - ART 2420, 3420, 3430 (may be repeated once), 3440 (may be repeated once), 4410 (may be repeated once); ARTH 3460, 3560.
- Printmaking - ART 2010, 3010, 3510, 3520, 3530 (may be repeated up to 18 credits).
- Sculpture - ART 2010, 3630, 3640, 3650, 3660 plus 6 additional credits in any of the 3000-level courses in the three-dimensional area to be determined by student interest and faculty advisement.
- Individualized Studies: - A program of at least 30 credits (including ART 4901) on the 2000-level or higher, drawn from two or more areas, in consultation with area faculty. Students must file an approved Individualized Studies Proposal.

Remaining Credits. Any remaining credits of the required 78 in art and art history may be filled by repeating some courses where permitted, taking relevant concentration courses, or taking electives in studio art.
Independent Study.
Open to fifth semester students with a minimum departmental grade point average of 3.0 and no outstanding incompletes for any other 3999. A maximum of 6 credits total.
Internships and Co-ops. Fifth semester students with a minimum major GPA of 3.0 have an opportunity for a placement in art for credit, either a Studio Internship (ART 3991) or Co-operative Education in Art (ART 3990).
Additional Graduation Requirements.
- Senior Project (C or better)
- Exibited work in annual senior show
Bachelor of Arts in Art History
Majors must complete two 1000-level courses in the following: ARTH 1128, 1137, 1138, 1140, 1141, and 1162, and eight 3000-4000 level courses
in the history of art with at least one 3000-4000 level course from at least five of the following six areas:
A. Ancient: ARTH 3140, 3150, 3210*
B. Medieval: ARTH 3210*, 3220, 3230, 3240, 3260
C. Renaissance-Baroque: ARTH 3320, 3330, 3340, 3620*
D. Modern-Contemporary: ARTH 3020, 3035, 3430, 3440, 3445, 3450, 3460, 3510, 3520, 3530, 3560, 3630, 3640*, 3645*
E. Cross-Cultural Perspectives: ARTH 3015W*, 3610, 3620*, 3630*, 3640*, 3645*, 3710*, 3715, 3720, 3730, 3740, 3745
F. Art History Theory and Methodology: ARTH 3005, 3010, 3015*, 3030, 3260*, and 4010
In addition, art history majors must take two studio art courses on any level for which they meet the prerequisite. Four related courses at the 3000-4000 level must be taken outside the major.
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be used to fill one, but not both, of the categories they designate.
Minors. The department also offers a minor in Art History. It is described in the Minors section of this Catalog.
Link to the Art History Department
Link to the Course Descriptions
Dramatic Arts
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, Design/Technical Theatre and Puppetry: preparation for successful careers in performing arts.
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies: study of theatre within a liberal arts curriculum.
Both programs are also considered as preparatory for graduate level studies.
The department also offers the Master of Arts and the Master of Fine Arts degrees. Consult the Graduate Catalog for details.
Admission.
- Prospective Acting majors - one contemporary and one Shakespeare verse monologue - total of 4 minutes
- Prospective Design/Technical major - interview
- Prospective Puppetry Arts majors - audition and interview
- Prospective Theatre Studies majors - departmental application/essay and interview
Requirements - B.F.A.
- To fulfill their departmental writing in the major requirement, students in all three B.F.A. programs in Dramatic Arts must complete one of the following three courses: DRAM 3131W, 4135W, or 4711W.
- Basic information literacy skills required for Dramatic Arts students in all three B.F.A. programs will be addressed in DRAM 1102 and/or DRAM 1701.
- Other information-gathering skills will also be addressed in the required DRAM 4711W (Directing) course and in the two courses each student must select from the 3000-4000 level Theatre History/Literature options (DRAM 3130, 3131W, 3138, and 4135W).
- All B.F.A. students in Dramatic Arts (Acting, Design/Technical, and Puppetry majors) must complete the following courses: DRAM 1102, 2130, 2131, 4711, and 6 credits selected from 3130, 3131, 3138, or 4135.
The following additional course requirements apply to the different major programs within the B.F.A.:
Acting majors must also complete:
- DRAM 1701, 1702, 1801, 1802, 1901, 2701, 2702, 2801, 2941, 4701, 4702, 4703, 4704, 4705, 4811, 4812, 4911, and 4912.
- DRAM 1282 (3 credits - one each in set running, costume running, and lighting or sound running) and DRAM 3182 (3 credits chosen from acting, assistant stage managing, dance or theatre management).
- There is no computer competency requirement for Acting majors beyond the University's entrance expectations.
Design/Technical majors must also complete:
- DRAM 1201, 1202, 1207 (three semesters - 3 credits each in lighting, costuming, and scenery), 1209, 1210, 3199 (12 credits), 3201, 3220, 3301, 3401, 3501.
-
- Beyond the University's entrance expectations, Design/Technical majors require computer competencies that are addressed in the following required courses: DRAM 1202, 1210, 3220, and 3501. Those intending to specialize in lighting design may also elect DRAM 3502 .
Puppetry majors must also complete:
- DRAM 1207 (three semesters - 3 credits each in lighting, costuming, and scenery), 1701, 1702, 1901, 3201, 3301, 3401, 3402, 3501, 3601, 3602, 3603, 3604.
- DRAM 3182 (4 credits to be selected from the following areas: acting, construction, costuming, lighting, painting, properties, puppetry performance, and running crew).
- Beyond the University's entrance expectations, Puppetry majors require computer competencies that are addressed in the following required course: DRAM 3501.
Requirements - B.A. - Theatre Studies
- To fulfill their departmental Writing in the Major requirement, Theatre Studies majors complete one of the three following courses: DRAM 3131W, 4135W, or 4711W.
- Basic information literacy skills required for Dramatic Arts students in all three B.F.A. programs will be addressed in DRAM 1102. Other information-gathering skills will also be addressed in the required DRAM 4711W (Directing) course and in the two courses each student must select from the 3000-4000 level Theatre History/Literature options (DRAM 3130, 3131W, 3138, and 4135W).
- There is no computer competency requirement for Theatre Studies majors beyond the University's entrance expectations.
- All Theatre Studies majors must complete the following courses: DRAM 1207 (two semesters - one each in two of the following areas: lighting, costuming, and scenery), 1102, 1701, 2130, 2131, 4711, and 6 credits selected from 3130, 3131, 3138, or 4135.
- All Theatre Studies majors must complete 18 additional credits in DRAM courses at the 3000-4000 level.
- All Theatre Studies majors must complete 12 credits (approved by the student's advisor) at the 3000-4000 level in a related group outside the department. These courses should be closely related to the student's major but need not be in a single department or program. These same courses may be used to satisfy other University requirements if appropriate.
Minors. The department also offers minors in Theatre Production and Theatre Studies. They are described in the Minors section of this Catalog.
Link to the Dramatic Arts Department
Link to the Course Descriptions
* Read an Advance article about pianos used in the Music Department. (Photo by Melissa Arbo)
Music
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in performance or theory.
Bachelor of Arts in Music: can be taken without emphasis, with a Music History Emphasis or with a Jazz Emphasis.
Bachelor of Science in Music Education: a dual degree program that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree through the Neag School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the School of Fine Arts. Students spend their first three years in the School of Fine Arts and the last 2 years in both schools. For more information, see the Neag School of Education.
The department offers the M.A., M.Mus., D.M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. Consult the Graduate Catalog for details.
Admission
On-site audition and aural skills assessment.
Common Curriculum
1. Completion of the following courses: MUSI 1101, 1103, 1222, 1311, 1312, 1313, 1314, 3311, 3312, 3313, 3314, 3401, 3402, 3403 and one additional 3000-level or above music history course. MUSI 1103 is required of all music students during the first fall semester of residence.
2. Convocation (MUSI 1101), Private Lesson (MUSI 1222 or 3222), and Ensemble (MUSI 1110, 1111 , or 1112) are required each semester. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Arts with voice as their primary instrument may substitute MUSI 1118 for MUSI 1111 in the last four semesters of their course of study. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Music Education may substitute MUSI 1118 for MUSI 1111 or 1114 in their eighth and ninth semesters of study. B.M. Theory students need 7 semesters of private lessons; B.A. and B.M. keyboard students need 4 semesters of ensemble.
3. Four performances representing the student's primary instrument. (See specific guidelines under additional requirements.)
4. Completion of piano proficiency equivalent to MUSI 1231 Class Piano Level 4
5. Students with a keyboard emphasis must complete 4 semesters of MUSI 1241 (B.M. and B.S. students must complete 4 semesters of MUSI 1241 before promotion to 3000-level or above applied study).
The University's information literacy requirement will be met through participation in MUSI 1101 which implements the performance requirement common to all degrees, MUSI 1222, 3222, and MUSI 3410W, 3411, 3412, 3413, 3414, 3415, or 3421W
The University's writing in the major requirement will be met through participation in MUSI 3410W, 3421W, or any 3000-level or above W course that has been approved for this major.
There is no computer competency requirement for Music majors beyond the University's Entrance Expectations.
Additional Requirements - B.A.
1. 9 credits outside Music Department in addition to general education requirements.
2. Minimum of 52 credits of music courses, of which 20 must be at the 2000-level or above.
3. Four performances in recital or convocation, as a soloist, chamber musician, or accompanist.
Music History Emphasis
- Music History courses: MUSI 4489, and three courses chosen from MUSI 3410W, 3411, 3412, 3413, 3414, 3415, 4471, 4472 and 4473: one of these three courses must be 4471, 4472 or 4473, and one must be on a pre-1700 topic.
- Music Theory courses: Two courses from MUSI 3321, 3322W, 3361, 3371Q.
- Foreign language: Option A-Two semesters of German, if another language was taken to fulfill the group requirement. Note: Students will take 1000-level courses in German for 4 credits.
Option B - If German was taken as a group requirement, then an additional 2 semesters will be required. Note: Students will take 2000-level or above courses in German for 3 credits.
Jazz Emphasis
- MUSI 1601, 3601, 3631, 3632
- For the last four semesters of this degree program, Jazz Ensemble (MUSI 1115) would fulfill the remaining four credits (1/semester) of the large ensemble requirement.
- Two semesters of applied study in jazz would count toward the 8 required semesters of applied study (MUSI 1222). Jazz lessons would be taught in either the third or fourth year of the degree program by members of our current jazz faculty.
Additional Requirements - B.M.
- Completion of MUSI 3321 and 3322.
- Four performances in convocation or recital, exclusive of any degree recitals. Students with an emphasis in performance must appear as soloist a minimum of three times, the other option being a chamber musician. Students with a theory emphasis may appear as soloist, chamber musician, or accompanist.
In addition, completion of the following courses:
Performance emphasis: Instrumental
Performance emphasis: Vocal
- MUSI 1119 (4 credits), 1251, 1252, 2253, 2254, 3222 (4 semesters), 3231, 4731, 4732, 4979, two courses from MUSI 3721, 3722, 3723, or 3724; and piano courses necessary to acquire proficiency in playing piano accompaniments as determined by jury.
- A half recital during the junior year as a prerequisite for MUSI 4979. Promotion to MUSI 3222 is a prerequisite for the half recital.
- A total of 88 credits in music.
Theory emphasis
Additional Requirements - for students seeking the Bachelor of Science in music education through the Neag School of Education:
- Completion of MUSI 1501 (5 credits).
- Completion of the requirements of the Neag School of Education, including EDCI 3305 , 4210W, and 4250.
- A minimum of 36 3000-4000 level credits in music consisting of the following courses: MUSI 3222, 3313, 3314, 3321, 3571, 4731, 4732, or 4733.
- Completion of professional education courses as specified by the Neag School of Education for certification; and a designated special education course.
- Four performances in recital or convocation, as a soloist, chamber musician, or accompanist.
Link to the Music Department

Link to the Course Descriptions
* Read an Advance article about the Music Department.
* Read an Advance article about and listen to the UConn Marching Band.
(Photo by Daniel Buttrey)
|