School of Arts and Humanities
Visual and Performing Arts with Visual Arts 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 Visual Arts Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: John J. Pomara, Marilyn Waligore
Clinical Associate Professor: Lorraine Tady
Senior Lecturers: Diane Durant, Greg L. Metz
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
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:
AHST 1303 Survey of Western Art History: Ancient to Medieval3
AHST 1304 Survey of Western Art History: Renaissance to Modern3
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
Select any 6 semester credit hours fromomponent Area Option courses
II. Major Requirements, Lower-Division: 6 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
Lower-division preparatory courses:
ARTS 2380 Visual Design Foundations
Choose one course from the following:
ARTS 1316 Drawing Foundations
ARTS 2316 Painting Foundations
ARTS 2350 Photography: Design Basics
ARTS 2381 Introduction to Sculpture
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
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 Art History courses
6 semester credit hours of 3000-level courses from Visual Arts studios
3 semester credit hours of 4000-level courses from Visual Arts studios
12 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: 30 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 30 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.