Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Visual and Performing Arts (BA) with Film Concentration
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.
Film Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that considers the history, aesthetics, and ideology of cinema as an art form, as an industry, and as a system of personal, political, and cultural representation. Courses are offered on a variety of topics involving film and moving-image culture, among them authorship, adaptation, world and national cinemas, genres (such as comedy, the musical, horror, and science fiction), and modes (such as documentary, experimental cinema, and film noir).
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 Film Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professor: Adrienne L. McLean
Associate Professor: Shilyh Warren
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours1
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
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
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
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
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Option 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
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses
II. Major Requirements, Lower-Division: 0-6 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum3
Lower-division preparatory courses (0-6 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum):
3 semester credit hours of lower-level Visual and Performing Arts Prep Course2
III. Major Requirements, Upper-Division: 48 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 Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (excluding the AHST 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
Film Concentration: 33 semester credit hours
9 semester credit hours from the following:
FILM 3321 Film in Historical Context
FILM 3325 Film Authorship
6 semester credit hours from the following:
FILM 3321 Film in Historical Context
FILM 3325 Film Authorship
FILM 3342 Topics in Film
FILM 4V71 Independent Study in Film
6 semester credit hours of upper-division courses of Prescribed Electives from the following:
AHST 3324 History of Photography
ATCM 2322 Media Histories
ATCM 2321 Reading Media Critically
ATCM 3321 Networked Identities
ATCM 3325 Global Media Cultures
ATCM 3331 Critical Making
ATCM 4322 Disability, Technology, and Media
ATCM 4323 Feminism, Technology, and Media
ATCM 4325 Race, Technology, and Media
ATCM 4327 Privacy and Surveillance
BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry
COMM 3352 Media and Culture
CRWT 3354 Screenwriting Workshop
CRWT 4355 Advanced Screenwriting Workshop
GST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies
6 semester credit hours of upper-division Visual and Performing Arts electives:
Students may select any combination of upper-division courses in Art History, Communication, Dance, Film Studies, Music, Theatre, Visual Art, and/or Visual and Performing Arts.
6 semester credit hours of Major Related courses:
Students may select any combination of upper-division courses from the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology.
IV. Elective Requirements: 24-30 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 24-30 semester credit hours
Both upper- and lower-division courses may be used as electives.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.
Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of AHTC 1100.
Minors
Students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor. 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). Semester credit hours may not be used to satisfy both the major and minor requirements; however, free elective semester credit hours or major preparatory classes may be used to satisfy the minor. Core courses offered by the school may count as lower-division semester credit hours toward the minor. Topics courses must be approved by the school. The Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology will substitute courses as necessary. At least one-third of the semester credit hours for a minor must be taken at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Minor in Film Studies
18 semester credit hours
Required Course: 3 semester credit hours
FILM 2332 Understanding Film
Foundations in Film: 9 semester credit hours4
Choose three courses from the following:
FILM 1303 Transnational Film and Video
FILM 3321 Film in Historical Context
FILM 3325 Film Authorship
FILM 3342 Topics in Film
FILM 3326 World Cinema
Visual and Performing Arts Electives: 3 semester credit hours
Students may select any combination of upper-division courses in Art History, Communication, Dance, Film Studies, Music, Theatre, Visual Art, and/or Visual and Performing Arts.
Prescribed Electives: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following (3 semester credit hours):
ANGM 2315 Animation Origins and Techniques
ANGM 4309 Storyboarding
ATCM 2350 Time-Based Media
ATCM 3350 Digital Video Production I
AHST 3324 History of Photography
ATCM 2322 Media Histories
ATCM 2321 Reading Media Critically
COMM 3352 Media and Culture
CRWT 3354 Screenwriting Workshop
CRWT 4355 Advanced Screenwriting Workshop
GST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies
1. 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.
2. A required Preparatory course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours may be counted in Core Curriculum.
3. 0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum, if the student has not previously completed other courses to satisfy these core curriculum requirements.
4. Foundations in Film courses are repeatable as topics change.