Visual and Performing Arts Program (InterArts Studies Program)

The new Visual and Performing Arts Program (InterArts Studies Program) will provide students with the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree by designing their own unique course of study in two arts areas according to their specific educational and career goals.

For example, students could combine such areas as

• Photography or Video and Dance
• Music Recording and Graphic Arts
• Music Composition and Film.

Working in two or more arts areas will allow adventurous students the ability to design an exciting program suited to their particular interests.  Such an individually designed major is ideal for students who wish to be engaged in a collaborative academic environment and to work closely with faculty and staff. Degree proposals are developed with faculty guidance, facilitated and supported by InterArts Studies advisors and approved by the InterArts Studies Committee.

Participating students create a capstone creative project in their senior year in which they will demonstrate academic and artistic mastery of their chosen areas of study. 

Independent study, internships, study abroad, and community arts projects are encouraged as part of each student’s program.

The completion of the proposed major must be possible through educational experiences at UMBC, although a reasonable number of approved courses at other institutions may be included if necessary to the academic integrity of the proposal.

InterArts Highlights
Guest artists who have recently performed at UMBC and gave master classes and student workshops:

Meredith Monk – pioneer in what is now called "extended vocal technique" and "interdisciplinary performance",  Monk has been honored by the MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award, among other notable honors.

Bernice Johnson Reagon -  singer and founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock Vocal Ensemble and Professor of History, American University, Reagon has been the recipient of numerous international awards.

High Zero Festival – Participants in Baltimore’s International Festival of Improvised Music performed for and improvised with music students in the Fall of 2002

SLANT Performance Group – An avant-garde Asian-American performance group whose work includes music, movement, spoken word and theatre, gave an overview of their work and process in the Spring of 2003.

Horst Hoheisel – German scientist and artist, lectured students on his work in creating memorials to victims of the Holocaust. 

Acclaimed dancer/choreographers in the Arts-in-Residence program have included Troika Ranch, Stephanie Skura, Robert Dunn and

Awards and Recognition
The Maryland State Arts Council awarded 6 out of 7 Individual Awards in both the Media and New Genre categories to faculty from UMBC’s Department of Visual Arts in 2002;

Artist Fred Wilson will represent the United States at the 2004 Venice Bienale based on his award-winning exhibition at The UMBC Center for Visual Culture in 2002

Wendy Salkind, chair of Theatre, was acclaimed in her performance at the International Beckett Festival in Strasbourg, France, 1996.

Colette Searls, Theatre, won the Bravo TV Network's national Arts for Change Award in 1997 for work with incarcerated and at-risk youth.

Ruckus, the Department of Music’s new resident faculty ensemble, has appeared throughout the region and coached high school students at the

Student Achievement
Marianne Hayden is a trail blazer who has double majors in acting and digital arts.  Her work has already been exhibited in Finland, she has participated in the one-semester UMBC Exchange Program with Schwäbisch Hall School of Design, Germany and she has appeared in a commercial film.