Department of Fine Arts & Communications

105 Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center

(254) 968-9245

Professor: Denning, Rives

Associate Professors: Davidian, Holtorf, Howard, Seelig

Assistant Professors: Ahearn, Ball, Davis, Kyriakos, Pauff, Spotz, Stavish

Instructors: Bahner, Chambers, Holley, Hooper,

Horton, Kincannon

     The Department of Fine Arts and Communications offers programs in art, communications, music, and theatre. The department offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art (with or without secondary certification), a Bachelor of Music with teacher certification, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications (with or without certification), and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre.

        The department also offers minors in four areas: art, communications, music, and theatre. Recommendations concerning a student's minor and course requirements are made to the department head by academic advisors.

THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS

¹ See p. 281 for COMS course descriptions.

Additional Information for the BS in Communications with Certification:

1.     No substitutions are allowed for any COMS course listed on certification plan.

        a.     No Tarleton COMS course may substitute for another Tarleton COMS course.

        b.     A transfer course must be a direct translation for a COMS course listed on the certification plan.

2.     For admission to the teacher certification program, each certification candidate must pass a public speaking competency exercise upon completion of COMS 1013, 1023, or 3013, but no later than the first semester of the junior year.

        a.     The presentation will be a 7-10 minute persuasive speech evaluated by three Communications faculty members.

        b.     Student must pass the presentation with a combined score of 80 or better.

1. If a student fails to complete the presentation with a score of 80 or better, he/she may request to repeat the presentation within the same semester.
2. After one semester, any student wishing to repeat the public speaking requirement must make an alternative presentation.

        c.     The presentation will be judged for a variety of communication skills including organization, appropriate style of delivery for subject matter, ability to communicate concepts to an audience clearly, articulation, and diction.

3.     Before being allowed to take the TExES, each candidate must pass the departmental “mock” TExES examination in partial fulfillment of requirements for COMS 4853.

1. Each student will take a mock exam based on the format for the TExES.
2. Students are required to pass each section of the mock exam with a grade of 80 percent or better before taking TExES.
3. A student who fails a section of the mock exam may retake just the failed section within the same semester.
4.  A student who does not successfully pass all parts of the mock exam within the semester of the initial exam must retake the entire mock examination.

4.     Students seeking certification must meet with the COMS certification representative at least once a semester.

5.     The departmental certification representative will review specific COMS requirements with each student. Candidates for certification will then be required to sign an acknowledgment form.

¹ See p. 361 for MUSC course descriptions.
² For vocal music support area, electives are MUSC 2332, 2342, 3353, 4442. For instrumental music support area, electives are MUSC 2262, 2272, 2282, 2291, 4422.

ADMISSION TO DEGREE PROGRAMS IN MUSIC

        To be admitted to the music program, a student must fulfill the following conditions:

1. Pass a qualifying music theory test prior to the beginning of the student's first academic term in music. Students who do not pass must take MUSC 2133 and subsequently pass an aural skills examination.
2. Pass a qualifying performance test on the student's major instrument or voice at the end of the semester in which he/she is enrolled in MUSC 1312.
3. Transfer students in music must also pass these tests for admission to the music program as scheduled in consultation with the department head.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC AND BACHELOR OF MUSIC – ALL-LEVEL CERTIFICATION

1. Music students should become familiar with the Music Major Handbook and abide by the policies and procedures therein. It is distributed at the beginning of each school year and is available in the department office.
2. Students in the Bachelor of Music with teacher certification program must be enrolled in an appropriate ensemble throughout the baccalaureate program for a minimum of seven semesters. The appropriate ensemble will be determined by the student’s academic advisor and by the Director of Bands or Director of Choirs. Due to constraints imposed on the University by the State of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding the number of hours allowed in the degree (no more than 139 hours in any degree), only three hours of ensemble credit may be counted towards graduation.
3. Typically, four and one-half years are required for completion of the Bachelor of Music with teacher certification degree.

TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM

        Formal application to the Teacher Education Program shall be made at the completion of the following:

1. 60 hours with a C average (2.6 GPA); developmental course hours do not count.
2. MUSC 1474, 1484, 2474, 2484, 8 hours of applied principal instrument with an average grade not lower than C (2.6); and acceptance into music program.
3. 12 hours English with a grade of C or better and MATH 1073 or 1083.

STUDENT TEACHING

     In addition to education requirements, the following music requirements must be completed prior to application for student teaching.

1. Piano Proficiency Examination
2. Sight Singing Proficiency Examination
3. Proficiency Examinations on Principal Instrument or Voice
4. MUSC 3111, 3121, 3153, and 3163
5. Recital requirements.

APPLIED MUSIC

          Individual Instruction (Basic fee of $10)

          Applied Music Concentration (1-0)

                   1312-1322. Applied Music                                              2312-2322. Applied Music

                   3312-3322. Applied Music                                              4312-4322. Applied Music

           Applied Music for Music Minors or Non-Majors (.5-0)

                   1211-1221. Applied Music                                               2211-2221. Applied Music

                   3211-3221. Applied Music                                               4211-4221. Applied Music

           Sections:

Applied Music: Class Lessons (3-0)*

1511, 1521. Beginning Class Piano I, II

1611, 1621. Intermediate Class Piano I, II

*    Five hours of practice required weekly. Class piano is taught in an electronic piano lab that features individual instruments. No recital performance required.

     All students of applied music pay a $10 practice fee each semester. Instrumental classes 2262, 2272, 2282, 2291 have an instrumental fee of $10 each. No additional charge is made for the minimum applied music instruction related to any degree program. Students requiring or desiring additional applied musical instruction will pay the following fees:

        Private instruction--$25 per half hour      Class instruction--$13 per course

Ensembles

        Ensemble membership is open to all University students who enroll in the ensemble courses numbered for their academic standing.

        1011, 1021, 2011, 2021, 3011, 3021, 4011, 4021 (0-3)

SECTIONS

¹ See p. 390 for THEA course descriptions.