Division of The Arts

Area of Art

Mission Statement

The Area of Art facilitates and promotes excellence in the visual and creative process from an intentionally Evangelical perspective.

Vision Statement

The Area of Art aspires to:

• Identify the human creative process as a reflection of God’s creative nature;
• Introduce students to a broad range of creative techniques and visual media;
• Introduce key theological and philosophical concepts that relate to the theory and practice of the visual artist;
• Encourage understanding and interpretation of art within its social, historical, and theological contexts;
• Prepare individuals to perform successfully in a highly competitive art industry;
• Send Art Educators, Commercial Artists, and Studio Artists into the workplace as servant leaders;
• Encourage the individual’s life-long exploration, development, understanding and production of visual forms of expression and communication.

Art Curriculum - General Aspects

The art student can pursue one of three degrees or a specified art minor offered by the area. The Art Core is identical for each art degree and will allow ease in moving from one degree to another within the area. The Art Core is designed to give students significant exposure to a wide variety of art mediums, and a solid visual arts foundation.

A course designed around the art studio and the production of art product requires significant time and serious commitment by the individual student. Due to the nature of art coursework, the student will be expected to log additional unsupervised time in the studios. Many art programs throughout the U.S. expect every credit hour of studio coursework to represent three hours of work done in the art studio. It is imperative that each student plans this additional time into his or her schedule. This may seem excessive to the beginner, but the professional art world is highly competitive.

All art majors are required to keep a portfolio of their best artwork for presentation in comprehensive solo exhibition. Artwork must be approved by the area during the student’s senior year. The Area of Art reserves the right to retain examples of work from all studio courses for the permanent collection of Southwest Baptist University, and to use reproductions of student artwork for purposes of publication and advertising, etc.

Living during the most visual culture in world history, today’s studio and commercial artists have a tremendous responsibility. Serious study of the visual arts provides a basis and avenue for effective communication and personal expression. Visual art is a contextual language, both a by-product and a catalyst of culture. Well-trained, highly skilled artists have a unique opportunity to effectively engage the visual language in order to care for culture, promote healing in society, and to reflect the creative nature of the Triune God of the Bible.

Area of Music

Specialized Accrediation

Accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music

General Requirements

In addition to admission to the University, an applicant for a music degree program must be admitted to the Area of Music by the recommendations of the music faculty. All new students (freshmen and transfer students) pursuing a music degree are first admitted to the area as pre-music, pre-music education, or pre- church music majors. Upon a successful evaluation by the music faculty, normally at the conclusion of the student’s second semester at SBU, these students may be formally admitted into a music degree program. In all divisional policies and procedures, the term “music major” is intended to include these pre-majors. Students must have completed, or be concurrently enrolled in MUS 2613 - Theory III  and MUS 2611 - Sightsinging/Eartraining III  in order to enroll in any upper-level music course except ensembles and applied music. Music courses taken prior to this formal admission are applicable to the completion of the music degree. All references to music majors in this catalog are applicable to pre-music, pre-music education, and pre-church music majors as well.

As an exit examination, music majors are required to take the Major Field Test in music at the scheduled time during their last two semesters of study.

Applied Music Placement Tests

All entering freshmen and transfer students must take a classification test in piano and in their primary applied area. The student is expected to present prepared music on his/her primary instrument or voice.

Theory Placement Tests

All entering pre-music, pre-music education, and pre-church music majors who are not transferring theory or sightsinging/eartraining course credits must take a music fundamentals examination in order to determine placement into the music theory sequence and/or to satisfy MUS 1601 - Music Fundamentals Lab  as a co-requisite course for MUS 1613 - Theory I . All theory and sightsinging/eartraining courses taken at another school and transferred in for degree requirements must be tested at SBU for proficiency and/or placement. If all freshman and sophomore theory and sightsinging/eartraining courses have been completed at another school, a placement test is still required to determine readiness to continue in upper-level theory courses. No more than one theory course may be taken by OLIS, and only if taken as a repeated course.

Applied Music

The Area of Music offers three types of lessons: private applied music, secondary class and basic class. Private applied music is for all music majors and minors as well as intermediate to advanced non-majors. Secondary class is the required second applied area of performance, and is automatically piano if the primary applied area is not piano. Basic class is for non-music majors or minors with less than three years of previous study. Specific requirements in applied music are listed in the Music Handbook.

Applied music lessons are available in voice, piano, organ and all wind, percussion, and string instruments.

Private applied music may be taken for one credit (thirteen 30-minute lessons) or two credits (thirteen 60-minute lessons). Applied music may be taken for zero credit if it is not a degree requirement. Five hours of practice per week is required per credit hour of enrollment. Majors and minors (except general music minors) must perform once per semester in a student recital on their primary applied instrument. In addition to weekly lessons, music majors are required to participate in a minimum of three studio classes each semester.

Jury Examination

The final examination for private applied music courses will be conducted before a jury of faculty members which includes the student’s instructor. Students will be responsible for all materials covered during the semester as well as fundamental techniques and knowledge pertinent to their performing medium. The faculty jury will evaluate student performance according to proficiency levels as described in the Music Handbook. The Handbook also describes the expected rate of progression through the various levels required by each degree program. For non-music majors or music majors studying in an area outside of their primary and secondary applied areas, a jury examination is required only for scholarship recipients.

Secondary Requirement

The study in the secondary applied area is intended to establish functional skill on a practical level. Whenever possible a class approach is employed which allows the student two hours per week in directed study. Students with strong background in the secondary applied area may request private study. See Music Handbook for specific requirements.

Piano Proficiency Examinations

All music majors and minors (except general music minors) must pass a piano proficiency examination demonstrating functional piano skill. Scales, vocalises, sightreading, harmonization of given melodies, transposition, and repertoire are included in the exam. Students must continue to enroll in Secondary Class Piano each semester until this requirement is met. The tests are given at the end of each semester and are normally taken at the end of the sophomore year. Any student who passes the Piano Proficiency Examination prior to the completion of four semesters of piano study must continue enrollment in piano or organ until the completion of 4 credits.

Piano proficiency examinations for keyboard majors will be held during juries at the end of each semester. See the Music Handbook for specific requirements.

Recital Requirements

The following are minimum recital requirements:

• B.M. and B.S. Degrees: Half Recital - Level IV
• Performer’s Certificate: Half Recital - Level V; Full Recital - Level VI
• Piano Pedagogy Certificate: Half Recital - Level V
• Minor in Piano Pedagogy: Half Recital - Level IV

Music majors are required to receive a passing grade for MUS 0100 - Recital Attendance  for 6 semesters. This course is graded on a pass/fail system and requires the student to attend divisional recitals and concerts, and community and professional music programs as approved by the Division Head. These programs are listed in the Area of Music calendar and are posted each week on the Casebolt Music Center bulletin boards. Minimum attendance requirements for a passing grade will be posted on the bulletin boards at the beginning of each semester.

Keyboard as Primary Applied Area

Each student whose primary applied area is keyboard must be involved in the accompanying program each semester of enrollment with the exception of the student teaching and senior recital semesters. See the Music Handbook for specific information.

Ensemble Requirements

Each semester of enrollment as a music major, the student will audition for and perform in a major ensemble related to the student’s primary applied area. Students with piano or guitar as the primary applied area will designate a choral or instrumental ensemble as their major ensemble, based on experience and preference, or based upon specific certification requirements for students pursuing the music education degree. The student must perform in the ensemble to which he/she is assigned. Major ensembles: University Singers, SBU Chorale, Wind Symphony, University Band, and Chamber Orchestra.

Music Handbook

Details on all Area of Music requirements are found in the Music Handbook. Music majors and minors are responsible for all information in this handbook.