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USF 1998-99 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 213 - 214

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS BACCALAUREATE-LEVEL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Programs Leading to the Baccalaureate Degree

The College of Fine Arts offers four undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor or Arts (B.A.) in Art, Dance, and Theatre; the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre; the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Music; and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Art Education and in Music Education.

Admission to the College

Students who wish to be admitted to the College of Fine Arts with a major in one of the four academic departments should contact the intended department ( or School) for an audition (or portfolio review) as early as possible. Once the student is admitted to the University and passes the audition (or portfolio review), he or she should file a declaration of major indicating the degree program. Continuing University students who wish to major in Fine Arts should also go through the audition or portfolio review process before filing a Change of Major. The student must initiate this process from the college of the present major. The current academic record, then, will be transferred to the College of Fine Arts in the COFA advising office.

Transfer students and students from other units within USF with previous college or university fine arts course credits (art, dance, music, theatre) must have such credits evaluated in addition to meeting the portfolio or audition requirements when seeking admission to the College of Fine Arts. These students are urged to make early arrangements for the necessary portfolio reviews or auditions, as well as appointments for advising, since these must take place prior to course scheduling and registration. Further, students are required to provide copies of their transcripts showing all previous college or university coursework for advising, portfolio review and/or audition appointments. Additional information may be obtained by telephoning or writing the College's advising office or the office of the department or school of particular interest.

Advising in the College

The College of Fine Arts Office of Student Services and Advising, located in the Fine Arts building, offers a comprehensive service to all fine arts students and advice to non-majors who are interested in taking fine arts courses. The service includes Preview USF, Fantastic Friday, registration, academic advising, scholarships, graduation certification, mentorship programs, and referrals to other University and community-based services and career-related opportunities. Four major-field advisors (art, dance, music, theatre), Advising Coordinator, Fine Arts Project Thrust Advisor, and support staff work with students toward their matriculation according to curricular outlines. However, the student must remember that he or she is ultimately responsible for meeting all graduation requirements.

Office of Student Services and Advising

The college of Fine Arts Office of Student Services and Advising assists students in developing their educational plans and career goals and fosters their personal development through attention to individual talents and needs.

Our goals are:

Graduation Requirements

  1. All degree programs require 120 credit hours, with the exception of Theatre Education track (129), Music Education degree (134) and Art Education (126).
  2. General Education Requirements may be satisfied by (1) completing the University's General Education Requirements, (2) completing the A.A. degree from a Florida Junior or Community College, or (3) completing the general education requirements from another Florida state university. General education courses transferred from other accredited institutions will be evaluated based on USF General Education equivalencies. The A.A. degree is in no way a requirement for acceptance into the College of Fine Arts (or into any one of its upper-level degree programs), or a requirement for graduation from the University. Students admitted under the 1994/95 catalog must complete the Liberal Arts requirements of the University in lieu of the old General Distribution requirements.
  3. Students admitted to the College of Fine Arts with transfer credits or former students returning with credits dating ten or more years prior to admission (or readmission) will have those credits reviewed by the College and department/school and may be required to take specified competency tests in their major area.
  4. All majors in the College of Fine Arts must take six fine arts credit hours in a field other than the major discipline. Transfer of special fine arts credits must be evaluated by an advisor.
  5. A maximum number of ROTC credits totaling no more than the maximum allowed in the Free Elective Area for each major may be counted toward all degrees.
  6. A maximum of four credit hours of elective Physical Education credits taken at USF may be counted as general elective credit toward all degrees.
  7. Students must complete satisfactorily the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) and the writing and computation course requirement of 6A-10.30 (Gordon Rule).
  8. Students applying for a B.A. degree must demonstrate competency in a foreign language as described under Foreign Language Competency Policy of this catalog.
  9. For degree programs, see requirements listed under each department.
  10. A minimum of 20 credit hours in the major department must be earned in residence. This requirement, however, may be waived by the department/school based on examination (e.g., portfolio review, audition). A student must also earn 30 of the last 60 hours of credits in residence at the University of South Florida. However, any course work to be taken and any credits to be earned outside of the University must have prior approval from the appropriate department/school and the college in order to apply these credits toward graduation.

Waiver of prerequisite course work totaling no more than 12 credit hours in the major or Fine Arts College requirements is possible by demonstration of competence. Unless credit is awarded by approved official tests, i.e., A.P., CLEP, the credit hours must be made up according to departmental/school or college recommendations. The review for waiver is by faculty committee. Specific questions concerning program requirements for all degrees in the College or other related problems, should be directed to the College of Fine Arts Coordinator of Advising.

Courses for General Education and Liberal Arts Requirements:

Courses in the College of Fine Arts in the departments of Art, Dance, Theatre, and School of Music fall within Area II of the University's General Education Requirements. (See General Education Requirements and special policies for AA degree holders and other transfer students with "General Education Requirements" met.) However, a major in any one of the four departments/school in the College of Fine Arts may utilize only those courses in the other three departments of the College for General Education Requirements. Liberal Arts requirements can be met with designated College of Fine Arts courses.

College Policy for Academic Progress

The following criteria will serve as the bases for disenrollment from a major in the College of Fine Arts:

  1. Grade-point average below 2.0 in the major.
  2. Recommendation by major applied (studio) art, dance, music or theatre faculty with approval of respective department/school chairperson/director, or art education coordinator.
  3. The department may recommend probationary status (rather than disenrollment) for one semester when academic progress is not maintained.

Contracts and Permission Procedures

Studies Contracts:

All Directed Studies and other variable credit courses in the College of Fine Arts require contracts between students and instructors describing the work to be undertaken by the student and specifying the credit hours. These contracts are to be completed in quadruplicate and appropriately signed. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the necessary signatures and make the required distribution of all copies. Important: the student must have his/her signed copy of a contract at the time of registration.

S/U Grade Contracts:

The College of Fine Arts requires that any S/U grading agreement entered into between student and instructor be formalized by a contract in quadruplicate signed by the student and the instructor and distributed according to instructions.

"I" Grade Contracts:

Incompletes must be contracted for by mutual agreement between student and instructor, with the contract describing specifically the amount and nature of the work to be completed for the removal of the incomplete grade. This contract additionally clearly specifies the date that the work will be due (within legal limits) for grading. Both the student and the instructor must sign this contract and the four copies must be distributed according to instructions. A student must not register for a course again to remove an "I" grade.

Permission Procedures:

Admission into some courses is possible only by consent of instructor (CI), consent of chairperson (CC), consent of adviser, or by audition or portfolio review. When such special permission is required, it will be the student's responsibility to obtain any required permission prior to registration.

S/U Grading in the College

  1. Non-majors enrolled in courses in the College of Fine Arts may undertake such courses on an S/U basis with instructor approval. See Contracts and Permission Procedures for information concerning S/U Grade Contracts.
  2. Credits earned by a non-major student with an "S" grade will not count toward the student's minimum major course graduation requirement should that student ultimately decide to become a major student in one of the four departments in the College. Instead, such credits earned with an "S" grade will be assigned to the student's Free Elective category (with the exception of music which will become non-countable).
  3. Although Fine Arts majors may take coursework in their major as Free Electives, they are not entitled to the S/U grading option for these courses taken in their major subject area, even when specifically used or intended to be used as Free Electives.
  4. In the College of Fine Arts, the only S/U graded courses available to a major student in his major subject area are those curriculum allowable courses designated S/U (that is, S/U only).
  5. With the exception of such courses as may be specifically required under the College's "Special Requirements" regulation, a maximum of 9 credit hours of S/U credits in non-major courses may apply towards a degree in the College of Fine Arts.

Please refer to Academic Policies section for more information concerning the University's S/U Grading policy.

Dean's List Honors

See Academic Policies and Procedures, Programs and Services.

Interdisciplinary Study

There is no formal interdisciplinary arts degree offered in the College of Fine Arts. However, it is possible for a student to pursue such a program of study in the College by utilizing free electives allowed in the major program. A student may also choose a double undergraduate major in two departments within the College of Fine Arts as a means of interdisciplinary study. See the major adviser in the programs of particular interest.

Minors Program

The College of Fine Arts offers minor programs in Art, Dance, Music, Theatre. Majors in the College of Fine Arts may pursue a minor in any certified minors program at USF except within the same department/school as the major. The requirements for these programs are located under the departmental/school academic program descriptions. For University Minor Policy, consult that section in the catalog.

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Effective Date: Semester I, 1998

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