Program Overview
Our degree program offers aspiring artists an interdisciplinary study of the arts, allowing you to select courses in historical context, studio practice, performance ensemble, communication, and ideas and interpretation of the arts. You can choose to enroll in courses associated with concentrations in the visual arts, art history, communication studies, dance, theatre, film, music, photo-video-digital arts, or the interdisciplinary arts.
Program Options
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Art History Concentration
The Art History concentration allows students to gain depth in the global arts, ranging across geography, chronology, and medium. Students in the concentration learn how to critically look and evaluate visual images and our built environment, assessing complex objects and their historical, social, and aesthetic meaning. Communication skills are developed through in-depth reading, writing, and presentation. The program makes use of the area’s many terrific museums as well as the resources of UTD’s Edith O’Donnell Institute for Art History. The degree allows for the study of complementary disciplines within the Visual and Performing Arts.
Learn more about the Art History Program.
View Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Communication Studies Concentration
The Communication Studies concentration focuses student work on the theories, concepts, and skills of oral, written, and mediated communication. Communication courses teach students how to engage in critical thinking and problem-solving, to participate effectively in meetings and in teams, and to communicate competently in relationships and in public speaking contexts.
Learn more about the Communication Studies Program.
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Dance Concentration
The Dance concentration focuses on student work in ballet, modern, jazz, tap and Latin social dance. Students develop knowledge and skills in dance history, technique, composition, and performance studies.
Learn more about the Dance Program.
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Film Concentration
Film Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that considers the history, aesthetics, and ideology of cinema as an art form, as an industry, and as a system of personal, political, and cultural representation. Courses are offered on a variety of topics involving film and moving-image culture, among them authorship, adaptation, world and national cinemas, genres (such as comedy, the musical, horror, and science fiction), and modes (such as documentary, experimental cinema, and film noir).
Learn more about the Film Program.
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Interdisciplinary Arts Concentration
The Interdisciplinary Arts concentration focuses student work in two discipline areas. Students will choose two different areas of focus, identified as Discipline I and Discipline II. Discipline areas must be from the following: Visual Art, Art History, Communication, Dance, Film, Music, and Theatre.
Learn more about Interdisciplinary Arts.
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Music Concentration
The Music concentration allows students to develop a strong musical background through private study of their primary instrument or voice, along with music theory, composition/digital music, and history/literature. Opportunities to perform include solo performance, chamber music and large ensembles. Ensembles are available for voice, guitar, strings, winds, percussion, mixed chamber groups, and orchestra.
Learn more about the Music Program.
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Photo-Video-Digital Concentration
The Photo-Video-Digital Concentration focuses on the theories, concepts and skills of creative work generated using digital and lens-based technologies, specifically photography, video, and digital art. Students will learn traditional and innovative techniques as well as acquire a broad base of knowledge in art practice and history.
Read more about the Photo-Video-Digital Program
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Theatre Concentration
The Theatre concentration focuses student work in areas of theatre including: acting, stage management, technical theatre, design, musical theatre, directing, voice-over, playwriting, dance, and production ensemble. Additionally, students will develop knowledge in theatre history and literature.
Read more about the Theatre Program
BA in Visual and Performing Arts – Visual Arts Concentration
The Visual Arts concentration focuses student work in design, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Students will learn traditional and cutting-edge techniques as well as acquiring a broad base of knowledge in art history.
Read more about the Visual Arts Program.
Fast Track
The Fast Track program is designed to permit exceptional undergraduate students in Arts, Humanities, and Technology majors to begin work on the master’s degree before graduation.
Qualified seniors may take up to 12 semester credit hours of approved graduate courses in the Bass School during their senior year and apply these semester credit hours to their undergraduate degree plans as either major and related courses or electives. The Fast Track courses also will be used to satisfy up to 12 graduate semester credit hours towards the master’s degree.
For further information on the Fast Track program, see the undergraduate academic advisors.
Minors
To minor in the Arts, Humanities, and Technology, students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor, 9 of which must be upper-division semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). Core courses offered by the school may count as lower-division semester credit hours toward the minor. Students may choose to minor in any of the following fields of study:
- African American and African Diaspora Studies
- Art History
- Asian Studies
- Communication Studies
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Ethnic Studies
- Film Studies
- History
- Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
- Latin American Studies
- Literature
- Medicine, Arts, Science, and Humanities (MASH)
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
Program Highlights
You’ll be able to gain deeper understanding of the arts and the impact your creative work can have through an interdisciplinary approach that reaches across genres. As a senior, you will showcase your artistic and academic accomplishments through capstone project that prepares you for future professional goals.
Student Organizations
Get real-world experience and leadership opportunities by performing with our musical ensembles, theatre groups and more.
Explore music ensembles →
Explore student organizations →
Courses
Music Cultures of the World
History of Photography
Faculty
SV Randall
Assistant professor of visual and performing arts (sculpture)
“One of the most unique aspects of being an artist is being able to integrate diverse fields of research and different interests into this ambiguous and polymorphic discipline we call ‘art.’ UT Dallas is unique in its position to support that kind of cross-pollination — that is, approaching and processing subjects through various lenses. Opening up collaborative doors and divergent ways of thinking should prove useful and valuable.”
Dallas Connections
From researching in premier libraries and museums to attending reading with world-class writers, you’ll be studying in the vibrant arts and literature scene of Dallas-Fort Worth. Explore our partnerships.
Alumni Connections
Arts and Humanities alumni are active in careers all over the world, from Texas to Hollywood. Meet our alumni.
Professional Paths
With outstanding skills in written and oral communication, independence and creativity, you will have greater cultural understanding, and the ability to interpret ideas through artistic expression.
Possible Careers
- Art historian
- Interior designer
- Curator
- Copywriter
- Producer
- Photographer
- Information specialist
- Learn more about what you can do with a degree in visual and performing arts (pdf).
