BA/BS in Arts Studies

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Arts Studies

The Arts Studies program gives students the option to major in the arts gaining experience in a minimum of two and possibly all four of the departments in the School of Fine and Performing Arts (art, architecture, music, and theatre and film). Arts Studies serves those undergraduates who would like to major in the arts but who do not wish to specialize in a single area, as well as other students with an interest in multiple art forms. Additionally, the program provides an undergraduate option in the arts for those students who wish to pursue teaching in elementary and middle schools. At PSU as well as other institutions, teaching education is a graduate program and students are required to have completed a BA/BS degree prior to entering. It provides a needed background for those who will teach in school and are asked to bring the arts into their classroom and to help with a variety of arts activities such as school plays, musicals, concerts, and art projects.

The degree requires 52 credits of study, including three core multidisciplinary courses at three points in the curriculum: entering, mid-point, and exiting (FPA 101, 301, 445). The first two provide a foundation and the third is a senior project allowing students to apply what they have learned in the study of multiple arts theory and practice courses. This project may involve community-based learning, internships, apprentice teaching or creative projects. Students take 16 credits of entry-level course work in both arts theory and practice within two majors and continue their exploration in two to four fields, taking 24 upper-division credits chosen with an advisor and finish with the senior project.

Advising

Students plan their program with the degree advisor: the Associate Dean for the School of Fine and Performing Arts. Students with their advisor should pay particular attention to any courses that are pre-requisites for upper-division coursework they may want to take as they plan their course of study.

Application for Upper Division Admission to the Arts Studies Major

 Project Proposal Petition for FPA445

Requirements for Arts Studies Major

In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the Arts Studies major must meet minimum program requirements as follows:
Core (required for all students)
FPA 101 Perspectives in the Arts (4)
FPA 301 Creative Thinking in the Arts (4)
FPA 445 Senior Project (4)
Eight credits each from 2 different departments, one course in theory and one in practice from list below (16)
Upper division credits from at least two of the four areas (24)
Total Credits (52)

Architecture
Practice
Arch180, 181 Beginning Design Studio I, II (6, 6)
Theory
Arch 100 Introduction to Architecture (4)
Arch 230, 231, 232 Architecture and Cultural History I, II, III (4, 4, 4)

Art
Practice
Art 115 Foundation Studio 1: Two-dimensional design (4)
Art 117 Foundation Studio 2: Three-dimensional design (4)
Art 119 Foundation Studio 3: Digital Media/Time design (4)
Art 131 Introduction to Drawing (4) (No prerequisites)
Art 227 Introduction to Art and Social Practice (4)
Art 230 Drawing Concepts (4)
Art 250 Life Drawing I (4)
Art 255 2-D Animation I (4)
Art 256 3-D Animation I (4)
Art 260 Black and White Photography (4)
Art 261 Color Photography (4)
Art 262 Photoimaging I (4)
Art 257 Video I (4)
Art 270, 271 Intro to Printmaking I, II (4, 4)
Art 281, 282 Intro to Painting I, II (4, 4)
Art 291, 292 Sculpture I, II (4, 4)
Art 294 Water Media (4)
Art 295 Sculpture- The Figure (4)
Art 296 Digital Drawing and Painting (4)
Art 297 Book Arts (4)
Theory
Art 112 Idea and Form (4)
Art 203 Making and Meaning (4)
ArH 204, 205, 206 History of Western Art (4, 4, 4)
ArH 208 Introduction to Asian Art (4)
ArH 291 History of Animation (4)

Music
Practice
MuP 190, 290 Applied Lessons (1-4)
MuS 195, 196, 197, 198 Band, Orchestra, Choir, Jazz lab Band (1)
Mus 191 OR 192 OR 193 Class piano, guitar, or voice (2)
Theory
Mus 101, 102, 103 Basic Materials (4, 4, 4)
Mus 111, 112, 113 Music Theory (3, 3, 3)
Mus 201, 202 Introduction to Music (4, 4)
Mus 203 Music in the Western World (4)
Mus 261, 262 History of Rock and Roll (4, 4)

Theater Arts
Practice
TA 102 Introduction to Acting (4)
TA 147 Movement for Actors (3)
TA 350 Dance Improvisation (4)
TA 351 Dance Composition (4)
TA 248 Acting I: Process (4)
TA 111/114 Tech Theater Prod I (4)
Theory
TA 101 Theater Appreciation (4)
TA 104 Dance Appreciation (4)
TA 131 Understanding Movies (4)
TA 305U Understanding Theater (4)

View a PDF Version of Art Studies Major