School of Arts and Humanities
Visual and Performing Arts with Theatre Concentration (BA)
Students who complete the major in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) pursue an interdisciplinary study of the arts by selecting among courses in historical context, studio practice, performance ensemble, creative writing, and ideas and interpretation of the arts. In the VPA core course, students will experience the theory and practice of the arts in a workshop setting and, in studio or ensemble courses, will gain practical experience in at least one area of the visual or performing arts or creative writing. Courses in the historical context and interpretation of the arts will enable students to understand how style, subject matter, and materials may respond to different motivations and purposes. Students may also choose to enroll in courses associated with concentrations in communication, dance, theatre, film, music, or visual arts.
Since the following catalog course descriptions are very general, students are urged to consult the detailed course descriptions available on the web site for the School of Arts and Humanities.
Unless otherwise noted, courses in Visual and Performing Arts are open to all students in the University.
Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts with Theatre Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Fred I. Curchack, Thomas P. Riccio
Clinical Assistant Professor: Shelby Hibbs
Senior Lecturer: Kathy Lingo
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist
MATH 1314 College Algebra
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics core courses
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences core courses
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities
LIT 2331 Masterpieces of World Literature
PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2316 History of Philosophy I
PHIL 2317 History of Philosophy II
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture core courses
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts
AHST 1303 Survey of Western Art History: Ancient to Medieval
AHST 1304 Survey of Western Art History: Renaissance to Modern
AHST 2331 Understanding Art
DANC 1310 Understanding Dance
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre
FILM 2332 Understanding Film
MUSI 1306 Understanding Music
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Choose two courses from the following:
HIST 1301 U.S. History Survey to Civil War
HIST 1302 U.S. History Survey from Civil War
HIST 2301 History of Texas
HIST 2330 Themes and Ideas in American History
HIST 2332 Civil War and Reconstruction
Government / Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences core courses
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
Choose two courses from the following or other Component Area Option courses:
ARHM 2340 Creativity
ARHM 2342 Connections in the Arts and Humanities
ARHM 2343 Science and the Humanities
ARHM 2344 World Cultures
Or any 6 hours of Component Area Option courses
II. Major Requirements, Lower-Division: 9 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre
3 semester credit hours from a THEA studio course, including:
THEA 1351 Acting 1
THEA 1352 Acting 2
THEA 2311 Topics in Theatre
THEA 2364 Musical Theatre Workshop
THEA 2371 Technical Theatre
THEA 2372 Improvisation
THEA 2373 Languages of the Body
THEA 2V71 Independent Study in Theatre
THEA 2350 Voice for the Actor
3 semester credit hours from a THEA/DANC/MUSI studio ensemble course
III. Major Requirements, Upper-Division: 42 semester credit hours
Major Core Courses: 9 semester credit hours
AP 3300 Elements of Art and Performance
ARHM 3342 Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts and Humanities
AP 3340 Writing in the Arts
Major Distribution and Elective Courses: 24 semester credit hours
THEA 3323 Performance in Historical Context
3 semester credit hours from the following:
THEA 3310 Theatre/Performance Ensemble
THEA 3324 Technical Theatre 2
THEA 3325 Directing
THEA 3351 Light Design
THEA 3372 Advanced Improvisation
3 semester credit hours from the following:
THEA 3342 Advanced Topics in Theatre
THEA 3356 Acting 3
THEA 3361 Performing Shakespeare
THEA 3372 Advanced Improvisation
THEA 4301 Acting for Film and Video
THEA 4342 Advanced Topics in Technical Theatre
6 semester credit hours of upper-division THEA studio/ensemble courses (THEA 3380 suggested), including:
THEA 3310 Theatre/Performance Ensemble
THEA 3323 Performance in Historical Context
THEA 3324 Technical Theatre 2
THEA 3325 Directing
THEA 3342 Advanced Topics in Theatre
THEA 3351 Light Design
THEA 3356 Acting 3
THEA 3372 Advanced Improvisation
THEA 3380 Theatre and Literature
THEA 4301 Acting for Film and Video
THEA 4310 Theatre Internship
THEA 4V71 Independent Study in Theatre
THEA 4342 Advanced Topics in Technical Theatre
6 semester credit hours of upper-division THEA/DANC/MUSI courses
3 semester credit hours of upper-division Visual and Performing Arts elective
Students may select any combination of upper-division courses in Arts and Humanities, Humanities, Historical Studies, Philosophy, Literature, and/or Languages.
IV. Elective Requirements: 27 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 27 semester credit hours
Both upper- and lower-division courses may be used as electives, but students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to qualify for graduation. Students are encouraged to enroll in courses in other performance areas, such as dance and music.
Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of ARHM 1100.1
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.