Course Catalog

Interdisciplinary Arts

Program Director: Suzanne Ostersmith

The program offers one minor:

Minor in Interdisciplinary Arts

The study of interdisciplinary arts expands a student's problem solving, critical reflection and innovative thinking through combining the strengths of theatre, dance, visual arts, and music. The Interdisciplinary Arts minor gives students a solid foundation and knowledge in these art forms and integrates the arts in a new and exciting way. This minor also allows students, such as those in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) majors, to integrate valuable arts experience into their skill set, increasing their creative capacity and expressiveness.

This unique minor offers arts-based research skills, focusing less on product and more on the creative process. A student will complete the minor being able to think creatively, innovatively and be confident in their ability to tackle any problem from a number of angles.

Students who wish to focus their studies in either Theatre or Dance should visit the Theatre and Dance Department page for more information on the Theatre Arts major/minor and the Dance major/minor. 

Minor in Interdisciplinary Arts: 20-25 credits

Required Courses:
DANC 165 Interdisciplinary Arts 3 credits
DANC 285 ePortfolio (recommended fall sophomore and junior year) 0 credits
One of the following options: 2-3 credits
        DANC 455 Dance Senior Seminar   
THEA 498 Senior Project
VART 499 Senior Thesis (Art majors only, spring of senior year)
Three lower division courses: 8-10 credits
one each in Theatre, Dance,  and Visual Arts.
Theatre
THEA 100 Introduction to Theatre 3 credits
THEA 111 Acting 4 credits
THEA 132 Stagecraft 3 credits
THEA 134 Costume 3 credits
  THEA 237 Costume and Fashion Design
3 credits
3-4 credits
Dance
  THEA 120 Voice and Movement 3 credits
DANC 115 Ballet I 2 credits
DANC 105 Jazz Dance I 2 credits
DANC 110 Contemporary/Modern Dance I 2 credits
  DANC 205 Jazz Dance II 2-3 credits
  DANC 210 Contemporary/Modern Dance II 2-3 credits
DANC 215 Ballet II 2-3 credits
2-3 credits
Visual Arts
  VART 101 Drawing I 3 credits
VART 112 Design Fundamentals 3 credits
VART 141 Ceramics I 3 credits
VART 190 Art Survey: Prehistoric to Medieval 3 credits
VART 191 Art Survey: Renaissance to Modern 3 credits
3 credits
Music
*requires prior approval of Interdisciplinary Arts Program Director
 Choose one of the following options:
  

MUSC 161 Music Theory I

3 credits
OR
a combination of 2 credits each in applied lessons and large ensembles:

MUSC 131 Applied Lessons

2 credits

AND

MUSC XXX Large Ensembles

2 credits
3-4 credits
One upper division course in Theatre, Dance, or Visual Arts: 3-4 credits

Theatre
THEA 216 Acting II 4 credits
THEA 239 Lighting Design 3 credits
THEA 253 Directing I 3 credits
THEA 332 Scenic Design 4 credits
Dance
DANC 315/DANC 415 and Ballet III 3 credits
DANC 205/DANC 405 Jazz Dance III 3 credits
DANC 300 Musical Theatre Dance 3 credits
DANC 310/DANC 410 Modern Dance III 3 credits
DANC 465 Choreography 3 credits
Visual Arts
VART 201 Drawing II 3 credits
VART 221 Painting I 3 credits
VART 241 Ceramics II 3 credits
VART 350 Beginning Printmaking 3 credits
VART 351 Beginning Screen Printing 3 credits
One of the following history courses: 1 credit
 
   THEA 200 Theatre History 3 credits
DANC 270 Dance History 3 credits
VART 394 Special Topics in Art History 3 credits
VART 395 Art in the 19th Century 3 credits
VART 396 Art in the 20th Century 3 credits
MUSC 171 Music in the Humanities 3 credits
MUSC 175 Jazz History 3 credits
MUSC 249 World Music 3 credits
  MUSC 250 Music in America 3 credits
Production experience in Theatre or Dance: 1 credit
One of the following courses:
  THEA 260 Production Lab 1 credit
THEA 261 Performance Lab 1 credit

See the Undergraduate catalog department sections for individual course descriptions.

Lower Division
Upper Division
 
Second Language Competency

Competency in a second language (classical or modern) at the intermediate level (courses numbered 201) is required for students continuing in the study of a language. Students beginning study in a language they have not previously studied can fulfill the requirement by completing one year at the beginning level (courses numbered 101-102). Non-native speakers of English who have completed the required English core credits at Gonzaga may petition the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences for a waiver of this requirement.

Additional information on this requirement can be found at

Language Requirement Information

 

In addition to their major and minor areas of study, all undergraduate students follow a common program designed to complete their education in those areas that the University considers essential for a Catholic, Jesuit, liberal, and humanistic education. The University Core Curriculum consists of forty-five credits of course work, with additional designation requirements that can be met through core, major, or elective courses.

The University Core Curriculum is a four-year program, organized around one overarching question, which is progressively addressed through yearly themes and questions. Hence, core courses are best taken within the year for which they are designated. First year core courses encourage intellectual engagement and provide a broad foundation of fundamental skills. Second and third year courses examine central issues and questions in philosophy and religious studies. The fourth year course, the Core Integration Seminar, offers a culminating core experience. Taken at any time throughout the four years, broadening courses intersect with the core themes and extend students’ appreciation for the humanities, arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Finally, the designation requirements (writing enriched, global studies, and social justice) reflect important values and reinforce students’ knowledge and competencies.

Overarching Core Question: As students of a Catholic, Jesuit, and Humanistic University, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?
Year 1 Theme and Question: Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?

  • The First-Year Seminar (DEPT 193, 3 credits): The First-Year Seminar (FYS), taken in the fall or spring of the first year, is designed to promote an intellectual shift in students as they transition to college academic life. Each small seminar is organized around an engaging topic, which students explore from multiple perspectives. The FYS is offered by many departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of FYS courses).  
  • Writing (ENGL 101, 3 credits) and Reasoning (PHIL 101, 3 credits): The Writing and Reasoning courses are designed to help students develop the foundational skills of critical reading, thinking, analysis, and writing. They may be taken as linked sections. Writing (ENGL 101) carries one of the three required writing-enriched designations (see below).
  • Communication & Speech (COMM 100, 3 credits): This course introduces students to interpersonal and small group communication and requires the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills necessary to organize, write, and present several speeches.
  • Scientific Inquiry (BIOL 104/104L, CHEM 104/104L, or PHYS 104/104L, 3 credits): This course explores the scientific process in the natural world through evidence-based logic and includes significant laboratory experience. Students pursuing majors that require science courses will satisfy this requirement through their major.
  • Mathematics (above Math 100, 3 credits): Mathematics courses promote thinking according to the modes of the discipline—abstractly, symbolically, logically, and computationally. One course in mathematics, above Math 100, including any math course required for a major or minor, will fulfill this requirement. MATH 100 (College Algebra) and courses without the MATH prefix do not fulfill this requirement.

Year 2 Theme and Question: Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?

  • Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 201, 3 credits): This course provides students with a philosophical study of key figures, theories, and intellectual traditions that contribute to understanding the human condition; the meaning and dignity of human life; and the human relationship to ultimate reality.
  • Christianity and Catholic Traditions (RELI, 3 credits). Religious Studies core courses approved for this requirement explore diverse topics including Christian scriptures, history, theology, and practices as well as major contributions from the Catholic intellectual and theological traditions (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses) .

Year 3 Theme and Question: Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well lived life?

  • Ethics (PHIL 301 or RELI, 3 credits): The Ethics courses are designed to help students develop their moral imagination by exploring and explaining the reasons humans should care about the needs and interests of others. This requirement is satisfied by an approved ethics course in either Philosophy (PHIL 301) or Religious Studies (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • World/Comparative Religion (RELI, 3 credits): Religious Studies courses approved for this core requirement draw attention to the diversity that exists within and among traditions and encourage students to bring critical, analytical thinking to bear on the traditions and questions considered. These courses carries one of the required two global-studies designations (see below) (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).

Year 4 Theme and Question: Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?” 

  • Core Integration Seminar (DEPT 432, 3 credits). The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) offers students a culminating core experience in which they integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the core, and their disciplinary expertise. Some CIS courses may also count toward a student’s major or minor. The CIS is offered by several departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of CIS courses).

The Broadening Courses

  • Fine Arts & Design (VART, MUSC, THEA, 3 credits): Arts courses explore multiple ways the human experience can be expressed through creativity, including across different cultures and societies. One approved course in fine arts, music, theatre, or dance will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • History (HIST, 3 credits): History courses are intended to develop students’ awareness of the historical context of both the individual and the collective human experience. One course in History (HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 112, HIST 201, HIST 202) will fulfill this requirement.
  • Literature (3 credits): Literature courses foster reflection on how literature engages with a range of human experience. One approved course in Literature (offered by English, Classics, or Modern Languages) will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits): Courses in the social and behavioral sciences engage students in studying human behavior, social systems, and social issues. One approved course offered by Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Women and Gender Studies will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).

The Designations
Designations are embedded within already existing core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students are encouraged to meet designation requirements within elective courses as their schedule allows; however, with careful planning students should be able to complete most of the designation requirements within other core, major, or minor courses.

  • Writing Enriched (WE; 3 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the WE designation are designed to promote the humanistic and Jesuit pedagogical ideal of clear, effective communication. In addition to the required core course, Writing (ENGL 101), which carries one of the WE designations, students must take two other WE-designated courses (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • Global-Studies (GS; 2 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the GS designation are designed to challenge students to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems. In addition to the required core course, World/Comparative Religion (RELI 300-level), which carries one of the GS designations, students must take one other GS-designated course (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
  • Social-Justice (SJ; 1 course meeting this designation): Courses carrying the SJ designation are designed to introduce students to one or more social justice concerns. Students must take one course that meets the SJ designation (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).

Major-specific adaptations to the University Core Curriculum

All Gonzaga students, regardless of their major, will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements. However some Gonzaga students will satisfy certain core requirements through major-specific programs or courses. Any major-specific adaptations to the core are described with the requirements for the majors to which they apply.