The College of Fine Arts and Communication
Bruce C. Jacobsen, Dean
SCOPE AND MISSION
The College of Fine Arts and Communication originated in 1971 as the College of Fine
Arts. A 1994 reorganization merged
the School of Communication with the College of Fine Arts to create the new college. The
College of Fine Arts and
Communication offers students unique advantages as the only major academic division dedicated
solely to the fine arts
and communication disciplines. The College's faculties in the departments of Music, Theatre
Arts, and Visual Arts as
well as the School of Communication comprise the largest community of creative artists,
musicians, theatre
practitioners, and communication specialists working together in the state.
The mission of the College of Fine Arts and Communication is to provide, through both
instructional and extracurricular
programs, opportunities for students who are interested in the fine arts and communication as a
profession, as well as
for those who wish to participate in and acquire a greater understanding and appreciation of the
fine arts and
communication. In conjunction with the offerings of the College's faculty members, nationally
known artists,
professionals, and scholars in each of the disciplines regularly visit the campus to share their
expertise with both
faculty and students.
FACILITIES
The Departments of Music and Visual Arts occupy the Edmond A. Hughes Fine Arts Center, an
award-winning structure of
more than 91,000 square feet, which houses outstanding facilities consisting of classrooms,
rehearsal rooms, studios,
shops, offices, and the Josephine Campbell Recital Hall. The Department of Theatre Arts utilizes
the Burtness Theatre
for its production program with department offices, studio and support facilities in adjacent
Chandler Hall, one of the
original buildings on the campus. The School of Communication is housed primarily in O'Kelly
Hall. In addition to these
facilities, the cultural life of the campus is enhanced by the programs of the Chester Fritz
Auditorium, a 2400-seat
performance facility, the North Dakota Museum of Art, the Northern Lights Public Radio, and
the Native Media Center.
DEGREES
Undergraduate students in the College of Fine Arts and Communication may pursue the Bachelor
of Arts, Bachelor of Music,
Bachelor of Science in Education, or the Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Graduate degrees offered
are the Master of
Music, Master of Arts in Theatre Arts, Master of Arts in Communication, and Master of Fine
Arts in Visual Arts.
The degree programs in the College of Fine Arts and Communication are pre-professional
programs in the disciplines of
music, theatre arts, visual arts, and communication. The programs of the Departments of Music,
Visual Arts, and Theatre
Arts are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of
Schools of Art and
Design, and the National Association of Schools of Theatre, respectively.
ADMISSION
Admission to the College of Fine Arts and Communication does not necessarily carry with it
admission to a program or
major in the College. Please see Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts or School of Communication
for individual admission
requirements.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
All candidates for degrees from the College of Fine Arts and Communication must complete the
following requirements:
1. General Graduation Requirements (pages 27-30).
2. Major discipline curriculum as outlined under the specific department.
3. Minimum of 10 semester hours completed outside the College of Fine Arts and
Communication (in addition to general
education requirements).
4. Minimum of 6 semester hours of electives in Fine Arts courses from departments other
than the major discipline.
Teacher Certification: Students who complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree
in Music Education are
certified to teach music K-12 in the state of North Dakota. To be eligible for student teaching,
one of the final
components of the degree program, students must have a minimum of a 2.75 Grade Point
Average (GPA) in their major and a
2.50 GPA overall in coursework attempted prior to application.
Students who are interested in Visual Arts teacher certification for secondary education or the
Bachelor of Science in
Education with a major in Communication may fulfill those requirements while pursuing their
degrees in the College of
Fine Arts and Communication. A coordinate program with the Center for Teaching and Learning
makes this possible. To be
accepted for student teaching, applicants are required to have a minimum of a 2.75 GPA in their
major and a 2.50 GPA
overall in coursework attempted prior to application.
Graduate Studies: The departments of Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, and School of
Communication offer, through the
Graduate School, programs leading to the Master of Arts in Theatre Arts and in Communication,
Master of Music, and the
Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts.
The Master of Music degree offers specialization in music education, performance or pedagogy
(voice, piano), and
composition. In addition, music may also be selected as an Area of Concentration in the Teacher
Education program for
the Doctor of Education, or as a Minor in the Teacher Education program for the Doctor of
Philosophy degree.
The Master of Arts in Theatre Arts offers specializations in acting, directing, design and
technical theatre,
literature, or history.
The Master of Fine Arts degree offers specializations in ceramics, drawing, metalsmithing,
painting, printmaking,
sculpture, and mixed media.
The Master of Arts in Communication is offered through the School of Communication.