168 COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF FINE ARTS
The Department of Fine Arts represents the consolidation of three of the academic disciplines devoted to creative endeavors at the
University: Art, Music and Theatre. Through its faculty members, courses are offered in Art (ART), Music (MUSI), Applied
Music (MUSA), and Theatre (THC). The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Art, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Music,
the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Theatre and the Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in Fine Arts (Music) are offered along with
minors in Art, Music and Theatre for students pursuing undergraduate degrees in other departments. Members of the
Department and departmental facilities are housed among four structures: the Rollins-Stewart Music Center, the Sawyer
Auditorium/Ollington Smith Playhouse, the Rhinehart Music Auditorium, and the John T. Biggers Art Building. The Department
Office is located on the first floor of the Rollins-Stewart Music Center in Room 112.
For detailed information on the Master of Arts Degree in Fine Arts, students are referred to the Graduate School Bulletin of
Texas Southern University.
In pursuing the B.A. degree, students may select from three curriculum tracks of study: Art, Music and Theatre. Each of these
three tracks also has specialty areas that students may select from. For the B.A. in Art, six specialties or specializations are available:
Art History, Ceramics and Sculpture, Design, Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking. For the B.A. in Music, four specialties or
specializations are available: Performance, General, Jazz Studies, and Certification. For the B.A. in Theatre, two specialties or
specializations are available: Performance and Technical Theatre. In selecting one of these three tracks and an associated specialty,
students who are first-time degree seekers are not required to declare a minor in a second academic discipline. Instead, they
are required to complete 18 semester credit hours in the area of specialization.
The primary mission of the Department of Fine Arts is to provide students with aesthetic experiences in art, music and theatre.
Fundamentals, theories, and creativity are the basis of this extensive program which includes design, drawing, ceramics, printmaking,
painting, sculpture, exhibitions, ensembles, and solo performances. Curricular offerings are designed to produce artists, performers,
and directors, as well as provide a broad liberal arts education. Students are provided with a strong undergraduate education
upon which to base the pursuit of advanced or graduate study. Faculty members in the Department are committed to providing
an educational environment where aspiring visual and performing artists and craftsmen develop in the understanding and mastering
of creative techniques; where all students may gain an appreciation of the cultural, historical, and educational values of the arts;
and where cultural awareness translates to the community.
Requirements for the B.A. in Art, the B.A. in Music, and the B.A. in Theatre, as well as the three minors offered through this unit,
are summarized below with exact requirements dependent upon the track, including specialty, or minor selected. All courses
designated as either major or minor courses must be completed with grades of “C” or better, where grades of “C-” are
unacceptable. In considering requirements for one of the bachelor’s degrees, or one of the three minors, students must first be
admitted by the University, must satisfy ASSET requirements, must eradicate deficiencies assessed through the General University
Academic Center (GUAC), must petition the Department for admission as ASSET requirements are completed, and must complete
preliminary requirements established by the Department for majors. Further admission and graduation requirements for the
Department are considered below. An exit examination is required of all graduating seniors.
Individuals interested in seeking certification for teaching in the public schools of Texas in academic disciplines offered
through the Department should contact the Teacher Certification Officer in the College of Education at Texas Southern
University for application instructions.
For the minor in Art, 21 semester credit hours are required through enrollment in the following: ART 131 (3 credits); ART 133
(3 credits); ART 231 (3 credits); one art history class of choice (3 credits); and 9 additional upper-level elective credits in ART.
The minimum grade requirement for each course in this minor is referenced above.
For the minor in Music, 21 semester credit hours are required through enrollment in the following: MUSI 100 (1 credit),
MUSI 131 (3 credits), MUSI 141 (3 credits), MUSI 142 (3 credits), two music ensemble courses (2 credits total), and 9 upper-
level elective credits in MUSI or MUSA. The minimum grade requirement for each course designated is referenced above.
For the minor in Theatre, 21 semester credit hours are required through enrollment in five designated three-credit courses
(THC 130, THC 151, THC 231, THC 337 or THC 338, THC 491 or THC 492) and 6 additional upper-level elective credits
in THC. The minimum grade requirement for each of these courses is referenced above.