Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Visual and Performing Arts (BA) with Interdisciplinary Arts 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.
The Interdisciplinary Arts concentration focuses student work in two discipline areas. Students will choose two different areas of focus, identified as Discipline I and Discipline II. Discipline areas must be from the following: Visual Art, Art History, Communication, Dance, Film, Music, and Theatre.
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 Interdisciplinary Arts Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Fred I. Curchack , Adrienne L. McLean , John J. Pomara , Thomas P. Riccio , Robert Xavier Rodríguez , Charissa N. Terranova , Michael Thomas , Marilyn Waligore
Associate Professors: Mark Rosen , Shilyh Warren
Assistant Professor: SV Randall
Clinical Professors: Carie King , Catherine Parsoneault , Maribeth (Betsy) Schlobohm
Clinical Associate Professor: Lorraine Tady
Clinical Assistant Professor: Shelby Hibbs
Professors of Instruction: Kathy Lingo , Christopher (Chris) Ryan
Associate Professors of Instruction: Diane Durant , Kelly P. Durbin , Kathryn C. Evans , Melissa Hernandez-Katz , Jonathan Palant , Monica M. Saba
Assistant Professors of Instruction: Barbara Baker , Lori Gerard , Janece Glauser , Misty Owens , Allison Templeton , Patricia Totusek
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
FILM 1303 Transnational Film and Video2
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 Medieval2
AHST 1304 Survey of Western Art History: Renaissance to Modern2
ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts2
DANC 1310 Understanding Dance2
THEA 1310 Understanding Theatre2
MUSI 1306 Understanding Music2
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization2
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 Forms2
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 Curriculum3
Discipline I Prep Course
3 semester credit hours of lower-division AHST, ARTS, COMM, FILM, DANC, MUSI, or THEA courses.
Discipline II Prep Course
3 semester credit hours of lower-division AHST, ARTS, COMM, FILM, DANC, MUSI, or THEA courses.4
III. Major Requirements, Upper-Division: 45 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 Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (excluding prefixes used in Discipline I and II)
Select 3 semester credit hours of Professional Development Courses from the following:
VPAS 4310 Entertainment Law
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
Discipline I: 15 semester credit hours
Select 15 semester credit hours of upper-division AHST, ARTS, COMM, FILM, DANC, MUSI, or THEA courses.5, 6
Discipline II: 15 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours of upper-division AHST, ARTS, COMM, FILM, DANC, MUSI, or THEA courses.4, 5, 6
IV. Elective Requirements: 33 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 33 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 Performing Arts
18 semester credit hours
Choose any 18 semester credit hours from all DANC, THEA, and MUSI courses.
Students can also take ARTS 1301.
9 semester credit hours must be upper-division.
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. Course cannot come from the same prefix as the Discipline I Prep Course.
5. All courses must be within the same prefix.
6. One of the courses from either Discipline I or II must be a historical context course.