College of Arts and Media

Contacts: Dr. Maria Gindhart, Dean; Dr. Vicki Stroeher, Associate Dean
Website: https://www.marshall.edu/cam/

The College of Arts and Media at Marshall University was created on July 1, 2013. The college includes the School of Art and Design; the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications; the School of Music; the School of Theatre & Dance; the Marshall Artists Series; the student newspaper, The Parthenon; the student radio station, WMUL-FM; the student produced television news broadcast, MU Report; the Marching Thunder; MU jazz festivals; MU Theatre productions; and the Birke, Carroll, and Pneumatic Art Galleries.

The College of Arts and Media offices are in Smith Hall 158. The School of Art and Design offices are in the Visual Arts Center 601; the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications offices are in Communications Building 100; the School of Music offices are in Smith Music Hall 154, and the School of Theatre & Dance offices are in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center 230. Art and design courses, including filmmaking, are taught in the Visual Arts Center and the Art Warehouse. Journalism and mass communications courses are taught in Smith Hall and the Communications Building. Music courses are taught in Smith Music Hall, the Jomie Jazz Center, and the Henderson Center band facility. Theatre and Dance courses are taught in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center.

Mission of the College

The College of Arts and Media is dedicated to the discovery, application, transmission, and advancement of knowledge in arts and in media. Through its rich and varied public programs, our college informs and enhances the lives of students and the wider community.

Our students receive professional, discipline-based training within the context of broad learning. They become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and collaborators. They are prepared for productive lives as global citizens and 21^st - century leaders through their professions and in their communities.

The specific goals of the College of Arts and Media are:

To educate and train those seeking professions in arts and in media;
To support the university’s general academic curricula by offering courses that stimulate an understanding of and response to the verbal, aural, and visual nature of our programs;
To offer diverse opportunities through exhibitions, informational media, performances, presentations, and service for the enrichment of the campus and other publics; and
To provide leadership in and advocacy for arts and media.

Programs of the College

The curricula of the College of Arts and Media are designed to certify that, upon graduation, students have completed a program that leads to development of the ability:

To recognize, investigate, and solve problems through critical thinking, analysis, and the application of appropriate research and creative strategies;
To integrate an array of skills and knowledge in preparation for a professional career;
To demonstrate an awareness of the value of the arts and media in society and in the global community in preparation for becoming citizen-artists.

Special Opportunities for All Students

Center for Wellness in the Arts

In August of 2014, the College of Arts and Media and the College of Health Professions launched an exciting venture on behalf of students that has become the Marshall University Center for Wellness in the Arts. The center is a place where performing and visual artists can be evaluated by licensed athletic trainers, skilled vocal and hearing clinicians, dietitians, exercise physiologists and performance anxiety specialists who have the proper knowledge and equipment to assess discipline-specific health risks and offer wellness strategies. The CWA contributes to the academic and professional development of students and faculty through education, treatment and research.

The CWA draws upon university resources in behavioral and physical health, exercise science, communication disorders, and speech and hearing, to provide students with a groundbreaking system of support and learning. Rejecting the premise that a certain amount of pain is part of the artist’s process, the CWA promotes a culture in which pain is a problem to be treated, and wellness is an essential component of successful careers in the arts. For further information, please consult the Center for Wellness in the Arts website at www.marshall.edu/cwa.

Exhibitions

The Visual Arts Center across from Pullman Square at 927 Third Avenue in downtown Huntington features student, faculty and guest artist exhibitions in three galleries—the Birke Gallery, the Charles W. and Norma C. Carroll Art Gallery and the Pneumatic Gallery. These galleries are open year-round and are free to students and the public.

Non-major Participation in Arts and Media Courses and Minors

Students wishing to develop or advance their artistic, journalistic, mass communications, musical, or theatrical skills are welcome to enroll in courses in the college and to join the various student organizations. Students who desire a minor in the arts or journalism and mass communications should refer to the school listings for the sequence of courses in each program.

Music and Theatre Performances and Productions

All university students are encouraged to participate in the many music ensembles and theatrical productions offered by the School of Music and the School of Theatre & Dance.

Professional and Student Organizations

The College of Arts and Media houses a number of professional and student organizations that enhance and explore various aspects of its majors and areas of specialization. Please consult with the school director for more information.

Student Media

The student newspaper, The Parthenon, is published Monday through Friday online and in print Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters. The student radio station, WMUL-FM, 88.1 FM, is on the air 24 hours daily throughout the year. All university students are encouraged to volunteer at WMUL-FM. MU Report is a student-produced, 15-minute bi-weekly television newscast seen throughout West Virginia on public television. Collective 37 is a student-run advertising and public relations agency serving the Huntington campus and communities.

Community Engagement

The College of Arts and Media enriches the Huntington campus and regional community with many performances, exhibitions, broadcasts, publications, lectures, and special presentations.

As the second oldest town and gown organization in the U.S., the Marshall Artists Series presents a variety of professional arts programs for students and the general public. Programming includes Broadway, music, authors, comedy, opera, dance, and international films. Tickets are available to students at no charge. For information, call 304-696-3326 or visit www.marshallartistsseries.org.

The School of Art and Design presents exhibitions in multiple venues. The Parthenon, MU Report, and WMUL in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications inform the community. Marshall University Music presents many recitals and concerts by its faculty, students, and ensembles, in addition to programs featuring guest artists. Throughout the academic year, Marshall University Theatre provides major dramatic productions. Students are cordially welcomed to all events and are urged to explore the excitement, enrichment, and entertainment offered by the College of Arts and Media.

Departments

Academic Policies

Advising

All students are assigned two academic advisors who will assist the student with their academic progress and provide guidance in the registration process: a faculty advisor in the student’s area of interest and a professional advisor housed in the College of Arts and Media. Students majoring in the arts are subject to mandatory advising every semester of enrollment. Students in journalism and mass communications are subject to mandatory advising until junior status is obtained. Only after a student has met with the academic advisor for approval of the course schedule will the advising hold be lifted, thus enabling the student to register for classes. A student who has not been assigned an advisor or who has questions about the assignment of advisor should contact the associate dean of the College of Arts and Media or the school director.

Catalog of Record

The College of Arts and Media adheres strictly to the University Academic Catalog of Record Policy found in the “Academic Information” section of this catalog. This policy affects all undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Media. You may also consult the catalog website: www.marshall.edu/catalog/.

Change of Major

Students who change majors within the College of Arts and Media will continue to operate under the catalog in effect when they entered. Students transferring from other units of the university must meet the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of the change in major.

Degree Progress Audit

During the semester students are enrolled for their 80th hour, they are required to have a check of their progress toward graduation. The check is to be initiated in the college office. Failure to do so will result in a hold on registration that will be removed after the check is completed.

Probation and Academic Dismissal

The College of Arts and Media adheres strictly to the University Academic Probation and Suspension Policy found in the “Academic Information” section of this catalog. This policy affects all undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Media regardless of their catalog year. You may also consult this catalog website: www.marshall.edu/catalog.

Degree Requirements

Degree Programs

The College of Arts and Media offers undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with majors in art, music, commercial music, and theatre, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with majors in advertising/public relations, journalism, and media production, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.) with majors in filmmaking, music, musical theatre, theatre, and the visual arts.

the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with majors in art, commercial music, music, and theatre;
the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with majors in advertising/public relations, journalism, and media production; and
the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.) with majors in filmmaking, music, musical theatre, theatre, and the visual arts.

Degrees in Arts and Media Education

Programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in education toward certification in art or music education for teachers in West Virginia public schools are listed under the College of Education in this catalog. Graduates in art or music education qualify for certification to teach in grades PreK to Adult.

Graduate Degrees in Arts and Media

A graduate program leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in music may be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Arts and Media Majors

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts degree offered by the College of Arts and Media places an emphasis on the arts and their relationships to outside disciplines. This degree focuses on a breadth in content knowledge with a liberal-arts orientation that features exploration in non-art fields.

Students enrolled in the B.A. degree program will select one of four majors:

Art
Commercial Music
Music
Theatre

Within most majors, students select an area of emphasis that aligns most closely with their chosen career path.

Students should contact the dean or the school director for information pertaining to each of the majors and areas of emphasis and to determine special admission requirements for each potential sequence. In unusual circumstances, students may enter the B.A. program as undecided majors upon the recommendation of the dean or school director.

Curricular Structure

The Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Media includes the following components:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core I requirements		9 credit hours
Core II requirements		25 credit hours
Major Area Requirements		48-51 credit hours
Minor		15-18 credit hours
Additional Electives		17-29 credit hours
Total Requirements for Graduation		120 credit hours

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications

Through the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the College of Arts and Media offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in three majors, two of which have multiple emphases:

advertising/public relations;
journalism, with emphases in broadcast, multimedia, and sports; and
media production, with emphases in radio/television production and management, and in television and video production.

Professionally oriented courses and laboratory experiences are combined with extensive liberal arts preparation to provide students with the background necessary for employment in mass communications. The program is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Curricular Structure

The Bachelor of Arts degree in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications includes the following components:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core I requirements		9 credit hours
Core II requirements		25 credit hours
JMC Cognizance area		24 credit hours
JMC Core		24 -26 credit hours
Major requirements		27-30 credit hours
Required Non-JMC and elective courses		0-6 credit hours
Total Requirements for Graduation		120 credit hours

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music, Theatre or Visual Arts

Through the School of Art and Design, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre, the College of Arts and Media offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.). This is a professional degree designed to prepare students to:

enter careers as professionals in their chosen artistic disciplines;
pursue professional studies at the graduate level;
apply principles learned through the fine arts to the myriad life choices all graduates make, regardless of vocation.

Students enrolled in the B.F.A. degree program will select one of five majors: filmmaking, music, musical theatre, theatre, or visual arts. Within each major, students are further required to select a major area of emphasis, allowing specialization. Majors and areas of emphasis are as follows:

Filmmaking Major
Music Major: areas of emphasis
- Jazz Studies
- Multidisciplinary Studies
- Performance
- Theory and Composition
Musical Theatre Major
Theatre Major: areas of emphasis
- Performance
- Production
Visual Arts Major: areas of emphasis
- Ceramics
- Fibers
- Graphic Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Studio Art

Curricular Structure

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program, consistent with professional degree programs in the fine arts in United States higher education, includes the following components:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core I requirements		9 credit hours
Core II requirements		25 credit hours
Electives outside of the Major		13 credit hours
Majors and Area of Emphasis requirements		73 credit hours
Total Requirements for Graduation		120 credit hours

University Core Curriculum

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core I: (9 hours)
First Year Seminar (100-level)		3
Discipline-specific courses with an emphasis on critical thinking (CT) and active learning (100- or 200-level) ¹		6
Core II: 25 hours (100- or 200-level) ²
Composition		6
Communication		3
Math		3
Physical or Natural Science		4
Social Science		3
Humanities		3
Fine Arts		3
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive credit in any discipline at any level		6
Multicultural or International coursework in any discipline at any level		3
Capstone project in the major
Total Credit Hours		43

¹: Specific courses that fulfill the CT requirement may be found at www.marshall.edu/gened.
²: Specific courses that fulfill Core II may be found at www.marshall.edu/gened.

For more information, consult the general education website: www.marshall.edu/gened.

Additional Degree Requirements

For specific degree requirements, see the appropriate major.