College of Visual and Performing Arts

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About the College (Back to Top)

The College of Visual and Performing Arts offers a diverse array of programs and courses in art, music, theatre, and dance. The college seeks to prepare students who will be leaders in the profession by employing the highest standards in performance, teaching, research, and artistic and creative vision. The college provides students with opportunities to be innovative and confident, to think critically, and to be successful in their chosen field. Courses and degrees emphasize synthesis and connection via academic and creative programs, internships, and service learning. The college contributes cultural enrichment and an understanding of the arts locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Undergraduate Program (Back to Top)

Core Curriculum Requirements. The Core Curriculum requirements ensure breadth in each academic program. These requirements have been incorporated into the college’s various degree programs. Students should consult the Undergraduate Academics section of this catalog for a listing of courses that satisfy the requirements in each category.

Major, Minor, and Electives. In addition to Core Curriculum requirements, students must take major, minor, and elective courses sufficient to total 120-128 semester hours. The minor (if applicable) may be any departmental minor from outside the major, an established interdisciplinary minor, or a student-initiated interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary minor (with approval of the appropriate associate dean of the college). Many departments and programs have residency requirements for the major and minor. See departmental or program listings for specific information.

Students should have selected their major and minor (if applicable) 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 foreign languages—explained under the department), at least 6 of which must be junior or senior level courses. All courses in the major and minor must be approved by the appropriate academic unit. A minimum of 40 semester hours of junior and senior work must be presented in the total degree. Information regarding graduate programs offered by the college is available within the individual departments. Students should consult an advisor for specific requirements of their degree programs.

Course Load. A normal course load is 15-19 hours per long semester. A student must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 hours to be considered full time. In calculating the course load, the dean will consider all active correspondence courses as a part of the course load. Course loads in excess of 19 semester hours require approval by an associate dean in the college. The maximum course load for a student on probation is 16 hours. The normal course load for a single summer term is 6-8 hours.

To meet graduation requirements, a graduating senior may petition to take 9 hours one summer term or a total of 15 hours across both summer terms.

Admission. Students seeking admission to a specific school or department within the college should consult “Admission Requirements for Specific Colleges” in the Undergraduate Admissions section of this catalog.

Admission of Transfer Students. Students requesting permission to transfer from another academic institution must meet the university-wide admission requirements. Students requesting permission to transfer from another college at Texas Tech must have a GPA of at least 2.0. Any student requesting to transfer into the College of Visual and Performing Arts must provide the CVPA Student Division Office (AD 218) with official transcripts of all academic work, both high school and college, and must meet any admission requirements of the units in the college as stated in the paragraph above. The CVPA Student Division Office grants final approval. The College of Visual and Performing Arts will determine the applicability of any transferred credit to academic programs in the college. All transfer students will enter under the catalog in force at the time of transfer. The last 30 hours prior to graduation must be completed while enrolled in the college.

Correspondence Courses. A Texas Tech resident student may apply coursework completed at a distance through Distance Education toward a bachelor’s degree with prior approval of the academic dean (218 Administration Building). A student who has failed a course taken in residence may take that course or a degree plan alternative through the Division of Outreach and Distance Education with prior approval of the academic dean.

Catalog Selection. Students must use the catalog issued for the year in which they were first officially admitted to the college, or a more recent catalog if approved. However, if they are not enrolled at Texas Tech for one academic year or transfer to another institution or another college at Texas Tech, they must be readmitted to the College of Visual and Performing Arts and use the catalog in effect at the time of readmission. For graduation purposes, a catalog expires after seven years at which time the current catalog becomes the catalog in effect.

Credit by Examination. A matriculated student may attempt credit by examination (described in the Admissions section of this catalog) by obtaining written approval from the dean’s office. Approval is required to take an examination if more advanced material in the same subject has already been completed.

Grading Practices. The college conforms to university grading practices as set forth in the Undergraduate Academics section of this catalog. Credit for a course in which a grade of D is earned may not be applied toward fulfillment of the major (sometimes including adjunct requirements), minor, or teaching field requirements for any degree program. Except for those courses designated “may be repeated for credit” in this catalog, no course may be used more than once on a degree plan unless it has been approved by the dean in the college.

Second Bachelor’s Degree. Permission to enroll in courses to pursue a second bachelor’s degree must be obtained from the office of the dean in the college. No second bachelor’s degree is conferred until the candidate has completed at least 24 semester hours in residence in addition to the courses counted toward the first bachelor’s degree. Out-of-state students must meet Texas Tech Core Curriculum requirements. Credit by examination and correspondence courses will not satisfy the 24-hour residence requirement.

Freshman Year. Entering freshmen develop their programs in conference with an academic advisor. The students report to their advisors for such individual conferences or group meetings as are needed for the purpose of orienting themselves to academic regulations and procedures, curricula, and degree requirements in their various areas of interest.

Final 30 Credit Hours. The final 30 credit hours of a degree program must be completed with Texas Tech enrollments. A maximum of 6 of these credit hours may be taken by Texas Tech correspondence. Credit for courses taken without prior approval may not be applied to degree program requirements.

Degree Plan and Intention to Graduate. Students are encouraged to file degree plans with the dean as soon as their academic goals are clearly defined. Students must file degree plans after completing 60 to 70 hours of coursework and no later than one year prior to the intended semester of graduation. The Intention to Graduate form must be submitted no later than one year before the proposed date of graduation.

Teacher Education. Prospective teachers should refer to the College of Education section of this catalog and the chair or undergraduate advisor of the school or department in which they wish to major within the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Undergraduate Degrees (Back to Top)

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. It also provides the factual basis and the insights requisite for specialized study and professional work in these fields.

General Requirements. See “Undergraduate Credit by Examination” in the 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.

Click here for Bachelor of Arts Curriculum Table

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. Courses used to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement should be taken in residence.

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.

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) 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 jr./sr. 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.

Click here for Bachelor of General Studies Curriculum Table

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree provides highly professional programs in theatre arts, 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.

Click here for Bachelor of Fine Arts Curriculum Table

Bachelor of Music

Bachelor of Music degrees are offered with majors in music performance (MUPF), music composition (MUCP), music 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.

Click here for Bachelor of Music Curriculum Table

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

HHonors 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 may be found at www.prelaw.ttu.edu, www.honr.ttu.edu, and www.law.ttu.edu/prospective/specialprograms/honors3/.

Graduate Program (Back to Top)

Admission to graduate programs in the College of Visual and Performing Arts is a two-step process with requirements established by both the Graduate School and the school or department in which the student plans to study. The student should note carefully any particular requirements for admission established by the school or department in which he or she plans to major and contact the graduate advisor of the unit for more detailed information.

Ph.D. in Fine Arts

A multidisciplinary doctoral program leading to the Ph.D. degree in fine arts is offered by the faculties in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The general aim of this program is to develop leadership in the fine arts. Accordingly, the curriculum involves a multidisciplinary approach to make candidates aware of the full scope and educational interrelatedness of the arts.

The program requires a minimum of 48 semester hours of graduate coursework beyond the master’s degree—33 in the major area and 15 in a multidisciplinary core of art, music, philosophy, and theatre arts. In addition, the program requires at least 12 hours enrollment in dissertation. The residence requirement for the fine arts doctoral program is fulfilled by satisfactory completion of 18 semester hours of graduate coursework during one 12-month period.

Work in the major area ordinarily involves required coursework along with an individualized curriculum that allows the candidate to pursue a professional goal relating to personal interests and competencies.

Each candidate will write a formal dissertation, ordinarily in the major area; however, students with appropriate backgrounds may be permitted to do interdisciplinary dissertations. The nature of the dissertation project may vary among three plans: traditional or interdisciplinary research, research devoted to solving a professional problem, or research based on an internship experience. Regardless of the project chosen, however, the research will culminate in a formal document submitted to the dean of the Graduate School.

In addition to meeting the Graduate School’s minimal requirements for admission, applicants must also be approved by their major departments and by the Visual and Performing Arts Graduate Committee. All applicants for the program must have completed a master’s degree or its equivalent with emphasis in some area of the arts.

Core Courses

Course Descriptions (Back to Top)

Click here to see a complete list of courses in visual and performing arts (VPA)