The Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts

PURPOSE - Back to Top

The Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts at ASU provides both preprofessional and professional education in the arts disciplines and an opportunity for nonmajors to become culturally literate through participation and involvement in the creative and performing arts.

The college, through its programs in art, dance, music, and theatre, reflects a wide range of challenges facing the contemporary artist and scholar. The arts, as an integral part of the curriculum, offer the student a rewarding educational experience balanced and strengthened by studies in related fine arts areas, the humanities, social sciences, and the natural sciences.

In addition to professional curricula offered in each department and school, the college provides courses designed to meet the specific educational needs of students pursuing majors in other colleges throughout the university. The cultural life of the university community is further enriched by study opportunities offered at off-campus sites. The Herberger College of Fine Arts also offers community audiences many hours of cultural enjoyment through a myriad of concerts, art exhibitions, music and dance concerts, dramatic productions, operas, lectures, and seminars.

ORGANIZATION - Back to Top

The college houses the School of Art, the Department of Dance, the School of Music, and the Department of Theatre. An average of 2,600 students per semester enroll as majors in various degree programs offered through these units. The college also includes the ASU Art Museum and the Institute for Studies in the Arts.

ADMISSION - Back to Top

Students meeting the university requirements for admission may matriculate in the Herberger College of Fine Arts. Separate admission procedures and approvals are required for some programs within the college. Students must contact specific departments or schools for details.

Transfer of Community College Credits. The university standards for evaluation of transfer credit are listed under Undergraduate Enrollment, “Transfer Credit.” Transfer students are encouraged to contact their department or school or the Herberger College of Fine Arts Undergraduate Student Academic Services (GHALL 127) to ensure a smooth transition to the Herberger College of Fine Arts. Credits transferred from any accredited junior or community college may be accepted up to a maximum of 64 semester hours. (A community college student planning to transfer at the end of his or her first or second year should plan to take community college courses that meet the requirements of the ASU curriculum selected. Students attending Arizona community colleges are permitted to follow the degree requirements specified in the ASU General Catalog in effect at the time they began their community college work, providing their college attendance has been continuous.)

Courses transferred from community colleges are not accepted as upper-division credit at ASU. Arizona students are urged to refer to the Course Applicability System for transferability of specific courses from Arizona community colleges. In choosing courses at a community college, students should be aware that a minimum of 45 hours of work taken at the university must be upper-division credits. While attending a community college, it is suggested that students select courses similar to ASU General Studies lower-division courses in the major field.

For optimal course selection, access the ASU Transfer Guides on the Web at www.asu.edu/provost/articulation.

General Transfer Credit. Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger College of Fine Arts are subject to (1) the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college’s curriculum and (2) departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards. Every candidate for the bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the college must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours of resident credit in the major as approved by the faculty.

ADVISING - Back to Top

Advising is handled as a decentralized activity within the college. To offer personalized attention, each academic unit establishes its own graduation advising procedures. Students are encouraged to make appointments through the central office of their department or school.

Baccalaureate Degrees - Back to Top

The three baccalaureate degrees differ in curricula with respect to the amount of specialization permitted in the major field. The B.A. degree provides a broad, scholarly, humanistic program, while the other two programs place greater emphasis upon the major field. See the “Herberger College of Fine Arts Baccalaureate Degrees and Majors” table for more information.

The university General Studies curriculum plays an integral role within the educational mission of the university and as such constitutes an important component of all undergraduate degrees in the Herberger College of Fine Arts. See “General Studies” for more information.

In cooperation with the College of Education a K-12 endorsement for teacher certification is available in the disciplines of art, dance, and music for students preparing for a teaching career in the public schools. Students should, with the advice and counsel of their arts education advisors, fulfill the requirements for the appropriate area of specialization under the Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Music degrees. In addition, a student wishing to be admitted to the Initial Teacher Certification (ITC) program in the College of Education (leading to teaching certification) must consult with an advisor from the Office of Student Services in the College of Education before making application for the ITC. Students must have completed 56 hours with a minimum GPA of 2.50 and also have submitted scores from either the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) or the ACT. Further details on admission requirements and procedures for the ITC can be found under College of Education, “Teacher Education.”

Minors - Back to Top

The Herberger College of Fine Arts provides an opportunity for students majoring in other disciplines to sustain their interest in the arts through a structured program of required courses and electives leading to a minor. The minor is not intended as a substitute for professional work in the arts, but as a complement to various liberal arts and preprofessional curricula.

Minors are offered in Art History, Dance, Music, and Theatre. The total number of semester hours required for a minor ranges from 18 to 23. Students should contact the relevant academic unit for specific requirements and guidelines regarding the minor.

Graduate Degrees - Back to Top

Master’s programs range from 30 to 60 semester hours, depending upon the degree chosen. Doctoral programs vary in scope and curricula. See the “Herberger College of Fine Arts Graduate Degrees and Majors” table for more information. See the Graduate Catalog for specific requirements.

UNIVERSITY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS - Back to Top

In addition to fulfilling college and major requirements, students must meet all university graduation requirements. For more information, see “University Graduation Requirements.”

GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENT - Back to Top

All students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program must satisfy a university requirement of a minimum of 35 semester hours of approved course work in General Studies, as described under “General Studies.” Note that all three General Studies awareness areas are required. Consult with an advisor for an approved list of courses. General Studies courses are listed in the “General Studies Courses” table, in the course descriptions, in the Schedule of Classes, and in the Summer Sessions Bulletin.

Courses in the major or in a related field area may not be used to satisfy both the major and core area portions of the General Studies requirement. Concurrent listings in the literacy areas, numeracy (computer applications) areas, and awareness areas are an exception. Students are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to ensure that they comply with all necessary requirements.

COLLEGE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS - Back to Top

The Herberger College of Fine Arts degree requirements supplement the General Studies requirement. Descriptions of additional required courses follow. Students are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to ensure that they comply with all necessary requirements.

Fine arts majors must take at least six semester hours of fine arts course work in areas outside of the major school or department. These courses may be in art, dance, music, or theatre. A student may concurrently fulfill this requirement and the humanities and fine arts portion of the General Studies requirement by selecting approved courses as indicated in the Schedule of Classes. This requirement may also be met by taking any Herberger College of Fine Arts course outside of the student’s major.

All B.A. degrees require the equivalent of 16 semester hours in one foreign language except for the B.A. degrees in Theatre and Art with a concentration in studio art. Foreign language study is strongly recommended but not required for these degree programs. Course work may be selected in any language and must follow the sequence of language courses 101, 102, 201, and 202. This requirement may be fulfilled at the secondary school level or by examination. If acquired in secondary school, two years of instruction in one foreign language is considered the equivalent of one year of college instruction. Transfer students are placed in language study at the level above completed work.

Candidates for the B.M. degree in Performance with a concentration in voice have specific foreign language requirements, which are stated in the degree requirements. There is no foreign language requirement for other concentrations of the B.F.A. or B.M. degrees.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND RETENTION - Back to Top

Good Standing. Students in the Herberger College of Fine Arts are considered in good standing for the purpose of retention if they maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher in all courses taken at ASU. However, to gain admission into certain undergraduate degree programs in the college, students must maintain a minimum GPA within their major and/or a minimum cumulative GPA. These minimum GPAs vary according to the given program.

Probation. Any student who does not maintain good standing is placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation is required to observe any limitations or rules the college may impose as a condition for retention.

Disqualification. A student who is on probation becomes disqualified if (1) the student has not returned to good standing or (2) the student has not met the required semester GPA.

Disqualification is exercised at the discretion of the college and becomes effective on the first day of the fall or spring semester following college action. A disqualified student is notified by the Office of the Registrar and/or the dean of the college and is not allowed to register for a fall or spring semester at the university until reinstated. A student who is disqualified may not attend as a nondegree student.

Reinstatement. Students seeking reinstatement after disqualification should contact the Herberger College of Fine Arts Student Services Office regarding procedures and guidance for returning to good standing. When reinstatement includes readmission, application must be made to the Readmissions Section of the Office of the Registrar.

All academic discipline action is the function of the Herberger College of Fine Arts Student Services Office, GHALL 127, under the direction of the assistant dean of the college. Students having academic problems should call this office for advising at 480/965-4495.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS - Back to Top

The minimum requirement for a baccalaureate degree is the completion of 120 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Of these 120 semester hours, at least 45 must be selected from upper-division courses.

Several professional programs within the college require additional semester hours for graduation and a higher cumulative GPA of their majors. To be acceptable as degree credit, all course work in the major discipline must show an earned grade of “C” (2.00) or higher.

In addition to the general information given below, consult the school and departmental sections that follow for specific degree requirements.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree. The B.A. degree requires from 45 to 69 semester hours for the major. Depending on the major, 18 to 24 hours must be selected from upper-division (300- or 400-level) courses. The semester-hour requirements in the major are distributed between a field of specialization (30 to 53 hours) and one or more related fields (an additional 15 hours). The exact content of the major is selected by a student in consultation with an advisor under rules and regulations of the department or school concerned. A successful entrance audition is also required for admission to the B.A. degree in Music program.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Degree. The B.F.A. degree requires 52 to 79 semester hours for the major. At least 30 of these hours, depending on the major, must be selected from upper-division (300- or 400-level) courses. The curriculum for the major is designed as preprofessional study. Auditions and/or interviews are required for admission to the B.F.A. degree program in Dance. Consult these departments for specific information.

Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Degree. The B.M. degree requires 79 semester hours for the major. The required number of upper-division (300- or 400-level) courses is dependent upon the area of specialization. The curriculum is designed to provide a broad yet concentrated preparation with a choice of specialization among various areas. See the “Herberger College of Fine Arts Baccalaureate Degrees and Majors” table for available majors and concentrations. An entering undergraduate music student, regardless of the area of specialization, must pass an entrance audition in his or her primary performing medium (voice or instrument).

Academic Standards. The terms of disqualification, reinstatement, and appeals are consistent with those set forth by the university under Undergraduate Enrollment, “Retention and Academic Standards.” In addition, a student disqualified in any program is normally not eligible for reinstatement for two semesters.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS - Back to Top

Working closely with faculty, visiting scholars, and artists-in-residence, students in all fields of the college participate in dynamic, innovative programs. Students receive a great deal of individual attention to their creative work and artistic development.

School of Art. The School of Art is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country. The faculty are nationally recognized and the programs offer students diverse educational opportunities in studio art, art history, and art educaton. Some of the unique offerings include bookmaking and papermaking, digital art, film, neon, video, computer animation, and foundry. In addition, internships are available in galleries and museums throughout the Phoenix area. The Children’s Art Workshop is an on-campus program taught by students in art education for school-age children in the metropolitan area. Northlight, Harry Wood, and Step galleries host exhibitions organized and curated by students. Visiting artists and guest lecturers enrich the basic curriculum. Graduates of the School of Art have been accepted to top graduate schools and many are in leadership positions in art, education, and industry.

Department of Dance. The department’s strengths include choreography and performance, dance science and somatic, educational outreach and methodology, media and technology, as well as contemporary directions. Prominent and renowned faculty and guest artists create repertory for dance majors and for the Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre (DART), the repertory and community partnership company. Through instructional curriculum, workshop intensives, guest residencies, strong performance programs, professional internships and apprenticeships, students are exposed and trained to meet the demands of professional preparations. An environment that encourages creative collaboration, interdisciplinary views, and community awareness is central to the mission of the department.

School of Music. Ranked among the top programs in the United States, the School of Music offers a broad scope of degree options for the study of performance, music education, music therapy, composition, theory, history and literature, jazz, music theatre, ethnomusicology, pedagogy, accompanying, and conducting. This wide spectrum of areas is supported by special programs and facilities that enrich the opportunities for professional training and musical growth. Music education and pedagogy are supplemented by the Piano and Guitar Preparatory Programs, the Music for Tots series, special classes for certification in Orff and Kodály methods, and the publication on campus of a major research journal. Performance opportunities are enhanced by a wide variety of ensembles, including such groups as Mexican marimba, African drumming, and mariachi. Voice students may pursue training in opera or in Broadway musicals. Composition students work in the Electronic Music Studio, and all benefit from the Electronic Classroom, a state-of-the-art computer facility. A variety of community partnerships, including a gang intervention program, stem from the music therapy area. The scope and variety of the School of Music’s programs are made possible by the wide range of expertise of the faculty, who are performers, teachers, conductors, composers, and scholars recognized both nationally and internationally.

Department of Theatre. The Department of Theatre’s B.A. degree features a broad liberal arts education, which cultivates in the student the ability to understand human behavior and values in societies of the past and present, an essential element in the creation of and response to theatre. Special strengths of the department include internationally acclaimed programs in theatre for youth; an outstanding playwriting area that infuses each specialization with new script work; multicultural courses; an acting concentration that allows work with nationally acclaimed directors and acting coaches; and a nationally recognized scenography concentration that provides for further specialization in costume, lighting, scene design, and theatre technology.

Production is at the core of ASU theatre and the quality of the faculty, student body, and facilities often attracts professionals to ASU. The department recently premiered productions by four Pulitzer prize-winning playwrights. Four to six subscription series plays are produced annually in the 496-seat Galvin Playhouse and the smaller Lyceum Theatre. An additional eight to 15 student-directed shows are presented.

Theatre-for-youth artists, students, and scholars are attracted to ASU by the opportunities to work on national K-12 theatre curricula and research projects, theatre tours to area schools, and opportunities to teach on and off campus. The Child Drama Special Collection in Hayden Library, which includes rare books, plays, and personal and national association archives, is the most complete and extensive collection of its kind in the English-speaking world and also contributes to the international recognition of the theatre-for-youth faculty.

ASU EXTENDED CAMPUS - Back to Top

The College of Extended Education was created in 1990 to extend the resources of ASU throughout Maricopa County, the state, and the region. The College of Extended Education is a university-wide college that oversees the ASU Extended Campus and forms partnerships with other ASU colleges, and the Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts to meet the instructional and informational needs of a diverse community.

The ASU Extended Campus goes beyond the boundaries of the university’s three physical campuses to provide access to quality academic credit for working adults through flexible schedules; a vast network of off-campus sites; classes scheduled days, evenings, and weekends; and innovative delivery technologies including television, the Internet, and Independent Learning.

For more information, see “ASU Extended Campus” or access the Web site at www.asu.edu/xed.

GENERAL INFORMATION - Back to Top

Undergraduate Credit for Graduate Courses. To enable interested students to benefit as much as possible from their undergraduate studies, the Graduate College and the Herberger College of Fine Arts extend to seniors with a GPA of at least 2.50 the privilege of taking 500-level graduate courses for undergraduate credit. Students requesting to take 500-level graduate courses must have the approval of the instructor of the class and their academic advisor.

Preprofessional Programs. Students preparing for admission to professional graduate schools should obtain information regarding admission requirements by writing directly to the schools in which they are interested.

Courses. The academic units within the Herberger College of Fine Arts may use the CFA prefix for course offerings that cross disciplinary boundaries.

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