The College of Visual and Performing Arts also offers students the opportunity to construct individualized programs of study culminating in the degree Bachelor of Arts. The B.A. degree requires demonstrated competence in a foreign language. (Attention is directed to the section of the catalog entitled “Other Graduation Requirements” and the heading “Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. degree.”)
The contract major program allows a student with unusual and well defined academic interests to design a major with the advice of a faculty sponsor. The program must be logically structured around a meaningful and interesting theme or topic. Program proposals should be submitted to the associate dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and must be approved by the College Contract Major Committee.
The student who wishes to propose a contract major must
have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
justify the new curriculum and define the goal to be achieved.
design a multidisciplinary program that may be accommodated within existing university resources and facilities. (The program may include internships, independent study, or special projects up to a maximum of 12 semester hours.)
include in the program at least 50 semester hours of course work comprising courses basic to the area of study. No more than 36 semester hours should be taken in any one disciplinary area.
earn at least 30 semester hours of the contract major program in upper-division courses.
A student who completes an approved contract major and all other graduation requirements will receive the degree Bachelor of Arts with a contract major in ______ (the theme specified in the contract).
Examples of contract themes that have been proposed include musical theatre, audio engineering technology, scientific illustration, and arts management.
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