UA College of Fine Arts

1. UA College of Fine Arts • School of Art • School of Dance • School of Media Arts* • School of Music • School of Theatre Arts* *new merger into School of Theatre, Film & Television

2. Degrees Offered, Undergraduate • Liberal arts BA degree • Professional training degrees (BFA, BM) • Approximately 1500 majors

3. Degrees Offered, Graduate • Introductory graduate degree (MA, MM) • Terminal degrees (MFA, PhD, DMA) • Approximately 350 graduate students

4. Accreditation • National Association of Schools of Art and Design • National Association of Schools of Dance • National Association of Schools of Music • National Association of Schools of Theatre

5. Fundamental knowledge & skills • Practice, history, theory of various areas of specialization • Development of an “artistic voice” • Understanding of relationship between ideas, structure, & expression • Technical ability at professional level • Self-critique • Ability to critique and learn from others

6. Assessing the arts “Painting is easy for those that do not know how, but very difficult for those that do!” - Edgar Degas

7. Assessing the arts: individual assessment • Most effective by individuals with years of study and practice in an art form • The more advanced the student, the more assessment of technique recedes in favor of artistic attributes • Assessment should include a range of techniques in various combinations

8. Assessment mechanisms • Auditions • Used extensively in the performing arts for admission, retention, and admission to upper-division • CFA “holistic admissions” process; assessment begins prior to admission • Sample admissions criteria from School of Dance audition/interview

9. Assessment mechanisms • Portfolio and document reviews • An organized collection of student work • Most effective for assessing student growth, especially when comparing work from at least two points in time • End-of-semester/year portfolio reviews for all professional degree students • e-portfolios <eportfolio.cfa.arizona.edu>

10. Assessment mechanisms • Examinations • Traditional exams in combination formats for academic courses in history & theory • Specialized exams, such as the Music Education Advisory Review test • Sight singing exercise, error detection test, and a two-minute speech

11. Assessment mechanisms • Juries, hearings and competitions • Typically required for advancement to a higher level of study • In School of Music, juries provide students with opportunity to demonstrate to the area faculty their progress on a specific instrument

12. Assessment mechanisms • Studio or technique lessons and classes • Individual or group • School of Art’s “First-Year Experience” core curriculum: 8 conceptually themed 8-week courses with topics such as space, gaze, surface, propaganda, the body • Ability to assess understanding of common vocabulary and concepts

13. Assessment mechanisms • Rehearsals • Sites of close individual mentoring by faculty (faculty work alongside students as directors, conductors, designers, etc. on events for the public) • Assessment of process, not simply product

14. Assessment mechanisms • Public exhibitions, screenings, recitals or performances • Typically BFA/BM students required to offer public performance/exhibition each semester – use of evaluation rubrics • Capstone projects – School of Media Arts “I Dream in Widescreen” • Theatre Arts annual Showcase of Talent; assessment by industry professionals

15. Assessment mechanisms • Career development courses, student teaching, and internship evaluations • Numerous internship arrangements with professional arts organizations • Teacher certification programs in Art, Music and Theatre Arts

16. The role of self-reflection and critique • Specific feedback combined with open-ended questioning techniques • Students themselves as a source of feedback • Self-motivation, discipline and creative problem-solving