Office:
Arts
Building, Third Floor
Telephone:
(760)
750-4137
Department Chair:
William
Bradbury, D.M.A.
Faculty:
David Avalos, M.F.A.
Loni Berry, M.F.A.
William Bradbury,
D.M.A.
Kristine Diekman,
M.F.A.
Merryl R. Goldenberg,
Ed.D.
Mtafiti Imara, Ph.D.
Andrea Liss, Ph.D.
Marcos Martνnez, M.A.
Karen Schaffman, Ph.D.
Deborah Small, M.F.A.
Programs Offered:
- Bachelor of Arts in
Visual and Performing Arts
- Arts and Technology Track
- Music Track
- Theatre Track
- Visual Arts Track
- Arts and Education Track
- Minor in Visual and Performing Arts
The Visual and Performing Arts Department at Cal State San Marcos provides an exciting multidisciplinary approach to the arts which embraces the cultural richness of southern California. A degree in Visual and Performing Arts consists of a sequence of courses that illuminates and emphasizes the benefits of our cross-cultural heritage, presented in the framework of a dynamic experiential, theoretical and technological environment. The curriculum encourages interdisciplinary work, collaboration, and student self-direction.
As each student's educational goals and needs are different, the Visual and Performing Arts Department provides the opportunity for VPA majors to be directly involved in the design and pursuit of their education. A core of courses provides a broad theoretical and experiential introduction to the arts. Students specialize in one area by following a "Track" providing a series of appropriate courses. Courses in the track are selected in consultation with a VPA advisor.
Arts and Technology Track
Designed for students who wish to work with digital arts, multimedia, video, and/or web design. This interdisciplinary track emphasizes various digital media including music, video and the visual arts.
Music Track
Provides course offerings in composition, music technology, performance and survey courses of diverse musical cultures. Music track students are encouraged to explore their own creativity and musical voice.
Theatre Track
Provides courses in acting, theater production, and research to performance. Survey courses include European, Latin American and American Theatre, with a strong focus on African American and Latino Theatre.
Visual Arts Track
Designed for students who work creatively and innovatively in drawing, painting, and sculpture, as well as with digital media. It allows the student great flexibility in choosing among the program's offerings in both studio and critical/theoretical work.
Arts and Education Track
Designed to prepare students for entry into a K-6 credential program and includes a reduced number of arts courses and an increase in general education coursework. The Multiple Subject Achievement Test is waived for graduates of this track.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for a graduate of the Visual and Performing Arts Department are as diverse as the interests of VPA majors. Graduates pursue careers as actors, artists, composers, dancers, directors, filmmakers, and musicians. The Department provides an excellent preparation for careers in performance, multimedia design, video and/or music production, web design and support, art history, arts management and publishing. Many students go on to graduate school in the arts, or to complete a credential program in education and assume teaching positions in primary and secondary schools.
Capstone Project
An important component of the VPA degree is the Senior Capstone Project which represents a culmination of work done while in the program. Capstone Projects take many forms and are designed with the input of the student's advisor. Possible Capstone Projects are: a multimedia CD-ROM, a full length video, an art exhibit, a collection of music compositions, a recital, directing, writing, or taking a lead role in a theater production. Students should begin planning for the capstone in the fall of the senior year. All students register for the Capstone Project in the spring semester of their senior year; public presentation of the work may be anytime during that semester.
About the Department
The faculty of the department are active creators and scholars from a range of disciplines and backgrounds. Their specialties include visual arts, acting, directing, music composition/performance, video, dance, graphics, installation work, interactive multimedia, art history and cultural studies.
Since its inception, the Visual and Performing Arts Department has been committed to several innovative educational objectives:
- Global arts The VPA
Department celebrates the arts of the world with the Indonesian Gamelan,
African, Andean and jazz ensembles, Caribbean carnival performances, theater in
Spanish, and many survey courses in global arts.
- Commitment to the
latest technology The VPA Department offers cutting edge courses in digital
art and music, web design, video, and interactive multimedia.
- Interdisciplinary
approach The VPA Department includes tracks in music, theater, visual arts,
arts and technology, and arts and education. Collaboration across disciplines is
encouraged among our students and faculty to provide a more expansive arts
education.
- Building community
through the arts The VPA Department builds community through outreach to
schools, art research and exhibits, theatre, dance, music performances and video
productions.
- Support of teaching through the arts The SUAVE Program, a partnership between Cal State San Marcos, the VPA Department, several school districts, and the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, teaches primary and secondary school teachers to use the arts as part of an innovative new paradigm for teaching students in the 21st Century.
The Goals of the Visual and Performing Arts Department are:
- To help students develop a multi-disciplinary and global perspective in the arts.
- To provide a curriculum that teaches the skills of critical analysis using works of art from a broad range of cultures and styles.
- To assist students to become fluent in the theory and practice of new digital technologies.
- To provide the tools for students to create their own art as composers, visual artists or performers.
- To help students discover their own cultural histories and ethnic identities.
Special Conditions for the Visual and Performing Arts Degree
- Credit/No Credit grading is not permitted in courses required for the major.
- Students must receive a grade of C or better in all courses taken for the major.
- At present a number of lower-division courses are offered, but some community college courses might be needed to complete the lower-division requirements.
- All students enrolled in private or group music lessons are required to be enrolled concurrently in one of Cal State San Marcos' music ensembles.
- All upper-division theater track students must enroll in a production course every semester of their residency (maximum of 4 semesters).
- All VPA majors must complete a Capstone project in the final semester of residency (in consultation with an advisor).
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
Units
General Education
51
Preparation for the
Major
(by
track)10-18
Upper-Division Track
Requirements 25-45
Students must
take a sufficient
number of
elective units
to bring the
total number of
units to a
minimum of124
Preparation for the Major
The junior-level student seeking admission to this program normally must have completed the required number of units of lower-division work in his/her selected track (see track outline below for details). Students entering with fewer than the required number of units should complete the deficiencies within the first year of instruction at Cal State San Marcos. Courses in the arts which satisfy an upper-division general education requirement may not be used for the major.
Arts and Technology Track
(57
units)
Lower-Division
(18
units)
Critical/theoretical/cultural
Units
courses including:9
One survey of visual arts course
(VSAR 120)
One 20th Century art
history course
One history and
criticism of photography,
film or video course (VSAR 222)
Studio courses in
visual arts,
video or music:9
Upper-Division Arts &
Technology
(39
units)
Visual and Performing Arts
Interdisciplinary Core
VPA
3023
VPA 3033
Cross-Disciplinary
Studio Work
Any upper-division
studio course
in theatre3
Arts and Technology
Coursework
(30
units)
Arts and Technology
Core
MUSC 3023
VSAR 3023
VSAR 3033
VSAR 4053
Critical/Theoretical/Cultural
(select one from)3
TA 323
VSAR
422
VSAR 423
Studio Work in Art &
Technology
(select three
from)9
MUSC 402VSAR 403
VSAR 304VSAR 404
VSAR 305VSAR 440
Visual and Performing
Arts
Electives3
Capstone
VPA
498C 3
Music Track
(52-56
units)
Lower-Division Music
(13-15
units)
(depending on transfer
units for
ensembles and studio instruction)
Units
Two semesters of music
theory6
One general music
survey course3
MUSC 120
Two semesters of
studio instruction2
MUSC 293
Two semesters of
ensemble
performance
2-4
Upper-Division Music
(39-41
units)
Visual and Performing Arts Interdisciplinary Core
VPA 302
3
VPA 303
3
Cross-disciplinary
Studio Work
Any upper-
division
studio
course in the
Visual
Arts3
Any upper-division
studio
course in Theatre
Arts3
Music Coursework
(27-29
units)
MUSC 3023
Critical/Theoretical/Cultural
(select 2 courses)6
MUSC 320MUSC 423
MUSC 321MUSC 424
MUSC 322MUSC 425/425S
MUSC 323MUSC 426
MUSC 324MUSC 427
MUSC 421MUSC 428
MUSC 422/422S
Music Ensemble Courses
(4 semesters, each may
be
repeated up to 4 times)8
MUSC 390MUSC 394
MUSC 391MUSC 395
MUSC 392
Studio Work in Music
(select 2 courses)
4-6
MUSC 393
MUSC 402
MUSC 480
Visual and Performing
Arts
Electives3
Capstone
VPA 498C3
Theatre Arts Track
(57
units)
Lower-Division Theatre Arts
(12
units)
Critical/theoretical/cultural courses:6
Units
Dramatic Literature
Theatre history
(contemporary or global preferred)
Studio
Courses6
from the following or
equivalent areas:
Acting Movement or
dance
Voice and
diction
Performance activities
Technical theatre activities
Design
Upper Division Theatre Arts
(45
units)
Visual and Performing
Arts
Interdisciplinary Core
VPA 3023
VPA 3033
Cross-disciplinary
Studio Work
Any upper-division
studio
course in music3
Any upper-division
studio
course in the visual arts3
Theatre Coursework (33 units)
Critical/Theoretical/Cultural
(select 2 courses
from)6
TA
320/320STA 327
TA
321TA 410
TA
322TA 420
TA
323TA 421
TA
324VPA 320
TA
325VPA 420
TA 326
Studio Work in Theatre
Arts
(select 3 courses from)9
TA
300TA 401
TA
301TA 480/480S
TA 302VPA 381
Theatre Production (4
semesters)
TA 489 12
Visual and Performing
Arts Electives3
Capstone
VPA
498C 3
Visual Arts
Track
(56-57 units)
Lower-Division Visual Arts
(18
units)
Units
Critical/theoretical/cultural
courses including9
‑One pre-20th
century art history course
‑One contemporary or
global art history course
One visual arts
survey course
Studio
courses:9
Upper-Division Visual Arts
(38-39
units)
Visual and Performing
Arts
Interdisciplinary Core
VPA 302
3
VPA 3033
Cross-disciplinary
Studio Work
Any upper-division
studio
course in
Music3
Any upper-division
studio
course in Theatre
Arts3
Visual Arts Coursework
VSAR 302
3
Critical/Theoretical/Cultural
(select two course
from) 6
VPA
320VSAR 325
VPA
380VSAR 327
VSAR 320VSAR 405
VSAR 322VSAR 422
VSAR 323VSAR 423
Studio Work in the
Visual Arts
(select three courses
from) 8-9
VPA
381VSAR 393
VSAR 303VSAR 403
VSAR 304VSAR 404
VSAR 305VSAR 440
VSAR 306VSAR 480
Visual and Performing
Arts Electives6
Capstone
VPA
498C 3
Arts and Education Track
(35-39
units in the Arts)
General Courses for Multiple Subject Waiver
Units
Basic Skills
(lower-division)9
Mathematics and
Sciences19
Humanities15-21
Social
Sciences18
Multicultural component
(additional three units in the arts)3
Physical
Education4
Lower-Division Arts and Education
(10-12
units)
Two courses in
history,
survey and/or theory in the arts6
Two courses in studio
arts,
theatre performance, video
and/or music ensemble/
instruction4-6
Upper-Division Arts and Education
(25-27
units)
Units
Visual and Performing
Arts
Interdisciplinary Core
VPA 3023
VPA 3033
Arts & Education
Coursework
Computers in the Arts
(select one course from)3
MUSC302VSAR 303
VSAR302VSAR 305
Activities
Courses
(select two courses from)6
MUSC 480VPA 480
TA 480VSAR
480
Global Awareness
requirement
VPA 3113
Studio work in the arts
(must include two units
of performance classes)4-6
Capstone
VPA
498C 3
MINOR IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
The Visual and Performing Arts Minor offers the student the opportunity to pursue studies in music, theatre, visual arts, dance, art history, or any combination of the above. An emphasis in Arts and Technology or Arts and Education is also possible. With the help of an advisor, students create a discipline-specific or multidisciplinary minor by choosing courses from two areas: Critical/Theoretical Courses and Studio Courses. All courses submitted for the minor must be completed with a grade of C or better. Independent Studies, research, or internships cannot be counted toward the minor.
Units
Introductory
Critical/Theoretical3
VPA 311
Required Studio
Course
(select one; others may be
used for Studio Work
requirement)
One of the
following3
MUSC 302VSAR 303
VSAR
302TA 489
Critical/Theoretical6
Two of the following:
DNCE
321TA 327
MUSC
320TA 328
MUSC
323TA 410
MUSC
324TA 421
MUSC 421VPA 320
MUSC 422VSAR 320
MUSC 423VSAR 322
MUSC 424VSAR 323
MUSC 425VSAR 325
MUSC 426VSAR 326
MUSC 427VSAR 422
TA
320VSAR 423
TA
323
TA 325
TA 326
Studio
Work6*
Two of the following:
DNCE 320TA 401
DNCE 392TA 480
MUSC
302VPA
181
MUSC 321VPA 381
MUSC
390VSAR 301
MUSC 391VSAR 302
MUSC 392VSAR 303
MUSC 394VSAR 304
MUSC 395VSAR 403
MUSC 402VSAR 404
TA
300VSAR 440
TA
301VSAR 480
Total
Units18
*The same studio course may not be repeated for credit toward the minor. Any course taken as the required studio course may not be counted toward the six (6) units of studio work requirement.