Contemporary Arts BA

The Contemporary Arts major is an interdisciplinary contract major that allows students to design their own major to reflect their particular interests and career goals across diverse disciplines. Contract major examples include Animation/Digital Filmmaking, Environmental Science/Journalism, Global Communication and Media/Business, Music Industry/Filmmaking, among others. Working in consultation with a faculty advisor, students select courses from the School of Arts, Humanities, and Education and across the whole college. For example, a student interested in pursuing a career in Animation may elect to take courses from the program, program, and program programs, or a student interested in Business Communications may combine program courses with courses from the Anisfield School of Business.

This major is rigorous, requiring self-motivation and serious planning. It can be especially rewarding for the student who has specific goals that cannot be met pursing a single major at the College. After an initial consultation with the convener of the major, each student will develop a course of study with a faculty advisor who is most knowledgeable in the area of the student’s interest.

This major requires a minimum of 48 credits in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Education, at least 16 of which must be upper-level (300- or 400-level) courses.

Programmatic Goals:

1. Understand the interdisciplinary role of the arts in contemporary global society.

2. Create an individualized and rigorous learning plan integrating multiple disciplines.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the discipline or inter-disciplines identified as part of their learning agreement developed in consultation with their academic advisor.

2. Apply creative thinking in the work they produce.

3. Be able to write appropriately to their curricular goals.

4. Produce advanced work that demonstrates skills relevant to their discipline.