School of Arts and Humanities
Visual and Performing Arts with Communication Concentration (BA)
Students who complete the major in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) pursue an interdisciplinary study of the arts by completing a major core that includes courses in writing, interdisciplinary studies, professional development, historical context, theory, and practice. The VPA major culminates in a Senior Capstone. Students who are majoring in VPA can focus their studies by choosing from nine possible concentrations.
The Communication concentration focuses student work on the theories, concepts, and skills of oral, written, and mediated communication. Communication courses teach students how to engage in critical thinking and problem solving, to participate effectively in meetings and in teams, and to communicate competently in relationships and in public speaking contexts.
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. At least one-half of the total semester credit hours for major requirements must be taken at UT Dallas.
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 Communication Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Clinical Professors: Carie King, Maribeth (Betsy) Schlobohm
Professor of Instruction: Christopher (Chris) Ryan
Assistant Professors of Instruction: Barbara Baker, Janece Glauser, Patricia Totusek
Senior Lecturer: Allison Templeton
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
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
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 (see advisor)
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 (see advisor)
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
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
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 Core courses (see advisor)
II. Major Requirements, Lower-Division: 0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum4
Choose one course from the following: (0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum)
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
FILM 1303 Transnational Film and Video3
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre3
MUSI 1306 Understanding Music3
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization3
Lower-division preparatory courses from one of the following (3 semester credit hours):
COMM 1320 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 2314 Oral Interpretation
COMM 2317 Topics in Communication
THEA 1351 Acting 1
THEA 1352 Acting 2
THEA 2372 Improvisation
THEA 2373 Languages of the Body
III. Major Requirements, Upper-Division: 39 semester credit hours
Major Core Courses: 15 semester credit hours
VPAS 3340 Writing in the Arts
VPAS 4389 Theory and Practice of the Visual and Performing Arts
VPAS 4390 Senior Capstone
or VPAS 4V99 Senior Honors in Visual and Performing Art
3 semester credit hours of upper-level Related Courses from the School of Arts and Humanities (excluding the COMM prefix)
Select 3 semester credit hours of Professional Development Courses from the following:
ARTS 3311 Contemporary Art Practices
ARTS 4310 Studies in Contemporary Exhibitions
COMM 4370 Communication and Leadership
COMM 4371 Communication and Professionalism
ENTP 3301 Innovation and Entrepreneurship
ISAH 4V50 Internship
VPAS 4310 Entertainment Law
Communication Concentration Requirements: 24 semester credit hours
COMM 3351 History and Theory of Communication
COMM 4360 Communication Ethics
COMM 4314 Persuasion and Interpersonal Influence
Choose 6 semester credit hours of upper-division courses from the following Communication Performance courses:
COMM 3320 Readers' Theater
COMM 3321 Advanced Public Speaking
COMM 3340 Small Group Communication
THEA 3372 Advanced Improvisation
And 9 semester credit hours of COMM Electives
IV. Elective Requirements: 39 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 39 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.