UTexas

Bachelor of Fine Arts

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

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Core Curriculum

All students must complete the University’s Core Curriculum. In the process of fulfilling the core curriculum and other degree requirements, all students are expected to complete the Skills and Experience flags:

  1. Writing: two flagged courses beyond Rhetoric and Writing 306 or its equivalent
  2. Quantitative Reasoning: one flagged course
  3. Global Cultures: one flagged course
  4. Cultural Diversity in the United States: one flagged course
  5. Ethics: one flagged course
  6. Independent Inquiry: one flagged course

Courses that may be used to fulfill core curriculum and flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule. They may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements, unless otherwise specified. Please note, students may not earn the cultural diversity and global cultures flags from the same course. Students are encouraged to discuss options with a departmental academic advisor.

Studio Art Major

Major Requirements

  1. Studio art: 60 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Studio Art 311C, 312C, 313C, and 314C
    2. Twelve semester hours of lower-division Studio Art courses, consisting of three hours from four of the following five areas:
      1. Transmedia
      2. Photography
      3. Print
      4. Painting and drawing
      5. Sculpture
    3. Thirty-three additional semester hours of studio art, of which at least 21 hours must be upper-division
    4. Studio Art 350P
  2. Art history: 12 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Art History 302 and 303
    2. Six semester hours of upper-division coursework in art history, three semester hours of which may also be counted toward the visual and performing arts requirement of the core curriculum

Electives

Six semester hours chosen from courses either within or outside the Department of Art and Art History. Additional elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BFA with a major in studio art: 120 semester hours as outlined above.

Design Major

Major Requirements

  1. Design courses: 38 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Design 304, 305, and 6 additional semester hours of lower-division DES coursework
    2. Internship: Design 360 or a combination of Design 260 and 160I 
    3. Design 374 with a grade of at least C-
    4. Design 375 with a grade of at least C-
    5. Seventeen additional semester hours of upper-division courses in design. Design 336 and 337 may not be counted.
  2. Supportive courses in design, related technologies, and the visual arts: 15 semester hours of approved supportive courses in Design (DES) or related fields. The School of Design and Creative Technologies' advising office maintains a list of pre-approved supportive courses
  3. Art/design history/theory/criticism courses: 12 semester hours consisting of
    1. Art History 303
    2. Design 308
    3. Design 336 or 337 (Topic 1: History of Graphic Design)
    4. Three additional semester hours of courses in Art History or approved art/design history/theory/criticism courses in related fields. The School of Design and Creative Technologies' advising office maintains a list of pre-approved supportive courses
  4. Performance review: Design 131. A design major must register for the performance review course during the second semester of sophomore year, and present a portfolio of his or her works for review by designated design faculty at the end of the semester. The works to be included for review are specified by the design faculty. In order to enroll in courses numbered Design 340 or higher, the student must pass this performance review.

Several of the courses which may be used to complete requirement 3 are also approved to fulfill the visual and performing arts requirement of the core curriculum and may be used to fulfill both.

Electives

Twelve semester hours chosen from courses either within or outside the School of Design and Creative Technologies. Additional elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BFA with a major in design: 120 semester hours as outlined above.

Art Education Major

The major in art education is a preprofessional academic program recommended for students seeking all-level (early childhood through grade 12) teacher certification in art or planning to pursue undergraduate or graduate training for visual art careers in community art programs. Students seeking teacher certification must adhere to current state requirements in addition to the degree requirements described in this catalog. Students should contact the College of Education for current state certification requirements. See Preparation for Teacher Certification for additional information.

State of Texas teacher certification requirements are governed by the Texas Education Agency and are subject to change. Students must adhere to current teacher certification requirements, even if they differ from those listed in the University catalogs.

Major Requirements

  1. Studio art: 30 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Studio Art 311C, 312C, 313C, and 314C
    2. Nine semester hours, consisting of three hours from each of the following three areas:
      1. Area A: Drawing, life drawing, painting
      2. Area B: Printmaking and photography
      3. Area C: Transmedia and sculpture
    3. Nine additional semester hours of coursework in studio art, all of which must be upper-division
  2. Art history: 12 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Art History 302 and 303
    2. Six semester hours of upper-division coursework in art history, three semester hours of which may also be counted toward the visual and performing arts requirement of the core curriculum.
  3. Art education: 12 semester hours of coursework in art education
  4. 12 semester hours approved by the art education advisor.

Professional Development in Education

Please see the UTeach-Fine Arts section of this catalog for more information.

Approved Electives

Twelve semester hours of coursework approved by the art education advisor. Additional elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BFA with a major in art education: 120 semester hours as outlined above.

Theatre Education Major

The major in theatre education is a preprofessional academic program recommended for students seeking all-level teacher certification in theatre arts. Students seeking teacher certification must adhere to current state requirements in addition to the degree requirements described in this catalog. Students should contact the College of Education for current state certification requirements. See Preparation for Teacher Certification for additional information.

State of Texas teacher certification requirements are governed by the Texas Education Agency and are subject to change. Students must adhere to current teacher certification requirements, even if they differ from those listed in the University catalogs.

Major Requirements

  1. Theatre and dance core: 18 semester hours, consisting of Theatre and Dance 311C, 313C, 314M, 314Q, 317C, and 317D
  2. Theatre education emphasis: At least 33 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Acting and directing: Theatre and Dance 313D, 316D, and 323D
    2. Design and technical production: six semester hours chosen from topics of Theatre and Dance 324 or 354T, including one course in two of the following three areas: costume, lighting, and scenery
    3. Theatre education: Theatre and Dance 326C, 326D, 326F, 326Q, and 626E
  3. Six additional upper-division semester hours of coursework in theatre and dance

Several of the courses which may be used to complete requirement 1 are also approved to fulfill the visual and performing arts requirement of the core curriculum and may be used to fulfill both.

Professional Development in Education

Please see the UTeach-Fine Arts section of this catalog for more information.

Approved Electives

Twenty-four semester hours of coursework approved by the theatre education advisor. Additional elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BFA with a major in theatre education: 120 semester hours as outlined above.

Dance Major

The option in Dance Education is a preprofessional academic program recommended for students seeking all-level teacher certification in dance. Students seeking teacher certification must adhere to current state requirements in addition to the degree requirements described in this catalog. Students should contact the College of Education for current state certification requirements. See Preparation for Teacher Certification for additional information.

State of Texas teacher certification requirements are governed by the Texas Education Agency and are subject to change. Students must adhere to current teacher certification requirements, even if they differ from those listed in the University catalogs.

Major Requirements

  1. Theatre and dance core: 15 semester hours, consisting of Theatre and Dance 311C, 312M, 314P, 317M, and 317N
  2. Physical Practice:
    1. Contemporary dance technique: Nine semester hours, consisting of two semesters of Theatre and Dance 312C and one semester of 312D
    2. Ballet technique: Nine semester hours, consisting of two semesters of Theatre and Dance 312F and one semester of 312G
  3. Creative Practice: Six semester hours, consisting of Theatre and Dance 312N and 332M
  4. Somatic Practice: Five semester hours, consisting of Theatre and Dance 212 and 352
  5. Pedagogical Practice: Theatre and Dance 332R
  6. Performance Practice: Four semester hours, consisting of Theatre and Dance 212P and 222P
  7. Option in either Dance or Dance Education:
    1. For Option in Dance: 27 semester hours, consisting of
      1. Physical Practice: Theatre and Dance 312D and 312G
      2. Creative Practice: Theatre and Dance 332N
      3. Somatic Practice: Theatre and Dance 352T
      4. Performance Practice: Theatre and Dance 212P, 222P, and 232P
      5. Electives: Nine hours chosen from Theatre and Dance 321P, 322E, 322J, 232Q, 352P, 352T, or 357T
    2. For Option in Dance Education: 27 or 28 semester hours, consisting of
      1. Performance Practice: Theatre and Dance 222P or 232P
      2. Academic Studies: Theatre and Dance 152P
      3. Professional Development: Applied Learning and Development 322, Curriculum and Instruction (EDC) 332S, 331S, 370S, 951W, and one of the following:
        1. Human Development and Family Sciences 313 and 113L
        2. Educational Psychology 350G
        3. Psychology 304

To fulfill the degree requirements in dance technique, the student must achieve a suitable level of proficiency and obtain the approval of the dance faculty. At the discretion of the dance faculty, a student may be required to repeat specific dance technique courses in addition to those required for the degree. Students choosing the Option in Dance must be registered for dance technique each long-session semester in residence. To continue in this degree program, the student must pass an annual evaluation by the dance faculty. Students whose progress in dance technique is judged unsatisfactory by the faculty will be dismissed from the program.

Professional Development in Education (Dance Education option)

Please see the UTeach-Fine Arts section of this catalog for more information.

Electives

Elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BFA with a major in dance: at least 120 or 121 semester hours as outlined above.

Acting Major

Major Requirements

  1. Theatre and dance core: 18 semester hours, consisting of Theatre and Dance 311C, 314M, 314P, 317C, 317D, and 324P
  2. Acting Emphasis: At least 48 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Lower-division acting emphasis: Theatre and Dance 313C, 313D, 313E, 313F, 313G, 313K, 313L, 313M, and 313N
    2. Upper-division acting emphasis: Theatre and Dance 323F, 320J, 321P or 323P, 340D, 353D, 353Q, and 353K

Approved Electives

Twelve semester hours of approved electives within the Department of Theatre and Dance chosen from Theatre and Dance 353E, 353R, 354F, 353G, or additional upper-division semester hours in the Department of Theatre and Dance approved by the acting advisor.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BFA with a major in acting: at least 120 semester hours as outlined above.