Department of Visual and Theatre Arts

Douglas J. Cook, Chair
102 Fine Arts Building
(901) 881-7400

Faculty

Tim Barrington, Kristine Buchanan, Douglas J. Cook, David McBeth, Lane E. Last, Ken Zimmerman

Mission

The mission of the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts is to provide educational, artistic and cultural opportunities for the students of the University and the people of West Tennessee. The faculty and students serve the area through a quality undergraduate professional arts program with performances and exhibits enhancing the aesthetic and cultural awareness of the campus and region while preparing students for careers in the arts, teaching and for advanced study. The department engages in scholarly activity that fosters artistic integrity, scholarship and an appreciation for continued learning.

Facilities

The Fine Arts Building, opened in 1970, is a modern and attractive facility which provides teaching and rehearsal spaces for the theatre and music programs. Facilities for theatre include a rehearsal hall, laboratory theatre, dressing rooms, costume laboratory, and scene shop as well as faculty offices. The 500-seat Harriet Fulton Performing Arts Theatre is the setting for concerts, recitals, theatrical productions, and dance performances as well as events in the visiting artists series.

The art program is housed in three spacious studios and a lecture auditorium in Gooch Hall. The Fine Arts Gallery is the location for exhibits of works by faculty, students, and guest artists.

The spacious dance studio is located in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center and features a floating wood floor along with mirrored walls and a performance stage. It is the site of student recitals as well as dance workshops and informal ensemble presentations.

Scholarships

There are three major scholarships available in the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts. Scholarships are awarded by audition or portfolio review and academic success. The Gala Scholarship is a one-year award of $1,500 given to a promising art, dance or theatre student. The David Wechsler Scholarship is a $1,000 award given annually to an outstanding major in art. The Bill Williams Scholarship is a $500 award renewable for four years to an outstanding theatre major.

Student Organizations

Opportunities for membership in associated student organizations are an important part of student development. The Visual Arts Society (Art, Art Education and Graphic Design) and Alpha Psi Omega (National Honor Fraternity for Theatre) support the efforts of the department and are important in the professional growth of students. The William Snyder Scholarship is a $500 award given annually to an outstanding major in theatre.

Curricula

Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Major in Fine and Performing Arts (2110)

The objectives of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program are as follows:

1. To provide an opportunity for students to pursue a quality, interdisciplinary, professional, undergraduate program in the arts.
2. To provide, within the framework of an interdisciplinary arts program, specific concentrations for students whose primary academic interest is art, graphic design, or theatre.
3. To produce graduates who have:
   1. Primary skill and depth in art or theatre;
   2. Secondary skill in arts disciplines other than the primary area;
   3. A broad understanding of the scope of the arts and their contribution to modern society;
   4. A general education appropriate to a professional arts degree including elective studies suited to individual needs and interests.
4. To prepare those students who seek careers in the field of art education for state teaching licensure, kindergarten through grade 12.
5. To prepare students for careers and/or for graduate study in settings utilizing a multiple-arts environment (e.g., arts administration, arts management, arts journalism, etc.)
6. To enhance the arts and provide an enriched cultural environment to the campus and to the region served by the university.

The major in Fine and Performing Arts provides a Studio (2111) option and a Teaching (2112) option. The Studio option includes an emphasis in Visual Art (2111), Graphic Design (2116), or Theatre (2118).

General Education (45-47 hours)

• Eng 111-112 English Composition -- 6
• Communications 220 Voice and Diction or Communications 230 Public Speaking -- 3 *
• English Literature Elective -- 3
• Psychology 110-120 General Psychology -- 6
• History 121-122 World Civilization or History 201-202 US History -- 6
• Mathematics (100 or above) or Computer Science -- 3 **
• Humanities Elective (History, English, Philosophy, Religious Studies, or Foreign Language) -- 3
• Studio Option:
  • Foreign Language: completion of 115 or 122 -- 4/8
    • (May not be used to fulfill entrance deficiency in foreign language)
  • Electives outside of the Fine and Performing Arts -- 9-13
• Teaching Option:
  • Biology 110 and Zoology 201 -- 8
  • Physical Science elective -- 4
  • Electives -- 3

*Theatre emphasis must take Communications 220. Teaching option students take Communications 230.

**Teaching option students must take Mathematics.

Major Courses (78-83 hours)

• Arts Core:
  • Art 210-211 History of Art -- 3,3
  • Dance 110 Understanding Dance -- 3
  • Theatre 110 Understanding Theatre -- 3
• Studio Option:
  • Theatre 111 Understanding Theatre -- 3
  • Fine Arts 310 Arts Aesthetics and Criticism -- 3
  • Fine Arts 410 Art Theory and Criticism -- 3
• Teaching Option:
  • Art 310 Crafts Studio -- 3
  • Art 420 Printmaking -- 3
  • Art Education 211 Introduction to Teaching Art -- 1
  • Art Education 360 Teaching Art in the Public School -- 3
  • Graphic Design 322 Graphic Design Applications -- 3
  • Fine Arts 310 Arts Aesthetics and Criticism -- 3

Area of Emphasis: (Choose one)

• Visual Art: (required for Teaching option)
  • Art 221 Two-Dimensional Design -- 3
  • Art 222 Three-Dimensional Design -- 3
  • Art 241-242 Drawing -- 3,3
  • Art 311-312 Painting -- 3,3
  • Art 322 Professional Issues in Visual Art -- 3
  • Art 335 Ceramics -- 3
  • Art 351 Sculpture -- 3
  • Art 451 Figure Drawing -- 3
  • Six hours selected from the following, (studio option students only) Art 320, 352, 411, 412, 425, 435, 445, 452 -- 6
• Graphic Design:
  • Art 221 Two-Dimensional Design -- 3
  • Art 222 Three-Dimensional Design -- 3
  • Art 241-242 Drawing -- 3, 3
  • Art 320 Using Color -- 3
  • Art 322 Professional Issues in Art -- 3
  • Graphic Design 322 Graphic Design Applications -- 3
  • Graphic Design 325 Advertising Design -- 3
  • Graphic Design 335 Photography and Digital Imagery -- 3
  • Graphic Design 345 Digital Photography -- 3
  • Graphic Design 425 Interactive Multimedia -- 3
  • Graphic Design 450 Internship in Graphic Design -- 3
• Theatre:
  • Theatre 150 Theatre Workshop -- 3
  • Theatre 220-221 Acting -- 6
  • Theatre 330 Costuming and Stage Makeup -- 3
  • Theatre 360 Stagecraft -- 3
  • Theatre 380 Play Interpretation/Direction -- 3
  • Theatre 390 Playwriting -- 3
  • Theatre 410 Lighting and Sound Design -- 3
  • Theatre 420 Advanced Acting -- 9
  • Theatre 430 Scene Design -- 3

Professional Enhancement:

• Studio Option:
  • Supporting Courses in the Arts -- 21 hours
  • Electives selected from arts disciplines including music outside the area of emphasis. No more than 15 hours taken in any one of the disciplines of Visual Art, Dance, Graphic Design and Theatre outside of the primary area of emphasis. Theatre emphasis must include four hours of Dance 120 and two hours of private or class applied voice. Visual Art and Graphic Design emphasis may include courses in Interior Design.
• Teaching Option: -- 25 hours
  • Teacher Education 301-302 Foundations/Strategies -- 6
  • Special Education 300 Exceptional Child -- 3
  • Art Education 400 Senior Seminar Art Education -- 3
  • Art Education 471-472 Student Teaching Art -- 12
  • Art Education 473 Seminar Student Teaching -- 1

Total minimum hours required : 125

Admission and Retention

Students are admitted to the B.F.A. degree program only after successful audition (for students who choose Theatre as an area of emphasis) or portfolio review (for student who choose Art as their area of emphasis) by the appropriate faculty. Progress in the program will be monitored on an annual basis by the faculty. Only those students who make continuing and adequate progress (as defined by the faculty) in the Area of Emphasis will be allowed to continue beyond the second year.

Additional Requirements

1. Art, art education, and graphic design A.O.E. students will present a portfolio of works during the senior level for jury by the faculty.
2. Theatre A.O.E. students are expected to participate in productions of Vanguard Theatre and to achieve upper-division level skill in acting. A major production practicum or jury is required during the senior level by the faculty for graduation.
3. B.F.A. majors are required to participate in the enrichment opportunities which are available in the arts. These include the music, theatre, and dance performances, art exhibits, and other events presented by faculty and students as well as the fine and performing arts series presentations.

Minors

Art
The minor in Art consists of Art 210, 211, 241, and nine hours selected from: Art 242 or any upper -division art course. Total hours required: 18.

Graphic Design
The minor in Graphic Design consists of Art 221, Art 241, Graphic Design 322, Graphic Design 335 and six hours selected from: Graphic Design 325, 345 or 425. Total hours required: 18.

Theatre
The minor in Theatre consists of Theatre 110, 111, 220, 221, and three hours selected from: 330, 360, 410, or 430. Three hours selected from Theatre 380, 390 or 420. Total hours required: 18.

Courses Offered by Department of Visual and Theatre Arts

Description of Courses

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