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Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
This section of the 2011-2012 FAU University Catalog includes revisions approved after the catalog's publish date of March 3, 2011. Revisions appear in red.
Link to Course Descriptions for the College of Arts and Letters
The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters offers Bachelor of Arts degrees (B.A.) with majors in Arts and Humanities, Art History, Anthropology, Communication Studies, English, History, Jewish Studies, Languages and Linguistics, Multimedia Studies, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Social Science, Sociology, Studio Art and Theatre. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) may be earned in Art (Graphic Arts or Studio Art) and Theatre. The College also awards the Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.). University programs leading to teacher certification in art and foreign languages are available to undergraduate students registered in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
For graduate students, the College offers a range of Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees with majors in Anthropology; Communication; English; History; Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature; Music; Political Science; and Sociology as well as interdisciplinary M.A. degrees with majors in Liberal Studies and Women’s Studies.
Master of Fine Arts degrees (M.F.A.) may be earned in Visual Art in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History; in Creative Writing in the Department of English; in Media, Technology and Entertainment in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies; and in Acting, Design and Technology in the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Graduate students may obtain the Master of Arts in Teaching degree (M.A.T.) in several disciplines listed in this section by department.
A Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) with a Major in Comparative Studies is offered by the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters as well.
In addition, the College offers several certificate programs, interdisciplinary in nature, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Each type of program—bachelor’s degree programs, master’s degree programs, the doctoral program and the certificate programs—is described in the following sections. The course offerings pertaining to each program are listed by department at the end of the College section.
Bachelor’s Degree Program Information
Degree Requirements
To receive the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, a student must complete a minimum of 120 credits of academic work, including the following requirements.
Bachelor of Arts
(Freshmen and transfer students with fewer than 30 credits)
1. All degree requirements of the University. (See Degree Requirements section of this catalog.)
2. All requirements in the major. Refer to the description of major requirements listed with each undergraduate degree program in this section.
3. Majors in Art History, History, Music and Philosophy will take 9 credits in Arts and Letters electives.
4. The University Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters does not accept credits in American Sign Language to fulfill this requirement.
5. A cumulative average of “C” or better in all coursework attempted. At least a “C” or better in each course in the major, minor or certificate. All courses in the major must be graded. Pass/Fail is not accepted.
6. File an Application for Degree form, available at the Office of the Registrar. File with the Office of Student Academic Services.
7. Certification by the faculty of the College for the awarding of the degree.
Additional Admission Requirements
Any student who does not have a “C” average in freshman English will be required to take further expository writing. Proficiency in a foreign language is strongly recommended for admission to programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Bachelor of Arts
(Transfer students with 30 credits or more)
1. All degree requirements of the University, with a minimum of 120 credits in academic courses (see the Degree Requirements section of this catalog).
2. All requirements in the major. Refer to the description of major requirements listed with each undergraduate degree program in this section. All coursework transferred from another institution in the major field must be approved in writing by the chair of the major department.
3. A minimum of 9 credits (12 credits at the upper division in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies) within the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters but outside the major department, excluding courses used to satisfy the foreign language requirement and any course used to satisfy lower-division General Education requirements in Arts and Letters. The departments of Anthropology, English, Political Science, Sociology and Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature do not require Arts and Letters electives. These departments treat this requirement as “free” electives.
4. A cumulative average of “C” or better in all coursework attempted. At least a “C” or better in each course in the major, minor or certificate. All courses in the major must be graded. Pass/Fail is not accepted.
5. File an Application for Degree form, available at the Office of the Registrar. File with the Office of Student Academic Services.
6. Certification by the faculty of the College for the awarding of the degree.
Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Music
(Freshmen and transfer students with fewer than 30 credits)
1. All degree requirements of the University, including the University Foreign Language Requirement. (See Degree Requirements section of this catalog.)
2. All requirements in the major. Refer to the description of major requirements listed with each undergraduate degree program in this section.
3. A cumulative average of “C” or better in all coursework attempted.
4. The University Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters does not accept credits in American Sign Language to fulfill this requirement.
5. At least a “C” or better in each course in the major, minor or certificate. All courses in the major must be graded. Pass/Fail is not accepted.
6. File an Application for Degree form, available at the Office of the Registrar. File with the Office of Student Academic Services.
7. Certification by the faculty of the College for the awarding of the degree.
Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Music
(Transfer students with 30 credits or more)
1. All degree requirements of the University, with a minimum of 120 credits in academic courses. (See the Degree Requirements section of this catalog.)
2. All requirements in the major. Refer to the description of major requirements listed with each undergraduate degree program in this section. All coursework transferred from another institution in the major field must be approved in writing by the chair of the major department.
3. A cumulative average of “C” or better in all coursework attempted.
4. At least a “C” or better in each course in the major, minor or certificate. All courses in the major must be graded. Pass/Fail is not accepted.
5. The Foreign Language Entry Requirement.
6. File an Application for Degree form, available at the Office of the Registrar. File with the Office of Student Academic Services.
7. Certification by the faculty of the College for the awarding of the degree.
Second Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts Programs
1. A minimum of 30 credits must be earned in residence at FAU, in addition to the first degree (a minimum total of 150 credits for concurrent degrees).
2. Satisfy the admission requirements of the college granting the second degree.
3. Satisfy all College and department degree requirements. Refer to Degree Program Requirements under the major department listed below. If the student has not completed a foreign language in the first degree, then the student must complete the College’s B.A. or B.F.A. foreign language requirement.
4. File an Application for Degree form, available at the Office of the Registrar. File with the Office of Student Academic Services.
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Master’s Degree Program Information
The Master of Arts degree is offered in Anthropology, Communication, Comparative Literature, English, French, History, Liberal Studies, Linguistics, Music, Political Science, Sociology, Spanish and Women’s Studies.
The Master of Fine Arts degree is offered in Fine Arts in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History, in Creative Writing in the Department of English, in Media, Technology and Entertainment in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and in Acting, Design and Technology in the Department of Theatre and Dance.
The Master of Arts in Teaching degree is offered in the departments of Anthropology, English and Political Science. The Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature offers the M.A.T. as well in French and Spanish.
M.A., M.F.A., M.A.T. Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the Master of Arts, the Master of Arts in Teaching or the Master of Fine Arts degree program, the student must meet the following criteria:
1. a. For Visual Arts and Art History: At least a 3.0 average in the 60 credits prior to receipt of the bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree from an accredited institution.
b. For Music, Theatre and Women’s Studies: At least a 3.0 average in the 60 credits prior to receipt of the bachelor’s degree or a minimum score of 1000 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE.
c. For Anthropology, Communication, English, History, Languages and Linguistics, Media, Technology and Entertainment, Political Science and Sociology: At least a 3.0 average on the 60 credits prior to receipt of the bachelor’s degree and a minimum score of 1000 on the combined verbal and quantitative (or analytical) portions of the GRE.
d. For Languages and Linguistics: At least a 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 undergraduate credits.
e. For English: At least a 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 undergraduate credits and a copy of general GRE scores.
2. Recommendation for admission by the proposed major department and the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters graduate committee.
3. An undergraduate degree in the discipline (since departments may vary in requirements, students should discuss their qualifications with the department).
4. Master of Fine Arts students must pass an acting audition, pass a directing evaluation or have portfolios evaluated, depending upon their major sequence.
Master’s Degree Requirements
To be eligible for the Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Fine Arts degree from the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the student must complete all University requirements for the degree. To be recommended by the department and the graduate committee, the student must meet all departmental requirements.
Graduate students must meet the language requirement set by each department in the College of Arts and Letters for their graduate degree programs.
Doctoral Degree Program Information
The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Comparative Studies. Comparative Studies is the application of various approaches within the humanities, arts and social sciences to the study of significant issues. The Ph.D. in Comparative Studies also involves developing expertise in advanced interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary study, including exploration of topics and materials from at least two traditional disciplines (e.g., political science and English literature; anthropology and history; art history, literature and communication).
Admission and degree requirements for this Ph.D. program are listed under the Comparative Studies departmental heading later in this section.
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certificate programs
Asian Studies
Caribbean and Latin American Studies
Classical Studies
English as a Second Language (ESL) Studies
Environmental Studies
Ethics, Law and Society
Ethnic Studies
Film and Video
Jewish Studies
Peace Studies
Piano Performance and Pedagogy
Religious Studies
Women's Studies
The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters offers certificates of study in interdisciplinary fields at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Courses taken for a certificate program may be used to fulfill other general and specific degree requirements, just as courses taken to fulfill other requirements may be applied to the certificate curriculum. Certificates are awarded upon completion of the bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.
Asian Studies
The Certificate in Asian Studies introduces undergraduate students to continuity and change in the Asian world, encompassing East Asia, the Middle East and South Asia. A variety of careers in this era of globalization necessitate knowledge of international affairs. Students in the Asian Studies Certificate will benefit from being exposed to diverse approaches to the study of Asia.
Students may earn this certificate by completing 15 credits in courses that focus on Asia. No more than 9 of these credits may be earned in a single discipline. Students may choose from the content courses below to meet the 15-credit requirement.
For more information, contact Dr. Kenneth W. Holloway, director, kenneth.holloway@fau.edu.
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Caribbean and Latin American Studies
The Certificate in Caribbean and Latin American Studies is awarded to undergraduate students completing multidisciplinary studies of Latin America and the Caribbean in conjunction with an academic major, usually in one of the departments represented in the curriculum. It is approximately the equivalent of an interdisciplinary minor. The certificate program seeks to provide the student with both an overview of the region’s heritage as well as an opportunity to pursue upper-division study in several disciplines focused on current affairs. The successful completion of the program will prepare the student for a wide range of job opportunities and graduate programs in and dealing with Latin America and the Caribbean.
The curriculum consists of three parts:
1. A required overview course, Introduction to Latin American Studies, LAS 3002 2000 (3 credits);
2. Four additional courses from the list of core courses below. No more than two can be taken from any one department (12 credits);
3. Students must demonstrate an intermediate level of proficiency in a language of the region other than English. This can be achieved by one of two means: passing the CLEP test through the 2220 level, or a passing grade in a 2220-level language course. Heritage or “native” speakers of one of the region’s languages should discuss their language skills with a certificate advisor in order to determine if they should CLEP or take a special language course for heritage speakers.
(Change above is effective summer 2011.)
Students are advised to enroll first in LAS 2000 and then continue their studies in any order. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in each course applicable to the certificate. These courses may be counted toward other general and specific graduation requirements. No more than two core courses may be in the student’s major. Students who already hold a baccalaureate degree may pursue the certificate as a non-degree-seeking student or in conjunction with a second bachelor’s degree. Students are encouraged to study in a country of the region through FAU Study Abroad Programs.
Interested students should contact Program Director Dr. Nora Erro-Peralta at 561-297-2724 or peralta@fau.edu.
Core Courses
This is not an exhaustive list. Students may take any course with content focused on the region. The following are examples:
*Courses taught in Spanish and may require prerequisites. Contact the program director for more information.
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Classical Studies
The Certificate in Classical Studies, available to undergraduate students, is a multidisciplinary program in the ancient Greek and Roman foundations of Western culture. Program offerings include courses in history, philosophy, literature, languages, social and political theory, the arts, archaeology and rhetoric. In addition to courses that pertain directly to Greco-Roman antiquity, the curriculum includes select courses that treat the reception and influence of classical culture in later historical contexts, including contemporary popular culture. The program will be especially valuable to students pursuing careers in law, medicine, the ministry, education or public service.
The Classical Studies Program welcomes students from any of FAU’s colleges and those who have earned degrees elsewhere. Along with the certificate curriculum, the program also sponsors lectures by visiting scholars and other special events. For information about the program, please contact Dr. Brian E. McConnell, director, at 561-297-3646 or mcconnel@fau.edu, or visit www.fau.edu/classicalstudies.
Complete one of the options to earn the certificate:
Option 1 (six courses): Six lecture courses, at least three of which must be from the core list.
Option 2 (six courses): Two semesters of either Classical Greek or Latin, and four lecture courses, at least two of which must be from the core list.
Option 3 (six courses): Two semesters of Classical Greek, two semesters of Latin, and two courses from the core list.
Language courses can be used to satisfy the University Foreign Language Graduation requirement.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Studies
The certificate in English as a Second Language (ESL) Studies aims to improve the preparation of instructors in junior colleges, colleges and private schools. Its approach is to increase students’ linguistic knowledge in general and that of English in particular so that they may better appreciate the structure of English and that of the first language(s) of their students. This certificate differs from the College of Education's Add-On ESOL Endorsement for state certified public school teachers, although it covers two of the five required courses for an Add-On ESOL Endorsement. (Add-On means the endorsement can be added to an existing teaching certificate from the State of Florida.)
The ESL Studies Certificate may be awarded in conjunction with an academic major at the graduate and undergraduate levels or to students holding a B.A. or higher degree. This certificate shows a student’s concentration in ESL studies. All courses taken in the curriculum may be applied toward other general and specific graduation requirements. ESL courses in the curriculum that were taken to fulfill other requirements at FAU may be applied to the certificate. All courses counting toward the certificate must be completed with a grade of "B-" or better and with an overall average of "B."
Following is a list of 15 credits comprising the required core courses. One equivalent 3-credit course may be transferred from another accredited institution or program with the advice and consent of the program director. In addition, FOL 3880, Research and Bibliographic Methods (3 credits), is strongly recommended for students who have not had such a course.
Introduction to Linguistics or
Structure of Modern English
For more information, visit the program's website or contact Program Director Dr. Robert Trammell at 561-297-3867, trammell@fau.edu. For the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature and the Linguistics Program, click here or call 561-297-3860.
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Environmental Studies
This certificate program, open to graduate students, emphasizes humanities and social science approaches to the study of the environment. It provides an academic forum for understanding environmental issues in their social, symbolic, historical and political dimensions.
Audience
1. Graduate students who can benefit from a concentration in environmental studies.
2. Community professionals and activists engaged in environmentally focused agencies and governmental offices.
3. Teachers needing certification courses.
4. Teachers searching for an environmental issues component for their curricula.
Program
The certificate consists of a minimum of five courses with a grade of “B” or better. No more than two courses from the same department will count toward the certificate.
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Ethnic Studies
The Ethnic Studies Certificate Program is open to all degree-seeking undergraduate students and is designed to be taken concurrently with the student’s major. Students who already hold a baccalaureate degree may pursue the certificate as a non-degree-seeking student or in conjunction with a second bachelor’s degree. The program is especially appealing because courses may be counted toward other general and specific graduation requirements in the student’s major. Likewise, courses taken to fulfill other requirements can be applied to the Ethnic Studies Program.
Certificate Requirements
A student must earn a minimum of 15 credits in Ethnic Studies courses with a grade of “C” or better in each course in order to receive the certificate. Once satisfactorily completed, the certificate will be awarded and the student will receive a transcript notation designating completion of the program. Each student participating in the program must fulfill the following requirements:
1. Satisfactory completion of one of the Core Courses. See eligible Core Courses below.
2. Satisfactory completion of four Distribution Courses in at least three disciplines/departments. See eligible courses divided by discipline/department below.
Curriculum
The curriculum of the Ethnic Studies Certificate Program offers students the outstanding benefits of an interdisciplinary education. Students have the option of choosing from a menu of courses that covers various aspects of ethnicity or various ethnicities. The curriculum is grounded in core courses devoted to the critical study of the main concepts and methodologies related to ethnicity. Besides focusing on these concepts, the courses examine different theories of ethnicity and race as well as other issues about the creation and legitimization of ethnicity emerging from its social and historical construction. Consistent with the viewpoint of the program, the core courses are taught from an interdisciplinary perspective.
For more information, contact Program Director Dr. Clevis Headley at 561-297-3920 or headley@fau.edu.
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Film and Video
This certificate program is available for master’s and doctoral students, with different distribution requirements for each. It provides a flexible curricular framework for an interdisciplinary focus on film and video. The program is ideal for preparing graduate students in any department or college to write a thesis or dissertation in the area of film and video studies or simply to demonstrate coherent knowledge for teaching or other purposes.
Admission to the Film and Video Certificate Program is limited to students currently enrolled in a graduate program at Florida Atlantic University. Credits earned for graduate degree programs will also count for the certificate if approved by advisors in both programs. Requirements include two core courses and two elective courses for the master’s-level certificate. For the doctoral-level certificate, two additional elective courses are required for a total of six courses.
* Substitutions may be made with the approval of the program director.
For more information about this program, contact Program Director Dr. Eric Freedman at 561-297-2534 or efreedma@fau.edu.
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Jewish Studies
This certificate program, open to undergraduate students, focuses on the Jewish historical experience. Students are trained in critical thinking in response to study of history, texts and culture. Those enrolled in the program come to understand that various Judaisms emerged over the course of time and in response to changing conditions.
The certificate program requires 18 credits, including two core courses and the remainder taken from content courses within the four categories listed below.
Enrolling in the Jewish Studies Certificate Program
The program is open to all students wishing to study the various forms of Jewish culture throughout the centuries. Jewish Studies may be especially useful for:
1. Those thinking about vocational opportunities in Jewish communal and educational organizations (community centers, family service bureaus, federations, camp administration, teaching in Hebrew or day schools).
2. Students contemplating careers as rabbis or cantors.
3. Students considering academic careers in Judaic Studies.
4. Those wishing to pursue graduate study in any aspect of Western civilization and/or culture.
For more information, contact the certificate's Director, Dr. Alan Berger, in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, 561-297-2979 or aberger@fau.edu.
Peace Studies
The undergraduate Certificate in Peace Studies promotes the study and understanding of peace-related issues by students of all majors. An interdisciplinary certificate program, Peace Studies draws its classes from ten departments across three colleges.
To successfully complete the undergraduate Certificate in Peace Studies, students are required to take 15 credits from three categories of classes listed below. No more than 6 credits may be taken from any one department.
For more information about this program, visit www.fau.edu/peacestudies/undergrad_certificate.php, or contact Program Director Dr. Noemi Marin at 561-297-2623 ( nmarin@fau.edu).
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Piano Performance and Pedagogy
This certificate is available for graduate students. Students must meet all Music Department and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters entrance requirements. For information, contact the Music Department at 561-297-3820.
* Prerequisite: MVK 3631, Piano Pedagogy, is required if student did not take the course for the bachelor's degree.
** Prerequisite: MUL 4400, Piano Literature 1, and MUL 4401, Piano Literature 2, are required if student did not take the courses for the bachelor's degree.
*** A total of 17 graduate credits may be transferred to the Master of Arts with Major in Music degree.
Religious Studies
The Religious Studies Certificate promotes the academic study of religion. Any degree-seeking undergraduate student in good standing may enroll. Recognizing the significance of religion within human culture, the program advocates constructive, critical analysis of religion, seeking to be as open-minded and pluralistic as possible. It does not sanction any specific religion, but strives to treat religion as similar to other social, political and cultural phenomena representative of the universal panorama of human culture. Because the program is interdisciplinary in orientation and scope, participating students are encouraged to take courses from several departments.
The certificate is awarded to students who complete 15 credits from a list of approved classes with a grade of “C” or higher. No more than two courses may be in the student’s major. Four must be core courses, the entire content of which devoted to religion. Within the core choices, students must take the introductory course, The Religious Experience, REL 3020. In addition, at least one of the four core courses must focus on methods for studying religion, and one must focus on the content of religion. The fifth class may be selected from a list of approved electives that devote at least half of their content to religion. Although these courses may be completed in any order, students are encouraged to begin with The Religious Experience. For information, contact Dr. Ben Lowe, program director, at 561-297-2620 or bplowe@fau.edu.
The following classes meet the stated criteria:
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Women’s Studies
The Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies offers a variety of opportunities for students:
1. Undergraduate Certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
This option requires a student to successfully complete five classes, drawn from a range of departments, including one required course (see below for requirement details). The certificate is awarded to graduates during a spring ceremony.
2. Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
This option is available to students who have completed an undergraduate degree and either want a graduate certificate while working toward an M.A. in another area, or want a graduate certificate independent of other graduate work. Successful students will complete four graduate courses for 12 credits.
3. Women’s Studies courses available as electives
This option is open to students throughout the University.
4. M.A. in Women’s Studies
This option is a core of the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and is explained in greater detail under department descriptions.
Each of the options above employs an interdisciplinary approach to gender-related issues. Students receive credit for specific courses in a variety of fields, including anthropology, criminal justice, communication, English, history, languages and linguistics, literature, nursing, political science, sociology, and of course, women’s studies. The underlying goal of the Women’s Studies Program is to understand the broad range of women’s experiences that reflect class, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age and the interconnections that shape these experiences. The Women’s Studies programs prepare students to think critically about the political, social, economic and historical forces that shape women’s lives, along with women’s responses through activism and advocacy.
Undergraduate students whose programs allow electives are encouraged to enroll in the center’s course, Introduction to Women’s Studies. The Women’s Studies faculty includes professors from many departments who stress student participation in colloquia, conferences, workshops and other engagements across disciplines.
For more information, contact the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at 561-297-3865.
Undergraduate Certificate
The Undergraduate Certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies is open to all undergraduate degree-seeking students in good standing. The certificate will be awarded upon completion of the baccalaureate degree and successful completion of the certificate’s requirements. Students who hold the bachelor’s degree may complete the certificate program as non-degree students or as part of a second bachelor’s degree.
The certificate program is divided into three parts, requiring a total of five courses for 15 credits:
1. Required course;
2. Three core courses from a selected list;
3. One elective course from a selected list.
Other than the required course, the list of acceptable courses for the certificate varies each semester according to the University’s schedule of courses. Check with the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies for the semester’s offerings.
Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses. Courses for the certificate may count toward other general and specific graduation requirements, just as courses taken to fulfill other requirements may be applied to the certificate. No more than two courses from a student’s major department may be included in the certificate program coursework.
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Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies is available to students who have completed an undergraduate degree. There are two options available for students interested in the graduate certificate.
1. Students may enroll in the certificate program while pursuing a degree in another discipline.
2. Students may enroll in the certificate program independent of other graduate work.
3. Students will complete 12 credits of graduate courses, 3 credits of which should be taken from one of the Women's Studies core graduate courses.
4. At least 6 credits should be earned outside of a student's major for those students working toward a graduate degree.
5. Students can choose courses from a wide selection offered by departments throughout FAU.
6. Students must receive a grade of "B" or better.
7. Approval of courses from the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies should be obtained prior to enrolling.
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Interdisciplinary Minors
Film and Video
The undergraduate minor in Film and Video gives students in any major the opportunity to bring together courses from several departments and colleges into a multidisciplinary curriculum emphasizing all aspects of film and video. Participating are faculty from communication and multimedia studies, literature, languages, anthropology, theatre and other disciplines. Students are offered scholarly study of the history, theory and criticism of film, video and television as well as hands-on courses in video production. The minor structures FAU’s current course offerings in film and video to guide undergraduate students through a cohesive study of film and its related disciplines.
This program is open to all degree-seeking students, with the exception of those pursuing the B.A. in Multimedia Studies (Sequence in Film, Video and New Media). Students may enroll with the program director at any time but must be enrolled by the time they apply for graduation. The minor will be awarded upon completion of the bachelor’s degree. A student who already holds a baccalaureate degree may pursue the minor in conjunction with a second bachelor’s degree. All courses taken in the program may be counted toward other general and specific graduation requirements, and courses taken to fulfill other requirements may be applied to the film and video program.
The curriculum consists of four parts: the core course, Film Appreciation, which introduces students to basic critical and technical concepts in film analysis; one course in the history of film and video; one course in theory and/or criticism; and two courses in production and/or contexts. Students must follow the distribution guidelines and complete a minimum of five courses. Each course must be completed with a grade of “C” or better to be counted toward the minor. At least 75 percent of all credits for the minor must be earned from FAU (effective spring 2011). In addition to the regular curriculum, other courses with significant attention to film and video may be approved by the program director.
For more information about this minor, contact Program Director Dr. Eric Freedman at 561-297-2534 or efreedma@fau.edu.
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Departments in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
In the areas of humanities and social science, the College includes the schools/departments/programs of Anthropology, Communication and Multimedia Studies, Comparative Studies, English, History, Jewish Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Women’s Studies and Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature. Three departments associated with the arts—Music, Theatre and Dance, and Visual Arts and Art History—have been grouped under the heading of “School of the Arts.”
Anthropology
Faculty:
Harris, M. S., Chair.; Broadfield, D. C.; Brown, C. T.; Brown, S. L.; Cameron, M.; Fradkin, A.; Kirsch, M.; McCarthy, R.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Anthropology/ Link to Master's Programs
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
The Anthropology Department offers an undergraduate program that provides a framework for understanding human cultures and societies through culture, archaeology, adaptation and evolution. The department prepares students for understanding the past and the present of a rapidly globalizing world by developing knowledge of contemporary national, ethnic and cultural complexities. Graduates with a major in Anthropology have a knowledge and understanding of the cultures of Western and non-Western peoples and are qualified to work in local, national and international agencies and the corporate world. An undergraduate degree in Anthropology provides the foundation for a graduate degree in Anthropology and any of the other social sciences. Students who have graduated with a degree in Anthropology from FAU have also gone on to graduate work in law, medicine, journalism, education and other graduate programs.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Outline of the Anthropology Major
In addition to the College and University requirements, an Anthropology major must satisfy the following departmental requirements:
3 credits in an introductory course
6 credits in biological anthropology courses
(3000 level or above)
6 credits in archaeology courses (3000 level or above)
6 credits in sociocultural courses (3000 level or above)
6 credits in research methods courses
9 credits in electives (anthropology courses at the
3000 level or above from any of the subfields)
36 credits total in anthropology; a grade of “C” or better is required for a course in anthropology
to count toward the major.
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Foreign Language Requirement
Anthropology majors are required to take 8 credits of appropriate college-level courses in one modern foreign language. College-level transfer credits or credits earned through CLEP or Advanced Placement Examination may satisfy or be applied toward the foreign language requirement for graduation.
Free Electives
The remaining credits of upper-division work are defined as free electives. Students are advised to select courses relevant to their interests in anthropology. STA 2023 (Introductory Statistics) is recommended for students interested in a quantitative approach to anthropology, and LIN 3010 is recommended as an introduction to linguistics.
Three elective credits from departments outside Anthropology, but taught by anthropologists at FAU (e.g., courses in Comparative Studies, History, Art History, Women’s Studies), may be substituted for the free- electives part of the major with permission of the Anthropology Department chair.
Many anthropology courses fulfill some requirements for interdisciplinary certificate programs at FAU, such as the Ethnic Studies, Women’s Studies, Environmental Studies and Caribbean and Latin American Studies certificates.
Minor in Anthropology
1. For students majoring in another field, a minor in Anthropology shall consist of a minimum of 15 credits in upper-division anthropology courses, earned in any five courses at the 3000 level or above.
2. In the case of transfer students, A minimum of 9 12 credits of upper-division courses must be taken in residence at FAU (effective spring 2011).
3. A grade of “C” or better is required for a course in anthropology to count toward the minor.
Anthropology Study Abroad Programs
The Department of Anthropology participates in Florida Atlantic University’s Study Abroad Programs and offers ANT 2952 and ANT 4957. The department also operates a Field School in Ecuador with programs in archaeology and ethnographic methods in which students may participate during the summer terms. To participate, students enroll in ANT 4802 or ANT 4824.
Master of Arts with Major in Anthropology
The M.A. degree in Anthropology focuses on the interplay of method, data and theory in anthropology and allows for specialization in the subfields of cultural anthropology, biological anthropology or archaeology. The graduate program’s emphasis is on the linkage of “materials” analysis (e.g. bone, shell, ceramic, lithic, interview/observational and behavioral data) to major schools of anthropological thought. The department’s program aims to contextualize and advance the understanding of being human in the past and the present. The degree prepares students for doctoral work in anthropology.
Admission Requirements
The applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 credits taken for that degree. The applicant must have a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of 1000 or higher. The applicant must also submit a Statement of Purpose and have two letters of recommendation sent directly to the department. The application must have the approval of the department. Where there is a deficiency in a requirement for admission or some other problem, the applicant may be admitted conditionally as decided by the department.
Degree Requirements
The M.A. curriculum requires completing a minimum of 30 credits and maintaining a 3.0 GPA in all coursework. The minimum passing grade in each course is “B.”
Prior to registering for courses in the first semester of graduate study, the student must consult with the department’s graduate advisor to determine the likely sequencing of coursework in the student’s program.
The Admissions Committee may determine that the applicant must enroll in undergraduate anthropology courses as a condition for graduate work. These remedial courses are not applicable to graduate credit.
Students must demonstrate proficiency of a language appropriate to their field of specialization. Students can fulfill this requirement by completing a two-semester sequence in a language or a Reading for Research course (e.g., FRE/GER/SPN 5060). Alternatively, students may demonstrate proficiency in a language by examination as determined by the department.
A public thesis proposal defense is required. Work on the thesis is expected to begin upon successful defense of the proposed research. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 1 or up to a maximum of 6 credits in ANG 6971 during the semesters they are working on the thesis and the semester in which they expect to graduate.
Admission to Candidacy
After completion of the thesis proposal defense, a student is eligible for admission to candidacy. The student must file an approved Plan of Study form no later than the first term in which thesis credit is taken and at least one semester before applying for graduation. In preparing the plan, the student should take professional objectives into consideration as well as all department and University requirements. A completed Research Compliance Verification form must be attached to the Plan of Study form. After the plan has been filed, subsequent major changes must be approved by the chair of the department, the student’s advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.
Master of Arts in Teaching with Major in Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology also offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree designed for any student wishing to prepare for teaching at the elementary, secondary or community college level. This program is particularly appropriate for current teachers who are looking to build anthropological knowledge into their curricula and advance their teaching credentials.
Admission requirements are the same as for the M.A. program. The M.A.T. total course requirements are 36 credits earned in ANG 6034, ANG 6084, ANG 6090, ANG 6092, ANG 6115, ANG 6486, ANG 6587, education courses (6 credits), teaching internship (6 credits) and completion of a modified thesis (3 credits).
Art
(Listed following Women’s Studies, under School of the Arts, Visual Arts and Art History)
Arts and Humanities
(See Interdisciplinary Studies: Arts and Humanities)
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School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
Faculty:
Marin, N., Director; Bargsten, J.; Charbonneau, S.; Darlington, P.; Durnell-Uwechue, N.; Eason, S.; Fejes, F.; Franz, M.; Freedman, E.; Guneratne, A.; Hofmann, M.; Lewter, B.; Loehwing, M.; March, B.; McAfee, F.; McGeough, R.; Mulvaney, B.; Neile, C.; Pendakur, M.; Petrich, K.; Poole, D.; Raeburn, P.; Reilly, S.; Robe, C.; Santamarina, M.; Santaniello, N.; Scodari, C.; Sim, G.; Tracy, J.; Trapani, W.; Von Spalding, R.; Willey, S.; Williams, D.
Mission
The mission of the FAU School of Communication and Multimedia Studies (SCMS), carried out through its courses, research and services, is to help provide the knowledge and skills that will allow students to understand and contribute to the increasingly communication- and media-oriented environment. Communication courses are designed to help students become: 1) more ethical, effective communicators in all contexts, from interpersonal to large public gatherings, print, radio, television, film and emerging technologies, and 2) more critical and analytical consumers of communication in all its many aspects.
In the undergraduate program, the School offers a variety of liberal arts and technically oriented courses that cover theoretical, historical, multicultural, analytical, critical and performance approaches to communication processes and media. At the same time, the program allows students to emphasize areas of particular interest: communication studies; film, video and new media and multimedia journalism.
The School’s overarching goal for its graduates is to provide them with a broad liberal arts education. Students will be afforded the opportunity to gain a technical and/or professional orientation sufficient to qualify them for a first job in any business or institution that needs employees who are effective communicators. Students will also be afforded the background needed to pursue further education in communication or related fields.
The School offers advanced degrees in Communication and Multimedia Studies, with an M.A. in Communication and an M.F.A. in Media, Technology and Entertainment.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Admission Requirements
(The requirements below are effective fall 2011.)
All students looking to pursue the Bachelor of Arts with Major in Communication Studies or the Bachelor of Arts with Major in Multimedia Studies will first be placed in the corresponding pre-major. Students in the pre-major will have to satisfy the following requirements in order to obtain admission to the major:
1. Complete the pre-Communication Studies or pre-Multimedia Studies foundation coursework (see below) with a minimum grade of "C" in each course;
2. (For Multimedia Journalism sequence students only) Pass a spelling, grammar and punctuation test offered at the University Testing Center throughout the year;
3. Fulfill the Florida CLAS requirements; (CLAS is no longer required; effective fall 2011.)
3. Complete the Intellectual Foundations Core, including ENC 1101 and 1102;
4. Attain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 at the time of application to the major;
5. When the above requirements have been met, see the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies advisor to change from a pre-major to a major.
Pre-Communication Studies foundation coursework:
COM 2053 – Introduction to Communication and Civic Life
SPC 2608 – Public Speaking
Pre-Multimedia Studies (Sequence in Film, Video and New Media) foundation coursework:
FIL 2000 – Film Appreciation
Pre-Multimedia Studies (Sequence in Multimedia Journalism) foundation coursework:
MMC 1540 – Introduction to Media Studies
Pass the required spelling, grammar and punctuation test offered at the University Testing Center
throughout the year. The test can be taken a maximum of two times and can only be taken once in a given semester.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Communication Studies /Link to Master's Programs
Students who enroll for a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Communication Studies must meet all University and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters requirements. These include satisfactory completion of a total of 120 credits, 60 of which must be earned at a four-year college or university, and 8 credits in sequence in a single foreign language. A Communication Studies major must complete 12 upper-division credits in Arts and Letters electives beyond the General Education requirements or complete a minor or a certificate program. A student whose GPA falls below 2.0 will be dropped from the major. A GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for transfer to the major.
The B.A. in Communication Studies is a problem-focused program that emphasizes contemporary cultural concerns while situating these within the broader historical context of communication and cultural theory. The purpose of the degree is to provide students with the awareness, knowledge, motivation and skills to develop communication strategies to address the problems of a global society, and the emphasis is on all forms of civic engagement. The program examines the strategic role that symbol systems play in constructing meaning in a fast-changing, information-based, media-saturated and culturally diverse world. Courses examine how meaning informs and persuades individuals, and introduce students to the history and theories of how communication operates in societies. The goals are for students to develop both high level oral and written communication skills and critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills, and to become active in civic life.
Core
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Multimedia Studies
Students who enroll for a Bachelor of Arts degree with Major in Multimedia Studies must choose one of two sequences: the Sequence in Film, Video and New Media or the Sequence in Multimedia Journalism. In addition, students must meet all University and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters requirements. These include satisfactory completion of a total of 120 credits, 60 of which must be earned at a four-year college or university, and 8 credits in sequence in a single foreign language. A Multimedia Studies major must complete 12 upper-division credits in Arts and Letters electives beyond the General Education requirements or complete a minor or a certificate program. A student whose GPA falls below 2.5 will be dropped from the major. A GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for transfer to the major.
Sequence in Film, Video and New Media
The Film, Video and New Media Sequence is a comprehensive curriculum including courses in film and television studies, video production, computer animation and new media. Courses analyze the power and responsibility of American and international film and video and new technologies from formal, historical, economic and ideological perspectives. This sequence is committed to helping students understand film, video, television and new media texts in relation to the worlds they represent. Its course of study emphasizes not only the meanings of these texts, but also the processes by which these meanings are constructed and disseminated. The goal is to help the undergraduate understand the study and creation of visual media within the larger contexts of human visual and verbal expression and to shape students into sophisticated readers and producers of visual culture. Courses consider both mainstream and alternative media and include industrial and artistic approaches, linking production techniques and aesthetics to industry, history and politics.
* Courses listed in History, Criticism and Production Fundamentals may be substituted in this category if they are not used to fill other requirements.
Sequence in Multimedia Journalism
The Multimedia Journalism Sequence prepares students to work in the new media convergence environment—where competition, deregulation and digital technology break down the barriers between print, radio, television and the Internet. Students are expected to develop strong basic writing and analytical skills and then to become adept at writing and producing for multiple media platforms simultaneously, exhibiting the versatility necessary to succeed in a quickly evolving and growing media market. Effective spring 2012, students who choose to major in Multimedia Journalism must pass a spelling, grammar and punctuation test. The test is offered every semester at the University Testing Center. Multimedia Journalism majors must pass this test before they can enroll in News and News Reporting, JOU 3101, the first course in Performance and Production.
The goals of the Multimedia Journalism Sequence are to provide a broad liberal arts education as well as develop professional skills so that graduates are able to fully exercise the civic responsibilities of journalists for the lively functioning of democratic institutions. In addition, students will choose an emphasis in another discipline that will help them fulfill the important role of information provider in today’s global, technological and information-based society.
Emphasis (12-credit minimum recommended)
Because of the growing need for journalists who can communicate about increasingly complex subjects, students are advised to minor in an area such as History, Sociology, Political Science or Economics, or complete the Certificate Program in Environmental Studies or Ethnic Studies.
Communication Studies Minor
A minor in Communication Studies requires that the student complete both MMC 1540 and COM 2053 plus 12 credits in courses with COM, SPC or MMC prefixes, no less than 9 credits of which must be at the 3000 level or above. At least 12 15 of the 18 credits must be taken at FAU. (Change effective spring 2011.)
Communication Honors Program
The Honors Program in Communication allows highly motivated and well-prepared students to pursue a course of study organized around a specific topic, area of interest or creative project. Students take a special sequence of courses both within and outside the School. In their last semester they complete a senior honors thesis or a senior honors project under the direction of a School faculty advisor.
Communication Study Abroad
Students may receive from 1 to 4 credits for participating in one of the many University-approved Study Abroad Programs offering courses relevant to the major.
Communication Internship
Students may receive 3 credits for practical experience working 12 to 16 hours per week in a communication-related business or industry. The course culminates in a research paper or project in which the student evaluates the experience by methodologies learned in other communication courses. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall and a GPA of 3.0 in the School. Permission from the SCMS is required.
Master’s Programs
Master of Arts with Major in Communication
The central objective of the Master of Arts program in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies is to equip students with historical, theoretical and critical knowledge of oral, written, visual and aural symbol systems, the institutions and processes that produce them and the audiences/readers who engage them. Emphasis is placed on research skills, the cultivation of original scholarship in communication and cognate fields and the critical examination of primary and secondary source materials. The goal is to enhance and focus students’ ongoing or future efforts in communication-related professions or activities or to prepare them for doctoral studies and/or academic careers. For information, refer to www.fau.edu/scms.
Admission Requirements
1. Applicants should have:
a. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;
b. A minimum 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 undergraduate credits attempted;
c. A combined score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. Provided the applicant has a minimum 3.0 GPA, the department will accept a combined score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and analytical sections of the GRE instead.
2. Applicants must submit with the application a 500-word typewritten statement of their goals, aspirations and reasons for seeking the M.A. in Communication.
3. Applicants must submit two (2) letters of recommendation detailing academic abilities and performance.
4. International applicants must also meet the additional requirements listed elsewhere in this catalog.
5. Students need not have an undergraduate specialization in communication to apply for the M.A. program.
Admission Requirements for Degree Candidacy
A student may be admitted to candidacy for the degree of Master of Arts with Major in Communication after having satisfied the following requirements.
1. The student must complete 9 or more credits of graduate coursework in Communication with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
2. The student must fulfill the departmental language requirement in any of the following ways: passing with a grade of “C” or better a two-semester introductory sequence in a foreign language; passing a graduate Reading for Research course taught by the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature; receiving certification of competency in a foreign language from the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature.
3. The student must complete all other College and University requirements.
4. The student must be recommended by the department and thesis supervisory committee.
5. The student must be formally accepted into the Master of Arts program by the SCMS. Non-degree-seeking, master’s-level students are not permitted to enroll for more than 6 credits in SCMS courses without being formally accepted into the program.
Requirements for Degree—Thesis Option
Minimum of 30 credits—
1. Nine credits of required courses:
a. COM 6400 (3 credits)—Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication;
b. Theory (3 credits from the following, as appropriate to generalist program or concentration; no course can be used to fulfill both the theory and methodology requirements): COM 6402, COM 6415, FIL 6807, MMC 6408, RTV 6006, SPC 6234, SPC 6236, SPC 6715;
c. Methodology (3 credits from the following, as appropriate to generalist program or concentration; no course can be used to fulfill both the theory and methodology requirements): COM 6316, COM 6340, COM 6341, FIL 6807, FIL 6935, SPC 6682.
2. Fifteen credits of approved electives, of which a minimum of 9 must be in Communication. Any coursework in a department other than Communication must be approved in writing by a Communication faculty advisor prior to enrollment.
3. Six credits of thesis research.
4. Courses taken to satisfy the foreign language requirement cannot be applied to the degree.
5. Submission of an approved thesis.
6. A minimum 3.0 GPA on all work completed.
7. A grade of “B” or higher on all credit applied to the degree.
Requirements for Degree—Non-Thesis Option
Minimum of 36 credits—
1. Nine credits of required courses:
a. COM 6400 (3 credits)—Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication;
b. Theory (3 credits from the following, as appropriate to generalist program or concentration; no course can be used to fulfill both the theory and methodology requirements): COM 6402, COM 6415, FIL 6807, MMC 6408, RTV 6006, SPC 6234, SPC 6236, SPC 6715;
c. Methodology (3 credits from the following, as appropriate to generalist program or concentration; no course can be used to fulfill both the theory and methodology requirements): COM 6316, COM 6340, COM 6341, FIL 6807, FIL 6935, SPC 6682.
2. Twenty-seven credits of elective courses, of which 21 must be in Communication. Any coursework in a department other than Communication must be approved in writing by a Communication faculty advisor prior to enrollment.
3. Satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination.
4. Courses taken to satisfy the foreign language requirement do not count toward the 36-credit degree requirement.
5. A minimum of 3.0 GPA on all work completed.
6. A grade of “B” or higher on all credit applied to the degree.
7. Additional requirements that the student’s advisory committee may prescribe.
Master of Fine Arts in Media, Technology and Entertainment (effective fall 2011)
The Master of Fine Arts program in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies is an interdisciplinary degree offered in collaboration with the Department of Computer & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The degree combines film, video, interactive media and computer animation faculty with computer science and engineering faculty to provide graduate students innovative approaches to digital entertainment that stretch creative and scientific boundaries. Students are challenged to think in artistic, scientific and industrial terms about: 1) innovative forms of digital media practice within film and video production, video gaming, web-based interactive media and mobile media; 2) new pipeline models for media production, such as 3D processing for film and game development; 3) practical applications, such as interface design, hardware and software, enhanced content delivery and ubiquitous computing.
The program is intended to prepare students for creative careers in the emerging field of interactive entertainment. The creation of interactive media requires a combination of skills from the traditional media of film and television as well as a deep understanding of the effects of interactivity upon the quality of experience as well as grounding in the computer sciences to understand hardware build, coding, interface design and data delivery within multimedia systems. Therefore, the program emphasizes collaboration across the faculty and programs of Multimedia Studies and Computer Science and Engineering. The fundamental philosophy of the program stresses creativity of expression, experimentation and excellence in execution, as well as innovation in the field of entertainment technologies.
With these goals in mind, students are able to develop a number of technical proficiencies within 2D and 3D computer animation; interactive, web-based and mobile media; video production and post production; multimedia integration and content delivery. Following a collaborative work model, students are also able to develop specializations within the program while learning to map their technical skill sets onto a broad range of industry settings and using a broad range of visualization strategies.
Admission Requirements
1. A baccalaureate degree (B.A., B.F.A. or B.S.) from an accredited institution. Applicants will be drawn from a range of fields and should have an undergraduate degree in computer animation, new media, information technology, media arts, computer science and engineering or a related discipline with a 3.0 GPA.
2. A combined score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). A minimum of 4.0 on the analytical writing section of the GRE is also required. Test scores follow the general admission standards set by the Graduate College. Departure from these standards will be considered based on excellence in the portfolio review.
3. In addition to a completed online application form submitted to the Graduate College, the applicant must submit items 4 through 8 to the degree program office.
4. A 500-word personal statement. The personal statement should articulate the applicant’s areas of interest and compatibility of those interests with the M.F.A. program. The personal statement is an opportunity for the student to express his or her background and interest in the degree program; the statement will be read by the faculty panel as a measure of creativity, self-awareness and vision.
5. Writing sample. The writing sample is used to demonstrate the candidate's imagination; the candidate must describe an interactive media experience that has inspired him or her to enter the field, outlining the specific qualities that made the experience meaningful.
6. Portfolio list. The portfolio list is a record of the applicant’s creative material; it should include a concise description of each project, the month and year of completion, the applicant’s creative role and the purpose of the project. The material should give an idea of the range and depth of the candidate’s creative ability, and formal recognition such as awards, publication, jobs and exhibitions should be noted. When listing creative materials prepared for a class or publication, the name of the institution or the publication should be included.
7. Creative work sample. The creative work sample is the one item that represents the candidate’s best or most relevant work.
8. Letters of recommendation. A minimum of three letters of recommendation from a variety of sources are required; these may be from teachers and industry supervisors.
9. International applicants must also meet the additional requirements listed on the Graduate College website.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Fine Arts is an intensive, two-plus year program that requires 60 credits, of which 42 are requirements, 12 are electives and 6 are thesis. As part of the required coursework, students must complete an advanced interactive project that they design and produce as part of a team.
An overall GPA of at least 3.0 must be maintained in all coursework toward the degree and a minimum grade of 3.0 must be earned in all required courses. There is project work required each semester, and the degree cannot be completed in less than two years of four full-time semesters.
Course Requirements
Program subject to change as the curriculum is developed further. For more details on degree requirements, course requirements and the full curriculum, refer to: www.fau.edu/scms/grad_tech.php. With questions and for updated information, please contact Dr. Eric Freedman, efreedma@fau.edu.
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Comparative Studies
Faculty
Stockard, E., Director; associated college faculty
Definition of Comparative Studies
Comparative Studies is the application of various approaches within the humanities, arts and social sciences to the study of significant issues. The Ph.D. in Comparative Studies also involves developing expertise in advanced interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary study: exploration of topics and materials from at least two traditional disciplines (e.g., political science and English literature; anthropology and history; art history, literature and communication).
Doctor of Philosophy with Major in Comparative Studies
Admission Requirements (for all tracks)
1. A statement of intent that outlines the applicant’s goals and objectives and how this interdisciplinary program can help the applicant achieve these.
2. A combined minimum score of 1100 on the GRE verbal and either the quantitative or analytical sections, with a minimum score of 1000 on the GRE verbal and quantitative sections. Students admitted with GRE scores below 1000 require approval of the Ph.D. executive committee.
3. A 3.5 GPA in all graduate courses.
4. An M.A., M.S. or M.F.A. degree. An applicant must submit a paper, approximately 20 pages in length and with scholarly documentation, that will demonstrate the applicant’s analytical and explanatory skills and command of the discipline in the area of the master’s degree.
5. Three descriptive letters of recommendation, including at least two from professors whose course(s) the student has taken. These letters should be current and should attest to the applicant’s intellectual qualifications for the Ph.D. in Comparative Studies.
6. Approval of Ph.D. executive committee.
Application Procedures
1. Applications may be obtained from the Graduate College.
2. All application materials, including letter of intent, transcripts, three letters of reference and writing sample, should be sent to the Graduate College, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
3. Application deadline: February 1.
Fine and Performing Arts
The Fine and Performing Arts Program in Comparative Studies provides a breadth of training and experience across the traditional divisions of the arts for those who already have developed professional skills in one or more areas, such as dance, music, theatre and/or the visual arts. The program in Fine and Performing Arts offers a balance between a series of core courses and an individually prescribed curriculum. Analytical studies cover fundamental research resources and techniques as well as current theoretical trends in each discipline. Creative studies offer the opportunity to explore the ways in which each discipline expresses specific themes as well as the potential for creative communication through the integration of two or more of the arts. A course in the fundamental concepts and history of aesthetic theory is also a requirement for all students.
The goal of the program is to enable students to be conversant in the arts as a whole. To this end, all students are required to take traditional seminars in areas outside their chosen discipline. Over half the courses required for completion of the degree, however, are to be chosen by the student from among the offerings in Comparative Studies and other departmental listings with the guidance of an advisor and the approval of the Ph.D. committee. Comprehensive examinations are required for candidacy. Upon acceptance, a dissertation on a topic involving both analytical and creative aspects will allow students to develop a base of knowledge and a degree of flexibility useful both in the traditional and in the increasingly interdisciplinary academic world of the arts.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the program in Fine and Performing Arts in Comparative Studies is organized as follows: 1) five required core courses 2) 24-27 credits of courses that address the primary, secondary and comparative areas of concentration and 3) 12-15 credits of dissertation.
Grading
The program’s procedures for grading are as follows: “A,” “A-”: expected progress; “B+”: improvement needed; “B”: lowest passing grade.
Admission Requirements
The following admission requirements are in addition to the admission requirements found at the beginning of this Comparative Studies section:
1. Four credits of or demonstration of an intermediate-level proficiency of one foreign language (may be met during Ph.D. study and must be met before admission to candidacy).
2. A portfolio, dossier or audition as specified by the School of the Arts, if appropriate.
3. A copy of the student’s application to the Graduate College. Students should be aware that the Graduate College outlines its own set of admission requirements in addition to this program’s admission requirements.
4. Résumé.
Degree Requirements
1. Minimum Standards
Ph.D. students will take a minimum of 54 credits in courses in three areas: required core courses in comparative arts and aesthetics; seminars offered in music, theatre and the visual arts; and electives related to their area of concentration. No grade lower than “B” may apply to the degree. To continue in the program, students must maintain a “B” (3.0) grade point average on all work attempted toward the degree.
2. Distribution Requirements
3. Comprehensive Exams
Upon completion of coursework, the student takes a sequence of comprehensive exams: a written exam followed by an oral exam. Upon successful completion, the student qualifies to advance to candidacy.
4. Language/Research
The student must demonstrate working knowledge of a language other than English by successfully completing (with a grade of “B” or better) 4 credits, at the intermediate level or its equivalent, of one foreign language at the university level.
5. Satisfactory completion of a dissertation.
Cultures, Languages and Literatures (Changes effective spring 2012.)
The Literatures, Literacies and Linguistics Cultures, Languages and Literatures program is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary course of study that enables doctoral students to develop expertise within traditional disciplines and across disciplinary and cultural boundaries. At the heart of the program is the recognition that cultures, languages and literatures are most fruitfully understood through comparative modes of analysis that include an ever-changing landscape of theory and methodologies.
This program is both interdisciplinary (the integration of different fields) and multidisciplinary (the comparative analyses of different fields), consistent with the original approved design of the Ph.D. in Comparative Studies. Primary areas of strength for this broadly based program include studies of literature and migration, rhetoric and composition, U.S. multiethnic literatures, early modern literatures, gender, sexuality and embodiment, modernity and postmodernity in literature, space and place in literature, and postcolonial literature and culture. The curriculum also draws from such disciplines as Anthropology, Art History, Communication, History, Peace Studies, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, Sociology, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, among others.
This program promotes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work through a cohesive course of study. All students follow an interdisciplinary core curriculum before developing, in consultation with their advisory committees, areas of specialization which might themselves be multidisciplinary. Students are encouraged to address issues in cultures, languages and literatures from multiple perspectives and to seek the convergence of these perspectives through the insights of interdisciplinary interests.
This program invites students to explore the interplay among cultures, languages and literatures, as well as theories and methodologies, technologies and pedagogies. Toward this end, students will be expected to attend Ph.D. Colloquia in addition to their formal coursework. While most graduates of the program will prepare for the challenge of the academy in an increasingly globalized society, others will prepare for a variety of non-academic opportunities, including positions in public and private organizations.
The curriculum for the program in Literatures, Literacies and Linguistics in Comparative Studies is organized as follows: 1) three semester-long required core courses 2) one course in supervised teaching experience for graduate teaching assistants 3) five courses in a primary area of concentration 4) three courses in a secondary area of concentration and 5) 15 credits of dissertation.
Degree Requirements
1. Minimum Standards
Ph.D. students will take a minimum of 55 credits, 30 of them at the 7000 level. The program requires a minimum 36 credits of coursework and 18 dissertation credits. No grade lower than “B” may apply to the degree. To continue in the program, students must maintain a “B” (3.0) grade point average on all work attempted toward the degree.
2. Distribution Requirements
3. Qualifying Exams
Consist of a written and oral component. In the semester after completing 32 graduate credits in the program, typically fall of year three, the student will take the Written Qualifying Examination in the eighth week of the semester and the Oral Qualifying Examination in the tenth week of the semester. The Qualifying Examinations are administered and evaluated by the student’s dissertation committee (see dissertation section below).
In consultation with the student, the committee will compile a reading list from which the exams will be constructed. This list will not be based solely on the student’s coursework, but will include as well readings that the exam committee deems foundational for the student’s program of study. The successful completion of this written component is followed by the oral exam within two weeks, which examines, beyond the limits of the written exam, the extent of the student’s mastery of the material.
Students who fail the written exam may retake it one time only. Students who fail the oral exam may retake it one time only. Failure to pass either exam on the second attempt will initiate the dismissal process from the program, consistent with the Provost’s policy.
4. Language Requirement
In a language other than English, the student must demonstrate working knowledge either by passing a written translation exam or by successfully completing (with a grade of “B” or better) a “reading for research” course at the graduate level, which does not count toward the required minimum credits for the Ph.D.
5. Satisfactory completion of a dissertation.
By the end of the second year of course work, the student will ask a faculty member to serve as the major professor for the dissertation. In consultation with the major professor, the student will ask at least two to three other faculty members to serve on the committee. The student will defend his/her Dissertation Prospectus the semester after passing the comprehensive examinations, typically at the beginning of spring in year three. The dissertation will contain original research and will be defended before the student’s committee and others.
Public Intellectuals
The Public Intellectuals Program is an interdisciplinary program for students interested in advanced study and life as a public intellectual. While “public intellectual” often connotes a famous name, public intellectuals also include journalists, artists, architects, legislators, clergy, museum curators, environmental planners, community organizers, as well as teachers and scholars whose work defines, shapes and influences public issues.
The program explores historical, conceptual and practical relationships among such areas as public policy, mass media, literature, aesthetics, ethics, gender studies, culture and rhetoric.
Our goal is to combine theoretical with concrete analysis and to strive for this integration in every core course, producing students who are theoretically confident and knowledgeable about the world they hope to understand and change.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Public Intellectuals Program in Comparative Studies is organized as follows: 1) two semester-long required core courses 2) two courses in public intellectual theory and method 3) a minimum of three courses in the student’s concentration and 4) 15 credits in electives. These can be chosen from Comparative Studies courses or from other graduate programs in the University. A practicum, if undertaken, will count as elective credit, and the student’s advisory committee will determine the degree of credit. Students undertaking a practicum before the completion of the program core courses and/or before establishing an advisory committee must have the practicum approved and credits established by the Ph.D. executive committee.
Public Intellectuals Program Concentrations
In addition to concentrations listed below, students may petition to design their own concentrations with the approval of the Public Intellectuals executive committee.
1. Global and Local: Movements and Transformations
2. Art, Literature and Culture(s)
3. Feminism, Gender and Sexuality
4. Technology, Environment and Society
5. Media and Communication
6. Peace Studies
Degree Requirements
1. Minimum Standards
A Ph.D. student will take a minimum of 51 credits in courses in three areas: required core courses in Comparative Studies; the three 7000-level Comparative Studies courses that are the student’s concentration; and electives from 7000-level courses or 6000-level courses within other departments and programs. No grade lower than “B” may apply to the degree. To continue in the program, students must maintain a “B” (3.0) grade point average on all work attempted toward the degree.
2. Distribution Requirements
3. Public Matters Core Course Sequence
Students admitted to the program may take no more than 6 credits before registering in the core course sequence. Students who do not complete each course with a passing grade must retake and pass the course at its next offering in order to remain in good standing.
4. Comprehensive Exams
Upon completion of coursework, the student takes a sequence of comprehensive exams: a written exam followed by an oral exam. Upon successful completion, the student qualifies to advance to candidacy.
The second exam is taken upon completion of the student’s other coursework and is administered and evaluated by the student’s advisory committee. The second exam is based on a dissertation proposal and a bibliography developed by the student and approved by the student’s advisory committee.
Students who fail an exam may retake it one time only.
5. Language/Research Tools Requirement
Proficiency is required in the use of two research tools. At least one of these tools must be a language other than English demonstrating an intermediate level of proficiency. The other tool, if not a language, should be the demonstration of a skill relevant to life as a public intellectual, e.g., planning and organizing a public issue conference, publishing a substantial critical essay or journalistic work in a public venue, or developing a media production or live performance. This skill must be approved by the program director.
6. Satisfactory completion of a dissertation.
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English
Faculty:
Furman, A., Interim Chair; Adams, R.; Barrios, B.; Berger, A.; Berlatsky, E.; Blakemore, S.; Bradford, A.; Bucak, P.; Buckton, O.; Dagbovie, S.; Dalleo, R.; Faraci, M.; Galin, J.; Golden, J.; Hagood, T.; Hinshaw, W.; Leeds, J.; Low, J.; Machado, E.; Martin, T.; Mason, J.; McGuirk, C.; McKay, R.; Mitchell, S.; Murtaugh, D.; Schmitt, K.; Schwartz, J.; Scroggins, M.; Stockard, E.; Stover, J.; Swanstrom, L.; Ulin, J.; Xu, W.; Youngberg, Q.
Bachelor of Arts Degree /Link to Master's Programs
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
English majors develop advanced skills in writing and critical interpretation that are valued by employers in a number of fields. They have established careers in law, medicine, entertainment, communications, information technology, journalism, speech writing, government, publishing and teaching.
All English majors acquire a broad background in literature in English taking courses that stress literary history, literary genres and the achievements of individual authors. Depending upon their particular interests, majors may also pursue one of five concentrations: American Literature, British Literature, Multicultural and Gender Studies, Writing and Rhetoric, and World Literature.
The Multicultural and Gender Studies Concentration offers coursework in literatures that have not been dominant in the Anglo-American tradition, for example, literature by women, Caribbean literature, African-American literature, Asian-American literature, Latino/a literature, Native-American literature and Jewish-American literature. The Writing and Rhetoric Concentration includes courses in both creative writing and rhetoric/composition. Creative writing courses focus on the writing of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Rhetoric and composition courses focus on the intellectual, academic, commercial, historical and theoretical dimensions of writing. The World Literature Concentration offers courses from the Department of English and the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature. Its curriculum focuses on literatures other than British and American.
Students pursuing English minors may focus on British and American Literature, Literature and the Professions, Literature and Science, Literature and the Arts, or Literature and Social Science.
Students interested in pursuing the English major or minors are invited instructed to meet with department advisors.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in English
All courses listed below have as a prerequisite the successful completion of the English Composition sequence (ENC 1101 and ENC 1102, or their equivalents, with minimum grade of “C”). Grades in all courses taken in the major must average “C” or higher, and no course with a grade of “D+” or lower will count in the requirements for the major. No more than six courses at the 3000 level may count toward the major. Except where noted, courses cannot be counted twice. With these conditions being met, completion of the English major will require 39 credits drawn from the following:
English Undergraduate Curriculum (39 credits)
(Courses cannot be counted twice.)
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Electives at 3000 level and above (9 credits)
Students must complete an additional 9 credits of electives in the major. All must be earned at the 3000- or 4000-level. With departmental approval, 3 credits may be taken from another department in the College of Arts and Letters, provided the course has an English disciplinary focus, with the exception of the concentration in World Literatures, which may draw upon courses listed under the description of that concentration without regard to department. The department offers an internship, ENG 4940, a 1-6 credit course that also counts toward electives.
(Changes effective spring 2012.)
Optional Areas of Concentration
Areas of concentration may be achieved by allocating electives according to one of the following options:
Concentration in American Literature
Four AML courses.
Concentration in British Literature
Four ENL courses.
Concentration in Multicultural and Gender Studies
Four courses from the Literature Group 1 section Category 1 above.
Concentration in Writing and Rhetoric
Four courses from the Writing section Category 3 above (fiction and poetry workshops may be repeated for credit once.)
Concentration in World Literature
Four courses from the following list (two courses must be at the 4000 level).
Minor in English (Revised program below effective spring 2012.)
Includes two upper-division electives: Science Fiction,
Literature and the Environment or Special Topics courses such as Literature and Medicine and Writing for Fundraising.
Students majoring in any discipline other than English are eligible to minor in English. The minor encourages breadth of knowledge in literary studies and offers experience in critical analysis. Fifteen credits in English courses must be completed. Four out of five of these classes must be taken at Florida Atlantic University, and at least four out of the five classes must be taken in the English Department. If a course is taken outside of the English Department, it must be approved by the department and have a literary studies focus. English Education majors should note that no more than one course can count toward both the major and the English minor.
Students interested in a minor in English should contact the Department of English (Shantelle Maxwell, coordinator, Academic Programs, 561-297-3800).
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Master’s Programs
A program of study toward each degree will be designed upon beginning work toward the degree, and all work counting toward the degree must receive departmental approval beforehand. Courses may be allowed from other disciplines or departments when determined to be purposeful in the student’s curriculum. The credits that the University allows as transfer from other institutions will be considered by the same criteria if they are to count as part of the coursework for the degree. Unless such exceptions are made, all work will be chosen from Department of English, the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters offerings. No course with a grade below “B-” (2.67) will count toward the degree. A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained for graduation.
Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are awarded yearly on a competitive basis, selection being made in early spring for the following fall. Duties include teaching, tutoring and/or research assistance. The award is for one year (two semesters), with the possibility of being recommended for renewal in a second year. Assistantship awards require students to be registered for 9 credits and include a stipend and a partial full tuition waiver, though students remain responsible for fees. Since the department awards assistantships as both an opportunity to gain teaching experience and a means to progress steadily toward completion of the degree, other job commitments while holding the assistantship are discouraged.
Master of Arts with Major in English
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program requires a minimum 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 credits of undergraduate work and a combined score of 1000 on the submitted copy of general GRE scores. In addition to coursework and test scores, the following are required: a writing sample (a scholarly paper for the literature program; creative work for the creative writing concentration), a statement of purpose (3-4 pages) outlining preparation for graduate study and two letters of recommendation.
The writing sample, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation and copies of the application form, official transcripts and GRE scores should be sent directly to the English Department. The deadline for summer and fall M.A. applicants is March 1; spring is November 1. The fall deadline for creative writing concentration M.A. and M.F.A applicants is January 15; spring is November 1. The original application form as well as official transcripts and GRE scores should be sent to the Graduate College.
Applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree in English may be required to complete additional coursework in the field before beginning work that counts toward the master’s degree.
Program Requirements
Minimum of 30 credits: The program requires 24 credits of graduate coursework and 6 credits of thesis.
General Degree Requirements
1. Principles and Problems of Literary Study (ENG 6009), required during the first term of graduate study or as soon thereafter as possible.
2. History of the English Language (LIN 6107).
3. Literary Criticism 1 or 2 (ENG 5018 or 5019).
4. Thesis (6 credits).
Graduate students in the English M.A. program must demonstrate research proficiency through the formal study of one language other than English in one of the following ways:
1. Successfully completing a Reading for Research (FRE/GER/SPN 5060) course offered by FAU’s Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature.
2. Passing two semesters of the same foreign language at the intermediate level (2220 and 2221).
3. Passing a test in a foreign language, as determined by the department.
Areas of Concentration
Students select from the following areas of concentration: British Literature, American Literature, Creative Writing, Multicultural and World Literatures, Science Fiction and Fantasy, or Rhetoric and Composition. Critical Theory/Cultural Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies represent frequent areas of inquiry in all concentrations.
Concentration in British Literature
In addition to the three required courses identified under the heading General Degree Requirements, the student will plan, under advisement, a program in British literature including at least three courses in the area of specialization with at least one early course (before 1800), and two courses outside the area of specialization (excluding ENC 6700). The concentration culminates in a thesis within the area of specialization.
Concentration in American Literature
In addition to the three required courses identified under the heading General Degree Requirements, the student will plan, under advisement, a program in American literature including at least three courses in the area of specialization with at least one early course (before 1900), and two courses outside the area of specialization (excluding ENC 6700). The concentration culminates in a thesis within the area of specialization.
Concentration in Creative Writing
The student selects, under advisement, four courses in creative writing, ENG 6009: Principles and Problems of Literary Study, and three other courses from the areas of literature, theory and rhetoric. Creative writing courses include the following and can be repeated for credit: CRW 5025, Creative Writing Workshop; CRW 6024, Creative Writing: Genre and Form; CRW 6130, Fiction Writing Workshop; CRW 6331, Poetry Writing Workshop. The concentration culminates in a creative writing thesis.
Concentration in Multicultural and World Literatures
In addition to the three required courses identified under the heading General Degree Requirements, the student will plan, under advisement, a program in the concentration of multicultural and/or world literatures, including at least three courses in the area of specialization and two courses outside the area of specialization (excluding ENC 6700). Specific areas of study might address multiethnic literatures in the U.S. and U.K., as well as literatures in English from outside of the U.S. and U.K., including postcolonial literature. The concentration culminates in a thesis within the area of specialization.
Concentration in Science Fiction and Fantasy
In addition to the three required courses identified under the heading General Degree Requirements, the student will plan, under advisement, a program in Science Fiction and Fantasy including at least three courses in the area of specialization and two courses outside the area of specialization (excluding ENC 6700). The concentration culminates in a thesis within the area of specialization.
Concentration in Rhetoric and Composition
In addition to the three required courses identified under the heading General Degree Requirements, the student will plan, under advisement, a program in Rhetoric and Composition including at least three courses in the area of specialization (for which ENC 6700 counts), and two courses outside the area of specialization. The concentration culminates in a thesis within the area of specialization.
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Program Requirements
Minimum of 48 credits: The program requires 42 credits of graduate coursework and 6 credits of thesis.
The student selects, under advisement, seven courses in creative writing, six courses from the areas of literature, theory and rhetoric, and ENG 6009, Principles and Problems of Literary Study. Creative writing courses include the following, and can be repeated for credit: CRW 5025, Creative Writing Workshop; CRW 6024, Creative Writing: Genre and Form; CRW 6130, Fiction Writing Workshop; CRW 6331, Poetry Writing Workshop. This program does not have a language requirement.
Master of Arts in Teaching English
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program is designed for current and future middle and secondary school teachers. The comprehensive program of study provides advanced training in literary and composition studies. It is designed to enhance the student’s approach to teaching literature and writing as well as prepare students for disciplinary research.
The M.A.T. program offers challenging coursework that provides students with an in-depth study of literary and composition theory, research and methodology, new literatures and technologies, and various pedagogies for teaching English in middle and high schools.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements are the same as for the Master of Arts with Major in English.
Program Requirements
Minimum of 30 credits: The program requires 24 credits of graduate coursework and 6 credits of thesis.
General Degree Requirements
1. Principles and Problems of Literary Study (ENG 6009), required during the first term of graduate study or as soon thereafter as possible.
2. Literary Criticism 1 or 2 (ENG 5018 or 5019).
3. Thesis (6 credits).
Graduate students in the English M.A.T. program must demonstrate research proficiency through the formal study of one language other than English in one of the following ways:
1. Successfully completing a Reading for Research (FRE/GER/SPN 5060) course offered by FAU’s Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature.
2. Passing two semesters of the same foreign language at the intermediate level (2220 and 2221).
3. Passing a test in a foreign language, as determined by the department.
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History
Faculty:
Kollander, P., Chair; Bennett, E.; Block, K.; Breslow, B.; Brown, S.; Cruz-Taura, G.; Engle, S.; Ganson, B.; Hanne, E.; Holloway, K.; Kanter, D.; Lawrence, A.; LeFlouria, T.; Lowe, B.; McGetchin, D.; Norman, S.; Osgood, K.; Rose, M.; Sanua, M.; White, D.
History majors use the study of the past to make sense of a complicated world. Developing insights into past human experiences prepares students for a wide variety of fields, including law, teaching, public history, business, government, communication and even medicine. Professions and professional schools in today’s world look for applicants who have broad interests and backgrounds and analytical and verbal skills rather than narrow field specialization. History is a flexible and broad discipline and majors learn how to think critically, evaluate evidence and write with clarity and strength.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in History /Link to Master's Program
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
In addition to other requirements as stipulated by the University and the College, the student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History will be required to take a minimum of 42 credits, including four 3-credit survey courses, a course in historical methods and a senior seminar:
ASH 3230
3Transfer students planning on a History major are expected to have completed two years of survey-level history courses in U.S. history and world or Western civilization before entering FAU. Otherwise they will have to take AMH 2010/2020 and/or WOH 2012/2022 in addition to 30 credits of upper-division work. No grade below “C” in a history course will count as fulfilling requirements for the major, and no history course may be taken under a pass/fail option.
Concentrations within the History Major
Students interested in pursuing more specialized study in the areas of religious history or British history may wish to complete one of the concentrations below.
Students still fulfill all requirements for the History major as stipulated above, but to complete a concentration they need to include the following courses in their program.
Concentration in Religious History
Choose at least 15 credits from the following list, with at least one course taken in all four areas: U.S., Asian, Judaic and European history.
* The courses in Jewish Studies do not count toward the requirements for the History major but may be part of the required College electives for the B.A. degree.
Concentration in British History
Students must take the three core courses below and choose two from the list of elective courses.
Honors in History
To be eligible for the Honors track in History, students must have completed between 60 and 90 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.2 and a GPA in history courses of at least 3.5. Such students will receive the designation “Honors in History” at the time of graduation upon satisfactory completion of the following requirements:
1. Fulfillment of all normal field distribution requirements for the History major.
2. Completion, with a grade of “B” or higher, of one Senior Seminar (HIS 4935) and 3 credits of Senior Thesis (HIS 4970).
3. Achievement of an overall GPA of at least 3.2 and a GPA of at least 3.5 in all history courses at the time of graduation.
Students in the Honors Track in History who complete all requirements but do not meet the GPA requirements for honors at the time of graduation will receive credit for all work completed but will not be certified as having received honors. Students interested in the Honors Track in History should contact the chair of the Department of History.
Minor in History
Students majoring in any discipline other than History are eligible to complete a minor in History. This minor allows students to tailor their courses to a particular area of history or select a broad assortment of courses in different areas. The minor requires completion of 18 credits in history courses, at least 15 of which must be at the upper-division in two out of five geographical areas (U.S., Europe, Africa, Latin America, Non-Western). Of the 18 credits, at least 12 15 must be taken at FAU (effective spring 2011). Students interested in the minor should contact the Department of History.
Secondary Education Program
A program leading to teacher certification in social studies is available through the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education.
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Master’s Program
Master of Arts with Major in History
Admission Requirements (Changes belows are effective spring 2012.)
The Master of Arts degree in History is designed to prepare graduates for doctoral work in history; for museum, preservation and public history work; for employment in education, government or industry; for admission to law school; to qualify instructors in history for community college teaching; and to enhance historical skills and content for secondary school social studies teachers.
1. Each applicant should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, preferably with an undergraduate major in history. Applicants without an undergraduate history major may be admitted on condition that appropriate undergraduate coursework in history be completed in addition to all requirements for the M.A. degree.
2. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) for the last 60 undergraduate credits attempted.
3. Applicants must earn a minimum score of 155 on the verbal and 4.0 on the analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). If the applicant has a GPA well over the 3.0 minimum, the department may consider the quantitative section for purposes of meeting the GRE criterion.
4. Applicants must have two letters of recommendation sent directly to the department.
5. Applicants must send to the department a three- to-five-page typed, double-spaced autobiographical statement indicating the nature of their preparation for graduate work and the reasons for seeking the M.A. in history.
6. Prospective applicants for graduate work in history are encouraged to schedule an interview with the department’s director of graduate studies.
7. Applicants who fail to meet the GRE or GPA requirements, and/or who lack a strong background in history, may be admitted on a conditional basis.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in History has two tracks: 1) a thesis track requiring 30 credits, with a minimum of 24 credits of graduate coursework and completion of the M.A. thesis, for which a minimum of 6 additional credits must be earned; and 2) a non-thesis track requiring 36 credits of graduate coursework. Graduate courses in history are of two types: readings (5000 level) and research seminars (6000 level). These readings and research seminars are offered in the following fields: Asian, Comparative, European, Florida, Latin American, Middle Eastern, Public, U.S. and World History. Students must choose a major field from among the following: European, U.S., and World History. Those who select U.S. History as their major field may include in their total program up to two public history courses, including internships.
While students may take additional credits of directed independent studies (DIS), only 3 credits may be counted toward the degree requirements. Similarly, even though students may take more internship credits, only 3 credits may be applied to the total number required for the degree.
A grade of “B-” or below will not be accepted for credit toward the M.A. degree in History.
In addition to the other degree requirements, all students must take and pass a qualifying examination at the end of their course of study. For thesis-track students this will consist of an oral examination that includes a defense of the thesis along with questions related to the larger field in which the thesis is located. For non-thesis students, the examination will consist of three written questions, of which two will be in the primary field and one in a secondary field. To pass, all students must earn at least a “B” grade on each question. The exam may be taken twice, but those students who do not pass the second time will be dismissed from the program. Those students who achieve a superior performance on the entire exam will be designated as having passed “with distinction.” Students must be enrolled at FAU during any semester in which they take the exam. Students in the non-thesis track who need to take the exam are expected to notify the graduate director in writing at least two weeks before the date it is administered and to abide by all of the procedures set out in the program website: www.fau.edu/history/graduate.php.
For the M.A. with Major in History (Thesis Track), more specific degree requirements are:
1. All M.A. students must take HIS 5060 (The Historical Experience), a basic course that deals with historiography and changing patterns of historical interpretation, as well as with research techniques and methodologies. Students should take this course as early in their program as possible.
2. In addition to HIS 5060, students must complete 21 credits of graduate coursework in history, including a minimum of 9 credits in readings seminars (5000-level) and a minimum of 9 credits in research seminars (6000-level).
3. To assure a proper distribution of courses by field, graduate students must take a minimum of 12 credits of graduate coursework in their major/thesis field (European, U.S., or World History) and a minimum of 9 credits in non-major/non-thesis fields.
4. All M.A. students must complete a minimum of 6 credits of thesis research (HIS 6971) and complete an acceptable master’s thesis.
5. Graduate students may not take undergraduate courses for graduate credit.
6. Graduate students who also serve as graduate assistants in the department must complete, in addition to all other requirements, the 3-credit HIS 5944, Teaching Practicum. Credits for this course may not be counted as part of the requirements for the 30-credit thesis M.A. degree.
7. Students considering the thesis-track option should contact the graduate director regarding this intention within the first month of the semester before they plan to begin taking thesis research credits. After consulting with pertinent history faculty members, the graduate director will inform these students if the thesis option has been approved. If so, thesis-track students must submit, with their Plan of Study, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal, worked out in consultation with their proposed thesis advisor.
The proposal must contain the following:
1. A narrative summary stating the subject of the thesis and the working hypothesis that has been shaping the research (one-to-two pages);
2. A one-page working outline of chapters with potential subheadings; and
3. A preliminary bibliography of primary and secondary sources (one-to-two pages).
At the same time, the student’s thesis advisor will put together a three-member thesis committee to oversee the research and writing of the thesis. This proposal and determination of the thesis committee must be submitted and approved by the graduate director and department chair before the student can register for thesis credits. The foreign language requirement must also be met before the student is permitted to enroll in thesis research.
For an M.A. with Major in History (Non-Thesis Track), more specific degree requirements are:
1. All M.A. students must take HIS 5060 (The Historical Experience).
2. In addition to HIS 5060, students must complete 33 credits of graduate coursework, including a minimum of 12 credits in reading seminars (5000-level) and a minimum of 18 credits in research seminars (6000-level). Upon approval of the graduate director, up to 6 credits may be taken in graduate courses outside the History Department in some other appropriate discipline.
3. To assure proper distribution of course by field, graduate students in the non-thesis track should take 18 credits in their major field (European, U.S., or World History) and the remaining 15 credits in other fields.
4. Graduate students in the non-thesis track may not take undergraduate courses for graduate credit.
5. Graduate students who also serve as graduate assistants in the department must complete, in addition to all other requirements, the 3-credit HIS 5944: Teaching Practicum. Credits for this course may not be counted as part of the requirements for the 36-credit non-thesis M.A. degree.
The Plan of Study
All students in the M.A. program in history must file with the Graduate College a Plan of Study upon completion of 18 credits of qualified coursework. This form is completed by the student in consultation with the graduate director. Approval of this plan certifies that the student has demonstrated the ability to do acceptable graduate work. Those students who make changes to their Plan of Study after the original plan is submitted are required to file a Revision to an Existing Plan of Study form in the last semester before graduation. The forms for completion can be accessed through the Graduate College website ( www.fau.edu/graduate). Failure to file these forms as required will prevent the student from graduating.
Foreign Language Requirement
In addition to the other degree requirements, all students must fulfill the department language requirement before conferral of the degree through one of the following three options.
1. Passing one semester of a foreign language at the intermediate level (2220) at FAU or the equivalent at another university, as determined by the History Department’s graduate committee.
2. Passing an equivalency exam at the intermediate (2220) level.
3. Passing the graduate Reading for Research course (FRE/GER/SPN 5060).
It is strongly encouraged that students fulfill this requirement soon after beginning their graduate studies.
To qualify for the M.A. degree in history, all students must have the recommendation of the graduate director and the department chair, as well as the Dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
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Interdisciplinary Studies: Arts and Humanities
The Arts and Humanities program is for students who wish to concentrate generally in the Arts and Humanities without a specific departmental major. The knowledge and intellectual training provided is good preparation for graduate study in the fields of the arts and humanities, the study of law, the ministry and careers in public service professions. The student who wishes to pursue this major should contact The Office of Student Academic Services for advising and more information.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Interdisciplinary Studies: Arts and Humanities
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
(Changes are effective immediately.)
In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation, including the University foreign language graduation requirement, the requirements for the major in Interdisciplinary Studies: Arts and Humanities are as follows:
1. 39 credits; 30 must be upper division.
2. Students are required to choose, in consultation with an advisor, an area of concentration in which they earn 15-18 credits, with a minimum of 12 upper-division credits. Students must develop an approved plan of study with an advisor within their area of concentration. Students must seek advising and approval of a plan of study prior to or as they begin their program of study.
3. At least three different disciplines must be represented.
3. No more than 15 18 credits may be taken in any one discipline.
4. Must earn a "C" or better in all courses applied toward the major.
5. If the student is seeking a double major, no more than 9 credits from the disciplinary major may be applied to the interdisciplinary major.
Students must choose an area of concentration and take courses from the following disciplines or interdisciplinary programs: Asian Studies; Caribbean and Latin American Studies; Classical Studies; Communication and Multimedia Studies; English; Ethnic Studies; Film and Video Studies; History; Jewish Studies; Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature; Music; Peace Studies; Philosophy; Theatre and Dance; Visual Arts and Art History; and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The program director may approve appropriate courses from other disciplines.
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Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Science
The Social Science program is for students who wish to concentrate generally in the social sciences without a specific departmental major. The knowledge and intellectual training provided is excellent preparation for careers in government, public service or law. The student who wishes to pursue this major should contact The Office of Student Academic Services for advising and more information.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Science
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
(Changes are effective immediately.)
In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation, including the University foreign language graduation requirement, the requirements for the major in Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Science are as follows:
1. 39 credits; 30 must be upper division. 6 of these credits must be in research methods.
2. Students are required to choose, in consultation with an advisor, an area of concentration in which they earn 15-18, with a minimum of 12 upper-division credits. Students must seek advising and approval of a plan of study developed with the program advisor prior to or as they begin their program of study.
3. At least three different disciplines must be represented.
3. No more than 15 18 credits may be taken in any one discipline.
4. Must earn a “C” or better in all courses applied toward the major.
5. If the student is seeking a double major, no more than 9 credits from the disciplinary major may be applied to the interdisciplinary major.
Students must choose one of the following as their core area of concentration: Anthropology, Communication Studies, Ethnic Studies, History, Peace Studies, Political Science, Sociology and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The program director may approve courses from any of these disciplines or programs as well as appropriate courses from other social science disciplines (Economics, Geography and Psychology) across the University and/or other disciplines or programs within the College of Arts and Letters.
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Jewish Studies
Faculty:
Berger, A., Director and Raddock Eminent Scholar for Holocaust Studies; Greenspahn, F., Gimelstob Eminent Scholar Chair in Judaica; Lindbeck, K.; Sanua, M.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
The Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies at Florida Atlantic University is open to all students wishing to study various forms of Jewish culture throughout the centuries. It may be especially useful for:
1. Those thinking about vocational opportunities in Jewish communal and educational organizations (community centers, family service bureaus, federations, camp administration; teaching in Hebrew or day schools).
2. Students contemplating careers as rabbis or cantors.
3. Students considering academic careers in Judaic Studies.
4. Those wishing to pursue graduate study in any aspect of Western civilization and/or culture.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Requirements
In addition to requirements of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and the University, the student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies must take 14 credits in required core courses. The student must also take 21 credits of upper-division content courses. The total required credits for the major is 35.
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Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Faculty:
Horswell, M. J., Chair.; Augustyn, P.; Blattner, G.; Calargé, C.; Conrod, F.; Erro-Peralta, N.; Gamboa, Y.; Gosser-Esquilín, M. A.; Greenspahn, F.; Hokenson, J.; Khalfaoui, A.; Lindbeck, K.; Mendoza, M.; Munson, M.; Nikoloutsos, K.; Poulson, N.; Ruthenberg, M.; Serra, I.; Shaktini, N.; Thornhill, D.; Trammell, R.; White, J.
Instructors:
Almonte, M.; Báez, M.; Levy, E.; Mansilla-Bjalme, J.; Pettener, E.; Rendón, R.; Ruiz, A.; Trotter, E.
Lecturers:
Friedman, B.; Palomino, M.; Reese, C.
The majors in Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature provide a broad liberal arts background with intensive work in French, Italian or Spanish studies, including literature, linguistics, culture and civilization. The study of foreign languages and literatures and the development of skills in language use and linguistic analysis prepares students for professional careers in such fields as international law and business, foreign service and other transnational government agencies, teaching and a wide variety of positions in a multicultural, technological, global world.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Bachelor of Arts Degree /Link to Master's Programs
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
French, German, Linguistics, Spanish or Languages and Linguistics with a track in Italian
(Change effective immediately.)
In addition to other College and University requirements, students will normally complete 45 upper-division credits in Languages and Linguistics. Grades below “C” (including “P” under the pass/fail option) in a required departmental course will not count toward the requirements of the major. Credits are generally distributed as follows (native and heritage speakers of the language should consult with the head of the major program or the chair of the department concerning substitutions). The department enforces a non-audit policy in its language courses.
Lower-Division Prerequisites
Departmental Electives (15 credits)
Departmental electives must be chosen from among upper-division courses. Lower-division language courses are allowed only if the student completes two sequential courses in the new language. Students are encouraged to complete a minor in that language. The Italian program encourages the inclusion of program-compatible College electives.
College and University courses may be substituted for program-compatible departmental electives with approval of advisor and confirmation by the chair. The department encourages participation in any of its Study Abroad Programs. Approved courses taken in Study Abroad Programs may substitute for some requirements and electives.
Academic Minors
1. Students may satisfy up to 8 credits of the foreign language component by examination (CLEP) for 2220 and 2221 in French, German and Spanish.
2. At least 66 percent of the total minor language must be as outlined below. Students entering (or testing) at the intermediate level or above should see the head of the major program in the department for placement in upper- division culture and literature courses in the minor language, as outlined above.
3. All students seeking a minor in foreign languages, linguistics or comparative literature must be registered with the head of the major program before beginning their last 8 credits of study. Consult the departmental office at 561-297-3860 for clarification and advising.
4. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses to be counted toward the minor. Passing with below “C” (including “C-” and “P” under the pass/fail option) will not be accepted.
Minor in a Foreign Language (16-20 credits)
Students may take a minor in French, German, Italian, Linguistics, Comparative Literature or Spanish by completing the following courses. At least 75 percent of credits earned must be from FAU (effective spring 2011). Courses taken on study abroad programs approved by FAU can count toward the degree.
Minor in Comparative Literature, including one foreign literature (16 credits)Three departmental linguistics electives (9 credits) in consultation with the advisor.
*Majors in the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature who want a minor in Linguistics should consult with the head of the Linguistics Program.
Double Majors
Students interested in information about a double major in Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature should consult the chair of the department.
Honors in the Major
Eligibility
Majors in Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature will be eligible for honors if they have completed 72 credits toward their degree but fewer than 100 credits, and if they have taken four courses in their major in the department. Normally, students will apply during the second half of their third year of study.
For admission to honors, students must have a GPA of 3.2 overall and 3.5 in the major, although exceptions may be made.
Students wishing to apply for admission to honors should submit a personal statement to the chair explaining why they seek honors in the field, and request a letter of support from at least one member of the department faculty.
Requirements
Honors will be awarded to students who:
1. Maintain the GPA of 3.2 overall and 3.5 in the major.
2. Fulfill the discipline distribution requirements of the major.
3. Complete with a grade of “B” or higher:
One graduate-level course in the major language (3 credits)
Honors Seminar FOL 4935 (3 credits)
Honors Thesis FOL 4970 (3 credits)
The last three courses constitute 9 credits beyond the standard major requirements and may be taken as part of the 15 credits required in departmental electives.
Secondary Education Program
A program leading to teacher certification in foreign languages (French and Spanish) is available through the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education. Other languages taught include Chinese, Classical Greek, Modern Greek, Hebrew, Japanese and Latin.
Master’s Programs
Master of Arts Degrees
(including M.A. in French, M.A. in Spanish—with a concentration in either Peninsular or Latin American Literature—M.A. in Linguistics, or M.A. in Comparative Literature)
Admission Requirements
The Master of Arts degrees in Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature are designed to prepare students for doctoral study in French, Spanish, Comparative Literature or Linguistics, and/or for employment in a variety of foreign-language applications in business and government, as well as for qualification as teachers of the major language, its literature, culture and linguistics. All students should:
1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Additional coursework may be required of applicants whose undergraduate major was not the same as the graduate specialization.
2. Have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 undergraduate credits.
3. Have a combined score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections or the verbal and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination. (The department reserves the right to waive the GRE minimum score for non-native speakers of English.) Students failing to meet the GRE or grade point average requirements may be admitted on a conditional basis. (GRE requirement eliminated effective spring 2012.)
3. Submit with the application a two-to-four-page typed and double-spaced statement of purpose outlining the student’s qualifications for graduate study in the given field and reasons for pursuing the M.A. degree. Two academic letters of recommendation are also required, to be sent to the departmental director of graduate studies at time of application.
4. Submit a writing sample of the student’s academic work, i.e., an essay written for a class in the student’s field.
5. Before beginning coursework, take the department’s advanced competency test in the major language. Students who do not pass the test must take (without credit toward the degree) further language training in the department (majors in Linguistics should consult the Linguistics advisor).
6. For international applicants, a TOEFL score of 500 or CBT score of 173 or IBT score of 61.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
A limited number of Graduate Assistantships are available each year. The deadline for application is normally March 15. Prospective students interested in applying for an Assistantship should be sure to submit their applications for admission to the graduate program as early as possible.
Admission Requirements for Candidacy
Students are required to:
1. Be admitted to candidacy by the end of the second semester or after completing 18 credits with an average of “B” or better.
2. Complete all College and University requirements for admission to candidacy in the Master of Arts program.
Note: A student admitted in one major field within the department (e.g., Spanish) may not switch to another (e.g., Comparative Literature) without formally reapplying to the graduate committee by letter.
3. Obtain from the department office a Graduate Reading List of texts in the major area(s) of study as a guide to independent readings during graduate coursework and a copy of the departmental Guide to Graduate Studies.
4. Submit, at the end of the first year of study, one previously written essay or seminar paper to the faculty of the major area of study for review and approval; deficiencies in writing may require further study in grammar and composition in the major language (including English, as appropriate).
Note: One grade of “B-” or lower will prompt a letter of warning from the department chair, and two grades of “B-” or lower will constitute grounds for dismissal from the graduate program. Grades below “B-” will not be counted as fulfilling the requirements of the degree.
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Admission to Comparative Literature Study
Any student admitted to graduate study by the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature or the Department of English is eligible to apply. The student who specializes in two literatures will be expected to study both literatures in their original languages, and an advanced competency exam may be required in the primary and/or secondary language. In addition, students who do not hold the bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the literatures or other areas of concentration may be asked to do a certain amount of preliminary coursework without credit toward the degree. These courses may be taken after admission to the master’s program.
Program Requirements
The M.A. degree in Comparative Literature requires the student to pursue one of the two following programs: the study of two literatures in their original languages, one of which may be British or American literature; or the study of one literature as the primary concentration and a non-literary field as the secondary concentration.
The literature studied may be chosen from among the following (offered at FAU): American (i.e., United States, Canadian, Anglo/Caribbean), British, French, German, Italian, Spanish Peninsular, Latin American. There is no additional language requirement beyond the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters requirement for the master of arts degrees.
Coursework will consist of at least 30 graduate credits for the thesis option and 36 for the non-thesis option (all in courses with readings in the original languages).
The M.A. degree in Linguistics requires specialization in English or one of the department’s major languages (French or Spanish). A minimum of 24 credits of coursework and 6 of thesis, or 36 credits of coursework with no thesis, are required. Students must take the History and Dialectology course in their language of specialization and two other core courses: LIN 6150, Foundations of Linguistic Theory, and LIN 6135, Principles of Linguistic Analysis. Nine credits are earned by taking linguistics seminars such as Morphology and Syntax, Second Language Acquisition and Sociolinguistics. The non-thesis option requires two courses in the literature of the language of specialization and a comprehensive written examination.
Prerequisites include LIN 3010, Introduction to Linguistics, and an advanced level of the language of specialization. Or, for students specializing in English, intermediate reading proficiency in a foreign language.
Degrees without a Thesis
The department also offers non-thesis degrees in French, Spanish (Latin American or Peninsular), Linguistics and Comparative Literature. These programs require 36 credits of coursework and the successful completion of a written comprehensive examination during the last semester of graduate study.
Master of Arts in Teaching
The M.A.T. in Languages and Linguistics is for students in French or Spanish (concentrations in Latin American or Spanish Literature) with the intention of becoming teachers at the secondary* or postsecondary lower-division level. The program requires 36 credits. Admission requirements are the same as those for the Master of Arts degree. Students entering with no formal training in general linguistics must take Introduction to Linguistics (LIN 3010), a prerequisite for graduate linguistics courses, and each student must have a course in basic research and documentation methods (FOL 3880 or its equivalent) in addition to the normal requirements for the degree.
Graduate work will include 27 credits in literature and linguistics, a 3-credit teaching internship and 6 credits of a Teaching Practicum and Electronic Media in Foreign Language Teaching or two courses in the College of Education, chosen in consultation with the head of the major program. The program may be modified in accordance with the student’s undergraduate preparation and professional teaching experience. Grades below “B” will not be counted as fulfilling the requirements of the degree.
* Certification is required for secondary teaching in Florida public schools.
Liberal Studies
Faculty:
Headley, C., Director, and associated college faculty. Dr. Headley may be reached at headley@fau.edu.
Master of Arts with Major in Liberal Studies
This program is on hiatus and not accepting students at this time.The Master of Arts with Major in Liberal Studies degree meets the critical need of balance between knowledge in the liberal arts and skill in technological specialties, between personal needs and professional requirements. A balanced education is critical to individuals for self growth, for employees who want mobility in their careers and for employers who want the capability to maintain their place in an expanding world economy. Employees must not only be competent in a specialized field; they must be aware of the impact of their expertise on a technologically connected world, its past, its acceleration and its present.
Admission Requirements
A student seeking admission into the program must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution, or for international students, an institution recognized in its own country as preparing students for further study at the graduate level. The University admission requirements are either:
1. A “B” average or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper-division student working for a bachelor’s degree, or
2. A minimum combined score of 1000 (quantitative and verbal) on the GRE, or
3. A graduate degree from an accredited institution. Applicants will be required to present their GRE scores.
Applicants must also:
1. Submit a statement of intent identifying their primary area of concentration and related field of concentration.
2. Submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors whose course(s) the student has taken.
3. Be approved by the Master’s in Liberal Studies (M.L.S.) executive committee.
Degree Requirements
This M.A. degree requires a minimum of 33 credits of graduate study. The curriculum involves a series of seminars, courses and projects that engage students in the study of interdisciplinary and disciplinary-related issues or problems.
The Core Courses (9 credits total) are 3 credits each and organized into thematic categories to cover many subjects and issues. Students typically complete the reading and writing core courses (GLS 6100 and GLS 6111) and an interdisciplinary course selected from available courses in an academic year from particular discipline(s) in consultation with advisors and the program director.
Each student must propose a Primary Area of Concentration (12 credits). Areas of concentration may be selected from, but are not limited to: Africana Studies, American Studies, Environment Studies, Ethnic Studies, Film Studies (also Film Studies and Motion Picture Industry), Global Studies, Linguistics, Peace Studies, Philosophy (also Philosophy and Literature).
The student must propose a Related Field of Concentration (9 credits) or select appropriate Tools Courses. The Related Field of Concentration may be selected from the above list of concentrations, but the student is not limited to such a list. The selected courses should represent two disciplines or a defined interdisciplinary topic in this Related Field. Tools Courses may be selected instead of a particular field of study. A student may select with appropriate justification a series of courses that provide specific skills or abilities to enable the student to apply the tools in a new area of study or in some unique strategy to solve a problem.
Students will present a project (3 credits minimum) resulting from their program of studies. A project may be a scholarly thesis (6 credits minimum) or a creative project of interest. The final thesis or project will be evaluated and approved by a faculty committee and the Liberal Studies Director.
Track in Interdisciplinary Gerontology Studies
The Interdisciplinary Gerontology Studies track in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is a collaborative track developed by the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters to provide studies in gerontological issues and trends for non-nurses. Applications for admission to the track are administered through graduate studies in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
The track provides crucial information, skills and strategies for caregivers, personnel of care provider institutions, program services and volunteer organizations, and for other non-nursing professionals interested in gerontological studies. A number of personal and professional goals may be achieved by selecting appropriate courses from the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Business, the College of Education and the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.
Students must demonstrate a 3.0 GPA or a score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Exam, or an earned master’s degree from an accredited university as basic academic prerequisites. All students must present GRE scores for admission whether the scores meet the admission standard or not.
A typical program in Interdisciplinary Gerontological Studies will include:
Music
(Listed following Women’s Studies, under School of the Arts, Music)
Philosophy
Faculty:
Harris, Michael, Interim Chair; Embree, L., Eminent Scholar; Shusterman, R., Eminent Scholar; Banchetti, M. P.; Fiore, R. N.; Glynn, S.; Gould, C.; Headley, C.; Niemi, J. I.
The Philosophy Department offers a bachelor of arts degree program with an emphasis in the liberal arts and at the same time prepares the student for various career opportunities. The intellectual training provided is an excellent preparation for the study of law, the ministry and public service professions, as well as graduate study in philosophy and related disciplines.
In addition to offering the more traditional Philosophy major and minor, the Philosophy Department also offers a major track in Pre-Law for students who wish to go on to law school, a minor track in Health Professions for students who wish to go into medicine or nursing and a minor track in Philosophy and the Arts for students majoring in any of the visual or performance arts. These tracks are described below after the description of the general Philosophy major.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Philosophy
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation, students majoring in philosophy are required to earn 32 credits in philosophy courses as follows:
No grade below a “C” in the courses above will count toward the degree, and no course in which a grade of pass or fail is earned will be counted as part of the major program.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Philosophy,
Pre-Law Major Track
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
The Pre-Law track is especially designed to provide students who are majoring in Philosophy and who plan on attending law school with excellent preparation for the study of law. In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation, students in the Pre-Law track are required to earn 32 credits in philosophy courses as follows:
Minor in Philosophy
The minor in Philosophy requires a minimum of 15 credits, a minimum of 14 of which should be earned at FAU. The courses will be taken from the following distribution:
Minor in Philosophy,
Health Professions Track
This minor track is designed for students minoring in Philosophy who aspire to a career in the health professions. It requires a minimum of 15 credits, a minimum of 14 of which should be earned at FAU. The courses will be taken from the following distribution:
Minor in Philosophy,
Philosophy and the Arts Track
This minor track is designed for students minoring in Philosophy and majoring in one of the creative and/or performing arts. It requires a minimum of 15 credits. The courses will be taken from the following distribution:
Graduate Courses in Philosophy
The Department of Philosophy is building a list of graduate-level courses intended to serve a diverse constituency of students in the College of Arts and Letters. These include students in the Ph.D. in Comparative Studies, in the Master’s of Liberal Arts program and in various other master’s programs in the College. Refer to the Arts and Letters Course Description section for a list of graduate Philosophy courses.
Political Science
Faculty:
Lenz, T. O., Chair; Arias, A. K.; Atkins, B.; Brannon, P.; De Rosa, M.; Gurses, M.; Holman, M.; Kim, D.; Morton, J.; Prier, E.; Pritchard, A. C.; Rabil, R.; Schwerin, E.; Shaykhutdinov, R.; Shockley, K.; Wagner, K.
The B.A. program is designed to provide a broad overview of the discipline of political science. It offers a firm grounding in all aspects of the discipline while ensuring flexibility for students to design programs of study to fit their particular needs through the selection of electives.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Political Science /Link to Master's Programs
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science requires meeting the following requirements:
1. All bachelor’s degree requirements (stipulated in the University Catalog, including foreign language).
2. Students who enter Florida Atlantic University with fewer than 30 credits must complete Introductory Statistics (STA 2023).
3. A minimum of 36 political science credits with no grade less than "C."
4. The following three courses:
5. A minimum of 27 upper-division credits from the following list. At least nine credits must be from the American Politics and Political Theory section, and six credits must be from the World Politics section.
* POS 2041, The Government of the U.S., is a pre/corequisite for this course.
** POS 2041, The Government of the U.S., and POS 3936 (3703), Research Methods in Political Science, are pre/corequisites for this course.
*** CPO 3003, Comparative Politics, is a pre/corequisite for this course.
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Political Science Global Governance Track
The primary purpose of the Department of Political Science’s Global Governance Track is to enable students to study and increase their understanding of the causes and consequences of globalization as well as the political, economic and ecological dimensions of globalization. The program is organized around various themes of “global significance,” such as global governance and human rights, including issues of peace and conflict among peoples and states; global terrorism; and the interrelationships of global justice, rights and responsibilities with new models of international organization, administration and development.
In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation and the Political Science requirements, students enrolled in the Political Science Global Governance Track are required to complete five of the core courses below.
For more information, contact Dr. Ed Schwerin at 561-297-3212, 954-236-1132, or schwerin@fau.edu.
Minor in Political Science
A minor in Political Science requires a minimum of 15 credits (9 12 of which must be taken at FAU, effective spring 2011) in political science courses, including POS 2041, Government of the U.S., or INR 2002, Introduction to World Politics, or equivalent courses, and four upper-division courses (12 credits), all with a grade of “C” or better.
Master’s Programs
Master of Arts with Major in Political Science (Changes effective fall 2011.)
The Department of Political Science offers the Master of Arts degree. Students may choose from a thesis or non-thesis option to meet the requirements of the degree. The thesis option is designed to prepare graduates for doctoral or professional programs. The non-thesis option is designed for students who wish to specialize in an area of study by completing two seminars instead of a thesis. All students are admitted as non-thesis students. After the completion of at least 9 but not more than 15 graduate credits, a student may apply for admission to the thesis track. The application is submitted to the Graduate Director. If the Graduate Committee grants thesis-track status, the student must work with the Graduate Director to create a thesis committee.
* With the approval of the graduate director, a student may take a maximum of 6 credits outside the Department of Political Science.
** POS 6736 must be completed the first semester of enrollment or the first semester the course is offered after admission to the graduate program.
Master of Arts in Teaching with Major in Political Science
The M.A.T. is designed to prepare students to be qualified instructors of Political Science in community colleges and secondary schools in which a teaching certificate is required.
Admission Requirements
Students must have a minimum 1000 GRE total (combined quantitative and verbal scores) and a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 undergraduate credits. Undergraduate specialization in Political Science is desirable but not mandatory for admission. A student with insufficient preparation may be considered for admission with provision for additional remedial coursework.
Certificate in secondary education must be completed before the M.A.T. is awarded.
Students are expected to take the introductory social science statistics course if they did not have a statistics course as an undergraduate.
Students must fulfill a two-semester sequence in a foreign language if they have not taken the same as an undergraduate.
Social Science
(See Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Science)
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Sociology
Faculty:
Araghi, F., Chair; Appleton, L.; Beoku-Betts, J.; Branaman, A.; Evans, A.; Harvey, M.; Hough, P.; Karides, M.; Moore, R.; Rose, M.; Widener, P.; Wilson, T.; Zhang, N.
The Department of Sociology offers a distinctive program that defines sociology as both a scientific endeavor and an activity in the service of humanity. As “public” sociologists, the department’s goal is to contribute to the development of an educated and engaged citizenry. The department prides itself on offering a distinctive program that:
1. Includes four interrelated concentrations in:
a. Social Inequalities and Social Change
b. Global Sociology and Social Movements
c. Critical Social Theory
d. Culture, Political Economy and the Sociology of Everyday Life
2. Cultivates an integrated perspective on society in which the social, economic, political and personal aspects of life are recognized as interlinking realms of human existence.
3. Offers a curriculum providing a rigorous training in critical thinking skills to prepare students for informed and active participation in society.
4. Provides students the opportunity to work with faculty whose areas of research are worldwide.
Sociology is an essential component of a liberal arts education. The Sociology major provides a solid background for graduate study in sociology and other liberal arts disciplines, such as anthropology, political science, comparative studies, communication and media studies, as well as for professional degrees in law, criminal justice, social work and business. Furthermore, students in sociology gain methodological and analytical skills that will enable them to pursue a wide range of career opportunities in such fields as human services, government and business.
The program in sociology leads to a B.A. degree and requires a minimum of 120 credits, of which 60 credits must be from a senior institution and at least 30 credits must be taken in sociology. Sociology majors are strongly encouraged to take more than 10 courses in sociology.
Students entering FAU as freshmen must meet the University’s core curriculum/four-year degree program requirements as listed in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog and the College’s requirements as set forth under Undergraduate Programs in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
Normally, students take 60 credits in their upper-division program at FAU. No more than two 1000-level and three 2000-level courses may count in the last 60 credits for the B.A. degree.
FAU has a foreign language requirement that all students must fulfill for the B.A. degree. Students have met this requirement if they have passed or received credit for two semesters of one foreign language at a community college. Students who have not completed two semesters of foreign language at another institution of higher learning must use 8 of their out-of-discipline credits to meet FAU’s foreign language requirement, or pass the CLEP exam prior to graduation. Contact the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature for more information.
In addition to the University and/or College degree requirements, students majoring in Sociology are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in each sociology course prior to it counting toward fulfilling the sociology degree requirements.
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Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Note: Sociology majors are strongly encouraged to take more than 30 credits in sociology.
Minor in Sociology
Students seeking a minor in Sociology are required to take a minimum of four courses (12 credits) of upper-division (3000- and 4000-level) courses in sociology. Of the 12 credits, at least 9 must be earned from FAU (effective spring 2011). Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in each sociology course for it to count toward the minor.
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Master’s Program
Master of Arts with Major in Sociology
The Master of Arts degree in Sociology is designed to prepare students for doctoral study in sociology and related programs. Additionally, the M.A. in Sociology can prepare students for professional careers and teaching. There are two tracks in the program: generalist track and specialist track. The generalist track offers students a broad graduate education in sociology that can serve as the basis for a wide array of professional careers in the public and private sector. The specialist track is designed for students who would pursue a doctoral degree in Sociology. This track offers students the opportunity to design and carry out a research project in a particular area of sociological research under the direct mentorship of a faculty member. Students may apply to be admitted to the specialist track after completing 9 credits in the program.
Admission Requirements
1. Students must complete a bachelor’s degree, preferably with a major in Sociology. Students without an undergraduate Sociology major may be admitted under the condition that they take additional coursework in sociology.
2. Students must have a minimum combined quantitative-verbal score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). GRE scores over five years old will not be accepted.
3. Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average for the last 60 credits of undergraduate work leading to the bachelor’s degree.
4. Students must submit directly to the Department of Sociology a Statement of Purpose (500 to 1000 words in length, outlining their goals and interests in subject areas within sociology) and a sample of their writing (a paper from an undergraduate course would be acceptable).
5. Sociology majors at FAU should submit the names of two sociology faculty members as their referees. All other students must obtain two letters of recommendation sent directly to the Department of Sociology by referees.
6. Applicants who apply after May 1 may be admitted to the graduate program but may be too late to be considered for an assistantship award.
Options in the M.A. Program in Sociology
The Department of Sociology offers two tracks for the M.A. in Sociology.
Track One: Generalist Track (M.A.) All students admitted to the M.A. program area are admitted into the generalist track, which is designed to provide students with broad sociological training across an array of subfields and methods. With the guidance of a faculty mentor, students in this track will develop and pursue a plan of study consistent with their disciplinary interests and professional aspirations. The academic progression in this track will typically consist of completing 36 credits of graduate work. For the full-time student, the academic progression in this track will typically consist of:
Semester One:
1. Successfully complete three sociological foundation classes as approved by the graduate director.
2. Submit tentative plan of study to graduate director; submit proposal for semester two’s seminars to the graduate director.
Semester Two:
1. Successfully complete three sociological foundation classes.
2. Identify a faculty member to serve as the faculty mentor. In consultation with the faculty member, make a final decision about the mentorship. The faculty member confirms the mentorship position with the department chair before the end of the term.
3. Work with the faculty mentor to develop a plan of study that is tailored to the student's professional aspirations and academic background and interests.
4. Revise and resubmit plan of study. The plan of study must be filed with the Graduate College before the completion of 18 credits of graduate coursework.
Semester Three:
1. Successfully complete 9 credits of graduate coursework as approved by the faculty mentor and specified in the plan of study.
2. If revisions to the plan of study are necessary, submit a Revision to an Existing Plan of Study. This must be submitted prior to the semester in which the student plans to graduate.
3. Submit a graduation application to the department three weeks before the end of the semester.
Semester Four:
1. Successfully complete 9 credits of graduate coursework as approved by the faculty mentor and specified in the plan of study.
Required courses for the generalist track:
Students must complete 36 credits to receive their Master's degree, including:
An approved research methods, 3 credits
An approved theory course, 3 credits
Note: Graduate teaching assistants are required to take a 3-credit teaching practicum course, preferably in the beginning of their second year.
Track Two: Specialist Track (M.A.) This track is designed for students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree in Sociology or a closely related field. The specialist track is intended for students who have superior writing, communication and analytical skills necessary for intensive training in sociological research. This track requires the student to write and successfully defend a master’s thesis as part of the process of developing the knowledge and skills required for admission into Ph.D. programs. Students may apply for admission to the specialist track as early as after their first 9 credits, but must apply prior to completing 18 credits of graduate study. For the full-time student, the academic progression in this track typically consists of:
Semester One:
1. Successfully complete three sociological foundation classes.
2. Submit a tentative plan of study.
3. Submit proposal for semester two’s seminars to the graduate director.
Semester Two:
1. Successfully complete three sociological foundation classes.
2. Submit initial application for the specialist track to the department chair during the first month of the second semester. The chair will convene a meeting of faculty who have worked with the student during his or her first 9 credits and in any other academic capacities; if the committee supports the student’s application, the student will be admitted to the specialist track.
3. Find a faculty mentor who has a scholarly background in the area of the thesis topic and is willing to supervise the thesis. The faculty member confirms this responsibility for thesis supervision with the department chair.
4. Work with the thesis chair to choose members of the thesis committee.
5. Under the supervision of the thesis chair, write a thesis proposal.
6. Defend the thesis proposal before the thesis committee. The defense should occur before the end of the second semester of study or, for part-time students, before the completion of 18 credits of graduate study. The defense requires a thesis proposal, a thesis writing plan that includes a detailed table of contents for the thesis and a suggested timeline for the completion of each chapter or part of the thesis, and a preliminary bibliography.
7. Submit final application for admission to the specialist track after a successful thesis defense.
8. Submit formal plan of study to graduate director after consultation with thesis chair. A plan of study must be filed with the Graduate College before the completion of 18 credits of graduate coursework.
Semester Three:
1. Successfully complete 3-6 credits of Master’s Thesis.
2. Successfully complete 3-6 credits of approved graduate coursework. The coursework should complement the thesis research and must be approved in advance by the chair of the thesis committee.
3. Submit a final thesis writing plan to the thesis committee no later than the end of the semester.
4. Submit a final plan of study and graduation application to the department three weeks before the end of the semester.
Semester Four:
1. Successfully complete 3-6 credits of Master’s Thesis and complete the thesis.
2. Defend the thesis at an oral exam by the committee.
3. Submit the final copy of the thesis to the department by March 15 if graduating in May and by October 20 if graduating in December.
4. Successfully complete 3-6 credits of graduate coursework.
Required courses for the specialist track:
Students must complete 36 credits to receive their Master’s degree, including:
An approved research methods course, 3 credits
An approved theory course, 3 credits
Master’s Thesis, SYA 6971, 6 credits
Note: Graduate teaching assistants are required to take a 3-credit teaching practicum course, preferably in the beginning of their second year.
Theatre and Dance
(Listed following Women’s Studies, under School of the Arts, Theatre and Dance)
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Women’s Studies
Faculty:
Beoku-Betts, J., Interim Director; Caputi, J.; Rose, M. S. The Women’s Studies faculty represents a variety of departments in several colleges at the University. A list of current faculty may be obtained from the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Master of Arts with Major in Women’s Studies
The Master of Arts degree in Women’s Studies offers students the opportunity to gain cross-disciplinary, advanced knowledge of the impact of gender in diverse areas of life. The degree is designed to help prepare students to enter a variety of professions for which a sophisticated knowledge of gender issues is considered a desirable employment qualification.
Students who receive the Master of Arts in Women’s Studies are prepared for doctoral work in Women’s Studies and related programs, such as the Florida Atlantic University Doctorate in Comparative Studies.
Concentrations
For those students who are interested in a specific area within Women’s Studies, the center offers two concentrations. Students who wish to specialize in either of these areas will work closely with their advisor to tailor their schedule:
Sex and Gender: Myth, Film, Popular Culture and Literature. This concentration allows students to explore ways in which sexuality and gender have been constructed and depicted within the popular media and other cultural artifacts such as myth, literature and film.
Intersections: Women, Race, Ethnicity and Nationality. This concentration allows students to explore the situation of women from a global perspective, with particular emphasis on how gender, race, ethnicity and nationality inform conditions of oppression and liberation.
Admission Requirements
1. The student must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, preferably with a concentration (major, minor or certificate) in Women’s Studies. Applicants without appropriate work in Women’s Studies may be admitted on the condition that additional coursework in Women’s Studies is completed in addition to the requirements for the M.A. degree.
2. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 undergraduate credits attempted and a minimum combined quantitative-verbal score of 1000 on the GRE.
3. In addition to the University application, students must complete the application specific to Women’s Studies. The application is available at the Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies website. This application includes the following requirements:
a. The cover page, with student name and mailing information;
b. A two-page, double-spaced, typed essay addressing the student’s interest in Women’s Studies graduate work, talent or experience that will contribute to this academic program and educational and professional goals;
c. Three letters of recommendation using the form that accompanies this application (at least two letters from professors);
d. If interested, the application for a graduate assistantship.
Admission Requirements for Candidacy
1. A student seeking the M.A. in Women’s Studies must file an application for candidacy with the director of Women’s Studies after completion of 18 credits of graduate coursework.
2. Along with the candidacy application, a student in the thesis or internship tracks should submit a thesis or internship proposal.
3. The student should have an advisory committee of three faculty. A maximum of two faculty associates may be on the committee. The advisory committee will serve as the thesis committee.
Degree Options and Requirements
Requirements: Students must receive a grade of “B” or better in all courses. Regardless of which option is selected below, all students must complete the following courses:
As the M.A. in Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary degree, accepted courses for the M.A. will be posted two weeks prior to registration. All 6000-level courses with a WST prefix are acceptable, along with many other courses from other departments. Please check with the Women’s Studies office before registering to learn if a course has been approved.
Options: Three options are available for students interested in the M.A. in Women’s Studies:
1. Thesis Track: Students will complete 24 graduate credits in approved Women’s Studies courses and will receive 6 graduate credits for the thesis. This option allows students to engage in substantial and original Women’s Studies research.
2. Internship Track: Students will complete 24 graduate credits in approved Women’s Studies courses and will receive 6 graduate credits for the internship. Students who select this option must also take a comprehensive exam the semester after completing 18 graduate credits. This option allows students to integrate professional work experience with scholarly research.
3. NonThesis Track: Students will complete 36 graduate credits in approved Women’s Studies courses. Students who select this option must also take a comprehensive exam the semester after completing 18 graduate credits.
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School of the Arts
The School of the Arts unites Florida Atlantic University’s departments of Music, Theatre and Dance, and Visual Arts and Art History, and the University Galleries. The School offers an enhanced disciplinary education to undergraduate and graduate students, and it provides a variety of collaborative events enriching the South Florida community with FAU’s artistic offerings. Building on the existing departments and their faculty, the School of the Arts reinforces the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters’ commitment to the arts.
Music
Faculty:
Lautar, R., Interim Chair; Zager, M., Eminent Scholar; Burganger, J.; Coltman, H.; Cunningham, J.; Dorchin, S.; Fleitas, P; Glazer, S.; Joella, L.; Keaton, K.; Kover, K.; McClain, S. C.; Murray, S.; Prescott, K.; Rossow, D.; Rossow, S.; Sánchez-Samper, A.; Treer, L.; Turgeon, E.; Walters, T.
The mission of the Florida Atlantic University Department of Music is to offer comprehensive academic and performance training in all aspects of the discipline in order to prepare students for advanced study and successful careers in music. It also seeks to represent Florida Atlantic University through community outreach.
The Department of Music is an accredited institutional member of NASM (National Association of Schools of Music). The department offers Bachelor of Music degrees with majors in Commercial Music, Music Education and Music with tracks in Jazz Studies and in Performance; a Bachelor of Arts degree; an honors program in Music; and several minors, including a minor in Commercial Music.
At the graduate level, the department offers a Master of Arts degree in Music with tracks in Performance, Music History/Literature and Commercial Music. The department also offers a Master of Science in Music Business Administration in cooperation with the College of Business and a graduate certificate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy.
Faculty members of the Department of Music are active regionally, nationally and internationally as solo and collaborative performers, conductors, recording artists, scholars, composers, educators, lecturers, adjudicators and mentors, while adhering to NASM standards regarding creative and scholarly research and service. These include music making, the study of music and its influences, the advancement of music pedagogy and the facilitation of musical activities. The department faculty works closely with students to reach the highest levels of artistic expression, allowing students to build a versatile set of skills that will ensure success in their chosen area of the profession.
The Department of Music provides extensive performance and teacher education experiences through its comprehensive classroom curriculum in music theory, history and literature; culturally diverse perspectives provided by courses in American popular music, jazz and world music; applied studio instruction in piano, brass, woodwind, percussion, string and vocal areas; and collaborative performance experience in a wide variety of large and small ensemble settings. Furthermore, the department’s Commercial Music Program offers practical music industry training with Creative and Music Technology degree tracks as well as a Music Business emphasis. The program’s affiliated Hoot/Wisdom Records L.L.C. label affords students hands-on experience in its state-of-the-art studios.
As a prominent point of contact between the local community and University, the Department of Music serves as a vehicle for outreach and service in the arts. The marching and pep bands represent the department at a wide variety of athletic and University events. Annual summer music camps for elementary and secondary students make the university environment accessible to young musicians and their families. Throughout the year, the department seeks to enhance the cultural life of the region through its annual season of concerts and music festivals, which feature performances by student ensembles, faculty, ensembles-in-residence and guest artists.
All students seeking admission to the department as Music majors or minors must complete a performance audition prior to the first semester of study. Transfer students must complete placement examinations in sight singing and music theory. Due to the complex nature of the music program, prospective students must contact the Department of Music at 561-297-3820 to arrange for academic advising prior to class registration.
Scholarships are awarded annually by the Department of Music. These performance/academic awards vary in amounts and carry their own requirements, which must be satisfactorily completed prior to graduation. Audition details are available through the Department of Music office.
Music Ensembles
FAU music ensembles are open to all FAU students by audition and are not limited to Music majors. Contact the department for audition information.
Music Major /Link to Master's Program
Candidates for a bachelor’s degree in Music must complete all University and College requirements for the specific degree. Each Music major will be assigned to an area advisor who will meet with the student every semester to determine the student’s curriculum. In addition to departmental course requirements, all Music majors must complete the following to graduate:
Piano Proficiency: All students must pass the applicable department piano proficiency exam as a graduation requirement. Students may enroll in four semesters of class piano in preparation for the exam. B.A., Music Education and Music: Performance majors enroll in MVK 1111, 1112, 2121 and 2122 sequence, while Commercial Music and Music: Jazz Studies majors enroll in MVK 1111, 1112, 2121, and 3173 sequence. Completion of class piano courses does not waive the proficiency exam requirement. B.A. majors must pass the exam prior to enrollment in MUS 4910. Commercial Music majors must pass the exam prior to enrollment in MUS 4911. Music: Performance majors must pass the exam prior to their Junior Recital pre-hearing.
Examination must be passed prior to application for graduation AND prior to application for student teaching for Music Education majors.
Mid-Degree Evaluation: Students will be assessed in performance, music theory and sight singing at the end of the sophomore year (or four semesters of study). Students who do not receive a satisfactory score on the evaluation will not be permitted to register for upper-division courses.
Concert Attendance: Music majors must enroll in MUS 1011, Concert Attendance, every semester in residence until a satisfactory grade has been received for a total of six semesters. Transfer students must consult the Music Department to determine minimum requirements.
Ensemble Performance: All Music majors are required to perform in the assigned ensemble every semester in residence according to the degree requirements. Commercial Music majors are required to complete one semester of Commercial Music Ensemble.
Applied Music Instruction: Music majors are required to study the same major applied instrument during their tenure at FAU. Students presenting junior or senior recitals are required to register for applied music for the semester during which the recital is presented. All applied music lessons require permission of instructor.
Jury Examinations in applied music are given at the end of the semester. Successful completion of the jury is required to receive a grade in applied music.
Recital Performance: All candidates for the major in Music: Performance or Jazz Studies tracks and major in Music Education perform a senior recital. Students in the Music: Performance track also perform a junior recital.
All music courses and their prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher. These and other departmental policies are explained in detail in the Music Student Handbook, which is updated annually and available in the Department of Music.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
All Music majors must complete the following core courses and the requirements of the following specific degrees:
All vocal students take MUE 2430, Voice Techniques, in first year.
Bachelor of Arts
(Students must complete the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters B.A. language requirement.)
Bachelor of Music with Major in Commercial Music
Two tracks and one emphasis comprise the Commercial Music degree program. The Creative Track and Music Technology Track share a common core with separate secondary concentrations. The Music Business Emphasis presents a singular focus in the business aspects of the music industry.
Commercial Music Research Project**
MUS 4913 3* All students are required to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 8 semesters of Commercial Music Forum prior to graduation. Transfer students with 60 or more approved credits will need to satisfactorily complete 4 semesters of Commercial Music Forum.
** Research projects must be approved by Commercial Music faculty. Students will be expected to meet regularly with their research advisor during the semester.
*** Students must complete a minimum of 1 semester of Commercial Music Ensemble during residency.
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Bachelor of Music with Major in Commercial Music: Music Business Emphasis
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Bachelor of Music with Major in Music: Jazz Studies Track
Bachelor of Music with Major in Music: Performance Track
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Bachelor of Music with Major in Music Education
Students will be assigned to either vocal or instrumental tracks by area advisors.
3
Student Teaching: Music, K-12**** MUE 4940 6* Students whose major instruments are piano or guitar are not eligible for the major in Music Education.
** Requires 15-hour field component.
*** Requires 90-hour field component.
**** Student Teaching requires a separate application. The student must complete all courses (education and music), piano proficiency, recital, recital attendance and the FTCE before applying to student teaching.
A program leading to teacher certification in music is available through the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education.
Minor in Music (changes effective spring 2012)
Only the Minor in Commercial Music is currently accepting students. The Minor in Commercial Music is open to all FAU students. Students must contact the Commercial Music Department to apply to the minor. All credits toward the minor must be earned at FAU, and all courses must be completed with a “C” or better.
2 or
Secondary Instrumental Methods MUE 4330 2
Honors in Music
The program for Honors in Music is designed to recognize outstanding academic and/or performance achievement of exceptionally talented and motivated students. The requirements for Honors in Music exceed the normal requirements for a baccalaureate degree, not simply in the quantity of work, but also in the nature and quality of it. Academic honors will be extended to those students who demonstrate a level of critical activity and thorough scholarship in those courses that are taken for honors credit. Performance honors will be given to those students who substantially exceed normal performance standards for an undergraduate recital in both quality of repertoire and interpretation, and in the length and difficulty of the literature presented in public performance. Additional details are available through the Department of Music.
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Master’s Program
Master of Arts with Major in Music
(30 credits minimum)
The Master of Arts with Major in Music degree is designed to assist the student in attaining an advanced level of competence and knowledge in music performance, history and theory. The department offers performance and teacher training in standard class instruction, applied studio instruction (private lessons), performance ensembles and chamber music coaching. Florida Atlantic University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The Music Department adheres to nationally accepted standards regarding the faculty’s creative and scholarly research, including making music, studying music and its influences, advancing the pedagogy of music and facilitating music activities.
Each student in the M.A. in Music program must meet the College’s foreign language requirement of two semesters (8 credits) of undergraduate study in the same foreign language OR complete a graduate-level Reading for Research course (FRE/GER/SPN) OR demonstrate proficiency. Any coursework taken to fulfill the requirement does not count toward the M. A. in Music.
Admission Requirements
1. A baccalaureate degree in music.
2. A combined GRE score of 1000. The Music Department may support a petition to waive a lower GRE score if in the last 60 credits of undergraduate coursework the student attained a 3.0 GPA.
3. An initial interview with the departmental coordinator to discuss the program.
4. One of the following, depending upon desired degree track (details available at www.fau.edu/music):
a. Vocal/Instrumental Performance and Choral/Instrumental Conducting tracks: A satisfactory performance audition is required
b. Commercial Music and Composition tracks: Approved portfolio of original works is required.
c. Music History/Literature Track: Approved writing sample is required.
Note: Students cannot register for any graduate courses in the Music program until they have successfully completed the entrance audition or provided the requested portfolio or writing sample.
Note: Students must take proficiency examinations in Music History and Music Theory. The Music History exam requires students to identify Western historical periods by date, place specific composers in their respective historical periods, identify them with major works and define important historical terms. The Music Theory exam requires harmonic analysis of tonal music, including modulation techniques, non-harmonic tones, borrowed chords and augmented sixth and Neapolitan sixth chords. Students who do not meet the required proficiencies will be required to enroll in review coursework that will not count toward the Master of Arts degree.
Comprehensive Examinations
In addition to the following coursework, the student must successfully complete comprehensive examinations. These are normally administered during the last semester of study.
Degree Requirements
Commercial Music students must:
1. Meet ALL Music Department and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters admissions requirements;
2. Submit résumé and portfolio, including a CD consisting of at least three original instrumental compositions. One of these should be scored for a full orchestra. The orchestrations may be synthesized, however, live instrumentation is preferred. A full score must accompany each composition.
3
Total 183
Survey of Orchestra Literature MUL 6505 3
Theatre and Dance
Faculty:
Kopani, G., Chair; Atkins, T.; Baldet, J.; Brooks, C.; Connors, B.; Dial, T.; Gallant, D.; Gamble, R.; Shorrock, T.
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and a Minor in Theatre. Graduate programs lead to the Master of Fine Arts degree. Alumni of the department are currently working in professional theatre, television and motion pictures, as well as community and academic theatre.
Mission
The mission of Florida Atlantic University’s Theatre and Dance Department is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students to serve and participate successfully in the ongoing creation of World Theatre and its related fields. The department seeks to meet the artistic and humanistic needs of the emerging artist and student. It strives to do this by providing theatre education and professional training of the highest quality through:
1. Excellence in teaching, research, creative activity and scholarship in both the classroom and the production process;
2. Development and sharing of skills and opportunities for their practical application;
3. Production of significant theatrical works that serve as cultural resources for the University and the South Florida community.
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Requirements
All students majoring in Theatre must fulfill the University and College requirements for admission and graduation. All courses in the Department of Theatre and Dance must be passed with a “C” or better; pass/fail grades are not allowed. Theatre majors must maintain a 3.0 average in courses in the major.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Theatre /Link to Master's Program
The Bachelor of Arts with Major in Theatre is designed to train students in the art, craft and literature of theatre while providing the opportunity to develop creative, cognitive and communication skills through a broad liberal arts education. Undergraduate students are taught by faculty members who are active professionals in their fields and also work closely with candidates of the graduate conservatory program. Upon completion of the degree, the successful student is prepared for work at the graduate or professional level.
Design/Technology Concentration
The Design/Technology Concentration under the B.A. in Theatre seeks to create an understanding of theatre as a collaborative art form. Theatrical design and technology are interrelated disciplines in which each provides a foundation for the other.
Student training includes the history, literature, design and production of theatrical performance as well as scenery, costuming and lighting design for the stage.
In addition to coursework, students have opportunities to get hands-on experience in all areas of design and technology. While designing for the Showcase Series is generally limited to faculty and graduate students, opportunities exist for outstanding undergraduates to work as designers, assistant designers and/or technicians. The Footlight Series and Lab Theatre Series provide opportunities for the designer and technician to practice the art.
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Bachelor of Arts with Major in Theatre—General Education
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation, candidates for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre—General Education must complete the following courses.
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Theatre— Design/Technology
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation, candidates for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre—Design/Technology—must complete the following courses.
Bachelor of Fine Arts with Major in Theatre
The Bachelor of Fine Arts with Major in Theatre is offered with a Performance Concentration. This degree program provides in-depth training and fundamental knowledge necessary for the pursuit of a career as an actor or director through process-oriented instruction in performance skills. It is designed primarily for those students with an interest in a career in the professional theatre. In order to enter the program, one must pass an entrance audition and an interview with the performance faculty. Two letters of recommendation from previous performance teachers are also required. Contact the Department of Theatre and Dance for requirements, dates and times of the auditions.
Bachelor of Fine Arts with Major in Theatre—Performance
(Minimum of 121 credits required)
In addition to the University and College requirements for admission and graduation, candidates for a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre—Performance—must complete the following courses.
Foreign Language
For four-year students only. If students completed high school language courses, they may take the CLEP examination to satisfy the foreign language requirement.
Minor in Theatre
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers a Theatre minor available to all undergraduate students except Theatre majors. The minor requires a minimum of 17 theatre credits, 9 of which must be in upper-level classes (3000 level and above). At least 75 percent of all credits must be earned from FAU (effective spring 2012).
All courses used to fulfill the minor must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
* Can be exchanged with courses below marked with an asterisk.
Elective Courses
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Master’s Program
Master of Fine Arts with Major in Theatre
(60 credits minimum)
The Master of Fine Arts degree is a terminal degree requiring a two-year residency on campus, a summer involvement in the professional Summer Festival Repertory Theatre and a one-semester internship.
The M.F.A. program is a professional training program designed to provide the candidate with the skills necessary to contribute to the World Theatre. Through text-centered research and exploration of varied approaches to the art, candidates will be empowered to develop their own comprehensive processes of creative practice. The M.F.A. is offered with concentrations in the following areas:
Acting
This area of concentration prepares the candidate for pursuit of a career as a professional actor in theatre and related fields. The program is designed to help students discover and empower their own processes of creating characters through in-depth exploration and understanding of the dramatic text. In studio, in classes and in productions, the program addresses body, voice, intellect and imagination to help candidates surmount their personal obstacles to clear expression so that they may successfully collaborate in the creation of living theatre.
Design
This area of concentration will prepare the candidate for pursuit of a career as a professional designer for the theatre and its related fields. The program is founded on the belief that excellence in design comes from an in-depth exploration and understanding of the dramatic text, supported by extensive research and the development of self-discipline, the intellect and the imagination. The program stresses artistic expression, the understanding of specialized skills, technology, organization and clear communication skills. Student work will be realized as part of the Theatre and Dance Department’s productions. The successful student will begin to develop a personal process of design in the collaborative process of living theatre.
Technology
This area of concentration will prepare the candidate for pursuit of a career as a professional technologist for the theatre and its related fields. This emphasizes excellence in personal work and the mastery of specialized skills and technology, good organization and clear communication skills. “Hands-on” production work is conducted in the context of a laboratory atmosphere where students are encouraged to take part in the exploration of creative problem-solving and artistic expression. Classroom experience is reinforced by practical application in department productions. The successful student will be well-equipped to take part in the collaborative process of creating living theatre.
Admission Requirements
1. A student must have completed a bachelor’s degree, preferably with a major in Theatre and with extended coursework in a sub area of concentration such as acting, design or technology.
2. A student must have a minimum combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or a 3.0 grade point average during their undergraduate coursework.
3. Applicants must pass an audition or portfolio review and interview. For dates and locations, contact the Theatre and Dance Department, 561-297-3810. Admission to some tracks of study may occur in alternating years; contact department for details.
4. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be admitted on a conditional basis under special circumstances to be evaluated at the audition or interview for the program.
Admission to Supervised Internship Experience
The internship provides the candidate with an experience that will enhance understanding of the professional world of the theatre and also provides a platform from which the candidate begins a process of professional networking. A graduate candidate must complete a 9-credit internship, which usually comprises all or part of the third year, before applying for graduation.
Special requirements for enrollment are:
1. Employment at a professional theatre, Lort Theatre or company under the Actors’ Equity Association contract; university; or community college as a full-time employee under a contract, working in the student’s area of degree specialization.
2. Approval of the student’s advisor and department.
3. Coursework completed as required by the department.
4. Completion of an application for internship.
Admission Requirements for Degree Candidacy
A student may be admitted to candidacy for the degree of Master of Fine Arts with major in Theatre with a concentration in Acting or Design and Technology after having completed the following course and departmental requirements:
Other electives, directed independent study and advanced courses in consultation with advisor.
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Visual Arts and Art History
Faculty:
Johnson, L., Chair; Atzberger, E.; Bentley-Kemp, L.; Broderick, A.; Carabell, P.; Cooper, J.; Cunningham, S.; De St. Croix, B.; DiCosola, M. A.; Hnatysh, W.; Knipp, T.; Kulawik, A.; Landes, E.; Leader, K.; McConnell, B.; Prusa, C.; Seeman, B.; Valdes, J.
The Department of Visual Arts and Art History is dedicated to the advancement, practice and theoretical understanding of the Visual Arts. A central mission of the department is to enable students to understand art in the context of its rich historical heritage, incorporating continuing changes, innovations and accomplishments made by creative artists and art historians.
The department seeks to prepare both undergraduate and graduate students for professional careers in the creation and interpretation of the Visual Arts. Deeply related to this focus is a commitment to elevate and sustain the study of the arts as both a necessary mode of understanding and a dynamic expression of human experience as it relates to an increasingly complex global society. To accomplish this goal, students must develop technical skills related to a variety of artistic media as well as develop a comprehension of the creative impulse and the spirit that motivates it.
The faculty of the Department of Visual Arts and Art History, through its own significant research and creative activities, fosters the preservation of artistic legacies with an interest in originality and innovation within artistic and research practice. These educational goals are enhanced by visiting lecturers, workshops, internships, conferences and exhibitions held at two University galleries, the Dorothy F. Schmidt Center Gallery and the Ritter Gallery in Boca Raton, and activities at the other campus locations, including Second Avenue Studio at the Reubin Askew Tower in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Art students graduating from Florida Atlantic University have established careers as photographers, ceramicists, performance artists, printmakers, painters, sculptors, graphic designers and computer animators. They teach the fine arts and art history in colleges and universities, after advanced studies, as well as in grammar and secondary schools. They are involved in Art in State Building projects and work as museum directors, curators and gallery personnel. They handle digital imaging for corporate clients, and many are involved in advertising and corporate design.
The undergraduate curriculum in Visual Arts and Art History offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. Bachelor of Fine Arts programs are available in Graphic Design and in Studio Art with concentrations in Ceramics, Painting, Photography, Printmaking or Sculpture. Several Art minors are also offered.
Transfer students with A.A. degrees must have had Art Appreciation, Design, Drawing 1, Figure Drawing, Color Fundamentals, possibly Three Dimensional Design. and some studio experience prior to entering the program. If not, these lower-division requirements may be satisfied at Florida Atlantic University. See more information in the Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students paragraph below.
Undergraduate Visual Arts and Art History majors may not take an art course under the pass/fail option, nor will a grade below “C” in an art course be counted toward fulfilling the requirements of the major.
The Master of Fine Arts degree is offered in the following studio concentrations: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture (Boca Raton campus), Computer Art and Graphic Design (Fort Lauderdale campus) and Book Arts (Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale campuses).
The Visual Arts and Art History Department reserves the right to select student work for its collection. Students should consult and familiarize themselves with course prerequisites. The department endorses and will enforce these prerequisites. Declared majors should have in-person academic advising at least once per academic year with a designated College and/or departmental advisor. Fall and spring course schedules can be used to project graduation timetables. Summer course schedules help facilitate these projections only.
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Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transfer Student Manual (see www.fau.edu/registrar/tsm.php).
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
Portfolio Review
All B.A. and B.F.A. Studio Art and Graphic Design majors in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History are required to participate in a portfolio review process before entering their majors. This review will take place upon completion of foundation and 2000-level studio coursework but before students enter the 3000- and 4000-level studio coursework within their studio area. Upon completion of foundation and disciplinary 2000-level studio coursework, each student will submit a portfolio of work made in these courses for review by a panel of studio Visual Arts and Art History faculty. The portfolio review will occur twice per academic year and will be conducted by a committee(s) of faculty representing diverse studio areas.
Students whose portfolios demonstrate mastery of foundation studio concepts will be admitted to the B.F.A. Studio major in their chosen studio areas. Students whose portfolios do not demonstrate mastery of foundation concepts will be limited to the pursuit of the B.A. degree. These students may resubmit their portfolios for admittance to the B.F.A. track during subsequent portfolio reviews.
Current portfolio review guidelines, including required portfolio components, portfolio evaluation criteria and relevant deadlines, are available from the Department of Visual Arts and Art History at www.fau.edu/VAAH/undergraduate.php.
Link to Bachelor of Arts with Major in Studio Art
Link to Bachelor of Fine Arts with Major in Graphic Design
Link to Bachelor of Fine Arts with Major in Studio Art
Link to Minors in Art
Link to Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art
Link to Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art: Graphic Design
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Art History
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
The candidate must complete all University and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters requirements for the B.A. program, including 8 credits in any one foreign language (four-year students only). Transfer coursework to be credited toward the major must be evaluated by the chair of the department.
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History in the four-year program are required to complete 45 credits in art courses, including:
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Bachelor of Arts with Major in Studio Art
The B.A. in Studio Art is designed for a general education in the visual arts with coursework offered in Ceramics, Drawing, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture. Students are given rigorous training in the foundations of art as well as in ways to explore new and innovative questions, theories and ideas that drive art today. Students are encouraged to create individualized programs of study anchored by intermediate-level study in three studio areas. Majors are expected to explore the variety and breadth of contemporary art practice in order to develop their own understanding of directions in visual art and their own artistic practice.
In addition to the program requirements outlined below for each area of interest, the B.A. program requires that all students take 48 credits in visual art in addition to the credits earned in courses that are part of the Core Program Prerequisites. Transfer students from institutions with 3-credit art courses are likely to need more credits in visual art than the minimum described above. Transfer students should also note that at least 75 percent of all upper-division credits for the B.A. must be taken in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History at FAU. Transfer coursework to be credited toward the degree must be evaluated by the department chair.
The B.A. program also requires that students fulfill the University’s Foreign Language Requirement. See the Degree Requirements section in this catalog for complete information.
Program Requirements and Curriculum
All students are required to submit a portfolio for review following completion of the Core Program Prerequisites.
Courses in Three Areas of Interest 24Foreign Language Requirement for Bachelor of Art Majors
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Bachelor of Fine Arts with Major in Graphic Design
The candidate must complete all University and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters requirements for the B.F.A. program, including 8 credits in any one foreign language (four-year students only). Transfer coursework to be credited toward the major must be evaluated by the chair of the department.
The Graphic Design Program provides students with the skills to pursue career opportunities in graphic design and visual communication. The overall goal of the program is to sharpen students’ abilities in visual problem solving and translating verbal concepts into visual images, image-making techniques and graphic techniques that communicate intended messages, moods and concepts. Graphic design projects include posters, brochures, corporate identity systems, trademarks, books, magazines and advertisements of all kinds. Courses cover all facets of the visual communication process, from thumbnail sketches to printed pieces. Students are given assignments much like those they would encounter in professional settings.
The program is planned to help students balance studies in art history and studio art with studies in graphic design and computer graphics. Through each course in the program, students are encouraged to develop an appreciation of the various philosophical and ideological positions that could affect their design perspectives.
All students are required to complete their studies with the senior seminar course, from which they develop their portfolio.
Program Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to all University and degree requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must meet the following requirements.
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Bachelor of Fine Arts with Major in Studio Art (Changes effective spring 2012.)
(Minimum of 120 credits required)
The B.F.A. in Studio Art is designed for the student who aspires to a career as a professional artist. Students
are required to pass the portfolio review and then select a concentration in an area of study: Book Arts, Ceramics, Painting, Photography, Printmaking or Sculpture. Students are given rigorous training in the foundations of art, as well as in ways to explore new and innovative questions, theories and ideas that drive art today. Students are encouraged to create individualized programs of study anchored by intermediate-level study in three studio areas. Majors are expected to explore the variety and breadth of contemporary art practice in
order to develop their own understanding of directions in visual art and their own artistic practice.
Candidates must complete all University and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters requirements for the B.F.A. degree program, including 8 credits in any one foreign language (four-year students only). All candidates must take 22 credits of the Art Core Program Prerequisites, submit and pass a portfolio review and take 48 credits in upper division coursework for a total of 70 credits in major requirements. Transfer students from institutions with 3-credit art courses are likely to need more credits in visual art than the minimum described. Transfer students should also note that at least 75 percent of all upper-division courses must be taken in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History at FAU. Transfer course work to be credited toward the degree must be evaluated by the department chair.
All students are required to complete their studies with the senior seminar course, from which they develop their portfolio.
Program Requirements and Curriculum
Foreign Language Requirement for Art Majors
Eight credits, two courses of college-level credit in the same foreign language.
FRE/GER/SPN/ITA/JPN or another language (8 credits in the same language, 8 credits for a B.A., 8 credits for a B.F.A. for native students only).
Students with more than one year of foreign language in high school should enroll in Beginning Language and Culture 2 (FRE/GER/SPN/ITA/JPN 1121) or a higher-level course. Students can demonstrate proficiency for a first-level and/or second-level course by successfully completing a higher-level course. CLEP exam credits meet this requirement. Note: Native speakers of a foreign language must consult the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature regarding this requirement.
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Minors in Art
The Department of Visual Arts and Art History offers a minor in Art History and one in Studio Art in the following concentrations: Ceramics, Drawing, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture. All courses must be completed with a “C” or better. Satisfactory/unsatisfactory or pass/fail grades will not be accepted. Art majors are not eligible for these minors. Interested students should contact the department for advising in the appropriate minor.
Minor in Art History
The minor in Art History includes a minimum of 19 credits. At least 16 of the 19 credits must be taken at Florida Atlantic University.
Minor in Studio Art
The minor in Studio Art includes 17 to 21 credits, 3/4 of which must be taken at FAU. To receive a minor in Studio Art, a student is required to take at least three art foundation courses plus a beginning- and intermediate-level course in one of the areas of concentration. The areas of concentration below include the foundation courses required. Courses must be taken in the order listed. Check course descriptions for course prerequisite requirements.
Secondary Education Program
A program leading to teacher certification in art is available in partnership with the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education. See the Department of Visual Arts and Art History advisor and college advisors in the College of Arts and Letters and College of Education.
Master’s Programs
Master of Fine Arts with Major in Visual Art (Changes effective fall 2011.)
The M.F.A. with Major in Visual Art is designed to further the conceptual development, aesthetic presentation, technical skill and career goals of the M.F.A. candidates. M.F.A. degrees are offered in the following studio concentrations: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture (Boca Raton campus), Computer Art and Graphic Design (Fort Lauderdale campus) and Book Arts (Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale campuses). These concentrations are designed to incorporate courses from the range of studio areas should the student desire this type of cross-disciplinary approach and flexibility. Graduates of the programs will be prepared for careers as professional artists. The programs will provide opportunities for students to develop their interests and talents at the terminal degree level.
Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture and Book Arts
Admission Requirements
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts or equivalent degree.
2. A “B” average or better in all coursework while registered as an upper-division student working for a bachelor’s degree.
3. Graduate admission application submitted online to FAU’s Graduate College. Application is available at www.fau.edu/graduate.
4. Official college transcript(s) submitted to FAU’s Graduate College.
Applicants must submit the following to the departmental graduate coordinator, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Visual Arts and Art History, AH 52, Room 118, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
1. A statement of intent (stating area of concentration) and brief résumé.
2. Three letters of recommendation (preferably from previous instructors and/or professionals familiar with the applicant’s academic and artistic background). The letter should be on letterhead or submitted on a form downloaded from the Graduate College website.
3. Portfolio of 20 slides/CD images of recent work in area of concentration. A maximum of four details and/or alternate views is acceptable. Applications for painting must include a minimum of two details. Each image should be identified with name, medium, size, date and the top of the image indicated. CD images must include ID information on disk and a printed description sheet.
4. Copy of official transcript.
5. CD will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage.
6. Deadline for applications (online and postmarked): February 21st ( fall admission only).
Completed admission portfolios must be submitted directly to the Department of Visual Arts and Art History, Attention: Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate College will be notified by the department of the evaluation results and will notify candidates. Only completed portfolios and application packets will be considered.
Program Requirements and Curriculum
This full-time M.F.A. program requires a minimum of 60 credits and includes the following distribution of credits. The department admits full-time graduate students in the fall of each year.
All candidates accepted into the M.F.A. program will be assigned a three-member supervisory committee from the department faculty with at least one member from the student’s stated area of concentration for the first year. The three-member composition of the supervisory committee will change for the second year. At the end of year two, the M.F.A candidate will select a three-member committee (by April 30) that will direct them through their exhibition and thesis statement and documentation in year three. The committee will be composed of the candidate’s major professor (usually from area of concentration) and a member or members of the department faculty. An additional member may be from outside the department and is encouraged. Each committee will meet periodically during each semester to supervise the candidate’s progress for the entire period of study. Candidates are required to meet with their committee for an end-of-semester review each term and individual members are to meet at least once with the student during the term. During the candidate’s first semester, the candidate will be required to give a presentation of their works in an open-attendance forum.
Upon completion of a minimum of 18 credits, candidates will undergo a first-year oral review organized by their committee and voted on by participating department faculty to determine appropriate progress in their studio work. First-year reviews are scheduled at the end of each spring term. The department’s graduate coordinator sets the review dates and times. Successful completion of this review is a prerequisite for continuing as a candidate for the degree.
In the last semester of residency, the candidate will present a graduate exhibition in one of the University galleries. The exhibition will be curated by the M.F.A. candidate and members of the candidate’s committee. An oral examination focusing on the candidate’s work will take place in the exhibition area prior to the opening. Successful completion of this examination is required for awarding of degree.
The Department of Visual Arts and Art History reserves the right to select work from thesis exhibitions for its permanent collection.
Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art: Computer Art
The Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art with a concentration in Computer Art provides graduate study in computer graphics, design and animation for artists who wish to use sophisticated computer software and hardware for artistic expression. The M.F.A. is an advanced creative degree requiring initiative and independence on the part of the student.
Graduate research and study focuses upon the fine art of 3D graphics and animation in a 60-credit program combination of studio work, creative workshop and seminar discussions. For students unfamiliar with 3D software, study begins with training courses in Alias/Wavefront Maya software. Mastery of software gains students entry to creative workshop critique and the department’s extensive video, audio and computer editing suites.
Admission Requirements
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university or, for international students, an institution recognized in its own country as preparing students for further study at the graduate level.
2. The minimum University admission requirements are either a “B” average or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper-division student working for a bachelor’s degree; or a graduate degree from an accredited institution.
3. Graduate admission application submitted online to FAU’s Graduate College. Application is available at www.fau.edu/graduate.
4. Official college transcript(s) submitted to FAU’s Graduate College.
Applicants must submit the following to M.F.A. in Computer Arts, Department of Visual Arts and Art History, Florida Atlantic University, 111 E. Las Olas Blvd., AT 812, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
1. Three letters of recommendation.
2. Résumé.
3. Statement of intent. Candidates need to submit a two-page essay describing their creative aims and reasons for graduate study
4. Portfolio that includes examples of applicant’s electronic media, animation and/or 3D modeling work. Candidates must include a project description sheet with their portfolios.
5. Copy of official transcript.
6. Portfolio will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage.
7. Deadline for applications (online and postmarked): October 31st for spring admissions and February 21st for fall admissions.
Completed admission portfolios must be submitted directly to the Department of Visual Arts and Art History. The Graduate College will be notified by the department of the evaluation results and will notify candidates. Only completed portfolios and application packets will be considered.
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Computer Art Requirements and Curriculum
The M.F.A. in Visual Art with a concentration in computer art is offered at the Fort Lauderdale campus. This M.F.A. program includes the following distribution of credits:
After completing 30 credits and two short animations to demonstrate artistic and technical proficiency, students are eligible for M.F.A. candidacy. Students are then required to complete another 30 credits and two more animations. Awarding of the Master of Fine Arts degree is based upon completion of 60 credits and acceptance of an artistic portfolio that meets the criteria of publishable quality commensurate with professionals in the field of computer arts. Many of the animations created by our graduate students have won international recognition from video festivals, and their work is regularly aired on educational television.
In addition to a residential program, the department offers a distance learning M.F.A. in Computer Arts. This virtual degree is open to accomplished artists with knowledge of 3D software and the ability to study independently. The degree takes approximately three years to complete. At least once a semester, distance learning students participate on campus with the residential students in creative workshop and seminar sessions, including special event seminars and personal critical analysis of graduate student work by professional animators.
The Department of Visual Arts and Art History reserves the right to select work from thesis exhibitions for its permanent collection.
Students from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia may be eligible to attend the program at FAU at in-state tuition rates through the Academic Common Market.
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Master of Fine Arts with Major in Visual Art: Graphic Design
The Master of Fine Arts with Major in Visual Art with a concentration in graphic design engages students in an individual pursuit to expand their knowledge of visual communication design systems with a focus on furthering development toward a career in design education and/or professional practice. Students and faculty from diverse cultural, educational and professional experiences come together to engage in critical discourse that challenges and strengthens each student's understanding of communication theory, research methodology and design problem-solving approaches. Encouraged to identify and expand their own voices as designers, students take a combination of graduate design studios, seminars, art history courses and directed independent study projects, culminating in a graduate thesis project, exhibition and document. Graduate students are expected to take a leadership role in the department and in their interactions with undergraduate students.
Admission Requirements
1. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university or, for international students, an institution recognized in its own country as preparing students for further study at the graduate level. Degrees in graphic design or visual communication design are preferred. Candidates from other curricula will be considered based on abilities demonstrated in portfolio, statement of intent and space available. Two years’ experience in the graphic design practice is preferred.
2. The minimum University admission requirements are either a “B” average or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper-division student working for a bachelor’s degree; or a graduate degree from an accredited institution.
3. Graduate admission application submitted online to FAU’s Graduate College. Application is available at www.fau.edu/graduate.
4. Official college transcript(s) submitted to FAU’s Graduate College.
Applicants must submit the following to Graphic Design, Department of Visual Arts and Art History, Florida Atlantic University, 111 E. Las Olas Blvd., AT 314, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
1. Three letters of recommendation.
2. Résumé.
3. Statement of intent. Candidates need to submit a two-page essay describing their creative aims and reasons for graduate study.
4. Portfolio that includes 20 examples of applicant’s graphic design or electronic media work. Each item should be labeled with media, title, name, address and phone number. Portfolios should be submitted on a CD-ROM. Candidates must include a project description sheet with their portfolios. Website examples should list the URL on project description sheet.
5. Copy of official transcript.
6. CD will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage.
7. Deadline for U.S. applicants' applications (online and postmarked): October 31 for spring admissions and February 21 for fall admissions. For international applicants, the application deadline for spring admission is September 1.
Completed admission portfolios must be submitted directly to the Department of Visual Arts and Art History. The Graduate College will be notified by the department of the evaluation results and will notify candidates. Only completed portfolios and application packets will be considered.
Graphic Design Requirements and Curriculum
The M.F.A. in Visual Art with a concentration in graphic design is offered at the Fort Lauderdale campus. The graphic design program requires a total of 60 credits of study. It includes the following distribution of credits.
All candidates accepted into the M.F.A. Graphic Design track will be assigned a three-member supervisory committee from the department faculty with at least two members from the Graphic Design area of concentration the first year. Candidates are required to select their own graduate committee upon completion of candidacy review. The committee will be composed of the candidate’s major professor (thesis advisor) and two members from the department faculty. An additional member may be from outside the department.
Upon completion of 30 credits, candidates will undergo a candidacy review by their committee to determine appropriate progress in the Graphic Design track. Successful completion of this review is a prerequisite for continuing as a candidate for the degree.
In the last semester of study, the candidate will present a thesis exhibition. The exhibition will be curated by the M.F.A. candidate and members of the candidate’s committee. The M.F.A. candidate is required to produce written documentation of research, including a detailed explanation of the thesis exhibition. Copies of thesis documentation must be presented to the committee no less than three weeks prior to the thesis exhibition. An oral examination focusing on the candidate’s work will take place directly following the presentation of thesis exhibition. Successful completion of this examination is required for awarding of degree.
The Department of Visual Arts and Art History reserves the right to select work from thesis exhibitions for its permanent collection.
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