College of Design, Art, and Performance

Programs

About the College Academic Progress Accreditation Advising Information Baccalaureate-Level Degree Programs Certificates College-Level Requirements

Concentrations Graduation Requirements Minors Mission, Vision, and Values Other Information Program-Specific Requirements

4202 E. Fowler Avenue, FAH 110
Tampa, FL 33620
(813) 974-2301
https://www.usf.edu/arts/

Physical Location: The College of College of Design, Art, and Performance Administrative and Student Services/Advising offices for all programs on the Tampa campus are located in FAH 120 on the Tampa campus.  The FAH building is adjacent to parking lot 3C on USF Holly Drive. The physical address of 13001 USF S. Laurel Drive adjacent to parking lot 9A. The St. Petersburg campus Graphic Arts Program Student Services/Advising office is located in HBR 129.

About the College

The College of Design, Art, and Performance is the creative center of the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus and offers programs to prepare students for careers in architecture, community design, art, art history, music, theatre, and dance. The St. Petersburg campus offers the Graphic Arts program. USF is not only the starting point of a career in the arts, but Tampa Bay is also a perfect place to become part of the arts community.

At USF, we provide our students with hands-on experiences and real-world opportunities for exhibitions, performances, concerts, and creative practice within the College of Design, Art, and Performance facilities and venues. Students also participate in design, research, performance and exhibition projects across the Tampa Bay community. We proudly feature our students, faculty and guest artists in more than 250-300 stage productions, concerts, exhibitions and lectures each year. College of Design, Art, and Performance events (exhibitions, performances, concerts, guest artist/scholar lectures) are free and open to the public.

Research and Professional Practice conducted by faculty, staff, and students in the College of Design, Art, and Performance provides significant opportunities for discovery and  expands the practice of our students, staff, faculty and community of artists through individual and interdisciplinary work, global explorations of perspectives and local community engagement. The academic programs and three research units of the College of Design, Art, and Performance – the Institute for Research in Art, the Center for Music Education Research and the Florida Center for Community Design and Research – exemplify the interdisciplinary significance of the arts. Through these academic and research units, our students are exposed to various contemporary works that become incorporated into their curriculum and expand their own scholarly research and creative professional practices. 

Mission, Vision, Guiding Principles and Values

Mission

The mission of the college is to conduct research/professional practice that transforms art, performance, and design at the highest level which, in turn, enhances our ability to offer a world-class education to our students.

The college facilitates and promotes an interdisciplinary ecosystem that nurtures, prepares, and educates students and faculty to become creative leaders dedicated to promoting a more just society.

We aspire to elevate the level of inquiry and discourse within and beyond the classroom while we innovate and create new approaches, crafts, methodologies, and skills that change creative practice and arts disciplines as our global context evolves.

Vision

The college strives to become nationally prominent for being a creative community vested in addressing the most pressing issues of our time while maintaining a firm grounding in equity, excellence, and diversity that will empower students and faculty to frame their own futures. The college will be an engine for socio-economic progress through professional practice, research, advocacy, and meaningful engagement.

Guiding Principles and Values

We believe the arts are a vital component in achieving a just society that fosters engaged citizens, prosperous communities, and fulfilled individuals.

The college values an inclusive and diverse educational environment where ethnic, racial, cultural, and gender differences, among others, are respected and supported. The College strives to establish policies and practices that will ensure equity in leadership and equal access to resources and opportunities for academic success and career advancement for faculty, staff, and students.

Students and faculty together will study and engage, through their practice, challenging social, political, cultural, and ecological issues facing the world today.

We recognize that individual and collective excellence entails a responsibility to ensure that every member of our community has support and the opportunity to succeed.

Accreditation

School of Architecture & Community Design
The USF School of Architecture & Community Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.  For additional information about NAAB, visit their website at http://www.naab.org

School of Art & Art History
The USF School of Art & Art History is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.  For additional information about NASAD, visit their website at http://www.nasad.arts-accredit.org

School of Music
The USF School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.  For additional information about NASM, visit their website at http://www.nasm.arts-accredit.org

School of Theatre & Dance
The Theatre Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.  For additional information about NAST, visit their website at https://nast.arts-accredit.org/

The Dance Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance. For additional information about NASD, visit their website at:  https://nasd.arts-accredit.org 

Contemporary Art Museum
The USF Contemporary Art Museum is accredited by American Alliance of Museums.  For additional information about AAM, visit their website at https://www.aam-us.org/

College-Level Requirements

Admission Requirements

To apply for academic programs in the College of Design, Art, and Performance, you must first be accepted to the University of South Florida. Once you meet USF requirements (https://www.usf.edu/admissions/), you can apply to your program of interest. Some programs require an audition or portfolio submission. Check individual requirements for your program of interest before applying.

Step 1: Apply for admission to the University of South Florida  https://secure.vzcollegeapp.com/usf/

Step 2: Apply for admission to the College of Design, Art, and Performance’ schools, please see Program-Specific Requirements. 

General Requirements for Bachelor Degree Programs within the College of Design, Art, and Performance

1. All Bachelor degree programs require 120 credit hours.
2. Students admitted to the College of Design, Art, and Performance with transfer credits, or former students returning with credits dating ten or more years prior to admission (or readmission), will have those credits reviewed by the College and department/school and may be required to take specified competency tests in their major area.
3. A maximum number of ROTC credits totaling no more than the maximum allowed in the Free Elective Area for each major may be counted toward all degrees.
4. A maximum of four credit hours of elective Physical Education credits taken at USF may be counted as general elective credit.
5. Students must satisfactorily meet the State Communication Requirement and State Computation Requirement .
6. Students applying for a B.A. degree must demonstrate competency in a foreign language as described under Foreign Language Competency Policy of this catalog.
7. For degree programs, see requirements listed under each School.
8. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 50% of their major and/or minor coursework in residence at USF. A student must also earn 30 of the last 60 hours of credits in residence at USF. However, any course work to be taken and any credits to be earned outside of the university must have prior approval from the appropriate school and the college in order to apply these credits toward graduation.
9. Waiver of prerequisite coursework totaling no more than 12 credit hours in the major or College requirements is possible by demonstration of competence. Unless credit is awarded by approved official tests, i.e., AP, CLEP, the credit hours must be made up according to school or college recommendations. A faculty committee conducts waiver reviews. Specific questions concerning program requirements for all degrees in the College or other related problems should be directed to the College of Design, Art, and Performance.

College Policy for Academic Progress

The following criteria will serve as the bases for unenrollment from a major in the College of Design, Art, and Performance:

1. Grade point average below 2.0 in the major.
2. Recommendation by major applied (studio) art, art history, graphic arts, dance, music or theatre faculty with approval of respective school director.
3. The school may recommend probationary status (rather than unenrollment) for one semester when academic progress is not maintained.

Directed Studies Contracts

All Directed Studies and other variable credit courses in the College of Design, Art, and Performance require contracts between students and instructors describing the work to be undertaken by the student and specifying the credit hours. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the necessary signatures and make the required distribution of all copies. Important: the student must have their signed copy of a contract at the time of registration.

Permission Procedures

Admission into some courses is possible only by consent of instructor (CI), consent of chairperson (CC), consent of advisor, or by audition or portfolio review. When such special permission is required, it will be the student’s responsibility to obtain any required permission prior to registration. 

Program-Specific Requirements

School of Architecture & Community Design
https://www.usf.edu/arts/architecture/

Bachelor degrees are not awarded through the School of Architecture & Community Design. However, you can enroll in the Pre-Architecture program as an undergraduate. Once you have completed those courses, you are able to enroll in the Master degree programs.

School of Art & Art History
https://www.usf.edu/arts/art/apply/index.aspx

The School of Art & Art History offers Bachelor degrees in both Studio Art and Art History. No additional materials are required for admission to the undergraduate BA and BFA in Studio Art, or BA in Art History.

Graphic Arts B.F.A.

https://www.usf.edu/arts/art/academics/graphic-arts/

The B.F.A. Degree in Graphic Arts on the St. Petersburg campus is a specialized admissions, upper-level program of study. Students are accepted in the Spring and begin the program as a cohort in the Fall semester. Admission into the B.F.A. program is contingent upon the student having a 3.25 or higher major GPA, which must be maintained after admission for the degree to be awarded. Student competency will be evaluated individually and is based upon criteria such as GPA, writing skill, and a portfolio of work indicative of: (1) concept, execution and presentation of studio artwork, (2) conceptual understanding of art and design standards, (3) applications of art and design concepts, (4) examples of drawing methods and materials, and (5) historical knowledge of art and design as evidenced by previous assignments in visual problem solving.

School of Music

https://www.usf.edu/arts/music/

The School of Music provides a variety of areas of study for undergraduate programs. This includes brass, acoustic and electronic composition, jazz studies, music education, percussion, piano, strings, voice, and woodwinds. An instrument and/or voice audition is required for admission to all degree programs and concentrations.

School of Theatre & Dance

https://www.usf.edu/arts/theatre-and-dance/

The School of Theatre & Dance offers undergraduate degrees only. Auditions are required for admission to the Dance programs. Theatre auditions only take place for upper-level performance coursework but are not required for admission.

Graduation Requirements

Degree Requirements: Baccalaureate/Undergraduate - USF Regulation 3.007
https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation3007

General Education Requirements

Students must complete 36 hours of general education following state and university requirements. For more information, please visit the General Education Information  section of this catalog. 

Civics Literacy Requirement

All students earning a baccalaureate degree will need to complete the Civics Literacy requirement as stated in Florida Statute 1007.25 (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099/1007/Sections/1007.25.html). 

For information on the exact requirement, please visit the USF Civics Literacy website: https://www.usf.edu/undergrad/students/civics-literacy.aspx.

Summer Enrollment Requirement

All students entering USF with fewer than 60 semester hours of credit are required to earn at least nine semester hours of credit prior to graduation by attendance during one or more Summer terms in courses offered by USF or any one of the State University System of Florida institutions. The university may waive the application of this rule in cases of unusual hardship. 

A student who wishes to have the rule waived must complete a Request for Waiver of Mandatory Summer Enrollment Form available in the Office of the Registrar (https://www.usf.edu/registrar/documents/forms_2019/summer_waiver_request_form_2019.pdf). After submission of the form to the Office of the Registrar, the student will receive notification to their USF email of the action taken.

University of South Florida Requirements

In addition to Florida Board of Governors and/or state requirements, USF has the following USF specific minimum requirements that are designed to assure the academic integrity of the degree programs at each System Institution:

1. Successful completion of a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester credit hours through university coursework, acceleration mechanisms, and/or transfer credit, including courses specifically approved as repeatable for credit (e.g. practica, ensembles and field experiences);
2. A minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 on all course work taken at USF and an overall 2.00 on all college-level work attempted;
3. Satisfactory completion of major requirements in a chosen degree program, including additional requirements set by the college offering the degree, as published in the current Undergraduate Catalog;
4. Successful completion of at least forty-two (42) semester hours in courses numbered 3000 and above;
5. Successful completion of at least 25% of the total credit hours required for the degree program must be in courses offered by USF;
6. Registration and successful completion of at least thirty (30) of the last sixty (60) semester hours must be completed at USF. CLEP credit does not count toward academic residence.  Colleges may have specific academic residency requirements for specified degrees and students are responsible for reviewing the current Undergraduate Catalog to ensure compliance
7. Program and/or College Requirements:  All students must be aware of and satisfactorily complete any additional requirements that may be required by a specific program and/or college from which they are earning the degree as set forth in the current Undergraduate Catalog.
8. General Academic Approval:  Successful completion of academic coursework constituting the student’s program of study, minor, honors thesis, or certification examination does not guarantee award of the baccalaureate degree.  Faculty judgment of the academic performance of the student is inherent in the educational process in determining whether the award of the baccalaureate degree or admission into higher-level degree program is warranted.

Instructions for submitting your USF Graduation Application are available on the Office of Registrar’s website at https://www.usf.edu/registrar/services/apply-for-graduation/index.aspx   

Remember to keep up with deadlines when applying for graduation and registering for commencement. These dates are different each semester, so check the Office of the Registrar’s website regularly.

For information about The Art’s Graduation Celebration, see https://www.usf.edu/arts/advising/graduation-celebration.aspx. 

Other Information - Interdisciplinary Study

There is no formal interdisciplinary arts degree offered in the College of Design, Art, and Performance. However, it is possible for a student to pursue such a program of study in the College by utilizing general electives allowed in the major program. A student may also choose a double undergraduate major in two units or arts disciplines within the College of Design, Art, and Performance as a means of interdisciplinary study. See the major advisor in the programs of particular interest. 

Baccalaureate-Level Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Our B.A. program develops skills in critical looking, thinking and writing, and is excellent preparation for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in art history or considering a museum profession or other work in today’s professional art world.

The focus of this degree is to enable the student to combine dance with another area of interest and encourage the development of an individualized program of study through the selection of general education requirements as well as a focused selection of elective courses.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies is a non-professional degree for students who wish to supplement other interests with music study. This program is ideal as part of a double major with a field outside of music. Requirements include approximately 50 hours in music with emphasis choices in performance, composition, history and theory. An instrument and/or vocal audition is required for admission to this degree program.

The B.A. in Studio Art is a 120 credit hour degree that is designed to develop the student’s consciousness of aesthetic and ideological aspects of art and its relationship to life. The degree also assists students in the realization of personal ideas, art making skills and imagery. The B.A. is oriented toward a general and broad immersion in the field. Studio courses are supplemented with studies in art history, foreign language and an abundance of electives both within the School of Art and Art History and throughout the campus.

Through its curriculum and production program, students have the opportunity to prepare for a professional career in the theatre or to continue their studies at the graduate level. Our exclusively undergraduate program boasts intensive studies in the disciplines of performance, design and theatre arts as well as a close working relationship with our nationally and internationally recognized faculty. 

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The BFA in Dance Performance offers professional preparation, which includes extensive study in Studio Technique, Choreographic Studies and Dance Theory. The focus of this degree is the development of dancers who will enter the professional world of dance/arts as performers and choreographers.

The Graphic Arts degree offers students a sequence of rigorous courses that balance critical thinking and pragmatic experience, complemented by the enriched experience of the liberal arts environment of the St. Petersburg campus.

At USF, Graphic Arts students have the option of a concentration in illustration or graphic design. This program guides students in building the imagination, aesthetic sensitivity, and powers of critical thought required to succeed as visual communicators. The curriculum emphasizes expertise in image development, typography, print and screen-based graphics, and interactive design. The program prepares students for the rigor of professional design practice through an internship program, courses in production, and portfolio development. Additionally, students design, organize and promote an exhibition of their final senior project.

The BFA in Studio Art is a 120 credit hour degree that is the initial professional degree in the field. As such, it has a concentrated focus on the development of art making skills combined with conceptual and critical thinking. The degree is designed to develop the student’s consciousness of aesthetic and ideological aspects of art and its relationship to life. Studio studies and experiences are of prime importance in the preparation of BFA students for professional lives in the visual arts.

Bachelor of Music

The Bachelor of Music is a professional degree for students who wish to pursue a career in music. Students interested in a BM can choose between three areas of concentration: acoustic and electronic composition, jazz studies and performance. This program requires 120 credit hours that includes intense private study on their principle instrument and participation in ensembles. An instrument and/or vocal audition is required for admission to this degree program.

Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education is a professional degree for students who are interested in teaching music in K-12 schools in the ever-changing music classrooms of the 21st century. This program is an intense study of music and education courses that provide students with state certification upon graduation. In addition to private study on their principle instrument and participation in ensembles, students complete music theory, history and literature sequences, and take a variety of music education courses. An instrument and/or vocal audition is required for admission to this degree program.

Minors

A minor in the arts strengthens your critical thinking and visual communication skills, enhancing your ability to solve problems creatively. The School of Art & Art History offers two concentrations for the Minor in Studio Art and Art History.

The Dance Minor is designed to provide students with a scope of experiences in dance, which includes studio technique, creative studio studies and dance theory. The student seeking a Dance Minor should arrange to meet with the academic advisor in dance.

The Theatre minor is structured to give students an overview of drama and theatre, in terms of history, performance, and criticism. The curriculum involves the student in both the practical and theoretical aspects of the theatre process. 

Concentrations

A concentration is any organized set of courses that is offered as part of a major and enhances or complements the degree program to be awarded in a manner that leads to specific educational or occupational goals, and/or from different disciplines that provide an interdisciplinary focus.

DANCE – B.A.

• Dance Studies

DANCE – B.F.A.

• Ballet
• Modern Dance

GRAPHIC ARTS

• Graphic Design
• Illustration

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

• Acoustic & Electronic Composition
• Contemporary Commercial Music
• Jazz Studies
• Performance

STUDIO ART

• Animation and Digital Modeling

THEATRE

• Design
• Performance
• Theatre Arts

Certificates

This certificate is designed for students who possess a strong background in dance technique (ballet/modern). It is meant for individuals who would like to heighten their studies in dance and earn advanced level training.

Art History
https://www.usf.edu/arts/art/academics/minors-and-certificates/

The Certificate in Art History is designed for undergraduate students majoring in another field who also seek a concentration in art history. This certificate constitutes a sequence of five art history courses (15 credit hours) that provides students with a broad introduction to the field of art history.

Dance Medicine and Science
https://www.usf.edu/arts/theatre-and-dance/academics/minors-undergraduate-certificates/dance-medicine-science-certificate.aspx

This certificate is designed for students who are degree-seeking (any major) OR non-degree seeking and who possess a strong interest in exploring the field of dance medicine/science. This certificate program will give students a basic understanding of issues pertaining to the wellness of dancers such as: typical injury and misalignment patterns, injury prevention and treatment, injury risk factors, effective conditioning, muscular analysis of dance movement, and current topics in dance medicine/science research.

The Certificate in Visualization and Design provides theoretical studies and hands-on practice for all majors interested in the creative design of visual communication. Outcomes include building a portfolio from a variety of visual media and prepares those who complete the certificate for fields (depending on course selections) ranging from media designers, to animators, to research and product designers, to graphic/data developers. 

Undergraduate Advising Information

USF College of Design, Art, and Performance
Office of Student Services & Advising
4202 East Fowler Ave, FAH 120
Tampa, FL 33620
(813) 974-3660
https://www.usf.edu/arts/advising/contact.aspx

Student Services & Advising offers academic support to prospective and current students in the USF College of Design, Art, and Performance. This includes the School of Architecture & Community Design, School of Art & Art History, School of Music and School of Theatre & Dance.

The Student Services & Advising Office assists prospective and current students with individualized academic planning. A few services provided include academic advisement, career guidance, and opportunities to engage with the College of Design, Art, and Performance community. Our academic advisors meet with students one-on-one to help each student map a path to graduation with opportunities for growth and knowledge during their time at USF.

To schedule an advising appointment:

• Prospective or current students with an active UID can schedule an appointment online through Archivum or the College’s Student Services website.
• Prospective students who have not yet applied or students who are inactive (e.g., dismissed or not enrolled for 3 consecutive terms) should contact the appropriate advising location in their intended major: https://www.usf.edu/undergrad/students/advising.aspx

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