2003-04 Undergraduate Catalog -

The Specialized Studies in the Arts major provides an opportunity for outstanding students to design interdisciplinary programs of study that allow access to fields of inquiry not offered in the curriculum of the Meadows School of the Arts.

Academically qualified students may explore the possibility of a specialized major in the arts with the Program Director, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the Meadows School of the Arts (214-768-2880). If the proposed plan appears to have merit, the Program Director will suggest faculty members who can provide further assistance in designing the program.

Program Description

Students with at least a 3.50 G.P.A. in the first 24 term hours taken in residence at SMU are eligible to pursue the program.

The program consists of individually designed majors in the arts of at least 36 term hours, with a minimum of at least 24 term hours of advanced courses (3000 level or above). The program must satisfy the General Education Curriculum (GEC) requirements and all other University and Meadows School graduation requirements. Students are responsible for fulfilling all prerequisites for courses taken.

This program is designed as an elite program that will allow exceptional students access to new areas of study; it is not intended to be a way of avoiding divisional requirements. Certain Meadows courses are open only to majors or by audition. Admission to such courses is at the discretion of the faculty of the division in which such courses are offered.

The degree will be identified as a Bachelor of Arts. The transcript will refer to the major as "Specialized Studies in the Arts." A note on the transcript will denote the specialization. Students intending to seek admission to graduate schools are encouraged to include at least 30 hours of a coherent set of courses in an identifiable disciplinary field.

Administrative Procedures

The Meadows Academic Policies Committee shall have the final authority to approve all specialized programs.

Prior to declaring the major, a number of steps must be completed:

In order to initiate discussion of an specialized major, a student must submit a preliminary plan of study (a brief statement of goals and a course list) as well a current transcript to the Program Director.
If the Program Director approves the program, the student and faculty advisor must form a Supervisory Committee with a minimum of three members. The Supervisory Committee will provide advice and guidance to the student. At least two members, including the chair of the committee, shall be resident members of the Meadows School faculty. The chair of the committee will normally be the faculty advisor.
The student will submit a formal plan of study to the Supervisory Committee. The plan of study must include a proposal for a special project such as a thesis, exhibition, or performance. Satisfactory completion (in the judgement of the Supervisory Committee) of this special project is a requirement. If the committee approves the plan, the plan must then be submitted for approval by the Meadows Academic Policies Committee.
Once approved by the Meadows Academic Policies Committee, the plan will be transmitted to the office of the Meadows Associate Dean for Student Affairs. The Plan of Study normally should be submitted to the Meadows Academic Policies Committee for approval before the completion of 60 total term hours of course work.
The chair of the Supervisory Committee and the Program Director (Meadows Associate Dean for Academic Affairs) will recommend candidates for graduation. The chair of the Supervisory Committee will certify that the required project has been completed to the satisfaction of the Committee. The Supervisory Committee may recommend that the degree be awarded "with distinction" if the grade point average in the courses required for the major exceeds or equals 3.5 and if the project is deemed excellent. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will be responsible for verifying and certifying graduation requirements.