Global Arts Studies

The Global Arts Studies Program combines the study of music and the visual and performing arts, as well as the interactions of image, sound, and body in film, television, dance, theater, videogames, and other multimedia. We study these arts in historical and cultural context all around the world, learning about their inner workings as well as their place in society. The GASP major combines scholarly courses with practical hands-on training in ensemble and studio settings, for a rounded education in artistic theory and practice.

The program is global in many senses of the word. We study all fields of creative expression in multiple global contexts with equal rigor, from film screen to dance club, from ritual and touristic practices to museums and concert halls. Our faculty of scholars and practitioners help students refine the skills they need to critically engage culturally diverse media. Lecture courses, seminars, studio classes, and ensembles are designed to explore creative processes and material connections.

Working closely with faculty, our students conduct original research and acquire nuanced insights in sonic, visual, and performative realms. Students further deepen their understanding of global arts through hands-on training in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, music, and dance in a variety of cultures and media. GASP offers students ample opportunities to develop their professional skills by participating in community-oriented events—curating exhibitions, managing the UCM Art Gallery, and organizing recitals, concerts, and multimedia performances.

Programs

• Global Arts Studies, B.A.  
• Global Arts Studies, Performance Studies Emphasis, B.A.  
• Global Arts Studies, Visual Studies Emphasis, B.A.   
• Global Arts Studies Minor  

Global Arts Studies Program Learning Outcomes

The following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) describe the critical skills and knowledge that students in the GASP Major, as well as in arts courses, are expected to acquire upon the completion of their undergraduate education.

1. Describe visual and aural texts in technical and theoretical terms.
2. Analyze cultural, visual, aural and spatial procedures within their historical and conceptual contexts.
3. Apply theoretical models from multiple schools of thought in art history/visual studies and musicology/ethnomusicology.
4. Conduct research specific to critical studies of the arts.