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Applied Anthropology Track
The Department of Anthropology has entered into a cooperative arrangement with the College of Urban and Public Affairs to provide an Applied Urban Anthropology track within the Master of Science in Urban Studies.
The program allows students to gain significant background in applied anthropology through course work in social anthropology, cultural resource management, and preservation archaeology, involving both historic and prehistoric settings. Students who wish to enter the Applied Urban Anthropology Track must be admitted to the College of Urban and Public Affairs. Applicants must submit transcripts of prior academic work, Graduate Record Examination score, and three letters of recommendation. Please refer to a detailed description of the program in the Master of Science in Urban Studies degree section in this catalog.
Arts Administration
The Master of Arts in Arts Administration is interdisciplinary in nature, involving the Department of Drama and Communications, Department of Fine Arts, Department of Music, and the College of Business Administration. It is built on graduate courses offered by those departments and on specialized courses in Arts Administration. The Arts Administration faculty consists of core faculty from the areas involved and other faculty whose interests are relevant to the program.
The Master of Arts in Arts Administration is designed to prepare students to serve as administrators and managers in all types of arts institutions, among them galleries, theatres, performing arts centers, and community arts centers. Included in the curriculum are courses in both business and the arts, as well as an internship designed to give students practical experience in the field.
Admission
A student must be accepted by both the Graduate School and the Advisory Committee for Arts Administration. To be admitted to graduate studies in Arts Administration, a student must have:
1. ‑a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university;
2. ‑a composite score verbal and quantitative of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination or a minimum of 400 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (depending upon the student’s area of undergraduate study);
3. ‑a grade-point average of 2.5 for undergraduate work and 3.0 for post-baccalaureate work, on a 4-point scale; and
4. ‑satisfactory academic standing at the last college or university attended.
In addition to the above, experience in business and/or the arts is desirable but not required.
Financial Aid
Graduate assistantships are available to a limited number of qualified applicants each year.
Foundation Courses: Students will be required to present credit for the following foundation courses (or equivalents): Business Administration 3010, Drama and Communications 2770, Finance 3300, and Management 3401. (Note: Prerequisites for the Finance and Management courses are Accounting 2100 and Economics 2203, 2204, or 2200.)
Graduate Requirements: Students must complete a minimum of 36 hours, including: six hours of approved courses in the arts area of specialization (art history, drama and communications, or music); an overview course in each of the two nonspecialization arts areas (see Fine Arts 6010, Drama and Communications 6010, Music 6010); Computer Science 4990 (The Use of Computers in Arts Administration); and Arts Administration 6501, 6502, 6503, and 6990. Students are required to complete Accounting 4171, and Management 4467; if they have previously earned credit in any of these courses (or equivalents), they may substitute approved electives in either business or the arts.
Drama and Communications
The Department of Drama and Communications offers both the Master of Arts degree and the Master of Fine Arts degree.
Master of Arts in Communications Degree
The Master of Arts degree provides students with the opportunity to develop professional skills and to prepare for teaching careers or further study leading to a more advanced degree.
Areas of specialization include television, filmmaking, history, theory, and criticism. Internships related directly to professional goals are available.
Admission: An applicant is accepted for graduate work upon the recommendation of the department and subsequent admission to the Graduate School. Students must hold a bachelor’s degree and have an undergraduate record warranting continuation of studies toward an advanced degree in communications. Graduate Record Examination scores and at least three letters of recommendation should be submitted. Students with bachelor’s degrees in areas other than communications may be required to take additional course work.
Requirements: In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, the following requirements must be met:
1. ‑Completion of at least 30 hours of Drama and Communications courses. A three-course core with at least a B in each course is required of all MA candidates. Students will take Drama and Communications 6000, 6020, and 6600. All MA students must complete Drama and Communications 7000. With the written permission of the department, the candidate may take up to six hours in a field outside the department.
2. ‑A minimum of 18 hours, including only three hours of thesis credit (Drama and Communications 7000), must be earned in courses numbered 6000 or above. At the completion of 18 hours of course work, the student will be evaluated by the graduate committee. If the first-year review demonstrates sufficient progress, the student will be invited to continue in the program.
3. A grade-point average of 3.0 or better.
4. ‑Normally students must be in residence at least one semester taking a full load of at least nine hours. Summer sessions may not apply. Under special circumstances this residency requirement may be waived by the department.
5. ‑The student’s major professor may require an additional three hours of research methods beyond Drama and Communications 6000.
Upon completion of one-half of a student’s required work, his or her major professor will be designated by the department. Ordinarily this professor will serve as chairman of both the examining and the thesis committees.
Comprehensive Examination: At least one semester prior to the expected date of graduation, the student will take the comprehensive examination (after completion of his/her research tool requirement and a major portion of the course work). This examination will be a two-and-one-half hour written, one-hour oral examination. At least three members of the graduate faculty, one of whom may be from a department other that Drama and Communications, appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, will administer the examination. Ordinarily, part of the examination will be devoted to an area of study chosen by the candidate and approved by the department, and the remainder will be devoted to more comprehensive questions on film or television.
Thesis: The thesis will be prepared under the supervision of a committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. This committee will ordinarily consist of three members of the graduate faculty of the department. The thesis subject should be determined immediately following the comprehensive examination.
Prospectus for the thesis must be submitted to the major professor before the end of the semester prior to the semester the student expects to graduate and is subject to the Graduate Faculty Committee’s approval.
The thesis committee will supervise the thesis and the thesis examination. Credit for Drama and Communications 7000 (Thesis Research) will be granted after the committee has approved the thesis and the candidate has passed a one-hour examination .
Master of Fine Arts in Drama and Communications Degree
The Department of Drama and Communications is credited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). MFA programs in the Performing and Production Arts reflect NAST’s highest standards.
The Master of Fine Arts is a terminal degree for students interested in pursing careers in performing and production arts and in creative writing.
Areas of specialization in the performing and production arts include acting, directing, design, and film making; and in creative writing including fiction writing, playwriting, poetry writing, and screenwriting. All MFA tracks in the Performing and Production Arts require the following 18 hour core:
MFA Core for all areas (18 hours required) Cr. Hrs.
DRCM 6020 Form and Idea in the Media 3
DRCM 6040 Performance and Direction 3
DRCM 6060 Concept, Conflict, and Character 3
DRCM 6910 Studio I 3
DRCM 6911 Studio II 3
DRCM 6912 Studio III 3
DRCM 6005 Graduate Studies in Orientation 0
MFA Film Production
The Master of Fine Arts in Film Production includes a 15 credit hour production core which exposes students to the broad processes of filmmaking. Twelve credit hours of Theory, Research and Criticism provide an important theoretical and historical framework for film production. The remaining 15 credit hours may be used to study related areas of interest.
MFA Film Production Requirements
I. Production
4500 Media Development and Planning 3
4510 Film Production 3
4520 Film Postproduction 3
4555 Spring Film Production 3
4565 Digital Theory and Application for Film and Video 3
II. Theory, Research, and Criticism
4540 Development of the Cinema 3
4545 Film Theory and Criticism 3
Select 6 credit hours (3 hrs. at the 6000 level) from the following:
4591 Film Styles and Genres 3
4670 Mass Media and the Law 3
4675 Mass Media in Society 3
6000 Practicum in Research 3
6600 Mass Communications 3
6601 Mass Communications 3
III. ‑Electives (15 hrs. required) Select from list below or other DRCM graduate level courses. 3 hrs credit may come from theory, research, and criticism group.
4090 Special Topics 1
4251 Advanced Screenwriting 3
4335 Audition Techniques 3
4530 Advanced Project in Media 3
4550 Cinematography 3
4551 Spring Film Crew 3
4555 Spring Film Production 3
4560 Advanced Television Production 3
4566 Production Sound for Film 3
4567 Post Production Sound Film 3
4568 Special Topics/Visual Effects 3
4570 Acting for the Camera 3
4580 Film Directing 3
4900 Directing 3
6001 Practicum in Production 3
6090 Directed Independent Study 3
6100 Visual Design for Stage and Screen 3
6250 Seminar in Screenwriting 3
6580 Directing for the Media 3
6690 Graduate Internship in Research 3
6900 Departmental Internship 3
MFA Performance and Production Arts
The Master of Fine Arts in Performance and Design Programs are intended to prepare our graduate students to successfully apply acquired skills to the art of theatre, make significant cultural contributions to their community, or become leaders in an educational environment aspiring to the highest artistic standards.
MFA Performance Requirements (Acting)
I. Production/Literature (12 hrs. required)
Select four courses from list below:
4260 Styles in Theatrical Production 3
4400 Development of Theatre 3
4450 Advanced Studies in Modern Theatre 3 4455 Advanced Studies in Contemporary Theatre 3
6001 Practicum in Production 3
6090 Independent Study 3
6420 Problems in Performing or Visual Arts 3
6460 Aesthetics of Script Analysis 3
6900 Graduate Internship 3
II. Acting Area (30 hrs. Required)
4300 Voice Training* 6
4570 Acting for the Camera 3
6200 Seminar in Playwriting 3
6330 Acting 9 6380 Directing 3
6830 Stage Movement** 6
** 4301 Voice Stylization may be substituted for three credits
** 4333 Stage Combat or 4831 Movement Applications may be substituted for three credits
MFA Performance Requirements (Directing)
I. Production (6 hrs. required)
Select two courses from list below:
4260 Styles in Theatrical Production 3
6000 Practicum in Research 3
6001 Practicum in Production 3
6090 Independent Study 3
6420 Problems in Performing or Visual Arts 3
6460 Aesthetics of Script Analysis 3
6900 Graduate Internship 3
II. Literature (6 hrs. required)
Required: 4450 Advanced Studies in Modern Theatre 3
Plus, select one course from the list below:
4400 Development of Theatre 3
4455 Advanced Studies in Contemporary Theatre 3
ENGL 4221 or 4222 Shakespeare 3
ENGL 4516 Beginning English Drama 3
ENGL 4916 20th Century Drama 3
ENGL 4716 18th Century Drama 3
III. Directing Area (30 hrs. required)
4300 Voice Training or 4301 Voice Stylization 3
6200 Seminar in Playwriting 3
6330 Acting 3
6380 Directing 6
6830 Stage Movement 3
Plus, two courses in any design area(s) 6
And, two courses from Sections II or III not
previously chosen 6
MFA Design Requirements
I. Production (15 hrs required)
6001 Practicum in Production 3
6090 Directed Independent Study 3
6120 Scene Painting 3
6135 Rendering Techniques 3
4160 Lighting Crafts and Techniques 3
II. Literature (3 required)
4450 Advanced. Studies in Modern Theatre 3
III. History (6 hrs. required)
6125 Development of Style and Form 3
6150 Development of Fashion 3
IV. Design (9 hrs. required)
6110 Seminar in Scenic Design 3
6140 Seminar in Theatrical Costuming 3
6170 Seminar in Lighting Design 3
V. Electives (9 hrs. required)
6140 Seminar in Theatrical Costuming 3
6170 Seminar in Lighting Design 3
6110 Seminar in Scenic Design 3
6090 Directed Independent Study 3
4455 Advanced. Studies in Contemporary Theatre 3
ENGL 4521 Shakespeare 3
ENGL 4522 Shakespeare 3
ENGL 4916 20th Century Drama 3
ENGL 4716 Restoration and 18th Century Drama 3
Admission: An applicant is accepted for graduate work in the performing and production arts upon recommendation of the graduate committee and subsequent admission to the Graduate School. Students must hold a bachelor’s degree in theatre, film, television, or must possess clearly demonstrated skills and creative ability in their field. Graduate Record Examination scores and at least three letters of recommendation should be submitted. All applicants must submit evidence of their ability in the proposed area of specialization–auditions, prompt books, portfolios, manuscripts, video tapes, films, and other appropriate presentations are to be submitted to the department when application for admission is completed.
Requirements in addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, the following must be met:
1. ‑Satisfactory completion of at least 60 hours of Drama and Communications courses. With written permission of the department, the candidate may take up to six hours in a field outside the department.
2. ‑At the completion of 18 or more hours of course work the student will be evaluated by the graduate committee. If the first-year review demonstrates sufficient progress, the student will be invited to continue in the program.
3. ‑A grade-point average of 3.0 or better is required in all course work.
4. ‑Normally students must be in residence at least two semesters taking a full load of at least nine hours each semester. Summer sessions may not apply. Under special circumstances this residency requirement may be waived by the department.
Upon completion of one-half of the student’s required work, his or her major professor will be designated by the department. Ordinarily this professor will serve as chair of both the examining committee and the publicly presented creative thesis project.
Comprehensive Examination: Students may take the Comprehensive Examination no sooner than the term in which they have completed 36 hours of graduate credit. This examination will be both written and oral. At least three members of the graduate faculty, one of whom may be from a department other than Drama and Communications, appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, will administer the examination. Part of the examination will be devoted to questions based on the reading list and course work, and the remainder will be devoted to questions relating to the student’s individual area of specialization.
Publicly Presented Creative Thesis Project: The thesis project will be prepared under the supervision of a committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. This committee will ordinarily consist of three members of the graduate faculty of the department. After successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the candidate will submit a written prospectus for a publicly presented thesis project. The research and execution of this project will normally take nine studio hours. The MFA Thesis project is designed to test the student’s skill and knowledge in his or her area of specialization. The project is subject to the graduate committee’s approval.
Students who have earned graduate credits in drama, film, video or its equivalent from other institutions may apply for admission into the Master of Fine Arts program. However the maximum allowable transfer credit must conform to the Graduate Schools policy on extension and transfer credit. Transfer credit is subject to the graduate coordinator’s recommendation and approval by the Graduate School.
Resident Acting Company
By audition and invitation only. Highly selective membership of qualified graduate students with specialization in M.F.A. performance area (acting, directing, playwriting), who perform in department’s major productions, demonstrations, and development of original scripts. Includes several hours per week of intensive studio work in addition to regular classes.
Creative Writing
Admission: An applicant is accepted for graduate work upon the recommendation of the creative writing faculty and subsequent admission to the Graduate School. Students must hold a bachelor’s degree and must possess clearly demonstrated skills in a creative writing genre. Graduate Record Examination scores, undergraduate transcripts, and three letters of recommendation should be submitted. All applicants must identify the genre in which they plan to specialize and submit a portfolio of their writing in that genre (two full-length plays, a feature-length film script, two short stories or a 25-page novel excerpt, ten poems, two short nonfiction pieces, or a 25-page book excerpt). In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, the following must be met:
Resident Option
1. ‑Completion of at least 45 hours of drama and communications and English courses.
2. ‑Fifteen hours of 6000-level course work in creative writing workshop, at least 12 of which will be in the thesis genre. These required courses are: for fiction writing, English 6161; poetry writing, English 6163; for nonfiction writing, English 6154; playwriting, Drama and Communications 6200; and for screenwriting, Drama and Communications 6251.
3. ‑Three hours in form and idea, Drama and Communications 6020; three hours in nonfiction writing, English 6154. For students whose thesis genre is nonfiction writing, a sixth required workshop in a genre other than nonfiction is required in place of the three required hours in English 6154 required of students in the other genres.
4. Nine hours in background courses
a. ‑Fiction and poetry writing students will be required to take this in the literature of their genre.
b. ‑Screenwriting and playwriting students will be required to take six hours of techniques courses and a three-hour history course in their genre area.
5. A grade of B or better in all required course work.
6. ‑Nine hours of electives. Chosen in consultation with the director of creative writing, these elective hours will be expected to conform to a cohesive program of study.
7. An overall GPA of 3.0 in elective courses.
8. ‑A creative thesis for which the student may receive six hours of preparation credit. The creative writing thesis will be prepared under the supervision of a committee approved by the dean of the Graduate School. This committee will ordinarily consist of three members of the graduate faculties of the departments of Drama and Communications and English.
9. ‑A comprehensive exam in the student’s genre area that will be prepared, administered, and graded by the thesis committee. It will concern itself with the literature of the student’s genre area.
Students who hold master’s degrees from other institutions or from other UNO programs may apply for admission, but upon acceptance they must meet all requirements for the M.F.A. degree listed above and must complete 36 hours of resident or non-resident work at UNO, including all 15 hours in writing workshop courses.
Low Residency Option
1. ‑Completion of at least 45 hours of drama and communications and English courses. 18 hours of which must be in residence.
2. ‑Fifteen hours of 6000-level course work in creative writing workshops, at least 12 of which will be in the thesis genre area, and nine hours must be in residence. These required courses are: for fiction writing, English 6171 or 6191; for poetry writing, English 6173 or 6193; for playwriting, Drama and Communications 6207 or 6209; and for screenwriting, Drama and Communications 6257 or 6259.
3. ‑Three hours in Form and Idea, Drama and Communications 6020; three hours in Non-Fiction Writing, English 6154 or 6194.
4. Nine hours in background courses
a. ‑Fiction and poetry writing students will be required to take this in the literature of their genre.
b. ‑Screenwriting and playwriting students will be required to take six hours of techniques courses and a three-hour history course in their genre area.
5. A grade of B or better in all required course work.
6. ‑Nine hours of electives. Chosen in consultation with the director of creative writing, these elective hours will be expected to conform to a cohesive program of study.
7. An overall GPA of 3.0 in elective courses.
8. ‑A creative thesis for which the student may receive six hours of preparation credit. The creative writing thesis will be prepared under the supervision of a committee approved by the dean of the Graduate School. This committee will ordinarily consist of three members of the graduate faculties of the departments of Drama and Communications and English.
9. ‑A comprehensive exam in the student’s genre area that will be prepared, administered, and graded by the thesis committee. It will concern itself with the literature of the student’s genre area.
Students who hold master’s degrees from other institutions or from other UNO programs may apply for admission, but upon acceptance they must meet all requirements for the M.F.A. degree listed above and must complete 36 hours of resident or non-resident work at UNO, including all 15 hours in writing workshop courses.
Financial Aid
Graduate assistantships are also available for qualified M.A. and M.F.A. students in both the performing and production arts and in creative writing.
English
Master of Fine Arts
The English Department participates in the Master of Fine Arts degree in Drama and Communications. Fiction writers, playwrights, poets, and screenwriters take course work in English as well as Drama and Communications. See the section on Drama and Communications for description and information on admissions, degree requirements, and graduate assistantships.
Master of Arts Programs
The MA program in English is designed to develop the student’s knowledge of literature and language and skill in literary research and criticism. Though it is aimed primarily at preparing students for further graduate study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the program also provides training for teachers of English in secondary schools and colleges and offers the opportunity for rigorous advanced study in the humanities to qualified persons in nonacademic professions.
The Master of Arts in English Teaching is intended primarily for secondary and middle school teachers who are interested in strengthening their credentials through a program emphasizing English content courses. The program is flexible enough, however, to accommodate those who plan to pursue careers outside education but who are interested in advanced work in literature, linguistics, or professional or creative writing.
Admission
Admission is based on undergraduate and graduate GPA, GRE scores, and a statement of purpose. Applications are accepted at any time; students may enroll in any semester.
Master of Arts in English Degree Requirements
1. Completion of at least 30 credit hours.
2. ‑B average in all 4000-level courses and a B average in all 6000-level courses offered for the degree.
3. Reading knowledge of an appropriate foreign language.
4. Satisfactory performance in a comprehensive examination.
Both a thesis and a non-thesis option exist.
All students admitted to the graduate program will be referred to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in English, who will guide each student in selecting and following a sound program of study suited to needs and level of preparation. This program may, in individual cases, involve more course work than is specified in the general requirements for the degree. In all cases, a minimum of 18 hours must be earned in English courses numbered 6000 and above. One three-hour Directed Study course (English 6397) may be counted toward fulfillment of this minimum requirement; for those students who select the thesis option, three hours of Thesis Research (English 7000) will count toward the 18-hour requirement. Every candidate for the MA degree must complete one introductory course (English 6280 Introduction to Graduate Studies in English, English 6230 Premodern Sources of English Literature, or English 6231 Literary Theory) and one course each in four of the following fields: British Literature to 1660, British Literature after 1660, American Literature, Linguistics, and Rhetoric and Writing. For purposes of clarification, it should be understood that the descriptions of 6000-level courses in the pages below are only categorical and that narrowed topics are always chosen for study within these broad categories. In exceptional cases, certain courses may be repeated for credit with the permission of the graduate coordinator.
The foreign language requirement may be satisfied through course work or through acceptable performance on a translation exam, administered by the English Department. In exceptional cases students may petition the Graduate Advisory Committee to permit the substitution of 6 credit hours of advanced (4000-6000 level) coursework in linguistics or in another pertinent subject for reading knowledge in a foreign language. The 6 hours will be in addition to the 30 hours required for the M.A. in English; courses already taken for undergraduate credit will not be accepted. The student’s petition must provide a rationale for the substitution, explaining how study in a cognate discipline rather than in a foreign language will help the student meet his or her academic objectives.
The comprehensive examination is a four-hour, written examination, designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of subject areas and effectiveness of expression. The examination will cover material from reading lists and from course work in two of the five fields listed above. The examination may be taken only after the candidate has passed the reading knowledge examination in a foreign language and has completed all of the course work.
Students who intend to apply for the M.F.A. or Ph.D. are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option. The M.A. thesis (usually 30-40 pages long) is written under the supervision of an adviser assigned to the student by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in English. Credit for English 7000 (Thesis Research) is granted only after the candidate has passed a one-hour oral examination on the thesis administered by a committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School and the thesis has been approved by the committee.
Master of Arts in English Teaching Degree Requirements
This program is designed for teachers who wish to continue development of subject matter competence and enhance pedagogical skills. Normally, state certification is required for admission. Each student admitted to the program will be advised by the graduate coordinators from the Department of English and the College of Education, who will guide the student in preparing an appropriate program of study. While the total number of hours taken by each student may vary, the minimum requirements include:
1. ‑The completion of 36 hours of course credit with at least 21-27 hours in the Department of English, 9-15 hours in the College of Education, and six hours of approved electives. At least 12 hours in the Department of English and three hours in the College of Education must be in courses numbered 6000 and above.
2. ‑A “B” average must be earned in all courses taken for the degree.
3. ‑Satisfactory performance on a written, three-part comprehensive examination covering the two chosen English areas and education.
Both a thesis and a non-thesis option exist. Students who elect the thesis option must take either English 6280 or Educational Foundations and Research 6700. Most theses are in British or American literature, linguistics or education, but creative theses in fiction or poetry are possible. The thesis carries three hours of credit.
English
Students choose two of the following fields of study and develop specialized areas of concentration within them.
Literature: three areas: American Literature, British Literature to 1600, and British Literature after 1660.
Rhetoric and Writing: three areas: Contemporary Research, Theory and Pedagogy, Classical Rhetoric, and Professional Writing. Students building a concentration in writing may enroll in the summer writing institute (Greater New Orleans Writing Project); graduate courses in creative writing are available as well.
Linguistics: several areas are available, among them Applied Linguistics, designed for those seeking training in teaching English as a second language.
Education
Courses are usually chosen from among four fields: Methods for Secondary English, Reading, Curriculum and Instruction, and Language Arts. Within these fields, students may pursue concentrated study in such areas as teaching reading and writing, teaching in a multicultural setting, or teaching English as a second language.
All M.A.E.T. students must take at least 15 hours of 6000-level courses (12 hours in English and 3 hours in Education). Up to 12 hours of graduate credit may be transferred.
Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts in Fine Arts
The Master of Fine Arts program in Fine Arts is designed to provide professional training leading to a terminal degree in the studio areas of digital media, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and photography.
Admission
After a student has applied to the Graduate School, the application, slides and letters of recommendation will be evaluated by the Committee on Graduate Studies of the Department of Fine Arts. To be accepted into the program, applicants must have an undergraduate degree and a high academic average in scholastic and studio work. Applicants who are admitted to the Fine Arts program will be assigned a sponsor by the Graduate Admissions Committee. The sponsor is a member of the Fine Arts Graduate Faculty who agrees to accept the responsibility of guiding the student through the program and who regularly teaches or exhibits professionally in the student’s major area.
Students who are deficient in certain areas may be admitted on a conditional basis. They must complete both the regular requirements and fulfill the conditions imposed by the Committee on Graduate Studies.
Master of Fine Arts in Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Students will complete a minimum of 60 hours of coursework distributed as follows:
Prior to Candidacy:
Cr. Hrs.
FA 6501, 6502, 6503, 6504 Major Studio I 12
FA 6701, 6702 Minor Studio 6
FA 6801 Seminar 1
FA 4000 level Art History 6
25
After admission to Candidacy: Cr. Hrs.
FA 6601, 6602, 6603,
6604, 6605, 6606 Major Studio II 18
FA 6703, 6704 Minor Studio 6
FA 6801 Seminar 2
FA 4000 level Art History 3
FA 7000 Thesis Research 6
35
Minor Studio courses are expected to be a relevant supplement to the primary focus of the student’s Major Studio work and can be either
1. 12 hours of Fine Arts minor studio courses as above, or
2. ‑Students may petition the Fine Arts Graduate Faculty proposing a specific selection of 12 hours of graduate courses in a field outside Fine Arts to satisfy the Minor Studio requirement. The petition must fully explain and justify the nature of the work to be accomplished and be accompanied by a letter of approval from the chairman of each department in which coursework is to be taken. The student is advised to consult with his sponsor and with the Fine Arts Graduate Coordinator in developing the petition for a Minor Outside Fine Arts.
M.F.A. students are required to enroll in the seminar three times, and attend the seminar each semester in which they are enrolled.
MFA Candidacy Examination
At the end of the first year, MFA students’ eligibility for MFA candidacy will be determined by the Committee on Graduate Studies, who will arrange for a verbal examination and review of the student’s work.
Time Limit
All requirements for the Master of Fine Arts in Fine Arts must be completed within six years.
Financial Aid
A limited number of graduate assistantships and fellowships are available to qualified students working on the Master of Fine Arts degree. For information concerning such assistantships or fellowships, applicants should contact the Graduate Coordinator of the Department of Fine Arts.
Geography
The graduate program in geography offers advanced training in four general areas: 1) land-use analysis; 2) environmental analysis; 3) cartography, remote sensing, and geographic information systems; and 4) cultural and regional geography. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available. The degree is intended to serve the needs of students who elect to continue work at the Ph.D. level, or who plan to use the M.A. as a terminal degree.
Admission
The student must be accepted by the Graduate School and by the Department of Geography. Admission is based on a sufficiently high quality of work at the undergraduate level leading to the completion of a baccalaureate degree and satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination. The Department of Geography reserves the right to grant either conditional or full admission to the program. If admitted on a conditional basis, the student must complete all of the deficiencies upon which conditional admittance was based before full admission will be granted.
Master of Arts in Geography Degree Requirements
Students pursuing the Master of Arts degree in geography must show prior credit for Geography 2801 or its equivalent. Students with baccalaureate degrees outside of geography may be granted conditional admission. All students must complete a minimum of 31 credit hours in the thesis option or 37 credit hours in the non-thesis option. In both options, a six-hour minor outside of geography is required. All students are required to complete Geography 4805 or 4810, 6001, and 6887. Students who intend to take 6000-level courses in the techniques or environmental analysis areas of concentration must also take Geography 4801.
Thesis Option Students who elect to pursue the thesis option must complete the core requirements described above and the following additional requirements:
1. ‑at least nine hours in geography courses numbered 6000 or above (excluding thesis hours), including at least three hours of seminar courses.
2. ‑at least six hours in each of two of the four areas of concentration (land use analysis, environmental analysis, techniques, cultural/regional analysis), to include a minimum of 12 hours. At least six of the 12 hours must be at the 6000 level or above.
3. at least six hours of thesis research.
4. ‑the remaining credit hours must be in core courses and electives approved by the student’s major advisor. In addition, students in the cultural and regional concentration may elect to substitute three hours of anthropology for three of the six hours in geography required to satisfy section “2” above. Any substitution must have the consent of the student’s advisor.
Students must successfully defend a thesis to complete the degree. Students who have already completed any or all of the core courses prior to admission to the Master of Arts program may, with the approval of the student’s advisor, substitute an equivalent number of hours in other geography courses.
Non-thesis Option: Students who elect the non-thesis option must complete the core requirements described above and the following additional requirements:
1. ‑at least 15 hours are in geography courses numbered 6000 or above, including at least six hours in seminar courses.
2. ‑at least six hours in each of two of the four areas of concentration. At least six of the 12 hours must be at the 6000 level, with a minimum of three hours of 6000-level credit coming from each of the two areas of concentration.
3. ‑the remaining hours must be in core courses and electives, approved by the student’s major advisor (section “4’’ under the thesis option).
Students must pass a comprehensive exam to complete the degree. This exam will include material from the geography core courses and from each of the two areas of concentration. Students who have already completed any or all of the required core courses prior to admission to the Master of Arts program may, with the approval of the student’s advisor, substitute an equivalent number of hours in other geography courses.
History
The graduate program leading to the Master of Arts degree in history provides intensive training for well qualified students in both European and American history. Its primary purpose is to prepare students who wish to pursue work elsewhere for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, but it also provides training for teachers in the secondary schools and rigorous study in the humanities for those from nonacademic professions.
Admission
After acceptance by the Graduate School, admission to the graduate history program will be determined by the department upon the basis of Graduate Record Examination scores, completion of a satisfactory undergraduate major, a record indicating a high standard of undergraduate achievement (normally an overall B average) and two letters of recommendation from faculty members with whom the applicant has studied.
Master of Arts in History Degree Requirements
All candidates must complete a minimum of 27 credits in course work, (with at least 15 in courses numbered above 6000) plus a minimum of three credits in thesis research. The student will distribute the work as follows: (1) History 6001, (2) a minimum of two proseminars, (3) a minimum of one seminar to be taken as part of a proseminar-seminar sequence, and (4) History 7000. Only grades of B or better will be accepted toward fulfillment of degree requirements.
Students pursuing the concentration in International Relations must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language in order to be admitted to candidacy.
The program will culminate in a thesis which demonstrates an appropriate level of skill in historical research and writing and in a comprehensive examination designed to test the student’s general knowledge of history.
Concentration in International Relations
A variation of the standard curriculum that provides a concentration in international relations is available to students particularly interested in government service or international business careers. This concentration does not preclude pursuit of a doctorate in history, but it is designed primarily as a terminal degree program that will expand the job opportunities of graduates. Like the standard curriculum from which it derives, the concentration requires work distributed as follows:
1. History 6001;
2. ‑a minimum of two proseminars (one in European and one in American History);
3. ‑a minimum of one seminar (European or American, as appropriate to the student’s interests), to be taken as part of a proseminar-seminar sequence;
4. ‑History 7000 (thesis).
Different from the standard curriculum is the requirement that nine elective credits be earned in related fields as herein determined: Political Science 4800, Economics 4261 or 4262 and one course numbered above 6000 from those offered by Political Science or Economics. Furthermore, all candidates must be certified as having a reading and oral proficiency in one modern foreign language. As with the standard curriculum, the concentration will culminate in a thesis and in a comprehensive examination.
Note that Economics 4272 and other upper level Economics courses carry a prerequisite of Economics 2300 or 2203, 2204, for which no graduate credit is extended.
Master of Arts in History Teaching Degree Requirements
This program is designed for teachers who wish to continue development of subject matter competence and enhance pedagogical skills. Normally, state certification is required for admission, but students who are actively pursuing certification also may be admitted. Each student admitted to the program will be advised by a committee composed of graduate faculty from the Department of History and the College of Education, who will guide the student in preparing an appropriate program of study. While the total number of hours taken by each student may vary, the minimum requirements include:
1. ‑The completion of 36 hours of course credit with at least 21 hours in the Department of History, including History 6001, nine hours in the College of Education, and six hours of approved electives. At least 12 hours in the Department of History and three hours in the College of Education must be in courses numbered 6000 and above.
2. ‑A B average must be earned in all courses taken for the degree.
3. ‑Satisfactory performance on a Comprehensive Examination.
This program does not require the completion of a thesis.
Music
Master of Music Degree
The Department of Music offers the Master of Music degree with areas of concentration in performance, conducting (choral or instrumental), composition, and jazz studies. Each program of study requires a minimum of 33 graduate credit hours to include course work in the applied area, music theory, music history, electives in music, recital or composition, and participation in the graduate colloquium.
Admission
A Graduate Application must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. Official transcripts from all previously attended universities and and Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores must be requested and sent directly to the Office of Admissions. If the GRE has not been taken, it may be taken during the first semester of study. Only the general portion of the GRE is required.
International students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores of at least 500 with a composite score of 50 on the listening section.
For all student applicants, an audition and interview must be scheduled.
A student can be accepted into the graduate program in music in one of two categories:
1. ‑Unconditional Acceptance: the student has sufficient background to enroll in the required 4000- and 6000-level courses immediately. No prerequisite courses are needed.
2. ‑Conditional Acceptance: the student has some deficiencies in background skills. This student needs specific remedial courses before enrolling in the complete 4000- and 6000-level Master of Music curricula.
Master of Music Degree Requirements
Completion of the Master of Music degree requires a minimum of 33 hours. At the end of the program, each student will present a graduate recital. Composition majors will also submit an original composition. A thesis is not required in any of the four degree programs. All courses are selected with the approval of the major advisor.
Comprehensive examinations, both oral and written, are required during the final semester. More detailed information on curricular requirements is available from the Music Department in the handbook, “Graduate Study in Music at the University of New Orleans.”
Financial Aid
A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to qualified students working on the Master of Music degree.
Political Science
The Department of Political Science offers a comprehensive program leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. The graduate program is designed to prepare professional political scientists for careers in research and teaching, government, and public service.
The graduate programs in political science provide intensive training in the following areas of concentration:
American Political Behavior
American Political Institutions
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Minority and Urban Politics
Public Law
Public Policy
Ph.D. candidates must select three of the above areas of concentration.
Admission
In assessing the admission of a student to the MA program, the Graduate Committee of the Department of Political Science evaluates the academic potential of a student based on the academic record and on the Graduate Record Examination general test scores. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required for students from non-English speaking countries without a previous degree from an American university.
An applicant to the Ph.D. program, in addition to the GRE general test scores, must submit the Department of Political Science’s Personal Information Sheet (available online at http://www.uno.edu/~poli/documents/pds.doc), and three letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant’s previous academic performance. Ph.D. students are expected to have attained a strong academic record on all work taken. After this evaluation, the Committee makes a recommendation to the full faculty where the final decision is made.
MA applicants interested in graduate assistantships, like the Ph.D. applicants, must submit three letters of recommendation.
Non-Degree Students
The 6000-level courses offered by the Department of Political Science are open to non-degree students only by special permission of the department.
Master of Arts in Political Science Degree Requirements
The Master’s program is flexible, permitting students to adapt plans of study to their particular needs. The program prepares students for careers in teaching, research, and public service. Candidates must complete either (1) a minimum of 30 credit hours which includes six hours of thesis research or (2) 33 credit hours and no thesis. No more than nine hours in courses numbered below 6000 and no more than six hours of thesis research may be counted toward these minimum requirements. With permission of the Department up to six hours may be taken in related departments. All students must complete Political Science 6001 and 6002 with a grade of B or better. Students who take thesis research will write a thesis which demonstrates an appropriate level of skill in research and writing in an accepted field of political science. Students who intend to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program are strongly encouraged to take thesis research.
All students are required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language or statistics.
Students writing a thesis must pass an oral defense of the thesis.Students who choose the non-thesis option must pass a written and possibly an oral examination.
Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science Degree Requirements
Qualifying Examination: Upon successful completion of the Qualifying Examination, a student must complete a minimum of 60 graduate credit hours overall. Included in this must be at least 12 credit hours in one of the areas of concentration and at least nine hours in each of the other areas of concentration, completion of the research method sequence of Political Science 6001, 6002, and 6003 with grades of “B” or better and six credit hours in dissertation research. Work taken toward a M.A. degree may be counted for this purpose, but at least 30 hours must be completed as a Ph.D. student.
In addition to the general requirements outlined in this catalog, the department has established these further regulations for doctoral candidates:
1. ‑Ph.D. candidates must complete a minimum of 54 hours in graduate courses plus the dissertation. At least 24 of these course hours must be completed after the student has received a master’s degree.
2. ‑Ph.D. candidates must demonstrate competence in research methods by passing Political Science 6001, 6002 and 6003 or the equivalents with a B or better. In addition, reading knowledge in one foreign language is required or knowledge of advanced quantitative methods.
3. ‑In the general examination, the candidate will be tested in three of the areas listed above. The examination will be both oral and written. If the Ph.D. degree is not completed within five years after passing the general examination, that examination must be retaken.
4. There is a final dissertation defense examination.
Financial Aid
Competitive, renewable graduate assistantships are available each year for both Master of Arts and Ph.D. students from the Department of Political Science.
Romance Languages
Master of Arts Program
The Master of Arts in Romance Languages (French or Spanish Option) offers the student a concentration in one of two areas: language/culture/civilization or literature. The program both prepares students for further graduate study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and provides training for teachers of French or Spanish in secondary schools and colleges. It also offers the opportunity for rigorous advanced study in the humanities to qualified persons from nonacademic professions.
Admission
To be admitted to graduate studies in Romance Languages, a student must present an undergraduate record which indicates a high standard of achievement, normally with an overall B average. In addition, the Foreign Language Department will review the Graduate Record Examination scores and letters of recommendation. The Department of Foreign Languages may grant full or conditional admission. Students admitted on a conditional basis must fulfill the conditions imposed by the department in addition to the regular requirements for the degree. Students with the bachelor’s degree in fields other than French or Spanish may be admitted on this conditional basis and allowed to make up deficiencies.
Master of Arts in Romance Languages Degree Requirements
A. Language/Culture/Civilization.
1. ‑33 credits in course work with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000 or 30 credits in course work with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000, including up to 6 credits in thesis research.
2. A “B” average in all courses.
3. ‑Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination (written and oral) which will test the student in three areas of linguistics/civilization and in one period of literature, areas and a period which he/she may select from those indicated in the Reading List for the M.A. comprehensive exam.
4. ‑Reading knowledge at the 2002 proficiency level of a second Romance Language (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian) or Latin.
B. Literature.
1. ‑30 credits in course work with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000, including up to 6 credits in thesis research or 33 credits in coursework with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000.
2. A “B” average in all courses.
3. ‑Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination (written and oral) which will test the student in four periods of literature, or (this alternative required in the Spanish option) in three periods of literature and one area of linguistics/civilization, periods and an area which he/she may select from those indicated in the Reading List for the M.A. in comprehensive exam.
4. ‑Reading knowledge at the 2002 proficiency level of a second Romance Language (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian) or Latin.
5. ‑All students admitted to the graduate program will be referred to the Departmental Coordinator of Graduate Studies, who will guide each student in selecting and following a sound program of study suited to needs and level of preparation. This program may, in individual cases, involve more course work than is specified in the general requirements for the degree. For purposes of clarification, it should be understood that the descriptions of 6000-level courses in the pages below are only categorical and that narrowed topics are always chosen for study within these broad categories.
The comprehensive examination is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the language/culture/civilization or of the literature of his/her chosen field of study. The examination may be taken only after the candidate has passed the reading knowledge examination in a foreign language other than the major language area and has completed all of the course work. Ordinarily, the examination will be devoted to course work undertaken for the master’s degree.
The thesis is written under the supervision of an adviser assigned to the student by the Coordinators of Graduate Studies in Romance Languages. Credit for Romance Languages 7000 (Thesis Research) is granted only after the thesis has been approved by a committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School and after the candidate has passed a one-hour oral examination on the thesis administered by this committee.
Financial Aid
Assistantships in the Department of Foreign Languages are available for a limited number of qualified applicants each year. Requests for application forms and for additional information should be addressed to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Romance Languages.
Sociology
The Master of Arts degree in Sociology provides advanced training for students and serves the employment needs of the larger New Orleans community. The dual mission of the program prepares students to pursue doctoral work in sociology and/or assists students in furthering their career goals through developing and upgrading research and analytical skills. The department offers a comprehensive program in sociology with special concentrations in the sociology of gender and environmental sociology.
Admission
Admissions criteria include a good undergraduate record, three letters of recommendation, and satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Students must submit applications to both the UNO Graduate School and to the Department of Sociology. Students may also apply for graduate assistant positions. Students having the bachelor's degree in fields other than Sociology may be admitted, but are typically required to take an undergraduate theory course for which they receive graduate credit.
Master of Arts in Sociology Degree Requirements
M.A. students in Sociology may pursue a traditional thesis option, an applied sociology option, or a non-thesis option.
Students who pursue the thesis option must complete a minimum of 30 hours of course work at the graduate level which includes a core of required courses, electives. They must prepare a thesis and pass an oral examination covering the thesis topic.
Students who pursue the non-thesis option must complete 36 hours of course work, including a required course in qualitative methods.
Students selecting the applied sociology option must complete 30 hours of credit, write a research report based on two semesters of work in a public or private organization and pass an oral examination covering the completed report.
Financial Aid
A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified applicants each academic year, with a maximum appointment of two years.