Fine Arts
Overview
The Fine Arts major is designed for the student who wants a well-rounded
program in the arts. One of the more challenging goals of this
interdisciplinary major is the integration of the disciplines of visual
art, dance, theater and music in a way that facilitates a dialogue and
collaboration between the art forms. This dialogue is enhanced by creating
a balance between learning about all four art forms and grounding oneself
in one or two of the art forms. The interdisciplinary work provides an
opportunity for students to develop an aesthetic perspective, to form
criteria for arts evaluation, and to reflect critically on the role of the
arts in their personal lives, in society and in other cultures. This
approach informs a wide range of career options, especially for those
interested in working professionally as artists, administrators, teachers,
writers, or therapists.
General Education Credit
Fine Arts courses that fulfill General Education requirements are listed
in the Class and Lab Schedule.
Special Program
Elementary Education-Fine Arts Program: An Elementary Education-Fine
Arts program based on a liberal arts background with a double major provides
preparation for licensed elementary classroom teachers. The Fine Arts major
(with Area of Emphasis in dance, music, theater, or visual arts) is earned at
St. Olaf; the Elementary Education major is earned at Augsburg College in
Minneapolis. Consult the Index for more details.
Requirements for the Major
The major requires two interdisciplinary courses, Fine Arts 274 and 374, plus ten course credits
from the four fine arts areas in the visual arts, music, theater, and
dance. Of these ten credits, a minimum of four courses is required in one
area of emphasis, creating a four course concentration. The student
selects the remaining six courses among the other three areas. Each of the
areas requires a two course minimum.
Required/Recommended Courses
Art (Two-Course Minimum): Any combination of two .50 credit
foundation studio courses (Art 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, or 119) and one
art history course (Art 150, 151, 259, or 265).
Art (Four- and Five-Course Concentration): Any combination of four
.50 credit foundation studio courses (Art 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116, or 119) and a
minimum of one art history course (selected from Art 150, 151, 259, or 265). All
remaining art department courses may be used to fill the concentration in
either studio or art history.
Dance (Two-Course Minimum): Dance 245
or 246 (1), Dance 231.
Dance (Four-Course Minimum): Dance 245
or 246 (1), Dance 231 (1 ); any combination of four courses of
dance technique (1);
one elective from remaining dance theory courses
(1).
Dance (Five-Course Concentration): Dance 245 or
246 (1); Dance 231 (1); any
combination of four courses of dance technique (1); two full course
electives from remaining dance theory course (2). Note: No more than one
full course of dance technique.
Music (Two-Course Minimum): Music 110
(.50); Music 230 (1); Performance Studies
(.25, .25 in the same area) If Performance Studies is voice, .25 credits
can be earned in Voice Class (Music 164). If
Performance Studies is piano, .25 credits can be earned in Piano Class
(Music 161).
Music (Four-Course Concentration): Music 111
(.25); Music 112 (.25); Music 113
(.75); Music 114 (.75); Music 230
(1) or Music 242; four performance studies (.25
x 4, all in the same area).
Music (Five-Course Concentration): Same as Four-Course Concentration,
plus electives (Totaling 1.00).
Theater (Two-Course Minimum): Speech-Theater 110
and one of the following: 130, 131,
150, 250.
Theater (Four-Course
Concentration): Speech-Theater 110 plus one from
each of the following options: 130 or 131, 150 or 250, 270 or 271.
Theater (Five-Course Concentration): Speech-Theater 110 plus one from each of the following options: 130 or 131, 150 or
250, 270 or 271,
332 or 352.
Courses
274 Exploring the Arts
Students attend a variety of music, theater and dance performances
and visual art galleries, on and off-campus, to explore the process of
perceiving, describing, interpreting and evaluating the arts. This
material provides the foundation for an exploration of aesthetic
perspectives and the role of the arts in their personal lives, society and
other cultures. The course is team-taught by a faculty member from each of
the four Fine Arts departments. Performance fee required.
374 Senior Studies
A culmination of the development of critical/analytical skills that
facilitate and encourage the integrative focus of the major, this seminar
is structured around a chosen theme, e.g. arts in the '60s, Asian
influence on arts in America. Students select a creative research topic
that explores the seminar theme from a specific perspective and integrates
the four art forms. A faculty member from each of the four Fine Arts
departments participates in the seminar.
Faculty
The faculty of interdisciplinary programs are drawn from a variety of
departments. See faculty listing under department for individual degree
information.
Susan Bauer (Coordinator)
Associate Professor of Dance, 1976-
Movement analysis, dance, fine arts
Dan Dressen
Associate Professor of Music, 1982-
Voice diction, music theater, vocal literature, fine arts
A. Malcolm Gimse
Professor of Art, 1970-
Art history, fine arts
Steven Weiss
Assistant Professor of Speech/Theater, 1996-
Directing, acting, fine arts