The Department of Fine Arts represents the consolidation of three of the academic disciplines devoted to creative endeavors at the University: Art, Music, and Theatre. Through its faculty members, courses are offered in Art (ART), Music (MUSIC), Applied Music (MUSA) and Theatre (THC). The Bachelor of Arts (B. A.) Degree in Art, Music and Theatre, and the Master of Arts (M. A.) Degree in Music are also offered along with minors in Art, Music, and Theatre for students pursuing undergraduate degrees in other departments. Members of the Department and departmental facilities are housed among four structures: the Rollins-Stewart Music Center, the Rhinehart Auditorium, the University Auditorium/Ollington-Smith Playhouse and the John T. Biggers Art Building. The Department office is located on the first floor of the Rollins-Stewart Music Center in Room 112.

For detailed information on the Master of Arts Degree in Music, students are referred to the Graduate School Bulletin of Texas Southern University.

In pursuing the B. A. Degree, students may select from three curriculum tracks of study Art, Music and Theatre. Each of these three tracks also has specialty areas that students may select from. For the B. A. in Art, seven specialties or specializations are: Art History, Ceramics, Design, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture. For the B. A. in Music, three specialties or specializations are available: Applied Performance, Composition and Music History. For the B. A. in Theatre, two specialties or specializations are available: Performance and Technical Theatre. In selecting one of these three tracks and an associated specialty, students who are first-time degree seekers are not required to declare a minor in a second academic discipline. Instead, they are required to complete 18 semester credit hours in the area of specialization.

The primary mission of the Department of Fine Arts is to provide student with aesthetic experiences in art, music and theatre. Fundamental, theories and creativity are the basis of this extensive program which includes design, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, painting, sculpture, exhibitions, ensembles and solo performances. Curricular offerings are designed to produce artists, performers and directors as well as provide a broad liberal arts education. Students are provided with a strong undergraduate education upon which to base the pursuit to advanced or graduate study. Faculty members in the Department are committed to providing an educational environment where aspiring visual and performing artists and craftsmen develop in the understanding and mastering of creative techniques; where all students may gain an appreciation of the cultural, historical and educational values of the arts; and where cultural awareness translates to the community.

Requirements for the B. A. in Art, Music and Theatre, as well as the three minors offered through this unit, are summarized below with exact requirements dependent upon the track, including specialty, or minor selected.

In considering requirements for the B. A. Degree or one of the three minors, students must first be admitted by the University, must satisfy TASP requirements, must eradicate deficiencies assessed through the General University Academic Center (GUAC), must petition the Department for admission as TASP requirements are completed and must complete preliminary requirements established by the department for majors. Further admission and graduation requirements for the Department are considered below. An exit examination is required of all graduating seniors.

Individuals interested in seeking certification for teaching in the public schools of Texas in academic disciplines offered through the Department should contact the Director of Certification in the College of Education at Texas Southern University for application instructions.

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