College of Visual and Performing Arts
Undergraduate Degrees

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Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of General Studies

Bachelor of Fine ArtsBachelor of Music

Early Admission Joint Program with School of Law

Course Descriptions

 

Bachelor of Arts

The curriculum established for this degree is designed to provide the foundation of a liberal education through a well-rounded study of the humanities; arts; mathematics; and social, behavioral, and natural sciences. Bachelor of Arts degrees are offered with fields of specialization in art history, studio art, dance, music, and theatre arts.

General Requirements. See “Undergraduate Credit by Examination” in the Undergraduate Admissions section of this catalog for information on credit provided by test scores to meet these requirements. Students must take the specified number of hours in the areas listed below. With a few exceptions, courses from the major and minor may be used to satisfy these requirements. Except for the multicultural requirement, a course may not be counted in two different areas of the general requirements nor may a course be counted in requirements for both the major and minor.

Semester Hours
English At least 6 hours of English must consist of ENGL 1301 and 1302.	6-12
Oral Communication	3
Foreign Language Specific foreign language requirements are determined in consultation with an academic advisor. A student must complete 0–6 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. If 4 or more semesters of high school foreign language are accepted for admission, the student should consult the information preceding the course listing for the foreign language department. A student enrolling in the first-year sequence will have a requirement of 11–16 hours. A student who enrolls in the second-year sequence will have a 6-hour requirement. International students whose native language is not English and who graduated from a secondary school in their native country may satisfy this requirement by bringing their certificate of graduation to the Student Division of the dean’s office. Credit by examination through Academic Testing Services is available for the following languages: French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Students who petition to complete the foreign language requirement via study abroad through a non-Texas Tech affiliated program will agree to have foreign language credit applied to their degrees based on scores on a language placement test administered by the language laboratory upon their return from the study abroad. Approval to do this must be granted in advance by the associate dean.	0-16
Mathematics and Logical Reasoning	6
Natural Laboratory Science Select from the natural sciences laboratory courses listed in the university’s core curriculum.	8
Social and Behavioral Sciences Three hours must come from courses in social and behavioral sciences approved for core curriculum requirements. An additional 3 hours may come from the same list or from anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, sociology, and social work but excluding courses cited as options for any other requirement.	3-6
United States History Students normally enroll in HIST 2300 and 2301.	6
United States and Texas Government Students will enroll in POLS 1301 and normally in 2302. One course must be taken from a Texas college or university.	6
Humanities Courses must be selected from the list of core curriculum options.	3-6
Visual and Performing Arts Satisfied in the majors.	3-6
Multicultural Requirement Three hours of coursework chosen from the approved list. This course also may be used to satisfy another general degree requirement listed above.	3
Personal Fitness and Wellness If elected, hours may come from any two PFW courses. For a specific physical activity, the completion of the course sequence is allowed if the sequence is taken in the appropriate order (i.e., beginning then advanced).	0-2
TOTAL FOR DEGREE In addition to the above requirements, students must take major, minor, and elective courses sufficient to total a minimum of 120 semester hours. Students who will graduate under a catalog previous to 2012–2013 must meet the Technology and Applied Science requirement of the core.	minimum 120

Major, Minor, and Electives. Students should have selected their major and minor fields by the time they reach their junior year. For the major subject they will be required to complete a minimum of 36 semester hours, including 6 hours of intensive writing courses. As indicated in the degree programs on the following pages, some majors require more than the 36-hour minimum. At least 18–24 hours of the major subject must be in courses at the junior-senior level. For the minor, a minimum of 18 semester hours must be completed (except in certain foreign languages as explained in the curriculum for languages), at least 6 of which must be of junior or senior level.

The minor may be any departmental minor, an established interdisciplinary minor, or a student-initiated interdisciplinary minor (with approval of the associate dean in the Student Division of the College of Visual and Performing Arts).

Many departments and programs have residency requirements for the major and minor. See departmental or program listings for specific information.

All courses in the major and minor must be approved by the appropriate academic unit. Students are expected to develop a degree plan no later than the first semester of the junior year. Forms and information are available in department offices. A minimum of 40 semester hours of junior and senior work are required to graduate.
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Bachelor of General Studies

The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) is a unique program for students who wish to study multiple fields in equivalent depth. As an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree, it requires similar but slightly different general requirements as the Bachelor of Arts degree. Instead of a major and minor, the student selects three concentration areas, each of which meets the minimum requirements of an existing departmental or interdisciplinary minor. Together, the three concentration areas (minor fields) formulate a coherent specialization of interest to the student that is unavailable elsewhere in the university as an organized program of study. The student chooses the three concentrations in consultation with the College of Visual and Performing Arts academic advisor and, as necessary, the departmental or program advisors overseeing the minor areas. At least two of the three concentration areas must reside in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Each concentration area consists of a minimum of 18 hours in the chosen discipline, for a total of 54 hours minimum across the three areas. Through these self-selected concentration areas combined with forming an integrated specialization and receiving a liberal arts foundation, the B.G.S. degree can prepare a student to pursue an intellectual and/or artistic interest, a career goal, or further study at the graduate or professional level.

Declaration of Major. Students declare the general studies major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts just as they do any major. A visit with the academic advisor (806.742.0700 or cvpa.advisors@ttu.edu) is the best place to start, followed by visits to program advisors representing the three intended concentration areas.

Graduation Requirements. Requirements for the B.G.S. degree in the College of Visual and Performing Arts are as follows:

• 120 credit hours minimum
• Minimum total of 40 junior/senior hours.
• Three concentration areas to total at least 54 hours, each comprising an existing departmental or interdisciplinary minor of at least 18 hours each; minimum 6 junior/senior hours in each concentration; courses may be credited in only one concentration area; at least two of the concentration areas must come from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
• Optional research project as independent studies within concentration area(s).
• Specified general degree requirements as shown.
  

Semester Hours
English	6-12
Oral Communication	3
United States and Texas Government	6
United States History	6
Mathematics and Logical Reasoning	6
Natural Laboratory Science	8
Social and Behavioral Sciences	3-6
Humanities	3-6
Visual and Performing Arts	satisfied in concentrations
Personal Fitness and Wellness	0-2
Entering students are expected to have had four semesters credit of a single foreign language in high school. Students who do not meet this requirement will be required to complete one year (or the equivalent) of a single foreign language taken at the college level. For more detailed information, refer to the “Foreign Language Requirement” listing in the Undergraduate Academics section of this catalog.	0-10
Multicultural Requirement	3
TOTAL FOR DEGREE Students who will graduate under a catalog previous to 2012-2013 must meet the Technology and Applied Science requirement of the core.	120

Curriculum Table

• Bachelor of General Studies: Sample Sequence
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Bachelor of Fine Arts

The curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree provides fields of specialization in theatre arts–acting, theatre arts–design technology, visual studies, communication design, and studio art. A minor is not required for this degree program. If an optional minor is elected, a course may not be credited in the requirements for both the major and minor.

Semester Hours
English	6
United States and Texas Government	6
United States History	6
Oral Communication	3
Mathematics and Logical Reasoning	6
Natural Laboratory Science	8
Social and Behavioral Sciences	3
Humanities	3
Foreign Language Entering students are expected to have had four semesters credit of a single foreign language in high school. Students who do not meet this requirement will be required to complete one year (or the equivalent) of a single foreign language taken at the college level. For more detailed information, refer to the “Foreign Language Requirement” listing in the Undergraduate Academics section of this catalog.	0-10
Multicultural Requirement Three hours of coursework chosen from the approved list. This course may be used to satisfy another General Degree requirement. No additional hours are required if the multicultural requirement is satisfied within the requirements for art and theatre majors. Consult the School of Art or the Department of Theatre and Dance. No additional hours are required if the multicultural requirement is satisfied within the requirements for art and theatre majors.	3
Professional Program (Select One)
Theatre Arts     Visual Studies (leading to teacher certification)     Communication Design     Studio Art	86 67 85 82
Professional Education (teacher certification only)	21
TOTAL FOR DEGREE Students who will graduate under a catalog previous to 2012-2013 must meet the Technology and Applied Science requirement of the core.	123-129

 

Bachelor of Music

Bachelor of Music degrees are offered with fields of specialization in performance (MUPF), composition (MUCP), theory (MUTH), and music (MUTC–leading to teacher certification). A minor is not required for this degree program. If an optional minor is elected, a course may not be credited in the requirements for both the major and minor.

Semester Hours
English	6
Oral Communication	3
Mathematics and Logical Reasoning	6
Foreign Language Specific foreign language requirements are determined in consultation with an academic advisor. Entering students are expected to have had four semesters credit of a single foreign language in high school. Students who do not meet this requirement will be required to complete one year (or the equivalent) of a single foreign language taken at the college level. For more detailed information, refer to the “Foreign Language Requirement” listing in the Undergraduate Academics section of this catalog.	0-16
Humanities	3
Natural Laboratory Science	8
United States and Texas Government	6
United States History	6
Social and Behavioral Sciences	3
Multicultural Requirement Three hours of coursework chosen from the approved list. This course may be used to satisfy another General Degree requirement. No additional hours are required if the multicultural requirement is satisfied within the requirements for music majors.	3
Music Courses for Major (Select One)
MUPF     MUCP     MUTH     MUTC	69-80 81 74 59-62
Professional Education (teacher certification only)	21
TOTAL FOR DEGREE      MUPF      MUCP      MUTH      MUTC Students who will graduate under a catalog previous to 2012-2013 must meet the Technology and Applied Science requirement of the core.	121-124 121 120 126-127

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'3+3' Early Admission Joint Program With
Texas Tech School of Law

Honors students in good standing who are working toward the B.A., B.S., B.F.A., B.M., or B.G.S. degree in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, or the Honors College may gain early admission to the Texas Tech University School of Law by completing coursework totaling a minimum of 100 semester hours in their undergraduate college and then completing the first year of coursework at the Texas Tech School of Law. To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet all of the following criteria:

• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5.
• Have an LSAT score that places them in the top half nationwide.
• Have a SAT score of at least 1300 or an ACT score of at least 29.
• Be enrolled in the Honors College and making satisfactory progress toward a Visual and Performing Arts, Arts and Sciences, or Honors College degree (B.A., B.S., B.F.A., B.M., or B.G.S.) consistent with the regulations established by the colleges.
• Submit an Honors certification form to the Honors College at the time of application to the Law School.

Of the minimum 100 semester hours of undergraduate work, at least the last 30 must be completed in residence at Texas Tech. This minimum will apply to transfer students from other higher education institutions, provided they have satisfactorily completed the work outlined in the freshman and sophomore years or its equivalent. (Note that the Honors College residency requirement generally calls for a minimum of three long semesters of work at Texas Tech for Honors graduation.)

The minimum 100 hours of work must satisfy all graduation requirements for the B.A., B.S., B.F.A., B.M. or B.G.S. degree in the home college at Texas Tech, with the exception of requirements in the minor (for students in the Honors College or the College of Visual and Performing Arts who do not have a minor, the hours will be applied toward elective credit). Students must also complete the minimum requirements for an Honors College designation as outlined in the Honors Student Handbook.

To earn the baccalaureate degree, the applicant for a degree under this plan must submit an official transcript from the Texas Tech School of Law after completion of the first year of law school. Evidence of successful completion of the first year of law school coursework (totaling 29 hours) will substitute for the 18 hours required for the minor and any electives needed (totaling up to 11 hours) for the baccalaureate degree.

For students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the total number of credit hours from outside the college (including those transferred as non-Arts and Sciences credit) and the credit hours from the School of Law applied to the baccalaureate degree cannot exceed 30. For students with a major in the Honors College or the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the 30-hour limit applies to courses from outside the student’s major degree program that do not satisfy a Texas Tech core curriculum requirement.

Any student selecting the “3+3” Early Admission Program option should plan carefully in consultation with an Assistant or Associate Dean of the Honors College and the home college at least one year prior to beginning professional school. Also, due to the unique nature of the law school application process, students are strongly encouraged to meet with the Assistant Dean for Admissions at the School of Law at least two years prior to the desired start date for law school. Students must apply for the “3+3” program during the fall semester of their third year and must take the LSAT by December of that year. The Admissions Committee applies the same standards and procedures to both “3+3” applicants and traditional admission applicants.

Students wishing to pursue the “3+3” program must file a degree plan with an appropriate major and a law minor at least one semester prior to beginning their law school coursework.

Further information can be found at www.honr.ttu.edu, www.prelaw.ttu.edu, and www.law.ttu.edu/prospective/specialprograms/honors3/.

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions for the college's various specializations can be found within the catalog information for each department. Those courses with a VPA prefix that are common to many disciplines within the college can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

• Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)

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