The BFA in Interarts Performance is a new interdisciplinary undergraduate degree jointly offered by the School of Art & Design and the Department of Theatre & Drama in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. This is the perfect program for students who have interests in both the visual arts and theater as well as a desire to create original performance pieces. Interarts Performance introduces students to a diverse range of art forms and creative practices from new media to traditional acting skills, with the aim of generating work that blurs boundaries between the visual arts and performance.
The BFA in Interarts Performance includes a balanced combination of studio courses from the School of Art & Design (A&D) and the Department of Theatre & Drama (T&D), a component of academic courses in both schools, and academic requirements and electives from across the University. Students are immersed in the cultures of both schools and have the advantage of the academic resources of a major research University.
Interarts Performance also includes comprehensive reviews at the end of the second and fourth years, a recommended semester of international study during the third year, student performance opportunities and a final-year, capstone educational experience. Intensive faculty mentoring guides each student through an individualized program of study.
Curriculum
This chart represents basic credit distributions for a sample plan of study. Schedules will vary for each student.
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| A&D/T&D Introductory Electives | 30 |
| A&D/T&D Advanced Studio Electives | 24 |
| Lecture Series and A&D/T&D Academic Courses | 28 |
| University Academic Courses | 36 |
| Integrative Project | 12 |
| BFA in Interarts Performance - Total | 130 |
Art & Design / Theatre & Drama Introductory Electives
In consultation with their faculty advisors, students pursuing a BFA in Interarts Performance choose 15 credits in introductory courses in A&D (ARTDES) and 15 credits in introductory courses in T&D (THTREMUS) from the lists below.
Art & Design Introductory Elective Courses (15 Credits)
| Course Title | Course # | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Drawing | 100 | 3 |
| Digital Studio | 110 | 3 |
| Tools, Materials, and Processes I: Construction | 120 | 3 |
| Tools, Materials, and Processes II: Messages | 121 | 3 |
| Tools, Materials, and Processes III: Time | 220 | 3 |
| Concept, Form, and Context I: The Human Being | 130 | 3 |
| Concept, Form, and Context II: Culture | 230 | 3 |
| Concept, Form, and Context III: Nature | 231 | 3 |
Theatre & Drama Introductory Elective Courses (15 Credits)
| Course Title | Course # | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Movement I | 172 | 3 |
| Acting I | 181 | 3 |
| Acting II | 182 | 3 |
| Voice I | 192 | 3 |
| Playwriting I | 227 | 3 |
| Acting and the Black Experience | 233 | 3 |
| Introduction to Design | 240 | 3 |
| Directing I | 241 | 3 |
| Directing II | 242 | 3 |
| Introduction to Stage Management | 245 | 3 |
| Introduction to Technical Theatre Practices | 250 | 3 |
| Production Practicum I | 251 | 1 |
| Production Practicum II | 252 | 1 |
| Lighting Design I | 256 | 3 |
| Scene Design I | 260 | 3 |
| Production Practicum III | 261 | 1 |
| Production Practicum IV | 262 | 1 |
| Costume Design I | 270 | 3 |
| Movement II | 271 | 2 |
| Movement III | 272 | 2 |
| Stage Combat I | 274 | 2 |
| Acting III | 281 | 3 |
| Acting IV | 282 | 3 |
| Voice II | 291 | 3 |
| Voice III | 292 | 3 |
Read about a student's experience in TMP.
Students create fantastic architecture in Digital Studio.
A&D and T&D Advanced Studio Electives
Following the completion of introductory courses, students work closely with faculty to develop an individual program of elective courses that addresses their educational goals. Students choose 12 to 15 credits from both A&D (ARTDES) and T&D (THTREMUS) current elective studio offerings.
Art & Design Advanced Studio Electives (12-15 Credits)
A&D Elective Studio courses vary each semester. For the Winter 2012 semester, elective studios include:
* - This course fulfills the Engagement Studio requirement.
Theatre & Drama Advanced Studio Electives (12-15 Credits)
| Course Title | Course # |
|---|---|
| Playwriting II | 327 |
| Performing Gender: Dramatizing from Oral Sources | 332 |
| Black Theatre Workshop | 340 |
| Directing III | 341 |
| Directing IV | 342 |
| Stage Management Practicum: Plays | 345 |
| Scenic Construction I | 350 |
| Production Practicum V | 351 |
| Production Practicum VI | 352 |
| Sound for Theatre | 353 |
| Lighting Design II | 356 |
| Sound Design II | 360 |
| Drafting & Model Making | 362 |
| Costume Design II | 370 |
| Physical Theatre | 371 |
| Stage Combat II | 374 |
| Acting V | 381 |
| Acting VI | 381 |
| Practicum in Performing Arts Management | 386 |
| Stage Dialects | 395 |
| Independent Study | 401 |
| Playwriting Toward Production | 429 |
| Directing Project | 442 |
| Drafting | 462 |
| Scene Painting for the Theatre | 464 |
| Costume Design III | 470 |
| Stage Make-Up | 472 |
| Acting VIII | 483 |
| Acting IX | 484 |
| Special Topics in Theatre | 499 |
| Light Lab | 557 |
| Advanced Scene Painting | 574 |
| Dance Composition I | DANCE 261 |
| Dance and the Related Arts | DANCE 461 |
| Sound Recording | PAT 331 |
| Microcomputers and Music | PAT 201 |
| Microcomputers and Music | PAT 401 |
| Music and Media | PAT 441 |
Read about the first SmartSurfaces course.
Learn about a class that taught students to make carillon bells.
A&D students work with specimens from the Museum of Zoology.
Check out projects created in Furniture Making.
Check out ads created by students in Animation for Broadcast.
In Paper Sculpture, students design pop-up books and more.
Lecture Series
The Penny W. Stamps Lecture Series brings respected emerging and established artists/designers to the School to conduct a public lecture and engage with students. Students must enroll in the 1-credit/semester Lecture Series and attend the weekly lecture each semester through all four years of the program.
| Course Title | Course # | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Penny Stamps Lecture Series - Fall (4 Semesters) | 160 | 4 |
| Penny Stamps Lecture Series - Winter (4 Semesters) | 161 | 4 |
Read one student's impression of the Stamps Speaker series.
Check out upcoming and past presentations.
Watch videos of past lectures on PLAY.
Art & Design and Theatre & Dance Academic Courses
Academic courses in A&D and T&D are designed to engage students in the history of art, design and performance and in the potential of contemporary live art and live artists.
Interarts Academic Courses
Interarts Performance majors attend a special 1-credit discussion session called “Interarts Performance Forum” each semester, and a 3-credit "Live Art Survey" course. Courses are listed under "INTPERF" in course guide.
| Course Title | Course # | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Interarts Performance Forum I | 160 | 1 |
| Interarts Performance Forum II | 161 | 1 |
| Interarts Performance Forum III | 260 | 1 |
| Interarts Performance Forum IV | 261 | 1 |
| Interarts Performance Forum V | 360 | 1 |
| Interarts Performance Forum VI | 361 | 1 |
| Interarts Performance Forum VII | 460 | 1 |
| Interarts Performance Forum VIII | 461 | 1 |
| Live Art Survey | 150 | 3 |
A&D Academic Courses
One course is required from the Art & Design Perspectives series — three 3-credit courses designed to be broader in scope than traditional art history courses, integrating art and design issues, ideas, and history.
| Course Title | Course # | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art & Design Perspectives I: The Creators | 150 | 3 |
| Art & Design Perspectives II: Society | 151 | 3 |
| Art & Design Perspectives III: Technology & the Environment | 250 | 3 |
Theatre & Drama Academic Courses
Two 3-credit courses are required from this group (THTREMUS).
| Course Title | Course # | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Drama | 211 | 3 |
| Intro to World Performance | 212 | 3 |
| Intro to Black Theatre | 222 | 3 |
| History of Theatre I | 321 | 3 |
| History of Theatre II | 322 | 3 |
| American Theatre and Drama | 323 | 3 |
| Contemporary Black Theatre | 324 | 3 |
| Contemporary American Theatre & Drama | 325 | 3 |
| Script Analysis for Black Writers and Directors | 326 | 3 |
| Performing Arts Management | 385 | 3 |
| Topics in Drama | 399 | 3 |
| Directed Reading | 400 | 3 |
| Ideas of Theatre | 402 | 3 |
| Design & Production Forum I | 403 | 3 |
| Design & Production Forum II | 404 | 3 |
| Advanced Playwriting | 427 | 3 |
| Special Topics in African American Theatre | 440 | 3 |
| Design for Directors | 441 | 3 |
| History of Décor | 466 | 3 |
| History of Theatre Architecture and Stage Design | 468 | 3 |
| History of Dress | 477 | 3 |
University Academic Requirements
University Academic Requirements are designed to develop basic familiarity with the three traditional components of liberal arts - humanities, social sciences and natural sciences; an introduction to analytical reasoning; empathy with other cultures; and familiarity with contemporary environmental issues.
Students must distribute the 36 credits of the University Academic Requirements as follows:
| Requirement | Course Info | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Writing | LSA Course Guide: "FYWR" | 4 |
| History of Art | LSA Course Guide: "HISTART" | 3 |
| Social Science | LSA Course Guide: "SS" | 3 |
| Natural Science | LSA Course Guide: "NS" | 3 |
| Analytical Reasoning |
LSA Course Guide: "MSA", "QR/1", "QR/2", Phil 180 or 201. |
3 |
| Environmental Studies | LSA Course Guide: "ENVIRON". | 3 |
| Cultural Diversity | Foreign language or culture courses. | 6 |
| Academic Electives | Choose additional courses to equal 36 credits. |
Integrative Project
In the 12-credit Integrative Project, seniors use the techniques, concepts and skills they've learned to plan, conceptualize, and build a single project of their choosing over the course of their final year. With the help of faculty advisors, they manage their own creative process and working schedules, and work in their own dedicated studio space. The project culminates in a final presentation where the student engages the public through exhibition, publication or performance, and is documented in a written thesis, website, and digital portfolio.
| Course Title | Course # | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Integrative Project | 400 | 12 |
Read about four A&D seniors and their Integrative Projects.
Check out the work featured in the 2011 Senior Show.
Read about a student's Integrative Project experience.
IP students come up with new ways to display their projects.
Reviews
Students must complete a Sophomore Review and a mid-year IP Critique during their senior year.
In the Sophomore Review, students conduct a presentation of their work to date in the program to an ad-hoc faculty committee. In preparation for reviews, students must supply faculty committee members with résumés, statements about their work, and reflections on their development to date. Special meetings for sophomores are held prior to the reviews in order to help them prepare.
A successful Sophomore Review is required for continuation in the program. Students who perform unsatisfactorily on their Sophomore Reviews are required to re-review at a designated date; some may be asked to take time off or improve deficiencies prior to advancing; and a small minority may be directed to leave the program. These reviews are a significant assessment component of the program.
The IP Critique is an opportunity for students to receive faculty advice and feedback midway through the year-long Integrative Project. Details regarding preparation for the IP Critiques are discussed in the individual IP classes.
All lectures take place at 5 pm on Thursdays at the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor.
The PLAY Blog takes you inside A&D’s community of makers, with posts by students, faculty and staff.
Website © 2012 Regents of the University of Michigan. The A&D website is produced with funding from Susan Smucker Wagstaff and Reid Wagstaff.