The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts majors are students who declare a major in the studio arts (drawing, digital video and film production, painting, photography, printmaking sculpture) or theatre arts tracks. Each student should discuss with their faculty advisor the selection of courses and any other matters of concern in the student's academic life, such as study and travel abroad, scholarships and internships, career goals or options, etc.

Graduating senior visual and dramatic arts majors and double majors are required to participate in the annual student art exhibition and/or theatre production held during commencement week.

Degree requirements for BA in Visual and Dramatic Arts

(For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements in the Rice University General Announcements.)

Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Dramatic Arts

Single Major

Studio Art Track

(12 courses required)

    * ARTS 225 Basic Drawing (ARTS 101 accepted as equivalent)
    * ARTS 205 Photography I or ARTS 327 Documentary Production,
    * ARTS 301 Painting, ARTS 325 Life Drawing, or ARTS 340 Color Drawing
    * ARTS 311 Intaglio I or ARTS 365 Sculpture I,
    * Six (6) elective courses in studio (ARTS) or theatre (THEA) arts (may include no more than three (3) theatre arts courses)

Two (2) courses in art, film, or theatre criticism/theory or art history (HART) NOTE: open selections qualified by course prerequisites and in consultation with a visual and performing arts faculty advisor.

Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Dramatic Arts

Double Major

Studio Art Track

(10 courses required)

    * ARTS 225 Basic Drawing (ARTS 101 accepted as equivalent)
    * ARTS 205 Photography or ARTS 327 Documentary Production
    * ARTS 301 Painting, ARTS 325 Life Drawing, or ARTS 340 Color Drawing
    * ARTS 311 Intaglio I or ARTS 365 Sculpture I
    * Four (4) elective courses in studio (ARTS) or theatre (THEA) arts (may include no more than one (1) theatre arts courses)
    * Two (2) courses in art, film, or theatre criticism/theory or art history (HART) -NOTE: open selections qualified by course prerequisites and in consultation with a visual and performing arts faculty advisor.

In addition to the above requirements, visual and dramatic arts majors and double majors are required to take a one credit hour senior exhibition/theatre project class during their senior year, ARTS 499 Special Problems: Senior Exhibition/Theatre Production Project, prior to the annual senior art exhibition and theatre production held during commencement week. Students must speak with their visual and dramatic arts faculty advisor and receive written permission to enroll in ARTS 499.

Transfer Credit

No more than two courses may be transferred for the single or double major to satisfy degree requirements for BA in Visual Arts degree. The two transfer credit courses must be studio or theatre practice courses required for all majors. Advanced placement credit may not be used by visual arts majors to fulfill department degree requirements.

Entering transfer students who are transferring coursework from another accredited college or university will be allowed to transfer their undergraduate art courses. Students must speak with the Visual and Dramatic Arts chairman immediately upon transferring to Rice.

See also Transfer Credit in the Information for Undergraduate Students section of the Rice University General Announcements.

Exhibitions, Lectures, and Arts Programs at Rice

The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts mounts several art and photography exhibitions and stage productions each year. In addition, exhibitions and related activities organized by the Rice University Art Gallery enrich the teaching program of the Department of Visual Arts as well as the larger university and Houston communities.

The department enjoys an ongoing close relationship with local theatres, museums, and galleries. The department offers opportunities for students to work and study with local art venues and alternative art spaces by way collaborative events and programs. The collections and exhibitions of local museums are often the subject of course lectures.

Lectures, symposia, and talks are sponsored by the department and are designed to bring local, national, and international scholars, actors, directors, critics, and studio artists to campus to speak on a broad range of topics and current interests.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Glassell School of Art Core Fellows

The Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts, in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Glassell School of Art, supports up to six Glassell Core Fellowship recipients each year to teach studio practice and critical theory courses. These Core Fellowship recipients, selected by the MFAH from the highly competitive and prestigious Glassell School of Art Core Fellowship Residency Program, are post-graduate artists and art educators.

See ARTS, HART, and THEA in the Courses of Instruction section for course descriptions.