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College of the Arts

Academic Advising Offices:
202-C Taylor Hall
330-672-2780
http://www.kent.edu/artscollege

 

Introduction

The College of the Arts is built on the belief that the arts are central to contemporary culture. They offer unique ways of knowing, forms of knowledge, areas of experience and means of communication. Our students gain breadth in understanding human experience through an exploration of the history and meaning of the arts. In addition, they gain depth by creating and conducting research and promoting art, music, theatre, dance and fashion. Intensive interactions in studio settings characterize much of their learning environment as does regular outreach to the larger community through exhibition, performance and other forms of presentation of student and faculty work.

The college comprises four schools: Art; Fashion Design and Merchandising; Music; and Theatre and Dance. The college also administers the Kent/Blossom festivals offering advanced summer study in art, music and theatre in cooperation with Blossom Music Center, summer home of The Cleveland Orchestra. The university owns and operates Porthouse Theatre and Eells Art Gallery at Blossom Music Center, located 20 minutes from the Kent Campus.

The Kent State University Museum in Rockwell Hall maintains an extraordinary collection of 10,000 costumes and accessories, 1,000 pieces of decorative art and a 5,000-volume reference library. Closely allied with the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, the museum provides students first-hand experience with historic and contemporary fashions and costumes from many world cultures.
 

Degrees

The college awards four undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science. Master's degree programs are available in three disciplines, including the Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Music: Art (M.A.; M.F.A.), Music (M.A.; M.M.) and Theatre (M.A.; M.F.A). The Doctor of Philosophy is offered in one discipline: Music (Ph.D.).

Students who wish to support their specialized and professional studies with an extensive foundation in the liberal arts are encouraged to earn the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). This degree is available to students in art, fashion design and merchandising, music and theatre. For a description of programs leading to this degree see the individual school sections of this Catalog.

Students specializing in art, theatre or dance may earn the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.). Programs leading to this degree provide a more intensive specialization than those for the Bachelor of Arts while still providing a solid foundation in the liberal arts. For a description of programs leading to this degree see School of Art and School of Theatre and Dance sections of this Catalog.

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) curriculum in performance, composition and theory provides the most intensive specialization for music students while still providing a solid foundation in the liberal arts. Those interested in college or conservatory teaching are specifically advised to pursue this degree.

The curriculum for the B.M. in music education leads to Ohio licensure in music. Students expecting to teach music in the public schools, grades one to 12, pursue this degree in music education. See the Bachelor of Music program requirements of this Catalog.

The college offers the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Fashion Design and Merchandising. In general, programs for the Bachelor of  Science provide for more specialization than those for the Bachelor of Arts, while still providing a solid foundation in the liberal arts. For the complete curriculum, see the the individual school section of this Catalog.

Information regarding individual graduate programs is provided on the degree pages. Prospective students may obtain more information and admission applications by contacting the individual schools.Application for admission is made online at http://www.kent.edu/academics/graduatestudies/. General admission requirements are listed in the "policy" section of this Catalog. There also may be additional requirements for certain programs; please consult individual school sections in this catalog. Persons seeking information on graduate non-degree status or graduate certificate programs should consult the Division of Graduate Studies, Office of Graduate Program Services, 330-672-2661.

Teacher Preparation
Students who wish to teach in the public schools may be licensed in the state of Ohio by enrolling in certain programs in the College of the Arts and declaring a minor in education. Art education, dance education and music education are areas in which students may seek licensure to teach students ages three to 21.

SPECIAL NOTICE
In order to enroll in upper-division professional education coursework, students seeking licensure must be admitted to the education minor in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services. Refer to the College of Education, Health, and Human Services section of this Catalog for specific information about this process.