Visual and Performing Arts

The Visual and Performing Arts Department administers a range of courses, degrees and minor programs in the disciplines of Art History, Film Studies, Gallery Management, Music, Studio Art and Theatre.

The CU-Colorado Springs Gallery of Contemporary Art and the repertory company Theatreworks are administrative units of this department. Teresa Meadows Jillson is Chair

Visual Arts

Professors: Cicotello, Fife; Professor Emerita: Hoerner; Associate Professor: Meadows Jillson (Chair); Assistant Professor: Tesman; Assistant Professors Attendant Rank: Andrus, Riggs, and Ross; Senior Instructor: Smith, Instructors: Lowell, McKerlie; Producing Director, Theatreworks: Martorella

Two Bachelor of Arts degree programs are available within the curriculum offered in the Visual Arts: Studio Art or Art History. Minor programs are offered in Art History, Film Studies, Gallery Management, Music, Studio Art and Theatre. The stand alone minors in Film Studies, Music and Theatre can also be used as primary fields in a distributed studies major.

Bachelor of Arts — Studio Art

Students intending to earn a B.A. degree with a concentration in Studio Art must complete a minimum of 45 semester hours in studio courses. A minimum of 24 hours in upper-division courses is required.

V A 101 (Beginning Studio-2D), V A 102 (Beginning Studio-3D), and V A 104 (Beginning Drawing) are considered the foundation core of the studio art curriculum and are required of all studio majors.

V A 398 (Advanced Studio Problems) and V A 498 (Professional Seminar) are also required of all studio majors. Studio Art majors must, in addition, complete 15 hours of art history, to be included among those hours are A H 100 and six hours selected from the survey group of A H 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285. Only G M 405 from the G M 404/405 (Gallery Management) sequence can be used to satisfy this 15 hour requirement.

The studio art offerings are listed under three basic categories, giving students more flexibility in planning a program suited to their individual needs. These categories are beginning (100 level), intermediate (200 level), and advanced (300 level). In all areas of study within the studio curriculum, the 100 level (beginning) or its equivalent is prerequisite to any coursework in an area at the 200 (intermediate) or 300 (advanced) levels.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts maintains the right to retain a limited number of examples of outstanding student work for its perma
nent collection. Student work and material left in the studios are the responsibility of the student.

Students interested in teaching art should plan to develop a comprehensive undergraduate major in Visual and Performing Arts and check with the College of Education for requirements for certification after graduation. No art education courses are offered at Colorado Springs.

Certain courses, notably some art history classes, are tentative listings only and will be offered when budgeting and staffing allow. Students should check the current Schedule of Courses for specific course times and semester offerings.

The 300 level courses may be repeated once. Not all courses are offered each semester, nor are they always taught by the same instructor. Students should check the current Schedule of Courses.

After completion of 60 hours of credit (sophomore standing), it is recommended that a student meet with a member of the studio art faculty for counseling in relation to further study and planning a program that will incorporate the individual’s goals. A number of studio art courses have content determined by the instructor on a semester-by-semester basis, so it is imperative that students check the current Schedule of Courses at the beginning of each semester for specific course content.

TRANSFER STUDENTS NOTE: The department requires nine hours of studio art coursework at CU-Colorado Springs as the minimum component for this concentration in the degree program.

Bachelor of Arts — Art History

The Art History concentration consists of a lower division requirement of A H 100 and 12 hours selected from the survey group of courses: A H 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285.

There is also a 24 hour requirement in upper-division Art History courses, of which the department requires a nine-hour dispersal (three hours each) among the three divisions of ancient, renaissance, and modern art history. All majors must complete A H 400 (Seminar: The Practice of Art History). The minimum Art History degree program is 39 hours. No course from the G M 404/405 (Gallery Management) sequence can be used to satisfy the minimum 39 hours required for a major.

A further requirement is 12 hours of cognate studies in studio art: six hours in basic studio (V A 101 and 102) and six hours of electives in studio art courses.

The faculty considers foreign language study in French or German to be the most appropriate for Art History majors.

Art history courses are offered on a rotating basis; not all courses are available every semester. Students should check the current Schedule of Courses.

TRANSFER STUDENTS NOTE: The department requires nine hours of art history coursework at CU-Colorado Springs as the minimum component for this concentration in the degree program.

Arts Fee

A program fee of $45 per semester will be assessed to all students enrolled in studio art and art history courses. In addition all students enrolling in studio art courses and certain Art History courses will be assessed fees to help defray the cost of supplies. Course fees will be assessed as follows: $20 per class per semester with a $40 maximum total fee per semester, with a fee of $30 per photography class. There is a full refund of the deposit for courses dropped the first two weeks of the term.

Minors in Visual and Performing Arts

The Department offers minor programs of study in all six areas of its curriculum; Art History, Film Studies, Gallery Management, Music, Studio Art, and Theatre.

Art History

Art History Minor Program Requirements: Any three courses from the Survey Group A H 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, and any three A H 300 or above level courses (18 hours total).

Gallery Management

Gallery Management Minor Program Requirements: Any three A H courses; G M 404 and 405 (Gallery Management I and II); and A H 456 Perspectives of Art. (18 hours total).

Studio Art

Studio Art Minor Program Requirements: Foundation level courses V A 101 or 102, and 104; one V A 200 level course in a media area of the student’s choice; and three V A 300 level courses in that media area (18 hours total).

Film Studies

Associate Professor von Dassanowsky, Director.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts offers a minor in Film Studies. The purpose of Film Studies is to develop in its students a scholarly and creative approach to the cinematic arts and to provide the theoretical and historical component to the practical media programs offered by the Department of Communication. The program in film offers a critical methodology and an exploration of ideas and expression that enriches many academic subjects and majors.

Requirements

The minor requires 18 hours of coursework, 12 of which must be in upper division credits. Two required courses, FILM 100 and FILM 200, offer the basics of film analysis in dominant and avant-garde cinema. Elective courses focus on national cinemas, current topics and genre/auteur study. Most electives are cross-listed and students may refer to the cross-listing for a description of the course.

Required Courses.

FILM 100-3. Introduction to Film Studies.

FILM 200-3. Narrative Film.

Elective Courses:

FILM 280/ENGL 280-3. Film and Fiction.

FILM 345/GER 345/FCS 345-3. German and Austrian Film.

FILM 350/COMM 350-3 American Cinema.

FILM 369/SPAN 369/FCS 369-3. Hispanic Culture Through Film.

FILM 371-3, Great European Film Directors.

FILM 372-3. Russian Avant-Garde Cinema.

FILM 373-3. Russian Art Cinema.

FILM 390-3. Special Topics in Film.

FILM 398/HIST 398-3. The Vietnam War Through Film.

FILM 399/HIST 399-3. European Film/European History.

FILM 411/FRENCH 411/FCS 399-3. French or Francophone Film.

PHIL 460-3. Theory of Film

Music

Senior Instructor: Smith, Program Coordinator

Minor in Music

The minor in music requires nine lower and nine upper division credits. Six lower division credits are required with three credits of music elective. Three hours of upper division credits are required with six electives.

Curriculum requirements:

Lower division: MUS 101, Music Theory MUS 201, Music Theory

Upper division: MUS 315, Non-Western Music

Curriculum electives:

Lower division MUS 100, Intro to Music, MUS 131, University Choir MUS 205, Intro to Jazz MUS 210, Rock and Roll Music MUS 225, Jazz Ensemble

Upper division: MUS 375, 20th Century Music MUS 385, Symphonic Literature MUS 493 or 495, Special Topics

Premusic Program

Students are referred to the College of Music section of the University of Colorado at Boulder Bulletin for information concerning admission policies and details of the curriculum leading to the bachelor’s degree in music. Students who wish to apply the following program as a possible first year of a music major in the College of Music in Boulder will need to audition in person or by tape with representatives of the Boulder music faculty. The audition is necessary for admission and also serves to certify proficiency from coursework in applied music.

Courses for Pre-Music Program

Music Theory - 8 credits

MUS 101, Music Theory I, and MUS 102, Music Theory II will fulfill 6 of these credits. The other 2 credits (1 per semester) will be offered as 1 credit ear training laboratories (either through the regular class schedule or through Extended Studies).

Music History - 6 credits

MUS 185, Introduction to Music, counts for 3 credits. The other 3 may be elected from MUS 205, Introduction to Jazz; MUS 215, Introduction to Non-Western Music; MUS 375, 20th Century Music; or MUS 385, Symphonic Literature.

Applied Music - 4-6 credits

Music majors receive 2 credits a semester for a half-hour lesson a week (15 weeks) and 3 credits a semester for a one-hour lesson a week (15 weeks). Proficiency will be examined by representatives of the Boulder music faculty upon admission to the program.

Ensemble - 2 credits

MUS 131. University Choir (1 credit per semester). MUS 203 Jazz Ensemble. MUS 331 Community Orchestra (available through Extended Studies). MUS 330 Community Band (available through Extended Studies). When offered, these classes may be scheduled through the regular academic program or extended studies.

Theatre

Associate Profrssor: Meadows Jillson, Assistant Professor: Tesman, Assistant Professor Attendant Rank: Ross, Instructor: Lowell, Producing Director, Martorella

The Theatre division of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts offers minor programs and a basic sequence of courses designed to develop performing skills and introduce the various elements of theatre. The academic theatre program will normally sponsor a student production and a theatre festival every spring semester. Students also have the opportunity to participate in productions of Theatreworks, the regional repertory company at CU-Colorado Springs. Students are advised that theatre courses, especially acting courses are progressive and should be taken in sequence.

Minor in Theater

The Minor in Theatre requires 18 hours of coursework, 9 of which must be upper-division courses.

All students must complete the following THREE required lower-division courses:

THTR 100-3: Introduction to Theater

THTR 200-3: Introduction to Technical Theater

THTR 202-3: Acting Workshop I

These TWO upper-division courses are also required:

THTR 320-3: History of Theater I

THTR 321-3: History of Theater II

In addition, students must complete ONE of these upper division courses:

THTR 302-3: Advanced Acting Studio I

*THTR 322-3: What’s Funny? The Nature and Form of Dramatic Comedy

*THTR 328-3: Women in Theater

*THTR 390-3: Special Topics in Theater