School of Arts and Humanities
Visual and Performing Arts (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
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Richard Brettell, Fred I. Curchack, Enric Madriguera, Adrienne L. McLean, John J. Pomara, Thomas P. Riccio, Robert Xavier Rodríguez, Marilyn Waligore
Clinical Professors: Catherine Parsoneault, Maribeth (Betsy) Schlobohm
Associate Professors: Shelley D. Lane, Mark Rosen, Charissa N. Terranova, Shilyh Warren
Clinical Associate Professors: Michele Hanlon, Gregory Hustis, Linda Salisbury, Lorraine Tady
Clinical Assistant Professors: Shelby Hibbs, Michael McVay
Senior Lecturers: Barbara Baker, Karen Baynham, Diane Durant, Kelly P. Durbin, Kathryn C. Evans, Lori Gerard, Janece Glauser, Dianne Goode, Melissa Hernandez-Katz, Kathy Lingo, Mary Medrick, Greg L. Metz, Misty Owens, Christopher (Chris) Ryan, Monica M. Saba, Allison Templeton, Patricia Totusek
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
And choose one course from the following:
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
COMM 1315 Public Speaking
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
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
FILM 1303 Transnational Film and Video3
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture core courses
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
AHST 1303 Survey of Western Art History: Ancient to Medieval3
AHST 1304 Survey of Western Art History: Renaissance to Modern3
ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts3
DANC 1310 Understanding Dance3
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre3
MUSI 1306 Understanding Music3
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization3
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts core courses
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History core courses
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
DANC 1305 Introduction to World Dance Forms3
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area option courses
II. Major Requirements, Lower-Division: 0-3 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum4
Choose one course from the following:
AHST 1303 Survey of Western Art History: Ancient to Medieval3
AHST 1304 Survey of Western Art History: Renaissance to Modern3
ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts3
DANC 1305 Introduction to World Dance Forms3
DANC 1310 Understanding Dance3
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre3
FILM 1303 Transnational Film and Video3
MUSI 1306 Understanding Music3
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization3
And
3 semester credit hours of lower-division Visual and Performing Arts electives3
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
3 semester credit hours of upper-division Historical Context courses
6 semester credit hours of upper-division courses from Studio and Ensemble courses
15 semester credit hours of upper-division Visual and Performing Arts electives
Major-Related Courses: 9 semester credit hours
Students may select any combination of upper-division courses in Arts and Humanities, Humanities, Historical Studies, Philosophy, Literature, and/or Languages.
IV. Elective Requirements: 33-36 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 33-36 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.
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.
3. A required Preparatory course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours may be counted in Core Curriculum.
4. 0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum, if the student has not previously completed other courses to satisfy these core curriculum requirements.