College of Fine Arts

Harris Smith, Dean
College of Fine Arts
MSC04 2570
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-2112
https://finearts.unm.edu/

Introduction

This section of the Catalog provides information about the College of Fine Arts to assist the student who plans to major in the undergraduate and graduate fine arts programs described herein. For advice in selecting a program of study, undergraduate students must consult with an Advisor in the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center, Center for the Arts 1103, (505) 277-4817. Graduate students should contact the graduate Advisor for their department directly.

In addition to the section on general academic regulations at the University, consult the list of courses offered by the College. These courses appear under twelve headings:

Applied Music
Art Education
Art History
Art Studio
Arts Leadership and Business
Dance
Film and Digital Media Arts
Fine Arts
Music
Music Education
Theatre

In considering the course descriptions, note the prerequisites, as they determine the sequence in which courses may be taken. Also, note that not all courses are offered every semester. While the descriptions indicate the general pattern in which courses are offered, students should consult the current Schedule of Classes to learn which courses are offered in a given semester.

Programs in the College of Fine Arts have received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Dance, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Degree and Certificate Programs

Undergraduate Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Majors: Art Education; Art History; Art Studio; Dance; Film and Digital Arts; Interdisciplinary Arts; Music; Theatre.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
Majors: Art Studio; Design and Technology for Performance; Film and Digital Arts.
Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
Major: Music.
Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.)
Major: Music Education.

Graduate Degrees Offered

Master of Arts (M.A.)
Majors: Art History; Theatre and Dance.
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Majors: Art Studio; Dance; Dramatic Writing.
Master of Music (M.Mu.)
Major: Music.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Major: Art History.

Graduate Certificate Offered

Music Performance (GCERT)

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Pre-Major Status

Because of the nature of the arts, students are expected to begin courses in their intended major beginning in their first semester of enrollment at UNM. Beginning freshmen and new transfer students are eligible for enrollment in the College of Fine Arts as “pre-majors” if they indicate an interest in one of the disciplines in fine arts on their general UNM admission application and meet general admission requirements to the University.

Students remain in pre-major status until they submit a formal application to become a "declared major" or until they have exhausted their eligibility in pre-major status. Students should submit an application to become a declared major during the semester in which they will satisfy eligibility requirements. However, students must submit an application to become a declared major for the following Fall or Spring semester no later than during the semester in which they earn a cumulative 66 credit hours. If students do not yet meet the requirements to become a declared major (see full details below) by the time they have attempted 72 credit hours and earned 66 cumulative credit hours, they are advised and admitted into another degree-granting unit within the University. Holds are placed on pre-major students which prevent them from registering for future semesters if they have exhausted their eligibility in pre-major status. The hold expires once a student has transitioned into another program within the University.

Some students may be required to take foundational math, reading, or English courses, which are designed to strengthen a student’s preparation for General Education-level work. Required enrollment in these courses is based upon established minimum standards of performance on individual tests on the ACT, SAT, or placement tool provided by the University. In some cases, students may take a test to get placed in a higher-level course. Students required to take these courses must do so in their first semester(s) at the University of New Mexico, and they must do so before they are eligible to proceed to other courses in those areas and enroll as a declared major in the College of Fine Arts.

Declared Major Status

Due to limitations of facilities and faculty, enrollment in certain curricula offered by the College of Fine Arts is limited. Since the number of well-qualified students seeking admission to these curricula sometimes exceeds the number that can be accommodated, successful completion of the minimum requirements as stated below is not a guarantee of admission. Applications for admission in some fields of study are screened on the basis of auditions, interviews, and/or evaluation of portfolios, with selection of successful applicants made on a competitive basis.

Students graduate under the requirements in the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog in effect at the time of their admission (or readmission) into the College of Fine Arts as pre-majors or declared majors. The University of New Mexico reserves the right to make changes in the curricula and degree requirements as deemed necessary, with the changes being applicable to currently enrolled students.

Admission for Declared Major Status

To be eligible for admission as a declared major in the College of Fine Arts, students must meet the following requirements:

Completion of 26 hours of earned credit.
A grade point average of at least 2.50 in all credit hours attempted at UNM or, a grade point average of at least 2.50 in the last 30 credit hours attempted.
Competency in English writing as demonstrated by: completion of ENGL 1110 (or ENGL 1110Y or ENGL 1110Z) with a grade of "C" or better, or placement past this level by ACT or SAT exam.
Competency in Mathematics as demonstrated by: completion of MATH 1215Y or General Education-level Mathematics with a grade of "C" or better, or placement into General Education-level Mathematics by ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER exam.
Completion of 12 credit hours of coursework in the major area with at least a 2.5 grade point average.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Art Studio or the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Studio must also have completed ARTS 1220 Art Practices I and ARTS 1230 Art Practices II with grades of "C" or better.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Dance must also be approved to enter the program by audition/interview. Contact the Theatre and Dance department office for further details.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Music or the Bachelor of Music Education degree must also have approval to concentrate in the appropriate instrument or voice. Refer to the Music - Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog for additional admission requirements to the instrumental and voice programs and the Bachelor of Music Education program.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts must also submit a Plan of Study approved by the Faculty Advisor to the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center.

Students who plan to major in one of the departments in the College of Fine Arts should apply for declared major status during the semester the above requirements will be completed. Visit the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center, Center for the Arts 1103, to obtain and submit the application for admission as a declared major. Applications are accepted during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Graduation Requirements

Most of the requirements for graduation are listed under the specific curricula described under the department headings. A few requirements, however, are common to all of this college’s programs:

A minimum of 120 credit hours is required in all curricula. Of these, at least 42 credit hours must be completed in courses numbered in the 300- or 400-level.
To receive a degree, a student must have a UNM grade point average of 2.00 or higher. The student must also have achieved a grade point average of 2.00 or higher on all credit hours attempted while enrolled in the College of Fine Arts.
Students must graduate with a minimum 2.75 grade point in their major. However, some CFA degrees may require a higher major grade point average to satisfy graduation requirements. See departmental sections of this Catalog for details.
A minimum of one semester of resident enrollment is required after admission to the College of Fine Arts as a declared major; in any case, the student must be enrolled in the College of Fine Arts as a declared major for his/her final semester at the University of New Mexico.
A minimum of 12 credit hours must be earned from UNM while enrolled as a declared major in the College of Fine Arts.
No more than four credit hours of nonprofessional physical education courses may be counted toward a degree.
During the semester prior to graduation, students must meet with a CFA Advisor to complete an application for degree. Failure to submit the application a semester in advance may delay graduation and impact inclusion in programs for graduation ceremonies.
A student must also meet the University minimum degree requirements as outlined under Graduation Requirements in the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog.
All degrees in the College of Fine Arts require completion of the General Education curriculum as outlined under the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog. Some degrees in the College of Fine Arts require specific classes or supplemental coursework that may be used toward this requirement. Consult the individual program for these courses.

Additional Information

The faculty reserve the right to disqualify from further enrollment or participation in departmental programs:

students who fail to demonstrate reasonable progress in the professional development of their discipline,
students whose conduct reveals a persistent inability to work effectively with others or an unwillingness to adhere to generally recognized standards of professional behavior or,
students who have exceeded the number of allowable hours earned in pre-major status and/or fail to meet CFA admission requirements to become a declared major.

Major and Minor Studies. Although fine arts students are not required to do so, they may choose a minor or a second major field of study. Fulfilling the requirements for a minor or second major may extend the credit hours required for a degree beyond 120 (may vary by degree) but does not necessarily constitute a second degree. The same courses may not be used to fulfill both major and minor requirements. However, if the same course(s) are required for both major and minor, or for both majors in the case of double majors, an equivalent number of approved alternative credit hours may be added to the total combined credit hours required. Alternative credit hours may be determined by the faculty in the appropriate department(s) via written petition. However, to facilitate the completion of a second major within the College of Fine Arts, some courses required by both majors may be counted toward each. A maximum of 12 credit hours of courses may be double-counted. At least 30 credit hours unique to each major must be included in the student's degree program. Any exceptions must be approved by CFA faculty. Students who have earned an undergraduate major or minor at another accredited postsecondary institution may not use the same courses for additional majors or minors in College of Fine Arts.

This does not apply to courses considered "supportive coursework" which refers to courses required for a degree, but not specifically listed in the major area. For example, Music majors in vocal performance are required to have 15 credit hours of second language included in their supportive coursework. If students have also selected a second major or minor in Foreign Languages, they are then able to apply those same courses toward either the second major or minor. Supportive coursework must be completed with the same minimum grade standard required for courses in the major.

If the second major is outside the College of Fine Arts, the student must submit an Application for Second Major obtained from the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center. The form must be completed by the appropriate faculty or staff Advisor in the unit offering the second major as soon as possible and submitted by the student to the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center.

Two Undergraduate Degrees. For a student in the College of Fine Arts, the possibilities of a second degree are limited due to the extensive amount of time required for the practice of the fine arts. If a second degree is desired, students must consult with an Advisor in the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center. Students who wish to pursue a second undergraduate degree must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in addition to those required for the first degree, and fulfill all requirements for the second degree. To facilitate the completion of a second degree, some credit hours may be counted toward each degree. No more than 12 credit hours of courses may be double-counted. At least 30 credit hours unique to each degree must be included in the student's degree program. Any exceptions must be approved by College of Fine Arts faculty. Two diplomas will be granted upon completion of the requirements for each degree. The awarding of a degree is consistent with the regulations as stated in the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog.

Consult with the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center for details and restrictions regarding double majors, dual degrees, and minors.

Additional Information

Advisement. The College of Fine Arts Advisement Center, Center for the Arts 1103, provides undergraduates with advisement services during walk-in and appointment advisement hours. Advisement is required for all new students and continuing pre-majors before registration for the following semester. Art Studio transfer students may be required to present a portfolio for placement in the program. Music transfer students are required to take the theory and ear-training placement exams and to audition in their principle instrument or in voice. For further information, visit the College of Fine Arts Web site or call the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center at (505) 277-4817.

College of Fine Arts Dean’s List. If an undergraduate student enrolled in the College of Fine Arts has achieved a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on 12 or more graded credit hours, the student will be on that semester’s College of Fine Arts Dean’s List. Each student on the list receives a congratulatory letter by email. See "Dean's List" in the Student Services Information section of this Catalog for more information.

Departmental Honors. Students interested in graduating with departmental honors should read carefully the guidelines on honors in the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog and should visit their department office, department Web site, or Faculty Advisor to request a copy of specific departmental honors guidelines and an application form.

To be eligible to apply for the departmental honors program in the College of Fine Arts, the student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a minimum of 60 credit hours in residence at the University of New Mexico. The application must be submitted at least two semesters prior to graduation. In addition, applicants should have demonstrated a high level of maturity, pursuit of excellence and the ability to work and think independently. The minimum requirement for graduation with departmental honors in the College of Fine Arts is the completion of six credit hours in honors thesis.

Probation and Suspension. Students enrolled in the College of Fine Arts are placed on probation at the end of any semester in which the cumulative grade point average on University of New Mexico coursework falls below 2.00. At the end of the next semester of enrollment, the student’s grades are reviewed. If the semester grades raise the cumulative grade point average to 2.00, the student is released from probation. If the cumulative grade point average remains below 2.00, but the semester grades show reasonable progress (usually a 2.5 or higher), the college considers continuing the student on probation for another semester. If the semester grades are below 2.00, academic suspension may follow. For further information on the suspension period, see Scholastic Regulations in the Student Services Information section of this Catalog.

Students placed on suspension that have documentable extenuating circumstances may appeal the decision after meeting with the Director of College of Fine Arts Advisement. Suspension appeal decisions are final.

Students on probation and/or returning after suspension are required to meet with an Advisor in the College of Fine Arts Advisement Center on a regular basis for coaching. Together, the Advisor and student utilize Academic Recovery Tools (ART) to formulate a plan to return to good academic standing. Failure to do so may result in suspension.

Scholastic Standards. The curricula that lead to the degrees of Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education are pre-professional curricula. They are designed for students who plan to enter graduate school for the professional study of the fine arts. Most graduate schools require a grade point average of 3.00 in the student’s major field of study as a condition of admission. For this reason, a student should enter one of these curricula only if willing to make a firm commitment to work rigorously and intensively at the highest level of his/her creative and intellectual capacities. The faculty reserves the right to require any student whose grades fall substantially below 3.00 in his or her major to transfer to another program.

If a student's grades are low, or if the student has had academic difficulties in the past, he/she should consult with an Advisor in the CFA Advisement Center.

No student may undertake a program in excess of 18 credit hours during the regular semester and 9 credit hours in summer session without prior permission.

College of Fine Arts Student Fees

College Technology Fee: A fee charged to support general student technology needs in the college and used to pay for technology equipment, technical support services, and IT instruction capabilities provided to students.
Departmental Curriculum Fee: A fee charged to support the instructional needs of multiple courses in a curriculum or program and used to pay for general equipment and services provided to students.
Special Course Fee: A fee charged to support the instructional needs of a specific course and used to pay for materials or services provided to students.

Special Facilities in the College of Fine Arts. Instruction in the fine arts is enriched by the University Art Museum; several outstanding performance series in Popejoy Hall, Keller Hall, Rodey Theatre and Theatre X; and a Fine Arts Library containing more than 105,000 volumes and a listening center with an extensive collection of CDs, tapes and records.

Fine Arts Graduate Advisors
Kat Heatherington, Advisor, Art
Donna Jewell, Professor, Theatre and Dance (Dance)
Sarah Lentz, Theatre and Dance (Graduate Coordinator)
Gregory Moss, Associate Professor, Theatre and Dance (Dramatic Writing)
Valerie Potter, Associate Professor, Music

Students who wish to pursue graduate programs in art history, art studio, music, and theatre and dance must meet both minimum requirements for admission to graduate study and to the departmental programs listed below.

Graduate degrees offered in the College of Fine Arts include the Master of Arts, with majors in Art Education, Art History, and Theatre and Dance; Master of Music; Master of Fine Arts, the terminal degree in Art Studio, Dramatic Writing, and Dance; and the Doctor of Philosophy in Art History.

Tamarind Institute

Diana Gaston, Director
2500 Central Ave SE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106
(505) 277-3901
Web site: http://tamarind.unm.edu/

Tamarind Institute, founded in 1960 in Los Angeles and relocated to The University of New Mexico in June of 1970 as a division of the College of Fine Arts, is a professional center for training, study, and research in fine-art lithography. At the institute, students refine their technical and collaborative skills, and distinguished artists create original lithographs under conditions that fulfill the highest aesthetic and ethical traditions of the art.

Programs of advanced professional study are offered for qualified individuals who intend to pursue careers as master printers or teachers of lithography. The Department of Art, in cooperation with Tamarind Institute, offers an M.F.A. degree with a focus in collaborative printmaking. With prior acceptance, credit hours are transferable to the M.F.A. program. Required courses in the history of the graphic arts and workshop management are offered through the Department of Art. University resources include the Fine Arts Library and the University Art Museum, which has an extensive collection of original lithographs by major artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Information on the Institute’s services for artists, its professional printer training programs and its publications are available on request, or online at the Tamarind Institute Web site.