College of Fine Arts

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Purpose and Focus

The College of Fine Arts seeks to provide the highest academic standards and professional training for its students. The academic experience provided by the college heightens awareness of the physical, intellectual, and cultural world while preparing students for professional employment and/or post-graduate study in their artistic area. The faculty’s reputations in their fields have brought UNLV to its rightful place as a center for the arts in the Southwest. The faculty of each department is augmented by an excellent artist-in-residence program, affording students’ exposure to a wide array of artistic achievement. Students perform in the 550-seat Judy Bayley Theatre, the 300-seat Doc Rando Recital Hall, the 99 seat Black Box Theatre, the 99 seat Paul Harris Theatre, or the 2,000-seat Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. The Donna Beam Fine Arts Gallery and a variety of fine arts studios provide students in the visual arts opportunities to develop their artistic skills. The departments also control a variety of movement and acting studios as well as “classroom project” concert halls. The Paul B. Sogg Architecture building has its own extensive design, studio, computer, and library facilities as well as the Downtown Design Center which exposes students to “Real World” design and planning issues. The Beam Music Center also houses the music library, recording studio, midi and computer lab, and large and small rehearsal facilities.

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Council of Interior Design Accreditation
Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board
National Architectural Accrediting Board (M.Arch)
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
National Association of Schools of Music

Departments, Majors, Minors and Undergraduate Degrees

College of Fine Arts
Entertainment Engineering and Design — Bachelor of Science
Entertainment Technology and Design — Bachelor of Science

School of Architecture
Architecture — Bachelor of Science

Interior Architecture and Design — Bachelor of Science

Landscape Architecture — Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

Department of Art
Art — Bachelor of Arts
     Painting/Drawing/Printmaking Concentration
     Photography Concentration
     Sculpture Concentration

Art — Bachelor of Fine Arts
     Painting/Drawing/Printmaking Concentration
     Photography Concentration
     Sculpture Concentration

Art History — Bachelor of Arts

Graphic Design & Media — Bachelor of Science

Department of Dance
Dance — Bachelor of Fine Arts
     Performance/Choreography Concentration
     Dance for the Professional Dancer Concentration

Dance — Bachelor of Arts
     Production/Management Concentration

Department of Film
Film — Bachelor of Arts

School of Music
Music — Bachelor of Arts
     
Music — Bachelor of Music
     Composition Concentration
     Music Education Concentration
     Instrumental Performance Concentration
     Piano Performance Concentration
     Vocal Performance Concentration
     
Jazz and Commercial Music — Bachelor of Music
     Composition Concentration
     Instrumental Performance Concentration
     Vocal Performance Concentration
     
Department of Theatre
Theatre — Bachelor of Arts
     Design/Technology Concentration
     Stage and Screen Acting Concentration
     Theatre Studies Concentration

Graduate Degree Programs

For information on graduate degrees and programs refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Minors

Art History
Dance
Dance Production & Management
Film
Landscape Studies
Music
Pilates
Theatre

Certificate

Commercial Music Certificate 1 (specialist) in Performance
Commercial Music Certificate 2 (professional) in Performance
Commercial Music Certificate 1 (specialist) in Technology
Commercial Music Certificate 2 (professional) in Technology
Commercial Music Certificate: (specialist) in World Percussion
Pilates Training
Graduate Certificate Program in Teacher Licensure — K-12

Admission to the College

Minimum University GPA: 2.00

Admission Policies

Students who fail to meet the entrance- requirement GPA may appeal in writing to the College of Fine Arts Academic Standards Committee for consideration of any extenuating circumstances affecting their case.

Individual departments within the College of Fine Arts may have cumulative GPA requirements for their majors higher than that required by the college.

Students must satisfy department GPA requirements before being admitted to the major. Students failing to meet department GPA entrance requirements may appeal in writing to department chairpersons for consideration of any extenuating circumstances affecting their case.

Transfer Policies

Upon admission to UNLV, the Office of Admissions reviews transfer transcripts to determine which courses transfer to UNLV for university credit. The College of Fine Arts then evaluates the accepted courses to determine whether and how they may apply to a fine arts degree. To determine the degree applicability of a course, students may be asked to submit an official course description, syllabus, and/or other materials that will be referred to each individual department or program for the specific articulation of transfer credit. Only transfer courses in the student’s choice of major that meet the grade requirements per the school or department’s established requirements may be considered for degree applicability. University policies state that a candidate for the bachelor’s degree must complete the last 30 semester credits in uninterrupted residence as a major in the college from which the degree is expected.

Academic Policies

Students may not fulfill the university and college requirements with courses in their major field. No course may satisfy more than one requirement. Students fulfilling these college requirements will simultaneously satisfy Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, general education requirements.

A 2.70 GPA must be maintained for courses taken in the student’s major area.

Probation/Suspension

A student is subject to a one-semester suspension from the College of Fine Arts after being on probation (less than 2.00 UNLV GPA) for two consecutive semesters. The evaluation of the status of probation students will be made at the end of each spring semester by the dean or dean’s designee.

Students wishing to appeal a college suspension may apply for relief to the College of Fine Arts Academic Standards Committee, the Faculty Senate Academic Standards Committee, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Programs (in that order).

Students should consult with the dean’s office for the procedure for reinstatement following either university or college suspension.

Advising

The College of Fine Arts offers professional academic advising through its Undergraduate Advising office. The college’s advisors are committed to assisting undergraduate students in identifying and achieving academic goals and personal skill development; serving as resources to other campus services; and assisting with academic questions, scheduling, transfer credit evaluations, graduation procedures and various other forms, university policies and paperwork. Students are assigned an academic advisor based on major. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor and take advantage of services and assistance provided at least once per semester to ensure a timely and accurate progression through their degree programs.

Variable elective credits must be approved by the student’s advisor. Additionally, each department within the college has specific advising policies articulated in their respective sections of the catalog.

For additional advising information and assignments, office hours and location, and appointment information please visit the UNLV College of Fine Arts Advising Center website at www.unlv.edu/finearts/advising.

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