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Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts

Mission

The Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts aspires to offer outstanding regional, national, and international programs in art and design, communication, interactive media, music, and theatre arts. The College is committed to:

  • a humane, equitable, and intellectually stimulating environment for faculty and students;
  • dynamic academic programs that prepare students and faculty for opportunities in the new century;
  • cultural diversity among students and faculty;
  • creative diversity in academic and cocurricular programs;
  • innovative collaborative initiatives with colleagues throughout the world;
  • collaboration of students and faculty on projects in research and creative production;
  • international study and scholarship;
  • the technology to support College programs; and
  • external interactions that provide professional development and career opportunities for faculty and students.

Academic Programs

The programs of the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts are unified by their respect for imagination and the creativity that enables its communication; an understanding of the relationships among talent, skill, and practice; and a commitment to the exploration of interdisciplinary and collaborations among the disciplines of our college and the university. At the same time we recognize the great strength in the diversity of our disciplines–from the personal to the global dimensions of modern communication and to the infinite variety of artistic expression.

The College offers two principal types of degrees. Professional degrees include the Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Bachelor of Music, which require one-half to two-thirds of the course credit to be in the major discipline. These intensive programs are considered preparation for direct entrance to professional employment or graduate study. Liberal studies programs are the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees, which require one-third to one-half of the total course credit toward the degree to be in the major. The ‘’Graduation Requirements’’ section below describes the distinctions between the B.A. and B.S. degrees. These programs give the student a substantial focus in the major with firm grounding in basic skills and a broad university education.

Cocurricular Activities

Academic programs in the College are enhanced by cocurricular activities that provide important performance and publication experience for student majors and for nonmajors with avocational interests in the arts and communication. Music ensembles and recitals, an extensive gallery exhibition program, theatre productions, preprofessional media organizations, and the national champion Bradley speech team serve as laboratory experiences in which the work of the classroom is applied and presented to the public. The Bradley University Hollywood semester offers students in all majors the opportunity for an entertainment industry study-away semester in Los Angeles, CA.

Faculty

The faculty members of the College are dedicated to quality teaching enhanced by mentoring and to scholarly research and creative production reinforced by collaboration with colleagues and students. Faculty members are active professionals in their disciplines who are dedicated to the precept that students in the College must blend academic classroom experiences with creative opportunities in performance, the laboratory, or the studio.

Facilities

Each department in the College has an excellent, dedicated facility that supports educational, creative, and scholarly activities. The Department of Art and Design is housed in the Heuser Art Center, a well-equipped building with superb classrooms, studios, and gallery. The Department of Music is housed in Constance Hall and Dingeldine Music Center, which includes the beautiful Eleanore Sikes Peters Recital Hall. The Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts houses the Department of Theatre Arts and includes the main-stage Meyer Jacobs Theatre, Blythe O'Sullivan Studio Theatre, scenery facility, a costume shop in Duryea, and a gallery. The InterMedia Center, housed in the Duryea Parking Deck, is a teaching and research facility used to advance the integration of technology, visualization, and interactivity. The Caterpillar Global Communications Center houses the Department of Communication, including the Charley Steiner School of Sports Communication, the Department of Interactive Media, and the College offices. It features state-of-the-art audio, video, computer, and worldwide communication technology.

Accreditation

The program in art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The program in music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The program in theatre arts is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the College are as follows:

  1. The University general admissions requirements, as indicated elsewhere in this catalog.
  2. Specific admission requirements for each program, as given in the individual departmental sections.

Transfer Requirements

  • Transfer students who are candidates for a degree from this College must earn at least nine hours in the major field at Bradley.
  • Courses for a major in the College which are transferred to Bradley University from another institution with a grade of “D” will not be accepted by the College of Communications and Fine Arts. As a result, the student may need more than 124 hours to graduate.

Graduation Requirements

To complete a degree in the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts, a student must satisfy the University and College requirements as well as the specific major requirements.

University Requirements

All incoming freshmen entering Bradley University beginning Fall 2017 must meet the Bradley Core Curriculum (BCC) requirements, as outlined in the All-University Degree Requirements section of this catalog. BCC requirements emphasize eight "Areas of Inquiry" that will more deeply engage the student in the process of intellectual growth. The student chooses from a list of approved courses.

Slane College students entering prior to Fall 2016 should refer to the General Education Requirements as articulated in their Undergraduate Catalog year.

Bachelor Of Arts

All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete three semesters of college-level foreign language study or its equivalent.

Bachelor Of Science

In order to receive the Bachelor of Science degree, students must successfully complete at least 15 hours of courses selected from mathematics, computer science, and the natural sciences.

Other University Requirements

  1. A minimum of 124 semester hours
  2. 40 junior-senior semester hours (courses numbered 300 or above)
  3. 30 earned residence hours
  4. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 based upon courses taken at Bradley University.
  5. 24 of the last 30 semester hours must be earned in residence at Bradley.
  6. It is the student’s responsibility to satisfy all University academic, financial, and administrative requirements and procedures as outlined in the catalog.
  7. Students who maintain continuous enrollment and who complete work toward the baccalaureate degree within five years from the date of entry may graduate under either the catalog in effect at the time of entrance or under the catalog in effect at the time of graduation.
  8. A change in major may mean meeting new requirements in force at the time of the change as a condition for acceptance into that major. Students whose work has been interrupted for one or more semesters may be held to requirements in effect at the time of their re-enrollment.

College Requirements

  1. The required courses and grade point average in the major are stated in the individual departmental sections of this catalog.
  2. Approval for off-campus or correspondence study: Students electing to take courses at another accredited institution to apply toward graduation requirements assume the responsibility for the transferability of the credit. Before transfer credit can be posted to the transcript, permission must be obtained from the appropriate department chair and the dean of the College. The student is also responsible for requesting an official transcript be sent to the Registrar’s Office once the course is completed.
  3. As in any academic program, revisions are being made continually; students should consult the department chair or advisor about current program requirements.
  4. All Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts students are required to have a laptop computer to complete their coursework.

Teacher Certification

To be eligible to teach in the public schools, a student must obtain a certificate. Teacher certification programs at Bradley University are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. Students seeking certification should be certain to have an advisor in the department of the major as well as in teacher education. While a student ordinarily may graduate and be certified under the University catalog requirements in effect at the time the student becomes a teacher education candidate, the Illinois State Board of Education may mandate changes in standards of approved teacher education programs. This may require students to modify their original degree programs to be eligible for certification upon completion of graduation requirements. Students should refer to the section of this catalog containing information about Department of Teacher Education requirements.

Cooperative Education/Internship Program

The College participates with employers in an optional Cooperative Education/Internship Program. Students either alternate periods of full-time study with full-time employment or have part-time employment while attending classes. 

Global Scholars Program

Students enrolled in the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts have the unique opportunity to earn the designation Global Scholar-International Option in recognition of achievement in global studies. The Global Scholar-International Option may be earned in conjunction with a degree in Art and Design, Communication, Interactive Media, Music, and Theatre Arts. Requirements for program participation will not require additional financial expense and will not add to total credits necessary for graduation. The Global Scholar-International Option provides:

Recognition:

  • Formal recognition by the dean of the college and citation and graduation cord at the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts awards ceremony.
  • Global Scholars recognition on your degree audit and notation on your official university transcript.

Requirements

  • Courses: Students enrolled in Global Scholars under the BCC should select one course in each of the following areas:   Fine Arts (FA), Global Perspectives (GP) World Cultures, Global Perspectives (GP) Global Systems (GS) and Humanities (HU).  Courses taken during a semester study abroad may also be accepted for specific areas with approval by the Director of the Global Scholars program
  • Language: complete at least one semester of foreign language.  Language may be taken in conjunction with a study abroad program.
  • Seminars: complete two one-semester-hour Global Scholar seminars offered by faculty proficient in a variety of international topics. Seminars are offered each semester.
  • International Study Abroad: participate in an approved international study experience selected from ensemble travel, international internships, or Bradley International Study Abroad programs.

Hollywood Semester

The Bradley University Hollywood Semester is an off-campus program designed to provide qualified Bradley students the unique opportunity to explore the entertainment industry through a semester of study in Los Angeles, California.   Professional experiences are created through a combination of industry-related internships, academic courses, extra-curricular lectures, and entertainment industry experiences.  Students earn a full semester of upper-level credit. Bradley financial aid is applicable to the program costs. The program is open to all Bradley students in all majors.

This is the official catalog for the 2021-2022 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.