Fine Arts
College of Fine Arts
Ramón Rivera-Servera, PhD, Dean
John Turci-Escobar, PhD, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Lisa B. Thompson, PhD, Interim Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Academic Affairs
Laura Gutierrez, PhD, Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Public Practice
Nisreen Singharaj, Assistant Dean for Business Operations
Mission
The College of Fine Arts educates artists, scholars, designers, and art educators within a context that emphasizes artistic excellence, advanced technology, cultural diversity, and best professional practices. The college places high priority on research and the creation of new work through its many programs and degrees offered by the Department of Art and Art History, the School of Design and Creative Technologies, the Butler School of Music, and the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Texas Performing Arts, the university’s arts presenting organization, and Landmarks, the university’s public art program, along with the Visual Arts Center, a contemporary gallery space showcasing student, faculty, and guest artists, are housed within the college and provide performances and exhibitions that deepen the understanding of the arts, expand audiences and develop a better quality of life in the University, community, state, and nation.
Financial Assistance Available through the College
Students in the College of Fine Arts may be eligible for a variety of scholarships and awards. Most scholarship aid in the college is offered through the academic units (art and art history, design and creative technologies, music, and theatre and dance). For information about scholarship procedures and deadlines, the student should contact the scholarship coordinator in their department or school.
Student Services
Student Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs, a division of the Office of the Dean, offers a variety of student services, including academic advising, maintenance of student records, degree auditing, student success programming, and other undergraduate student support services. Students should contact the Office of Student Affairs for answers to questions about degree requirements, graduation, or College of Fine Arts and University of Texas policies and regulations. This office is also a good source of referral for University-wide student support offices.
Academic Advising
Each academic unit in the college (art and art history, design and creative technologies, music, and theatre and dance) has at least one full-time staff advisor. Questions about advising policies and procedures should be directed to those departmental advisors. Senior academic advisors and Student Affairs personnel are also available to undergraduate students in the centralized Student Affairs Office.
A student enrolled in the College of Fine Arts is required to have their proposed schedules approved by a designated advisor before registering for any semester or summer session. Subsequent changes or corrections in the schedule must also have the advisor’s approval.
Career Services
Career Advising
Fine Arts Career Services, a division of the Office of the Dean, helps fine arts majors explore career options, plan for careers, and develop strategies for seeking jobs upon graduation. This is done through individual career coaching, workshops, and special events. More information is available at https://finearts.utexas.edu/careers. Students can get the most out of their career development experience by activating their Handshake account, which is FACS’ platform for appointment scheduling and job searching. Students can do this at https://utaustin.joinhandshake.com. Career advising and planning services are also available from the Texas Career Engagement Center.
The University makes no promise to secure employment for each graduate.
Student Organizations
In each of the units of the College of Fine Arts are various student organizations, including honor societies, professional associations, and service organizations. For information about current organizations and their eligibility requirements, contact the appropriate academic unit or the Office of the Dean of Students.
The Fine Arts Council is the official student organization of the college.
Study Abroad
The College of Fine Arts offers many opportunities for students to study abroad:
Learning Tuscany program offers arts instruction by University faculty members at the Santa Chiara Study Center in Castiglion Fiorentino, near Florence. Students take both studio art and art history courses and focus on the culture of central Italy through class time and numerous field trips to nearby cities. More information is available from the undergraduate advising office in the Department of Art and Art History.
Urban Art and Design: Mexico City is a fall semester program that focuses on Mexico City's contemporary art and design scenes. Mexico City is one of the most vibrant, welcoming, boisterous, dissonant and ultimately dazzling cities in the world. With nearly 9 million residents, it is one of the planet's great urban laboratories where social, artistic and ecological problems meet solutions every day. Mexico City is a global hub of art, architecture and communication full of creative people and big ideas.
Casa Herrera is a research, conference, and teaching facility located in the heart of Antigua, Guatemala, operated by the Department of Art and Art History. As an extension of the department's Mesoamerica Center, Casa Herrera focuses on the varied and inter-related disciplines that contribute to the study of Pre-Columbian art, archeology, history, and culture.
Programs
The College of Fine Arts offers a wide variety of degree programs. For undergraduate students who seek professional training in the arts or who feel the need for intensive training in their chosen art, the college offers the degrees of Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Science in Arts and Entertainment Technologies. These degrees require that approximately two-thirds of the coursework be completed in the major area.
The student who wants a broad education with an emphasis in the arts may pursue the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Bachelor of Arts in Design, Bachelor of Arts in Music, or Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance. These degrees require that approximately a third of the coursework be completed in the major area.
Requirements and Policy
Academic Standards
Repetition of a Course
College of Fine Arts students may not repeat for credit a course in which they have earned a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is required for degree completion.
No course required for a College of Fine Arts major may be attempted more than twice without permission of the department chair or school director, excluding courses that may be repeated for credit. A symbol of Q counts as an enrollment; students are encouraged to speak with their academic advisor before making decisions regarding Q drops in major coursework.
Removal from the Major
When a student is unable to progress in the major following the repetition of a course policy, the student will be placed under the undeclared major code until a new, permanent major is determined. The student should consult with their academic advisor, the Fine Arts Student Affairs Office, or other university resources to explore major options and receive coaching on the internal transfer process.
Class Attendance and Absences
Regular and punctual attendance is required at all classes, laboratories, practice hours, and other activities for which the student is registered.
Absences from scheduled practice hours, rehearsals, and laboratories will be excused only for serious and substantiated reasons, and the final grade in the course may be lowered for unexcused absence. Absence from a theatre, dance, or music rehearsal, crew meeting, or performance may be deemed sufficient reason for giving the student a grade of F for the semester’s work in the course concerned.
If an instructor indicates that a student has fallen below a passing grade in a course because of excessive absences, the dean, upon written recommendation of the instructor, may drop the student from that course and assign a grade of F for the semester.
Special Regulations of the College
Portable Computing Devices
Undergraduate majors in the Department of Art and Art History and the School of Design and Creative Technologies must provide their own portable computing devices and software suitable for use in the classroom and for completing course assignments. Information about specific technical requirements is available from the departmental undergraduate advising office.
Studio Courses
Students retain copyright to all two-dimensional, three-dimensional, time-based, and electronic artwork created in the Department of Art and Art History; they grant a nonexclusive license to exhibit, display, reproduce, perform, or adapt these works at the discretion of the faculty. Works left in any departmental facility at the end of any semester may be removed or destroyed at the discretion of the faculty.
Design and Arts and Entertainment Technologies Courses
Students retain copyright to all two-dimensional, three-dimensional, time-based, digital, and electronic artwork created in the School of Design and Creative Technologies; they grant a nonexclusive license to exhibit, display, reproduce, perform, or adapt these works at the discretion of the faculty. Works left in any departmental facility at the end of any semester may be removed or destroyed at the discretion of the faculty.
Applicability of Certain Courses
Physical Activity Courses
Physical activity courses (PED; KIN 106C) are offered by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. They may not be counted toward a College of Fine Arts degree; however, they are counted among courses for which the student is enrolled, and the grades are included in the University grade point average.
Courses Taken on the Pass/Fail Basis
Regulations concerning courses taken on the pass/fail basis are given in General Information. No course required for a specific degree requirement, whether taken in residence or in transfer, may be counted if taken on the pass/fail basis unless the course is offered only on that basis; however, a student may apply up to 12 hours of free elective taken on the pass/fail basis toward a College of Fine Arts degree. Credit earned by examination is not counted toward the total number of hours that the student may take pass/fail.
Credit by Examination, Transfer, and University Extension
Credit that a student earns by examination, transfer, or University Extension does not apply toward residence requirements. Students must confirm the degree applicability of any transfer or University Extension course with their academic advisor prior to enrollment.
Concurrent Enrollment
Concurrent enrollment is enrollment simultaneously at the University and through another educational institution or University Extension. Concurrent enrollment during fall and spring semesters is strongly discouraged. Students who plan to enroll concurrently in the summer semester are urged to consult with their academic advisor regarding course-load demands and course degree applicability.
Graduation
Special Requirements of the College
All students must fulfill the general requirements for graduation. College of Fine Arts students must also fulfill the following requirements.
Residence
In addition to the 60 semester hours in residence required of all University students, College of Fine Arts students must also complete a minimum of 20 semester hours in residence in the major subject.
Grade Point Average
All University students must earn a grade point average of at least 2.00 to graduate. College of Fine Arts students must also earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all coursework counted toward major requirements. Additionally, College of Fine Arts students must earn a grade of at least C- in each course counted toward the major; if the course is offered on the pass/fail basis only or earned through credit by examination, the course must have the symbol CR. Higher grade may be required in specific courses in the major; these will be noted in the Requirements sections of this catalog.
Total Hours
All College of Fine Arts degrees require a minimum of 120 total semester hours.
Butler School of Music Special Requirements
Ensemble Requirement
Ensembles that may be used to fulfill the following requirements are designated by the Butler School. For information, the student should contact the undergraduate advisor of the school. A student may enroll in more than one ensemble in a semester, but no more than one ensemble a semester may be used to fulfill this requirement.
Bachelor of Music
Students seeking the Bachelor of Music other than music studies must complete at least eight long-session semesters of approved ensemble in residence. Transfer students must complete an approved ensemble each long-session semester in residence until they have met the ensemble requirement or until they graduate, whichever comes first. A transfer student may count toward this requirement two semesters of transferred ensemble approved by the Butler School.
Students majoring in music studies must complete at least six long-session semesters of approved ensemble in residence.
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Students seeking this degree must complete at least four long-session semesters of ensemble approved by the Butler School in residence. Transfer students must complete an approved ensemble each long-session semester in residence until they have completed four semesters of ensemble or until they graduate, whichever comes first. A transfer student may count toward this requirement one semester of transferred ensemble approved by the Butler School.
Recital Requirement for Music Studies Majors
Before the end of his or her last semester of study on the principal instrument, a music studies major must present a recital. This recital may be either a community performance approved by the music studies faculty and the student’s instructor in the principal instrument, or the recital required for Recognition in Music Performance approved by a full faculty jury.
Degree Audit
All College of Fine Arts students are advised to monitor their degree programs through regular use of the online Interactive Degree Audit (IDA), which provides the student with a report of progress toward completion of requirements for a specific degree program. Though the official degree audit normally provides an accurate statement of the requirements for a specific degree program, the student is responsible for registering for courses that fulfill all requirements for the degree as stated in a catalog under which he or she is entitled to graduate.
The degree audit is not a substitute for academic advising. In addition to using IDA, students are encouraged to meet regularly with their academic advisor. After meeting with their advisor, the student should seek clarification from the Fine Arts Office of Student Affairs if in doubt about any requirement.
Applying for Graduation
In the semester in which the degree is to be conferred, the candidate must file a graduation application with the Fine Arts Office of Student Affairs. Applications are accepted online from the end of the semester add/drop period through the deadline to apply for an undergraduate degree, which is given in the official academic calendar.
A student who applies for graduation but does not earn the degree must submit a new application in the semester he or she subsequently intends to graduate.
The student must be registered at the University for the semester in which the degree is to be granted. This requirement may be fulfilled by registering for courses in residence or by registering in absentia. For information about registration in absentia, the student should consult the Fine Arts Office of Student Affairs during the semester in which he or she intends to graduate.
Admission
Admission and readmission of undergraduate students to the University is the responsibility of the executive director of admissions. Information about admission to the University is given in the General Information Catalog and online at https://admissions.utexas.edu/.
Prospective students must complete all general application requirements required by the university’s Office of Admissions. All required application materials must be received by the posted application deadline. If a student’s materials are deemed late and the student believes they experienced extenuating circumstances, they may follow the Office of Admissions procedures for submitting an individual appeal online.
Admission Policies of the College
To major in any field in the College of Fine Arts, a student must be admitted to the University. In most cases, College of Fine Arts applicants must also complete additional requirements according to the student’s proposed major or program. This may include one or more items such as an audition, portfolio, other creative submission, interview, writing prompt(s), and additional questions.
College of Fine Arts faculty review student application materials to evaluate each student’s fit for their desired major/program in the context of the applicant pool. Upon completion of faculty review and deliberation, college leadership submits recommendations to the university’s executive director of admissions, who is responsible for making final admission decisions for all prospective freshman and external transfer applicants.
Information about admission requirements, procedures, and deadlines is available from the undergraduate admissions office in the department or online at https://finearts.utexas.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-admissions.
Transfer Admission
Internal Transfer and Simultaneous Majors
A student may seek entrance to the College of Fine Arts via internal transfer from another division of the University or adding a simultaneous major in accordance with the procedures and policies given in the General Information Catalog. However, a student seeking admission to any department of the college must also satisfy the special admission requirements described above.
Transfer Credit Evaluation
Most credit accepted from another college or university is evaluated by the Office of Admissions to determine equivalent courses at The University of Texas at Austin. For some transferred courses, especially in the fine arts, credit is accepted but no specific University equivalency is assigned. If, for example, a student has completed 12 semester hours of transferable coursework in studio art at another institution, the Office of Admissions may accept the work only as 12 semester hours of unspecified credit in art. The same will often be true for courses in design, theatre and dance, and music.
Unspecified transfer credit both within and outside the student’s major is evaluated by the Office of the Dean, Student Affairs during the degree audit process described in the Degree Audit section on the Requirements and Policy tab. The Student Affairs Office, with assistance from departmental faculty and academic advisors, will identify courses in the major that are appropriate equivalencies.
Transfer credit in music performance may not be counted toward a degree in music until the student has completed additional music performance coursework at the University.
Registration
The General Information Catalog gives information about the University's academic policies and procedures, including adding and dropping courses, withdrawal, pass/fail status, transfer from one division of the University to another, and auditing a course. The Course Schedule, published each semester and summer session, includes registration instructions, advising locations, and the times, places, and instructors of classes. The Course Schedule and General Information are published on the registrar’s website, http://registrar.utexas.edu/.
Registration Approvals Required
Before registering for any semester or summer session, a student in the College of Fine Arts must obtain documented approval of the proposed schedule of classes from his or her designated advisor.
Course Prerequisites
The student must also meet the prerequisite for each course in which he or she enrolls. Prerequisites are given in the relevant catalog section and often appear in the Course Schedule. A student who registers for or adds a class without having met the prerequisite may be dropped from the class.
Fine Arts Registration Requirements
In addition to individual course prerequisites, there are special registration requirements for certain courses and areas of study in the College of Fine Arts.
Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music
- A student with transferred college credit in music theory must take a diagnostic examination in music theory. The results of the examination determine the level of music theory for which the student is advised to register.
- Before beginning upper-division coursework in the major instrument, students majoring in music performance (including those pursuing the pedagogy option) must pass a full faculty jury examination in the major instrument and must be admitted to upper-division standing in that instrument.
- Before beginning upper-division coursework in the major area, a student majoring in composition or music studies must obtain the approval of a designated committee composed of faculty members from that major.
- Fulfillment of the music performance requirement signifies the attainment of a given level of artistic performance, rather than the completion of a specific number of semester hours of credit. At the discretion of the faculty, a student may be required to repeat any course in music performance; in such a case, the course may be repeated for credit. No music performance requirement is fulfilled unless approval of the faculty has been obtained.
- A student in a degree other than music studies or the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree, whose degree plan requires a piano proficiency of MUS 210K, must continue with group piano classes in consecutive semesters until the requirement is fulfilled. The student may not enroll in private instruction until the MUS 210K proficiency has been completed. A student in music studies, whose degree plan requires piano proficiency demonstrated in MUS 201F (Piano for Teachers), must successfully complete MUS 201F before being admitted to upper-division coursework in music studies. Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree program must successfully complete the piano proficiency of MUS 201N.
Department of Theatre and Dance
A student must enroll in an appropriate production or performance laboratory course, under the supervision of a Department of Theatre and Dance faculty member, in any semester he or she wishes to participate in a production sponsored by the department. A student majoring in the Department of Theatre and Dance must consult his or her advisor to determine the appropriate course. Nonmajors who wish to enroll in production or performance laboratory courses must consult the undergraduate advising office of the department.
Accreditation
The University of Texas at Austin is an institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, approved for both its undergraduate and its graduate degrees in music. The requirements for entrance and for graduation given in this catalog are in accordance with the published regulations of the association.
Licensure
UTeach-Fine Arts Teacher Certification
To be recommended for a certificate to teach in Texas public schools, an undergraduate or graduate student must complete a University of Texas at Austin approved program for teacher preparation. The University maintains approved programs for art, theatre, dance, and music. Students interested in one of these teaching areas ordinarily pursue the degree program in fine arts education: art education, theatre education, dance, or music education (please see program pages for additional information).
Students seeking teacher certification must be approved by the College of Education for the Professional Development Sequence (PDS) and must complete additional state exams and fingerprinting requirements. See State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) at http://www.tea.texas.gov for details. Field observations and practical classroom teaching in community and school environments are required of all students in the program. Coursework meets the state requirements for teacher certification in all-level (early childhood through grade 12) art, music, or theatre and in secondary (grades six through 12) dance.
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.
UTeach-Fine Arts All-level Teacher Certification: Art
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All-level Teacher Certification: Art | ||
| EDC 331S | School Organization and Classroom Management in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDC 332S | Designs for Instruction | 3 |
| EDC 370S | Topics in Secondary School Subjects | 3 |
| EDC 951W.2 | All Level Teaching Practicum: Visual Art (Topic 2) | 9 |
| PSY 301 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SED 322C | Individual Differences | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 3 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Introduction to Child Psychology | ||
or PSY 309 | Personality | |
or EDP 350G | Adolescent Development | |
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Child Development Laboratory | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
UTeach-Fine Arts All-level Teacher Certification: Theatre
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All-level Teacher Certification: Theatre | ||
| EDC 331S | School Organization and Classroom Management in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDC 332S | Designs for Instruction | 3 |
| EDC 370S | Topics in Secondary School Subjects | 3 |
| EDC 951W.1 | All Level Teaching Practicum: Theatre (Topic 1) | 9 |
| PSY 301 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SED 322C | Individual Differences | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 3 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Introduction to Child Psychology | ||
or PSY 309 | Personality | |
or EDP 350G | Adolescent Development | |
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Child Development Laboratory | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
UTeach-Fine Arts Secondary Teacher Certification: Dance
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Teacher Certification: Dance | ||
| EDC 331S | School Organization and Classroom Management in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDC 332S | Designs for Instruction | 3 |
| EDC 370S | Topics in Secondary School Subjects | 3 |
| EDC 951W.3 | All Level Teaching Practicum: Dance (Topic 3) | 9 |
| PSY 301 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SED 322C | Individual Differences | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 3 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Introduction to Child Psychology | ||
or PSY 309 | Personality | |
or EDP 350G | Adolescent Development | |
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Child Development Laboratory | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
UTeach-Fine Arts All-level Teacher Certification: Music
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All-level Teacher Certification: Music | ||
| EDC 331S | School Organization and Classroom Management in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDC 332S | Designs for Instruction | 3 |
| EDC 370S | Topics in Secondary School Subjects | 3 |
| EDC 951W.4 | All Level Teaching Practicum: Music (Topic 4) | 9 |
| PSY 301 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| MUS 354C | Children's Music Literature and Performance I | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 3 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Introduction to Child Psychology | ||
or PSY 309 | Personality | |
or EDP 350G | Adolescent Development | |
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Child Development Laboratory | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Honors
University Honors
The designation University Honors, awarded at the end of each fall or spring semester, gives official recognition and commendation to students whose grades for the semester indicate distinguished academic accomplishment. Both the quality and the quantity of work done are considered. Criteria for University Honors are given in the General Information Catalog.
Graduation with University Honors
Students who, upon graduation, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement are eligible to graduate with University Honors. Criteria for graduation with University Honors are given in the General Information Catalog.
Special Honors in Art History
The Honors Program in Art History gives undergraduate art history majors an opportunity to undertake an advanced research and writing project under the supervision of an art history faculty member. The notation “Special Honors in Art History” appears on the transcript of each graduate who completes all of the requirements of this program.
Admission to the Program
The honors program is available to qualified art history majors pursuing the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Art History. Interested students should apply for
admission to the program by the last day of classes in the semester preceding their penultimate long semester. Program and application information are available on the Department of Art and Art History website.
Graduation with Special Honors in Art History
To complete the program, students must meet the following requirements.
- Completion of all degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Art History.
- A university grade point average of at least 3.50.
- A grade point average of at least 3.50 in all upper-division art history courses taken in residence required for the major.
- Selection and consent of a thesis supervisor who is an art history faculty member or faculty affiliate; the thesis supervisor must be available for the duration of the Honors Program (one year).
- Completion of the Art History Honors Finalized Proposal Form by the 12th class day in the penultimate semester. This document requires a copy of the thesis project proposal and signed approval of the thesis supervisor.
- Completion of ARH X76 Reading Tutorial in Art History Problems with a grade of at least B before beginning the second semester honors course, ARH 379H.
- Completion of ARH 376 Reading Tutorial in Art History Problems with a grade of at least A- before beginning the second semester honors course, ARH 379H.
- Completion of ARH 379H Thesis Course for Departmental Honors with a grade of at least A-. This conference course, in which the student researches and writes a thesis previously developed in ARH 375 or ARH 376, may not be counted toward the minimum number of hours of art history required for the degree.
- Participation in the Undergraduate Art History Honors research showcase during the spring semester in the academic year in which the thesis is completed.
- Approval of the completed thesis by the thesis supervisor and the Honors advisor, and completion of the Art History Honors Thesis Approval Form by the last day of exams in the semester in which the thesis is completed.
- Submission of electronic and printed copies of the approved final thesis, formatted according to the template guidelines posted on the Art History Honors Canvas page, to the thesis supervisor and the Honors advisor. Submission of an electronic copy of the final thesis to TexasScholarWorks is encouraged but not required.
For more information about the program and how to apply, students may consult the departmental undergraduate advising office.
Special Honors in Arts and Entertainment Technologies
The Honors Program in Arts and Entertainment Technologies gives outstanding arts and entertainment technologies students an opportunity to undertake an advanced research and writing project under the supervision of a faculty member. The notation “Special Honors in Arts and Entertainment Technologies” appears on the transcript of each graduate who completes the program.
Admission to the Program
The honors program is available to qualified students pursuing the degree of Bachelor of Science in Arts and Entertainment Technologies. At the beginning of the junior year, an interested arts and entertainment technologies student should apply to the honors advisor for admission to the program. The criteria for admission are:
- Completion of at least 60 semester hours of college credit.
- A university grade point average of at least 3.50.
- Completion of AET 304 with a grade of at least A-.
- Completion of AET 310 with a grade of at least A-.
- Approval of the honors advisor, who is responsible for maintaining the high standards for admission to and completion of the program.
Graduation with Special Honors in Arts and Entertainment Technologies
To complete the program, students must meet the following requirements by the end of the semester in which they graduate.
- Graduation from the arts and entertainment technologies program.
- Completion in residence at the University of at least 60 semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
- A university grade point average of at least 3.50.
- A grade point average of at least 3.60 in all arts and entertainment technologies courses taken at the University.
- Completion of AET X70 Research Methods Proseminar.
- Approval of the honors advisor or a designate.
- Completion of AET X78H Honors Senior Thesis with a grade of A. This conference course, in which the student researches and produces a thesis, may not be counted toward the minimum number of hours of AET required for the degree.
- Completion of one of the following courses with a grade of A:
Special Honors in Theatre and Dance
The Honors Program in Theatre and Dance gives outstanding theatre and dance majors an opportunity to undertake an advanced research and writing project under the supervision of a faculty member. The notation "Special Honors in Theatre and Dance" appears on the transcript of each graduate who completes the program.
Admission to the Program
The honors program is available to qualified theatre and dance majors pursuing the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance. At the beginning of the junior year, an interested theatre and dance major should apply to the honors advisor for admission to the program. The criteria for admission are:
- Completion of at least 60 semester hours of college credit.
- A university grade point average of at least 3.30.
- A grade point average of at least 3.60 in all theatre and dance courses attempted in residence.
- Completion of at least 15 semester hours in theatre and dance. If the hours in theatre and dance were not earned at the University, admission is at the discretion of the head of the Theatre and Dance Honors program or a designate.
- Approval of the head of the Theatre and Dance Honors program or a designate, who is responsible for maintaining the high standards for admission to and completion of the program.
Graduation with Special Honors in Theatre and Dance
To complete the program, students must meet the following requirements by the end of the semester in which they graduate.
- Graduation as a theatre and dance major.
- Completion in residence at the University of at least 60 semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
- A university grade point average of at least 3.30.
- A grade point average of at least 3.60 in all theatre and dance courses taken at the University.
- Completion of T D 375H with a grade of at least B.
- Approval of the head of the Theatre and Dance Honors program or a designate.
- Completion of T D 379H with a grade of A. This is a conference course, in which the student researches and produces a thesis. To enroll in T D 379H, the student must have the consent of the head of the Theatre and Dance Honors program or a designate. Consent is based on a written prospectus for the student's honors thesis and a letter of support from the theatre and dance faculty member who will supervise the thesis. The prospectus and the letter of support must be submitted to the head of the Theatre and Dance Honors program or a designate by the end of the semester preceding the semester in which the student plans to take T D 379H. The student may develop the honors project and prepare the prospectus either in T D 376H or in another theatre and dance course:
- With the approval of the head of the Theatre and Dance Honors program or a designate, the student must complete the independent study course T D 376H with a theatre and dance faculty member who agrees to supervise the student's work. T D 376H may be counted toward the degree as elective theatre and dance credit. The student must earn a grade of at least B in order to progress to T D 379H.
- The student may also base the prospectus on a project undertaken in another theatre and dance course in which he or she earned a grade of at least B.
- Submission of a departmental honors degree audit application to the Office of the Dean of the College of Fine Arts. This degree audit application may be submitted when the student is admitted to the honors program; it must be on file when the student applies for graduation. Failure to meet this requirement will preclude graduation with special honors in theatre and dance.
Recognition in Music Performance
This recognition is offered to encourage undergraduate music students who are not music performance majors to pursue the intensive study of their instrument beyond the minimum requirements for their degree.
Eligibility
To apply for a Recognition in Music Performance, a student must be enrolled as an undergraduate music major pursuing the Bachelor of Music degree or the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree. He or she must be enrolled in principal instrument course 260.
Procedure
A student who meets the eligibility criteria must submit a petition to the appropriate music performance jury for permission to audition before the Butler School of Music faculty—that is, to perform at a full faculty jury examination. This petition may be submitted during any semester in which the student is enrolled in principal instrument course 260. Ordinarily, the student may not audition for the full faculty before the conclusion of his or her second semester of principal instrument course 260. If the petition is approved, the student may audition at a full faculty jury examination.
If the student obtains approval at the full faculty jury examination, then he or she must present a recognition recital during the following academic year. The student may also enroll in MUS 420R rather than principal instrument course 260 for the semester in which the recognition recital is to be given. A recognition recital must be equivalent to the junior recital required of a performance major and must offer a repertoire equivalent to that of an upper-division performance major. The recital is heard by the faculty of the student’s principal instrument, who vote to approve or disapprove the granting of Recognition in Music Performance. If approval is given by the division faculty, the recognition is issued by the Butler School and signed by both the student’s music performance instructor and the director of the school.
Instruments
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-Bassoon (Orchestral) | ||
| CLA-Clarinet (Orchestral) | ||
| D B-Double Bass (Jazz & Orchestral) | ||
| DRS-Drum Set (Jazz) | ||
| EUP-Euphonium (Orchestral) | ||
| FLU-Flute (Orchestral) | ||
| F H-French Horn (Orchestral) | ||
| GUI-Guitar (Jazz & Orchestral) | ||
| OBO-Oboe (Orchestral) | ||
| HAR-Harp (Performance) | ||
| HSC-Harpsichord (Performance) | ||
| OBO-Oboe | ||
| OPR-Opera | ||
| ORG-Organ (Performance) | ||
| PER-Percussion (Orchestral) | ||
| PIA-Piano (Jazz & Performance) | ||
| REC-Recorder | ||
| SAX-Saxophone (Jazz & Orchestral) | ||
| TRO-Trombone (Jazz & Orchestral) | ||
| TRU-Trumpet (Jazz & Orchestral) | ||
| TBA-Tuba (Orchestral) | ||
| VIB-Vibraphone | ||
| VIA-Viola (Orchestral) | ||
| VIO-Violin (Orchestral) | ||
| V C-Violoncello (Orchestral) | ||
| VOI-Voice (Performance) | ||
B.A. Foreign Language
Complete the first two semesters of a traditional foreign language sequence or the first semester of an accelerated, intensive, or heritage sequence as listed below. Transfer credit for the first two semesters of a language sequence from a Texas Community College will typically satisfy this requirement. For example, SPAN 1411 and 1412 (Spanish I and II) are equivalents of the first two semesters in a traditional UT sequence. Please note that additional foreign language coursework is required in the Art History major (see section that follows common B.A. requirements).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. Foreign Language | ||
| ASL 601D | American Sign Language I: Beginning | 6 |
| ARA 601C | Intensive Arabic I | 6 |
| BEN 506 | First-Year Bengali I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Bengali II | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| First-Year Chinese I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Chinese II | ||
| OR | ||
| Accelerated First-Year Chinese | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| First-Year Czech I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Czech II | ||
| OR | ||
| Intensive Czech I | ||
| DAN 604 | Accelerated First-Year Danish | 6 |
| DCH 604 | Accelerated First-Year Dutch | 6 |
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| Beginning French | ||
| OR | ||
| Introductory French I | ||
& | ||
| Introductory French II | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 5 | |
| First-Year German I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year German II | ||
| OR | ||
| Accelerated First-Year German | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 5 | |
| First-Year Greek I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Greek II | ||
| HEB 601C | Intensive Hebrew I | 6 |
| or HEB 602C | Intensive Biblical Hebrew I | |
| Hours chosen from: | 5 | |
| First-Year Hindi I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Hindi II | ||
| OR | ||
| Accelerated First-Year Hindi | ||
| ITL 601C | Beginning Italian | 6 |
| JPN 601D | Japanese I | 6 |
| Hours chosen from: | 4 | |
| First-Year K'iche' Maya I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year K'iche' Maya II | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| First-Year Korean I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Korean II | ||
| OR | ||
| Accelerated First-Year Korean | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 5 | |
| First-Year Latin I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Latin II | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 5 | |
| First-Year Malayalam I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Malayalam II | ||
| LAL 601C | Topics in Intensive Indigenous Language of Latin America I | 6 |
| NOR 604 | Accelerated First-Year Norwegian | 6 |
| PRS 601C | Intensive Persian I | 6 |
| POL 506 | First-Year Polish I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Polish II | ||
| POR 601D | First-Year Portuguese I | 6 |
| or POR 610S | Portuguese for Spanish Speakers I | |
| Hours chosen from: | 4 | |
| First-Year Russian I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Russian II | ||
| OR | ||
| Intensive Russian I | ||
| SAN 506 | First-Year Sanskrit I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Sanskrit II | ||
| SPN 601D | First-Year Spanish I | 6 |
| or SPN 604 | Accelerated Introductory Spanish for Heritage Learners | |
| SWE 604 | Accelerated First-Year Swedish | 6 |
| TAM 506 | First-Year Tamil I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Tamil II | ||
| TUR 601C | Intensive Turkish I | 6 |
| Hours chosen from: | 4 | |
| First-Year Ukrainian I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Ukrainian II | ||
| OR | ||
| Ukrainian for Slavic Learners I | ||
& | ||
| Ukrainian for Slavic Learners II | ||
| URD 506 | First-Year Urdu I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Urdu II | ||
| YID 604 | Accelerated First-Year Yiddish | 6 |
| YOR 601C | Beginning Yoruba | 6 |
Art History Majors: Foreign Language
Intermediate Proficiency: Complete a foreign language sequence in a single language as listed below. Transfer credit for the first four semesters of a language sequence from a Texas Community College will typically satisfy this "intermediate proficiency" requirement. Typically, courses are offered as 1411, 1412, 2311, and 2312 (e.g., Spanish I, II, Ill, and IV). Students aiming for graduate study in Art History are strongly discouraged from completing the language requirement in transfer.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art History Majors: Foreign Language | ||
| ASL 601D | American Sign Language I: Beginning | 6 |
& | ||
| American Sign Language II: Beginning | ||
& | ||
| American Sign Language III: Intermediate | ||
| ARA 601C | Intensive Arabic I | 6 |
& | ||
| Intensive Arabic II | ||
| BEN 506 | First-Year Bengali I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Bengali II | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Bengali I | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Bengali II | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 6 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Chinese I | ||
| First-Year Chinese II | ||
| Second-Year Chinese I | ||
| Second-Year Chinese II | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Accelerated First-Year Chinese | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Chinese | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 6 | |
Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Czech I | ||
| First-Year Czech II | ||
| Second-Year Czech I | ||
| Second-Year Czech II | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Intensive Czech I | ||
| Intensive Czech II | ||
| DAN 604 | Accelerated First-Year Danish | 6 |
& | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Danish | ||
| DCH 604 | Accelerated First-Year Dutch | 6 |
& | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Dutch | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | ||
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Beginning French | ||
| Intermediate French | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Introductory French I | ||
| Introductory French II | ||
| Intermediate French I | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 5 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year German I | ||
| First-Year German II | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year German: Readings in Modern German | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Accelerated First-Year German | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year German: Readings in Modern German | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 5 | |
| First-Year Greek I | ||
& | ||
| First-Year Greek II | ||
& | ||
| Intermediate Greek I | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | ||
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Intensive Hebrew I | ||
| Intensive Hebrew II | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Intensive Biblical Hebrew I | ||
| Intensive Biblical Hebrew II | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 5 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Hindi I | ||
| First-Year Hindi II | ||
| Second-Year Hindi I | ||
| Second-Year Hindi II | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Accelerated First-Year Hindi | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Hindi | ||
| ITL 601C | Beginning Italian | 6 |
& | ||
| Intermediate Italian | ||
| JPN 601D | Japanese I | 6 |
& | ||
| Japanese II | ||
& | ||
| Intermediate Japanese | ||
| LAL 406K | First-Year K'iche' Maya I | 4 |
& | ||
| First-Year K'iche' Maya II | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year K'iche' Maya I | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year K'iche' Maya II | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 6 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Korean I | ||
| First-Year Korean II | ||
| Second-Year Korean I | ||
| Second-Year Korean II | ||
Sequence 2: | ||
| Accelerated First-Year Korean | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Korean | ||
| LAT 506 | First-Year Latin I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Latin II | ||
& | ||
| Accelerated Intermediate Latin | ||
| MAL 506 | First-Year Malayalam I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Malayalam II | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Malayalam I | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Malayalam II | ||
| LAL 601C | Topics in Intensive Indigenous Language of Latin America I | 6 |
& | ||
| Topics in Intensive Indigenous Language of Latin America II | ||
| NOR 604 | Accelerated First-Year Norwegian | 6 |
& | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Norwegian | ||
| PRS 601C | Intensive Persian I | 6 |
& | ||
| Intensive Persian II | ||
| POL 506 | First-Year Polish I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Polish II | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Polish I | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Polish II | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | ||
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Portuguese I | ||
| First-Year Portuguese II | ||
| Portuguese Conversation and Culture | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Portuguese for Spanish Speakers I | ||
| Portuguese Conversation and Culture for Spanish Speakers | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 4 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Russian I | ||
| First-Year Russian II | ||
| Second-Year Russian I | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Intensive Russian I | ||
| Intensive Russian II | ||
| SAN 506 | First-Year Sanskrit I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Sanskrit II | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Sanskrit I | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Sanskrit II | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | ||
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Spanish I | ||
| First-Year Spanish II | ||
| Intermediate Spanish | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Accelerated Introductory Spanish for Heritage Learners | ||
| Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Learners | ||
| SWE 604 | Accelerated First-Year Swedish | 6 |
& | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Swedish | ||
| TAM 506 | First-Year Tamil I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Tamil II | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Tamil I | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Tamil II | ||
| TUR 601C | Intensive Turkish I | 6 |
& | ||
| Intensive Turkish II | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 4 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| First-Year Ukrainian I | ||
| First-Year Ukrainian II | ||
| Second-Year Ukrainian I | ||
| Second-Year Ukrainian II | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Ukrainian for Slavic Learners I | ||
| Ukrainian for Slavic Learners II | ||
| Second-Year Ukrainian I | ||
| Second-Year Ukrainian II | ||
| URD 506 | First-Year Urdu I | 5 |
& | ||
| First-Year Urdu II | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Urdu I | ||
& | ||
| Second-Year Urdu II | ||
| YID 604 | Accelerated First-Year Yiddish | 6 |
& | ||
| Accelerated Second-Year Yiddish | ||
| YOR 601C | Beginning Yoruba | 6 |
& | ||
| Intermediate Yoruba | ||
Facilities
The Office of the Dean of the College of Fine Arts is located in the E. William Doty Fine Arts Building, at the corner of 23rd and Trinity streets. General inquiries about the college should be directed to this office. The mailing address is The University of Texas at Austin, Office of the Dean, College of Fine Arts, 2301 Trinity Street D1400, Austin TX, 78712.
Within the college are four academic units—the Department of Art and Art History, the School of Design and Creative Technologies, the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music, and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Inquiries about a particular unit should be directed to that unit.
The Visual Arts Center
The Visual Arts Center (VAC) is a 13,000 square foot gallery space located in the College of Fine Arts. We provide a platform for artists, curators, and educators to experiment, test ideas, and take risks. We aim to spark generative conversations about art and contemporary society through our exhibitions and public programs that take place throughout the academic year.
For more information on the VAC's exhibitions and public programs, please visit http://www.utvac.org.
Texas Performing Arts
The mission of Texas Performing Arts is to connect people with performance. As the professional arts presenting and producing program at UT, it is one of the largest and most active performing arts centers in the country. Hundreds of performances are offered each year, including a season of dance, theater, music, and interdisciplinary productions; the Broadway in Austin series; and the Texas Welcomes series of touring artists.
Texas Performing Arts venues include Austin’s largest theater–the recently renovated Bass Concert Hall—and the intimate McCullough Theater. Behind-the-scenes, enormous fabrication studios provide student makers the opportunity for hands-on creative experiences.
Every aspect of Texas Performing Arts is a professional learning laboratory for UT Austin students, who receive discounted tickets to season performances, work side-by-side with professional staff and visiting artists, and connect with others through Hook ‘em Arts, a student-led arts advocacy group.
Computer and Technology Facilities
In addition to the computer facilities available to all students at the University, the College of Fine Arts maintains facilities with special hardware and software for its own undergraduate and graduate majors. These include central laboratories and media-enhanced classrooms in each of the four academic units, and extensive wireless Internet coverage throughout the college.
Because of the rapidly growing importance of computers in College of Fine Arts curricula, students are strongly encouraged to come to the University with their own computers. In some programs of study, laptops are required. Students should contact the area of academic interest for more information.
Fine Arts Library
Located on levels 3 and 5 of the E. William Doty Fine Arts Building, the Fine Arts Library supports research and instruction in the College of Fine Arts, including the Department of Art and Art History, the School of Design and Creative Technologies, the Butler School of Music, and the Department of Theatre and Dance. The Fine Arts Library is also home to The Foundry, a makerspace for all members of the campus community, equipped with 3D printers, a laser cutter, a vinyl printer cutter, mills, high-end Macs, a collaborative video station, a virtual reality space, and a recording studio. For more information, including hours and contact information, go to: https://www.lib.utexas.edu/about/locations/fine-arts.
Services include information and research assistance, instruction in getting the best from library databases including online and full-text journals, circulation, and course reserves. The Fine Arts Library offers computing hardware and software to support the study of the fine arts, a high-end scanner, as well as media equipment and digital cameras. Carrels can be assigned to students seeking a specific location. A full range of support is provided for The Foundry's equipment. More details can be found here: https://www.lib.utexas.edu/foundry.
The art collection includes materials on most art and design movements and schools, photography, and art education. Artists of most periods and nationalities and studies of their work are represented, as are most media and techniques. Art works on display include a large pre-Columbian pottery collection and modern prints. The Visual Resource Collection contains over 100,000 images from art, architecture, the performing arts, and fashion, and is accessible, with a UT EID, at https://guides.lib.utexas.edu/visualresources.
The music collection includes materials on performance, composition, history, ethnomusicology, music education, and music therapy. Most historical periods and geographical areas are covered in both classical and popular idioms, and while the emphasis is on the Western classical tradition, many other musics are represented. Tens of thousands of scores are available for both study and performance. Several streaming audio and video services are available, and students can stream movies, documentaries, and performances via the Library Catalog, at http://catalog.lib.utexas.edu/.
The theatre and dance collection includes materials on performance, especially play production, theatrical design, playwriting, theatre education, and dance. Materials on other types of theatrical presentations, such as magic, circuses, and pantomime, are also included. The Fine Arts Library holds texts of major plays written in English or translated into English, with contemporary plays collected most heavily. The Perry-Castañeda Library also holds texts of plays in English and other languages, with emphasis on plays as a literary form and on literary criticism.
Special collections include artist's books, zines, materials from the Austin Theatre Alliance—Paramount and State Theatres, and the Historical Music Recordings Collection, which includes over 300,000 items in older formats such as 78rpm and LP records, and open-reel tapes.
Art and Art History
Studio Arts students' experiences in the classroom are enhanced by the University’s extensive resources for art research, including the Fine Arts Library, the Blanton Museum of Art, the Perry-Castañeda Library, and specialized collections such as the Harry Ransom Center, the Classics Library, the Architecture and Planning Library, the Benson Latin American Collection, Landmarks, and the University Co-op Materials Lab.
Music
Housed in two connected buildings, the physical facilities of the Butler School include performance spaces in the 700-seat Bates Recital Hall with its world-renowned Visser-Rowland pipe organ, Jessen Auditorium, the Recital Studio, and McCullough Theatre. For special events, the school collaborates with Texas Performing Arts for performances in Bass Concert Hall. Other facilities include well-equipped classrooms and faculty studios/offices, multiple large and small rehearsal halls, electronic music studios, recording studios, 130 practice rooms and modules (including dedicated rooms for organ, harp, and percussion), a technology lab, chamber music rooms, two digital keyboard labs, and 250 well-maintained pianos. Also available to music students are libraries including manuscripts, rare editions, and performance collections; a Medieval and Renaissance instrument collection; a Javanese gamelan, and a Music Learning Laboratory.
Theatre and Dance
The facilities of the department are among the best available to university programs in the United States. In addition to the performance areas, studios, and shops of Texas Performing Arts, the department has the B. Iden Payne Theatre, the Oscar Brockett Theatre (a flexible space black box theater), a 100-seat laboratory theater, two workshop performance spaces, an extensive costume collection, five dance studios, a drafting studio, a design studio, as well as numerous classrooms and rehearsal studios in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building. Of special interest to students pursuing theatre research is the Performing Arts Collection, housed in the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, which contains one of the world’s most important collections of theatre material.