School of Arts and Humanities
Attention: Effective August 22, 2022, the School of Arts & Humanities and the School of Arts, Technology and Emerging Communication were consolidated to form the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. These catalog pages are being rewritten to reflect the consolidated school but the degree plans under the previous school names remain in force.
The School of Arts and Humanities offers baccalaureate degrees in Visual and Performing Arts, History, Literature, Philosophy, and Latin American studies. These five majors include courses of study in the studio arts, art history, vocal and instrumental music, communication, film studies, dance and theatre; history; philosophy; the culture of Latin America; and American, English, Spanish, and other literatures.
Students who complete the major in Visual and Performing Arts pursue an interdisciplinary study of the arts by selecting among courses in historical context, studio practice, performance ensemble, communication, and ideas and interpretation of the arts. Students may also choose to enroll in courses associated with concentrations in the visual arts, art history, communication, dance, theatre, film, music, photo-video-digital arts, or the interdisciplinary arts. History majors design a distinctive program of study around their interests, such as themes, topics, time periods, and historical or philosophical approaches to subject matter. The Philosophy major poses important questions concerning why we believe and how we know, the nature of the self and its connection with society, and the foundations of justice. The Literature program, which brings together writers and scholars dedicated to the study of literature and culture in an international and interdisciplinary context, offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of literary traditions, critical approaches, and theoretical debates. Latin American Studies majors explore the region through the study of history; economics, political science, and business; and literature, language, and culture.
Students in the School of Arts and Humanities are encouraged to explore the boundaries and the interrelationships of the major fields of study within the school. Consistent with this focus on the integration of the arts and humanities and a commitment to interdisciplinary education, the School has no conventional departments. Rather, its curriculum is designed to allow study that crosses and transforms traditional disciplinary lines.
Teacher Certification
Students interested in teaching in secondary schools can achieve Texas Teacher Certification in English and/or History and/or Composite Social Studies as part of their majors in either Literature or History. Immediately after being admitted to the University, interested students should meet with an advisor in the Teacher Development Center to receive a certification plan and with an Arts and Humanities advisor in Literature or History to receive a degree plan. Further details may be found in the Teacher Certification section of the catalog.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
The Fast Track program is designed to permit exceptional undergraduate students in Arts and Humanities majors to begin work on the master's degree before graduation.
Qualified seniors may take up to 12 semester credit hours of approved graduate courses in Arts and Humanities during their senior year and apply these semester credit hours to their undergraduate degree plans as either major and related courses or electives. The Fast Track courses will also be used to satisfy up to 12 graduate semester credit hours towards the Master's degree.
For further information on the Fast Track program, see the undergraduate academic advisors.
Minors
To minor in the Arts and Humanities, students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor, 9 of which must be upper-division semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). Core courses offered by the school may count as lower-division semester credit hours toward the minor. Students may choose to minor in any of the following fields of study:
- African American and African Diaspora Studies
- Art History
- Asian Studies
- Communication
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Film Studies
- History
- Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
- Latin American Studies
- Literature
- Medicine, Arts, Science, and Humanities (MASH)
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
Students may contact their academic advisor for a list of the courses that satisfy each minor
Related Minor Areas:
Minor in Gender Studies (18 semester credit hours)
The Gender Studies minor is 18 semester credit hours. The courses consist of GST 2300, two other Gender Studies core courses, and nine semester credit hours of approved Gender Studies electives.