Design Degrees Online

The purpose of providing the opportunity for a selfdesigned major is to enable students to pursue an individualized program of studies different from one of the established majors available at Pitt- Greensburg. Students considering this alternative should schedule an appointment with a Pitt-Greensburg adviser.

1. A Self–Designed major must differ significantly from an existing Pitt-Greensburg major, must be multidisciplinary (i.e., include courses from more than one department), and must maintain the same high standard of academic quality as other Pitt-Greensburg majors (e.g., a student will be expected to earn a C grade in all courses in the major and the student will be expected to complete a suitable capstone course as part of the major).

2. A Self-Designed major must have one or more faculty sponsors who assist the student in the developing the plan of studies. The faculty member(s) must agree to serve on a continuing basis in monitoring the student’s progress and approving any changes in the major. Faculty sponsorship is terminated when the student changes to another major or completes requirements for graduation.

3. Students interested in the self-designed major must submit a written proposal outlining the purpose(s), rationale, and courses of the self-designed major. The proposal should contain the following elements:

a. Title Page
1. Title of proposed major and degree sought (BA, BS).
2. Name, address, work and home telephone numbers.
3. Name, department(s), and telephone number(s) of faculty sponsor(s).
4. Signature of approval of the proposal by faculty member(s) and his/her division chairperson.

b. Content of Proposal
1. A clear statement of the purpose and rationale for the major must be made. Include the scope of the program of studies and relevance of the courses proposed.

2. List the courses on a separate page with course numbers, titles, and number of credits.

3. A minimum of 30 credits is required. A maximum of 48 credits is allowed if all the courses are in arts and sciences.

4. The Vice President for Academic Affairs grants final approval of the major through a letter to the faculty sponsor(s) and student. Any further changes in the major must also have approval from the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Visual Art Education (VAE) program offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees for individuals interested in teaching art. Teaching opportunities exist in a number of settings, including public schools, arts agencies, art museums, senior centers, recreation centers and other venues. The VAE program offers preparation for providing educational services in these milieus.
BAE

The Bachelors of Art Education is a five-year course of study that leads to certification and is suited to individuals seeking employment in a public school setting. Students interested in non-traditional educational settings (art museums, arts centers, etc.) may elect to obtain the Bachelors of Art Education degree without certification.
MA

The program consists of at least 30 semester hours of study, with at least one half of credits taken in courses open only to graduate students. The number of courses students will need to complete the degree is determined through a careful review of candidates’ background and academic preparation. The degree specifies a thesis or project done under the direction of a faculty member. A master’s candidate may elect one of two emphasis, either art museum education or traditional art education.

For more information about the MA in Visual Arts Education, click here.
Graduate Certification Program

Certification in art education is available for students with an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in art. Coursework mirrors that of undergraduates in the five-year program contingent upon the academic background of the individual. A faculty member in the area will determine applicants’ qualifications. The certification track is designed to provide graduate credit applicable toward the Master’s Degree in Art Education.

The Process

1. Interested students, in consultation with three faculty sponsors from at least two departments, should present a detailed written proposal of their major (which has been signed by their faculty sponsors) to the Undergraduate Studies Advisory Committee no later than Friday before the midsemester break of each semester. One of the faculty sponsors should be identified as the chair of the supervising committee.

2. Approval of the special major will be granted by the dean, on the recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Advisory Committee. The committee will review the proposals and communicate their recommendations to the students before the preregistration period begins. As it deliberates, the committee may ask for additional information from the student, faculty sponsors, and other colleagues in related areas to assist in further refining and rewriting the original proposal. It is the expectation that the on-campus portions of the major will relay heavily on existing courses.

3. Special majors must culminate in a capstone essay, or, where appropriate, other work, which will be evaluated by more than one faculty member. (In most cases, it is assumed that the faculty evaluators will be the faculty sponsors.) A detailed proposal of the capstone project must be submitted to the faculty sponsors by November 1 of the senior year. It is expected that a capstone essay will consist of between 30 and 50 pages (7500-15000 words).

4. Changes in an individual program need the approval of the chair of the supervising committee and the dean. If students discover midstream that they are unable to complete the special major, it may be “dropped,” but they must then complete one of the traditional departmental majors. Retroactive proposals will no be considered. Thus, these programs should be well under way by the end of the junior year.

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college.

A minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

For those without a bachelor’s degree in communications, rhetoric, journalism, English, linguistics, computer science, or a related field, at least 15 credits in appropriately related courses.

Recent letters of recommendation* from two individuals, preferably from a professional supervisor and a faculty member.

A portfolio* documenting preparation for graduate study, including,

An essay describing what you can bring to this program and why you wish to pursue this degree.

Additional selected materials supporting your preparation for graduate study, such as papers, presentations, and design work.
* A non-matriculated student who takes an IDT course and receives a B+ or higher does not need to submit a portfolio or letters of recommendation to apply to enter the program.