Introduction
Dr. Christopher Bianco, Dean
The College of Fine and Performing Arts, consisting of the departments of art and art history, design, music, and theatre and dance, provides an educational environment for enhancing the creation, development, performance and teaching of the fine and performing arts and design. Through its facilities and programs, the College has a strong presence on campus. The University’s Concert Hall, the Mainstage Theatre, and more intimate performance venues are housed in the College, as well as classrooms, art studios, design labs, the PAC Galleries, and the Western Gallery. The College also is responsible for public art throughout the campus in the form of the internationally recognized Public Art Collection.
The goal of the College of Fine and Performing Arts is to nurture a comprehensive understanding of the languages of dance, visual art, theatre, design and music in order to create thinking artists and artistic thinkers who will shape culture in the 21st century.
To fulfill this mission, the College of Fine and Performing Arts maintains a viable connection with the liberal arts tradition of the University; equips students with the creative and intellectual tools necessary for success in the arts; enables students to value, understand, and challenge traditional concepts; maintains an environment that supports diversity, reflection, and dedication to creative pursuits; promotes critical thinking, innovative ideas and active arts leadership; provides world class and multicultural experiences in the arts for both students and members of the community; and prepares students for a dynamic, lifelong relationship with the arts.
Academic Programs Leading to Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
| Art and Art History |
BA, BAE, BFA |
| Design |
BA (in moratorium), BFA |
| Music |
BA, B/Mus, M/Mus |
| Theatre and Dance |
BA, BFA |
Majors/Minors
In addition to the General University Requirements and other common degree requirements, a candidate for a bachelor’s degree must complete a major from one of the departments within the College of Fine and Performing Arts. Minors are also offered in art, art history, design, dance, music, theatre, and arts enterprise and cultural innovation.
Student/Faculty-Designed Major
The student/faculty-designed major is a major for a bachelor’s degree granted by the College of Fine and Performing Arts. Each major is approved by the Curriculum Committee of the College of Fine and Performing Arts. Approval should come after 45 — and before 90 — credits are completed.
Potential candidates for this degree should contact the College of Fine and Performing Arts Dean’s Office for information.
College Admission and Advisement
Admission
Students are admitted to the College of Fine and Performing Arts when they have been admitted to Western Washington University and have officially declared and been accepted as a major, and/or who have passed portfolio review or the audition required in the various discipline areas of the College. Advising is provided in the individual departments.
Requirements for Bachelor’s Degree
Besides the general requirements for graduation from the University, explained elsewhere in this catalog, the College of Fine and Performing Arts has the following specific requirements:
The Bachelor of Music degree may require more than the usual 180 credit hours.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is the professional undergraduate degree requiring study beyond the normal four years.
Department Chairs
| Cara Jaye |
Art and Art History |
| Cristina de Almeida |
Design |
| Timothy Fitzpatrick |
Music |
| Rich Brown |
Theatre and Dance |
Other College Information
Departments, Courses and Programs
Courses listed in this catalog constitute a record of the total academic program of the University. For an exact scheduling of courses at Western, students should consult Browse Classes and Outreach and Continuing Education bulletins.
