- College of Architecture and the Arts
- School of Architecture
- School of Art and Design
- Department of Art History
- Department of Theatre and Music
College of Architecture and the Arts
Introduction
Accreditation
Degree Requirements
- Academic Load
- Academic Probation and Dismissal Rules
- Beginning Freshman Admission
- Change of Course Schedule—Dropping Courses
- Change of Major
- Class Attendance
- Closed Courses
- Course Prerequisites
- Credit/No Credit Option
- Declaring a Major
- Double Major, Double Degrees, and Second Bachelor’s Degree
- Full-Time Enrollment
- Graduate-Level Courses for Undergraduate Credit
- Independent Study
- Petition Procedure
- Proficiency Examinations
- Registration Approval
- Repeat Policy for Standard Graded Courses
- Transferring
Academic Advising Academic Honors Student Organizations
Dean, Judith Russi Kirshner
103 Jefferson Hall (JH)
(312) 996-3351
http://www.aa.uic.edu
Administration: 303 JH
Student Services and Academic Advising: 208 JH
Departments/Schools: Architecture, Art and Design,
Art History, and Theatre and Music
The College of Architecture and the Arts is a unique group of schools, departments, and centers whose programs focus on the exploration, analysis, and representation of our physical, social, and sensory environments. The college embraces all the visual and performing arts as well as architecture and art history, and occupies a unique position in Chicago as the only place where one can prepare for a career in the arts within a major research university. Instruction in the college is enriched by a faculty of practicing architects, artists, designers, art historians, musicians, directors, and theatrical designers. This faculty adds dimensions of professional experience, current issues, and ongoing research to the traditional concepts of disciplinary areas within the college.
The college promotes collaborations and integration among its different programs, and is strongly committed to interdisciplinary education breaking new ground in the arts and arts research. Its diverse programs emphasize urban engagement and are informed by current thinking in the use of new technologies for artistic expression and instruction. The College of Architecture and the Arts has been extending the traditional boundaries of education in order to meet the contemporary challenges of a global economy. Faculty and students alike realize that the next generation of graduates must be equipped to engage creatively and knowledgeably in the current global cultural arena and become familiar with international standards, artistic concerns, and procedures. The college has developed a number of faculty and student international exchange programs in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Through its many educational programs and collaborations, the college has become a formidable educational resource in community development and in the changing modern urban environment. Developing connections with a wide range of programs and resources in the university, the College of Architecture and the Arts is engaged as a leader in visual and performing arts education and research in the city of Chicago, the nation, and the world.
The College of Architecture and the Arts is composed of the School of Architecture, the School of Art and Design, the Department of Art History, the Department of Theatre and Music, the City Design Center, and the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. Curricula are offered in architecture, art and design, art history, and performing arts (music and theatre) leading to the baccalaureate in those fields. In the fields of architecture and art, the major emphases are on creative processes and studio work with a variety of supportive lectures and seminar programs. In art history, the emphasis is on scholarly study of the arts of the past; lectures, seminars, and independent research are conducted on campus and in museums and libraries throughout the Chicago area. Music emphasizes skills and knowledge that are fundamental to the entire discipline: music theory, music history, performance, aural and keyboard training, orchestration, composition, conducting, and ensemble participation. Theatre majors study the arts that contribute to theatre production—acting, directing, and design—as well as drama in its critical and historical context.
All work submitted by students for credit in any course in the college belongs to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois; the University reserves the right to retain, copyright, use, exhibit, reproduce, and publish any work so submitted.
For information on the College of Architecture and the Arts, see the Web page http://www.aa.uic.edu.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in Graphic Design and Industrial Design are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Qualified graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program may apply for advanced standing in the School’s professional Master of Architecture degree program, or at other accredited schools of architecture. The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Master of Architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Master’s degree programs may consist of a preprofessional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. Although oriented to NAAB criteria, UIC’s undergraduate preprofessional degree is not an accredited professional degree.
To earn a College of Architecture and the Arts degree from UIC, students need to complete University, college, and department/school degree requirements. University and college degree requirements for all College of Architecture and the Arts students are outlined below. Students should consult their department or school section for additional degree requirements.
The College of Architecture and the Arts semester hour requirement varies by degree program.
Major |
School/Department |
Degree Conferred |
Total Hours |
Architecture |
Architecture |
BS in Architecture |
130 |
Art Educationa |
Art and Design |
BFA in Art Education |
130 |
Art History |
Art History |
BA in Art History |
120 |
Electronic Visualizationa |
Art and Design |
BFA in Electronic Visualization |
134 |
Graphic Design |
Art and Design |
BFA in Graphic Design |
134 |
Industrial Design |
Art and Design |
BFA in Industrial Design |
134 |
Moving Image |
Art and Design |
BFA in Moving Image |
130 |
Music—Basic, Performance, and Jazz Studies Concentrations |
Theatre and Music |
BA in Music |
120 |
Performance (Theatre) |
Theatre and Music |
BFA in Performance |
120 |
Photography |
Art and Design |
BFA in Photography |
130 |
Studio Arts—Painting and Sculpture Concentrations |
Art and Design |
BFA in Studio Arts |
130 |
Theatre—Performance and Directing/Design Concentrations |
Theatre and Music |
BA in Theatre |
120 |
a Note: Until further notice, these programs are not accepting applications for admission.
General Education Core
General Education at UIC is designed to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning. Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 semester hours in the General Education Core with at least one course from each of the following categories:
- Analyzing the Natural World
- Understanding the Individual and Society
- Understanding the Past
- Understanding the Creative Arts
- Exploring World Cultures
- Understanding U.S. Society
For a description and a list of courses for each General Education Core category, students should consult the General Education section of the catalog. Information on meeting the General Education Core requirements for each degree program is provided in the College of Architecture and the Arts department sections.
General Education Proficiencies—University Writing Requirement
College of Architecture and the Arts students meet the requirement by achieving a passing grade in English 160 and 161.
Foundation Course Requirements
Each school and department in the college has a different set of foundation and major course requirements. Students must fulfill all the foundation and major course requirements outlined for their degree program.
Course Level Requirement
Each school or department in the College of Architecture and the Arts has specific upper-level requirements for their degree programs. Students should consult the individual unit for details on required 200-, 300-, or 400-level
course work.
Course Work Limitations
Course work that duplicates previous credit does not count toward graduation; no credit is given for a course in which a failing grade is received.
Credit earned in ESL 050 and 060, Mathematics 070 and 090, and English 070 and 071 will not fulfill college degree requirements. (By exception, students may earn 3 semester hours of credit in English 070 or 071 and receive a waiver of English 160 for the term in which they receive written authorization from the Department of English.)
Students whose placement test results require taking several courses that carry no graduation credit should plan on additional terms of enrollment to complete the required curriculum. All courses are included, however, for determining a student’s full-time/part-time status; for computing cumulative grade point averages (except for 000-level courses); and in determining probation, dismissal, and Dean’s List statuses.
Elective Credit
The University, college, and department degree requirements may not provide all the hours required for graduation. The remaining credits are completed through elective courses, whose careful selection should serve to enrich
students’ knowledge and understanding. Elective courses should always be chosen for educational ends and not for the sake of convenience.
Full-Time Enrollment
Students in the college are expected to carry a full-time load in order to make satisfactory progress toward
their degree. Students should consult with their school/department advisor if they enroll in a part-time schedule to determine their degree progress and projected graduation date.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement
College of Architecture and the Arts students cannot graduate with less than a 2.00/4.00 GPA in all work taken at UIC, in all work taken in the major field, and in all work accepted for transfer by the University (transfer work plus work taken at UIC).
Graduation Declaration/Filing to Graduate
Students who are within two terms of graduation should first contact their school or department and the college office for a complete check of their progress toward the degree. A diploma cannot be ordered until a student has completed this graduation check.
Students declare their intent to graduate online using my.UIC. The deadline for submission to the Pending Degree List is the end of the third week (fall and spring) or second week (Summer Session 2) of the term in which graduation is sought. Failure to submit the request at this time may delay the awarding of the degree. A final review will be made following the close of the term. If a student has satisfactorily completed all the degree requirements, the student’s name will be placed on the official degree list.
Enrollment Residence Requirement
Either the first 90 or last 30 credit hours of degree work must be completed in continuous, uninterrupted enrollment residence at UIC. Concurrent attendance at the University of Illinois at Chicago and another collegiate institution or enrollment during the summer at another institution, when approved by the student’s college, does not interrupt the UIC enrollment residence requirement for graduation. Students who transfer from an accredited community college must earn at least 60 credit hours at an approved four-year institution and must meet the enrollment residence requirement of earning the last 30 semester hours at UIC.
Transfer Credit
No more than 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of credit may be accepted as transfer work from a community or junior college. Transfer students from community or junior colleges should consult with the major department or school to discuss transfer credit. All final acceptance of transfer credit will be determined by the college upon review of recommendations by the school or department.
Transfer Credit for Continuing Students
Continuing students in the College of Architecture and the Arts must submit a petition in order to take courses at other universities for credit toward the baccalaureate degree.
During the fall and spring semesters, a full-time program is from 12 to 18 hours. Above 18 semester hours is considered an overload and may only be taken if a student is recommended by a school or department advisor and approved in the college office. For Summer Session 1 (Four-Week) and Summer Session 2 (Eight-Week), UIC considers a total aggregate of 6 semester hours as the minimum number necessary to constitute full-time enrollment, and a program of more than 14 hours must be approved.
Academic Probation and Dismissal Rules
Students on academic probation are notified by letter to see a college advisor for counseling. Counseling is viewed by the college as an important determinant in the retention of students. Students may be referred to the Counseling Center or other campus offices as deemed appropriate for retention purposes. Counseling may be made part of the conditions of academic probation.
Probationary status is determined by letter grades earned at the end of any term. Grades of I (Incomplete) do not exempt a student from probationary and dismissal regulations.
Probation Rules
Academic Probation. A student whose term grade point average or UIC cumulative grade point average or combined UIC and transfer grade point average is below 2.00/4.00 is placed on academic probation and advised to enroll full-time for a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit and earn grades of B or better the next term in residence, excluding the summer session. Students unable to maintain a minimum of 12 semester hours of enrollment should consult with a college advisor to establish a plan for satisfactory progress.
Terminal Probation. A student who is on probationary status for two consecutive terms is placed on terminal probation. The student is required to make an appointment to see an advisor in the college office during the third and fourth weeks of the following semester. Students on terminal probation may be dismissed for poor academic progress and are jeopardizing their enrollment in the University.
Dismissal Rules
A student on academic or terminal probation may be
dismissed from the University under one of the following conditions:
- Failure to earn at least a 2.00/4.00 (C) average while on academic probation.
- Failure to meet any special conditions stated at the time of probation.
- Failure to earn at least 3 hours of credit and whose term grade point average is 1.00/4.00.
- Failure to make progress towards completion of the degree requirements of the college.
Students should follow the advice in the letter sent
to them.
Admission to the college is highly selective and competitive, and admission standards are much higher than the minimum ACT/SAT and HSPR for the campus. Due to the high demand for limited spaces in the college’s programs, it is recommended applicants submit their credentials as early as possible in their senior year in order to have the best chance for admission. All admission decisions are final due to the demand for space in all programs. All programs require international applicants to present a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (Internet-basedl).
Change of Course Schedule—Dropping Courses
Undergraduate students may drop courses using my.UIC through the end of the second week of classes for fall and spring semesters, the first Wednesday of Summer Session 1, or the first Friday of Summer Session 2. During weeks 3 through 10 of the fall and spring semesters (first Thursday through the second Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2) students may drop courses with the permission of their major college. If the drop occurs between 0 and 2 weeks in fall and spring, there will be no notation on the transcript. If the drop occurs during weeks 3 through 10 in fall and spring (first Thursday through the second Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2), a W is noted on the transcript. Undergraduate students may drop a maximum of 4 UIC individual courses that result in a W notation on their transcript during their entire undergraduate degree program. College of Architecture and the Arts students must complete a request form in 208 JH.
Students wishing to change majors within the college should consult the individual school or department advisor(s) and complete an application in the college student affairs office, 208 JH.
Students are expected to attend all lectures, discussions, and laboratory/studio sessions. School or department faculty may establish minimum attendance requirements.
No student may be admitted to a closed course in the college unless the director or chairperson has approved an increase in capacity, which is usually restricted by educational policies, budget, and maximum room capacities.
Course prerequisites are listed in both the Undergraduate Catalog and the semester Schedule of Classes. Only the director or chairperson may waive a prerequisite, if given evidence that the student is adequately prepared to pursue the subject area.
Students may elect to take a course under the credit/no credit option according to the following provisions:
- The student must be in good standing. Students on probation or whose status is undetermined at the time in which they elect the option are not eligible.
- A maximum of 21 semester hours of credit may be earned at UIC under the credit/no credit option. If a student withdraws from a credit/no credit course before the end of the last day of instruction in the sixth week of the term, the credit hours the course carries will not count toward the total of 21 authorized.
- No more than one course per term may be taken under this option.
- This option may not be used in any course required for the major or a minor, including prerequisite and collateral courses. This includes any course specifically listed by rubric or course number as a requirement in a student’s curriculum.
- Under certain conditions, electives may be taken under credit/no credit; courses being used for specific graduation requirements (such as art history electives) must be taken for a letter grade. For specific credit/no credit rules for prerequisite and collateral courses in the Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, see the Student Handbook for the School of Architecture and School of Art and Design.
- This option may not be used for English 160 and 161.
- Students may not use credit/no credit to satisfy foreign language requirements in college programs requiring one- or two-year sequences.
- Students must apply at their college office no later than the tenth day of the term (first Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or first Friday of Summer Session 2) to have a course designated for credit/no credit grading option. Students must report to 208 JH to complete a credit/no credit request form.
- The credit/no credit option cannot be revoked after the close of the tenth day of instruction in the term.
- Instructors are not informed that the option has been elected but assign a letter grade in the usual manner.
- For courses taken under the credit/no credit option, a grade of CR is recorded on the transcript if a letter grade of A, B, C, or D is earned. If the letter grade F is assigned, an NC is entered on the transcript. I and DF grades are replaced by CR or NC upon completion of the courses or converted to NC if the course completion deadline for an I is not met.
- The grades of CR and NC are not used in the computation of the grade point average. It is the responsibility of the student to determine eligibility under the credit/no credit option. Students will not be notified if they are ineligible for the credit/no credit option.
Students who have completed the foundation program in Art and Design and/or who have earned at least 60 semester hours must declare a major with their school.
Double Major, Double Degrees, and Second Bachelor’s Degree
Double Major
This option is not available in the College of Architecture and the Arts.
Double Degrees
A student may receive two degrees concurrently from the College of Architecture and the Arts. The student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit beyond the requirements of the first degree in courses not offered for the first degree. The student must additionally meet all the requirements for the second degree specified by the college and the major. Students seeking double degrees should contact the appropriate school or department for a curriculum evaluation and then make a declaration for double degrees in the college office.
Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from UIC or another institution may receive a second bachelor’s degree from the College of Architecture and the Arts. Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree must formally apply to the program. The student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit beyond the requirements of the first degree in courses not offered for the first degree. The student must additionally meet all the requirements for the second degree specified by the college and the major.
Students in the college are expected to carry a full-time load in order to make satisfactory progress toward their degree. Students should consult with their school/department advisor if they enroll in a part-time schedule to determine the consequences to their degree program and projected graduation date.
Graduate-Level Courses for Undergraduate Credit
With school or department approval, an undergraduate student may enroll in a course in the Graduate College (500-level) for undergraduate elective credit. Students should obtain approval prior to enrollment.
Students should understand, however, that graduate courses do not automatically apply toward an undergraduate degree. Additionally, graduate-level courses taken by an undergraduate student are generally not applicable toward a graduate degree.
The college offers courses entitled Independent Study, in which a student’s special interests may be pursued under the direction of a faculty member. To enroll in such a course, the student must obtain consent of the instructor and the school or department offering the course.
Any rule, regulation, or action of the college may be appealed through the use of a student petition. Petitions are available in the college office. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all necessary approvals on the form before submitting it to the college office for review. Turning in the form does not guarantee approval of the request. Students will be notified of a decision, but they should inquire about the status of their petition after ten working days.
Students interested in earning proficiency credit should contact the school or department directly for information concerning eligibility. A student who earns proficiency credit is given the amount of credit toward graduation regularly allowed in the course. Proficiency credit is not considered an interruption of enrollment residence for graduation, nor does it apply toward satisfying the minimum requirement of the degree if the last 30 semester hours must be earned in enrollment residence.
Students in the Department of Art History and the Department of Theatre and Music must consult with an advisor for registration. An advising hold will be placed on each registration and will only be released upon verification of department advising.
Repeat Policy for Standard Graded Courses
Students may repeat a course to increase their knowledge of the subject matter. There are circumstances under which repeating a course is advisable and to a student’s advantage. There are also circumstances where repeating a course may disadvantage a student and narrow a student’s options. Some colleges require students to discuss any plan to repeat a course with their academic advisor before they register to repeat the course.
Courses with A or B grades may not be repeated. Normally, courses with a C grade may not be repeated. Courses with D or F grades may be repeated once without written permission. In all cases, the original grade for the course and the grade for each repeat will appear on the transcript. The original grade will be calculated into the grade point average, unless the student initiates a request for Repeating a Course with Grade Point Average Recalculation as described below. Only one registration for the course counts toward the total number of credits required for graduation. A course cannot be repeated after receiving credit in a course for which the repeat course is a prerequisite.
To repeat a course more than once requires written permission from the student’s college dean. Students who have been dismissed may not appeal on the grounds of intention to repeat courses. Certain courses may not be repeated; students should consult their college before repeating a course.
Repeating a Course with Grade Point Average Recalculation
Important Note: Grade point average recalculation for a repeated course is not automatic. The student must initiate a request in the college office as outlined below.
For the grade point average recalculation policy to apply, a student must declare to his or her college the intent to repeat a course for a change of grade. Students must submit this request to their college before the end of the official add/drop period, no later than the second Friday of the fall and spring semesters, the first Wednesday of Summer Session 1, or the first Friday of Summer Session 2. The course must be repeated within three semesters of the receipt of the original grade, and it must be taken at UIC. Only one registration for the course counts toward the total number of credits required for graduation.
Undergraduate students are allowed grade point average recalculation in up to four repeated courses. Under the course repeat policy, all courses taken and their grades appear on the transcript in the semester in which they were taken. Under the grade point average recalculation policy, the grade earned the first time the course is taken will be dropped from the calculation of the cumulative GPA and the grade(s) earned when the course is repeated will be used in the calculation. This rule holds, even if the second grade is lower than the first. If a course is repeated more than once, the first grade is not counted in the GPA, but all other grades for that course are calculated in the cumulative GPA.
Intercollege Transfer Students
UIC students interested in admission to one of the majors offered in the college must complete an intercollegiate application available in the college office, 208 Jefferson Hall. All applicants must be in good standing, not on academic probation or undetermined status. Eligibility varies by department and school.
|
Department/School |
Minimum GPA |
|
Architecture |
2.75/4.00 |
|
Art and Design |
2.75/4.00 |
|
Art History |
2.75/4.00 |
|
Theatre and Music |
2.50/4.00 |
Admission to the college is selective and competitive and admissions standards are higher than the minimum grade point average requirement.
Transfer Students from Other Colleges and Universities
The minimum transfer grade point average for admission to the College of Architecture and the Arts varies with each school or department. Admission and placement in the School of Architecture and the School of Art and Design are highly competitive, and admission is determined by the availability of space in the level of program appropriate for the transfer student. All admission decisions are final due to the demand for space in all programs. Students should refer to the requirements listed for each program.
|
Department/School |
Portfolio/Audition |
Minimum GPA |
|
Architecture |
Portfolio for advanced placement |
2.75/4.00 |
|
Art and Design |
N/A |
2.75/4.00 |
|
Art History |
N/A |
2.75/4.00 |
|
Theatre and Music |
Audition for Performance options Interview for Directing/Design option |
2.50/4.00 |
All programs require international applicants to present a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (Internet-based).
School of Architecture. Students who have completed at least one full year of architectural design work at another university or college are eligible to apply for advanced placement in the School of Architecture. Applicants wishing to apply for advanced placement
must submit a portfolio of design work to the academic advisor in the school. For more information on the
portfolio requirement, please visit http://www.arch.uic.edu/admissions/ug_transfer.php
Advanced placement is a competitive process that is limited to spaces available in the level of program appropriate for the transfer student. Acceptance into the school does not guarantee advanced placement.
School of Art and Design. Students who have taken art and design courses at a community college should be aware that for certain majors these courses will be credited as electives only. Art and design courses from other colleges and universities will be assessed for credit, pending portfolio review, by the faculty of that major. Because courses are structured around specific goals, the school strongly encourages potential majors to complete their first-year program requirements at UIC’s School of Art and Design. PLEASE NOTE: All areas will require a portfolio review upon completion of the first-year program before entry into a major. Portfolios will be reviewed in April, and
students will be admitted into the major during the
fall semester only. Please contact the department via
e-mail at artinfo@uic.edu or go to the Web site
http://adweb.aa.uic.edu/web for information regarding
the dates and times for this review.
Department of Art History. Admission to the Department of Art History is selective and competitive; admissions standards are typically higher than the stated minimum grade point average.
Department of Theatre and Music. For advanced placement in the Bachelor of Arts in Music or Bachelor of Arts in Theatre programs, introductory music courses require a minimum grade of C and introductory theatre courses require a minimum grade of B. Performance options require an audition. Also, music transfer students will be required to take a placement test in music theory to determine the correct level in which to place them.
Transferring Out of the College
A student in the College of Architecture and the Arts who wants to transfer into another college must follow the new college’s application procedure.
The College of Architecture and the Arts offers the following minors.
| Minor | Department/School | Hours |
| Art History | Art History | 20 |
| Music | Theatre and Music | 21 |
| Studio Arts | Art and Design | 24 |
| Theatre | Theatre and Music | 18 |
Students in the college are required to see an advisor for registration and enrollment. Advisors are generally assigned to students during the academic year.
Both the School of Architecture and the School of Art and Design post advisor assignments. Students in Art History should check with the departmental office for assignment of advisors. Students in the Department of Theatre and Music should consult the department for specific instructions concerning the assignment of faculty advisors.
College Honors will be awarded at the time of graduation to students who have earned a GPA of at least 3.40/4.00 for all work presented for the degree, and who rank among the top 15 percent of the students graduating in the college.
Outstanding academic achievement in the College of Architecture and the Arts is recognized by inclusion on the Dean’s List. Eligibility is based on a 3.50/4.00 term GPA with a program of 12 semester hours of letter grades in a regular semester or 8 semester hours of letter grades in the summer session. If any course is taken on a credit/no credit basis, a grade of CR must be earned.
American Center for Design (Graphic Design) (ACD)
American Institute of Architects (Student Chapter) (AIAS)
American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)
Arquitectos (Student Chapter) (ARQ)
Chicago Circle Players (Theater)
Concert Band
F-Stop (Photography)
Industrial Design Society of America (Student Chapter) (IDSA)
National Organization of Minority Architects (Student Chapter) (NOMAS)
UIC Choirs