Academic Policies and Procedures
Students planning to major in any program in Fine Arts should consult the academic adviser as soon as possible. Due to limitations in faculty and space, the college cannot accept all eligible applicants. Therefore, admission to the college is selective. A student's entire record, including educational objective, pattern of courses completed, quality of academic record, successful audition or portfolio review, and test data will be considered. Applicants to art education, drama education and music education programs are required to present SAT or ACT test scores prior to admission to these programs. Priority in admission will be given to those applicants whose potential indicates the greatest likelihood of success in the program.
Native Freshmen and Sophomores
Because the College of Fine Arts offers professional degrees (BFA and BM), the admissions process often occurs in two phases.
1 "Conditional" admission as a freshman to the College and a program of choice in the Department of Theatre and Dance or the School of Art and Art History. There is no conditional admission for music students; they must be eligible for direct admission to music programs prior to registering for classes.
2 "Direct," or confirmed, admission into a specific program of choice, which occurs in different stages of the academic career for different programs.
- Art
: students in art may be required to submit a portfolio for conditional admission into a program as a freshman. Students desiring to change from another major within the university must submit a portfolio for conditional admission. All art students must pass a portfolio review at the end of their sophomore year before direct admission to a specific program.
- Music
: all music students must audition prior to enrolling for their freshman year of study.
- Theatre and Dance
: students may audition their freshman year for direct admission to BFA programs.
Students, even those in the "conditional" phase of their program, maintain the College of Fine Arts (FA) classification as long as they meet the standards set by the college and UF for admission and universal tracking.
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To be eligible for admission to the college, a transfer student must satisfy the minimum requirements for admission. Additionally, all students must complete two sequential courses of foreign language in secondary school, or 8-10 semester hours at the postsecondary level, or document an equivalent level of proficiency.
The primary criterion to any art, dance, music and theatre program is proficiency in the discipline. All students, except for BA in Theatre, must present an audition or portfolio for review.
The majority of 3000-4000 level professional courses required for the major in the junior and senior years generally cannot be taken at other schools. Students attending four-year colleges should take courses similar to the first two years' preparatory courses for their intended major.
The associate of arts (A.A.) degree is required for students transferring from a community college; the degree should be posted on the student's transcript prior to admission. Any exception to this requirement will be stated in the student's acceptance letter.
Transfer students are advised to plan their studies as outlined below for each department or school. Transfer students, even with completed AA degrees, will usually be required to take additional pre-professional, lower division (2000 level) courses beyond the minimum courses, required for entry into a specific program.
Art: Students are admitted to studio degree programs following completion of a satisfactory portfolio review. (Deadline for Fall Admission: February 1; For Spring Admission: October 1). The community college program should include:
- two basic design courses, including color theory
- two free-hand drawing courses
- two courses in art history
These courses transfer automatically. Other courses prefixed ART do not transfer automatically and will need evidence of achievement (i.e., portfolio). All majors within the School of Art and Art History require a portfolio review, with the exception of Art History.
Dance: Students are admitted to the program following completion of
- a satisfactory in-person or videotaped audition
- a resumé
- acceptable proficiency in dance technique
The community college program should include:
- two years of dance technique, including ballet, modern and jazz
- one year of dance composition
- dance appreciation
- production and performance courses or experience
Music: Students are admitted to the program following completion of a satisfactory in person or tape-recorded audition and accomplishment of an acceptable proficiency in music theory (written, singing and aural skills). The community college program should include:
- two years of music theory, including written theory, ear training, sight singing and keyboard harmony
- two years of performance major study
- two years of ensemble
Transfer students, with or without an AA degree, who have satisfactorily completed the suggested four semesters of music theory sequence and four semesters of lower division performance study must successfully take a Comprehensive Musicianship Exam upon admittance to the School of Music to be considered as a junior. Those students who have not completed the above courses must take a Comprehensive Musicianship Exam for placement within the theory program and must then successfully pass a Comprehensive Musicianship Exam upon completion of the theory course work assigned for remediation.
Theatre: Students are admitted to the program following completion of a satisfactory audition in performance or a portfolio review in production. The community college program should include:
- two courses in acting
- introduction to theatre
- costume and stage make-up
- stage production
- stage movement
- theatre practice
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Change of Major
Students wishing to change majors after four semesters should do so before acquiring 96 hours (including current enrollment). In addition, students must have
- met the minimum overall GPA
- completed the designated foundation courses (pre-professional courses)
- passed an audition, portfolio review or (for B.A.) have completed the pre-professional courses
- met universal tracking requirements set by the college
- demonstrated a well-articulated educational goal for which the change of major is necessary
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Dean's List
Undergraduate students who complete a minimum of 12 hours or certified equivalency per term (6 hours in Summer A or B) and achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or better will earn a position on the Dean's List. Students earning grades of I, X, S/U are not eligible.
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A student who has received a baccalaureate degree but who is not seeking admission to the Graduate School may, under certain conditions, be admitted as a postbaccalaureate student (6FA).
The student must apply to enter the college; admission is based on standard college/ department admissions policies. Students making application for admission under the 6FA classification must declare a specific major, which cannot be the same program of study as the baccalaureate degree. A student cannot earn a second baccalaureate degree in the same major even if the program emphasis has changed.
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Students may choose to complete the requirements for two majors from the same division; e.g., painting and drawing or music history and church music, or acting and scene design. Courses used for one major may be used as electives for the other major and vice versa.
Students applying for a double major must already be admitted to one FA major and have fewer than 96 hours (including current enrollment). They must meet all admission requirements set by the college for the second major and be able to complete the degree within a reasonable number of semesters.
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A dual degree program is defined as the completion of two degree programs, e.g., a B.A. and B.F.A.; B.M. and B.F.A. Students may not receive a dual degree when the degree title is the same, such as two B.A.'s or two B.F.A.'s in the same disciplines.
Courses used for one major may be used as electives for the other major and vice versa. Students applying for a dual degree must already be admitted to one major and have fewer than 96 hours (including current enrollment.) They must meet all admission requirements set by the college for the second degree if the second degree is within the college. If the second degree is outside the college, applicants must be admitted to the second degree program by the appropriate college.
Students should be able to complete both degrees within a reasonable number of hours. Students are required to file two degree applications with the registrar's office.
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Students enrolled in colleges other than Fine Arts may wish to consider a minor in this college. The following minors are available:
- art history
- music with emphasis in music performance, music literature/theory/composition, and ethnomusicology
- theatre with emphasis in general theatre, or design/technical
- dance
Students should review the minor requirements available in 101 FAA and talk with an adviser.
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Students with majors in the fine arts may pursue a minor in another department or college. Students in any art studio major may pursue a minor in art history as an exception to the above. The minor, however, does not reduce the number of hours required for the major. Students interested in an outside minor are encouraged to discuss the requirements and certification procedures, and to seek approval with an adviser from the college that houses the minor.
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In cooperation with the College of Education, the College of Fine Arts offers programs for teaching art and music in the public schools in grades K-12. Courses leading to drama certification in grades 6-12 are available through the Department of Theatre and Dance. Curriculum changes to accommodate legislative or Department of Education mandates may be required. Students should see the program coordinator or department/school adviser for updates to requirements. For certification information and Florida Department of Education regulations, see the bulletin issued by the State Department of Education. Information also is available in 101 Fine Arts Bldg. A and from academic advisers in art, music and theatre.
An applicant for initial regular certification in Florida must first pass the state teacher certification examination.
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Students completing this curricula, which is offered in cooperation with the College of Education, fulfill the educational requirements for teaching certification K-12 (drama, 6th - 12th grade) in Florida and in most other states through the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
As a prerequisite for admission, a student must receive a minimum composite score of 20 on the American College Test or a minimum composite score of 960 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. If taken prior to April 1995, a score of 840 is required. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 also is required. College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) must be taken. Students are not allowed to complete CLAST through exemptions.
C or better grades are required in all art education, music education, drama education and education courses. The speech requirement is met with MUE 3311 and 3330 or ARE 4242, 4243 and 4244 or TPP 2110 and 3111.
A minimum 2.5 GPA is required of all students applying for student teaching and to be eligible for temporary certification. In addition, a 2.5 GPA and a "satisfactory" rating on a teaching portfolio is required for graduation.
It is the student's responsibility to be aware of and to follow the requirements and prerequisites specified by the College of Education. Two semesters prior to the semester in which they plan to student teach, students must be approved by the art, theatre or music adviser to enroll in EDG 4203.
Students should consult the coordinators for art, drama and music education and the undergraduate advisers during the semester prior to the one in which they wish to do their student teaching. Students must make special application to the coordinator of student teaching, 150 Norman Hall. Applications for the fall semester may be picked up after February 1 and must be received no later than April 1. Applications for the spring semester may be picked up after April 15 and must be received no later than September 15.
Usually, student teaching placements will be outside the Gainesville area. Upon learning the location of their placements, student teachers are responsible for making arrangements to live in the school community and to assume living expenses, in addition to tuition.
The student must complete all course work prior to the student-teaching semester. Because student teaching is a full-time commitment, student teachers may not register for any other course during the student-teaching semester. A student may not be employed on weekdays while student teaching.
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Student Responsibility
While the college maintains an academic advisory service and carefully works to keep accurate records of individual students in the college, the student is responsible for meeting all degree requirements. Students should read their online tracking audits each term and visit an adviser once each semester to review progress toward the degree.
Students are responsible for staying on track, for registering for the proper courses and for fulfilling all requirements for their degrees. Academic advisers and faculty will assist and counsel; ignorance does not constitute a basis for a waiver.
Students may be required to take additional courses to remove skill deficiencies when deemed necessary by proficiency exams.
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Computer Requirement
Computer requirements for students enrolled in the college vary according to each degree program. Students should consult their academic adviser for specific hardware and software recommendations before acquiring a computer.
Refer to the CIRCA web page at www.circa.ufl.edu/computers for general information and a link to the college's home page for specific requirements for each program.
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Normal Course Load
The normal load in this college is 15 credit hours per semester. All students are expected to carry a normal load. A student who wishes to carry more than 17 hours must get approval at the time of registration from the academic adviser or the associate dean.
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Normal Academic Progress
Students maintain normal academic progress by earning a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) for all work attempted while classified in the college (2.5, C+ average in drama education and music education, 3.0 in art and art education). The term average, as used here, refers to the GPA on work attempted after the student is classified FA and not the cumulative grade point average established by the university.
Students must take courses as outlined in the tracking plan for each major. Failure to comply will result in college probation or suspension. Students are required to take courses in sequence. Students may be excluded from a program of study in the college if they fail or refuse to maintain normal academic progress.
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College Probation and Dismissal
A junior or senior whose college grade point average falls below 2.0 (or other required minimum) will be placed on college probation, and the student will be notified in writing. The college GPA is not the cumulative UF GPA but rather the GPA on all courses taken after the student is classified "FA." As long as a student has a deficit record, he/she will remain on probation, and must continue to remove deficits each term. Failure to remove the deficits in a timely way could result in a college suspension for one term.
While on suspension, a student cannot enroll at another institution unless he/she has successfully petitioned the college. If a student is permitted to enroll in approved courses at another institution, grades earned will not reduce the deficit points at UF nor will they count toward UF credit. Students cannot graduate from this college with deficit points on their records.
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Adding/Dropping/Withdrawing
Courses may be added or dropped during drop/add without penalty. After the drop/add period, courses may be dropped up to the university deadline, subject to the following restrictions:
- Approval to drop a course must be obtained by a fine arts adviser and the Dean's Office.
- Drops must fall within the university's policy for drops based on credits attempted.
- After two upper division drops, students must petition their adviser to drop a course. The adviser makes a recommendation to the college petitions committee. Petitions for third drops will not be approved except for documented hardship or medical reasons.
- Any student who withdraws for a second time will be placed on college probation. Any student on college probation who withdraws for a third time may be ineligible for further registration in the college.
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Petitions
Any student who feels that college regulations created a particular hardship or injustice may petition for a waiver of the regulation. Information on procedures is available in the dean's office, 101 FAA. Anyone who believes that she/he has been discriminated against should contact the associate dean for student and academic affairs.
If a student feels that his or her performance in a course has not been evaluated accurately, the situation should be discussed with the instructor. If the disagreement is not resolved, the student may pursue the matter with the instructor's department chair.
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International Opportunities
The college supports study abroad for its majors. The college encourages study abroad for a semester or a full academic year and has established exchange agreements with numerous foreign colleges and universities. These programs allow UF students to experience other cultures and to count the credits earned toward their degrees.
Participants in approved college programs can receive financial aid, can count summer courses taken abroad as part of their summer study obligation, can study abroad during the last 30 hours of their program, and with careful planning and prior approval, can count course work taken abroad as part of their major or core requirements. Interested students should consult their adviser and the associate dean for student and academic affairs in 101 Fine Arts Building A.
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Graduate Level Courses
Junior and senior level undergraduates are encouraged to enroll in 5000-level courses with instructor permission. Normally, a student must have a 3.00 grade point average.
To enroll in 6000-level courses, a student must have senior standing, permission of the instructor and a 3.00 junior-senior level GPA.
After a student has been accepted to the Graduate School, up to six hours of graduate courses earned with grades of B or above may be applied toward a graduate degree in this college, provided credit has not been used toward an undergraduate degree.
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