Department of English, Film, Languages, and Performing Arts

English Program

TLC 2255 • 678-839-6512
www.westga.edu/english

Professors:

C. Davidson (School of the Arts Director), M. Doyle (Program Coordinator), P. Erben, G. Fraser, R. Harrison, A. Insenga, L. Miller, M. Mitchell, D. Newton (Provost Fellow for Student Success), A. Umminger

Associate Professors:

S. Boyd, K. Casper, M. Franks, L. Haught, E.L. Mock

English majors receive advanced training in various modes of writing and rhetoric, professional text editing, literary analysis, cultural and historical studies, and critical thinking. English majors are trained to be sophisticated readers, writers, and editors of texts, and they are equipped to be adaptable for work in many career fields. Recent graduates in English have been admitted into law school and graduate schools in English, Professional / Technical Writing, and Education. English majors secure jobs in a variety of fields, including all areas of business (such as marketing and communications), computer-related fields, editing and publishing, public and private education, library sciences, and creative writing. Instead of teaching you vocational skills, the major in English prepares you for the real world where the demand is for individuals who can read and write effectively, learn and adapt to changing situations quickly, and work creatively and intelligently on their own.

Learning Outcomes

English majors will be able to:

Identify and assess the traditions, conventions, and contexts associated with the study of the English language and its literatures
Apply critical thinking skills to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from diverse oral, written, and/or visual sources
Conduct research, develop organizational strategies, and compose professional documents using the academic conventions of English studies as a discipline

The English Program also supports the following interdisciplinary minors

Africana Studies: This interdisciplinary minor combines the study, research, interpretation, and the dissemination of knowledge concerning the African presence in Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world from the birth of human civilization to the present.
Film Studies: The Film Studies Minor at the University of West Georgia is designed to educate and inspire students interested in film. The program complements the university’s already strong liberal arts tradition and consists of a series of interdisciplinary courses from programs including English, International Languages and Cultures, History, Mass Communications, Theatre, and Psychology. These courses are designed to provide students with a solid background in the history, technical analysis, aesthetics and cultural significance of film. As an interdisciplinary minor, the film program encourages students to explore further the rich and diverse aesthetic, philosophical, historical, and cultural expressions articulated in films.
Gender and Sexuality Studies: This interdisciplinary minor provides an academic forum for the examination of gender and sexuality in contemporary and historical global cultures.

For more information, see the University College section of the catalog.

The English Program also coordinates the Embedded Certificate in Publishing and Editing.

The Certificate in Publishing and Editing prepares you for the literally hundreds of careers in writing and in working with other people’s writing in both academic and nonacademic workplaces.

International Languages and Cultures Program

Cobb 107 • 678-839-6515

Professors:

L. Anderson (French Section Head), L. Connell (Program Coordinator), E. Dahms (Spanish Section Head), J. Farmer (Director of Ombuds Services), Y. Fuentes, R. Kilpatrick (Chair, Department of English, Film, Languages, and Performing Arts), F. Tweraser (German Section Head), J. Zamostny (Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research)

Associate Professors:

A. Koczkas, A. Zapata-Calle

Lecturers:

K. Dollinger, C. Ezekiel, L. Hill (Teacher Education Coordinator)

Instructor:

E. Solis

ILC Overview

The program in International Languages and Cultures prepares students to thrive in an increasingly multicultural and globally-connected world. We offer degrees and minors in French, German, and Spanish as well as a Stand-Alone Certificate in Global Languages and Cultures. ILC provides our students with a wealth of cultural opportunities:

Study abroad programs in Austria, Costa Rica, and France
Exchange partnerships with institutions in Chile, France, and Germany
Co-curricular activities such as film festivals, campus cultural celebrations, and undergraduate research.
Interaction with caring faculty who are passionate about languages and their areas of study.

Students who study languages and cultures become more engaged global citizens while developing valuable skills in intercultural communication and research.

Learning Outcomes/Expected Results for all programs:

Students will demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills at the advanced level of the target language consistent with national standards for foreign language education.
Students will demonstrate skills necessary to analyze cultures and practices of the tar-get areas.
Students will demonstrate the capacity to present research in the target language on topics relevant to the study of foreign languages and cultures.

For Learning Outcomes on specific concentrations please see https://www.westga.edu/academics/coah/international-languages-and-cultures/.

Please note: Students may retake a French, German, or Spanish course for credit at the 1000 or 2000 level only if they have not completed a course with a higher number for credit.

The Program in International Languages and Cultures offers the following stand-alone certificate:

Certificate in Global Languages and Cultures:

This stand-alone certificate offers students an opportunity to reflect on and build connections between their study of languages and cultures, other disciplines, and various professional and/or academic paths. Students must successfully complete the following: nine hours of FREN/GRMN/SPAN 1001-2002 (at least 2001 in French, German, or Spanish); a three-hour “Global Languages and Cultures” colloquium, and one approved three-hour upper-level (3000/4000-level) elective (the International Languages and Cultures program coordinator will approve and maintain an ongoing list; all FORL/FREN/GRMN/SPAN Upper-level courses are approved). This is a fifteen-hour certificate. FORL 3000 is the only required course. There is no GPA requirement for the certificate.

The Program in International Languages and Cultures Program supports the following Interdisciplinary Minors:

Africana Studies: This interdisciplinary minor combines the study, research, interpretation, and the dissemination of knowledge concerning the African presence in Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world from the birth of human civilization to the present.
Film Studies: The Film Studies Minor at the University of West Georgia is designed to educate and inspire students interested in film. The program complements the university’s already strong liberal arts tradition and consists of a series of interdisciplinary courses from programs including English, International Languages and Cultures, History, Mass Communications, Theatre, and Psychology. These courses are designed to provide students with a solid background in the history, technical analysis, aesthetics and cultural significance of film. As an interdisciplinary minor, the film program encourages students to explore further the rich and diverse aesthetic, philosophical, historical, and cultural expressions articulated in films.
Gender and Sexuality: This interdisciplinary minor provides an academic forum for the examination of gender and sexuality in contemporary and historical global cultures.
Latin American Studies: In this interdisciplinary minor, students have the opportunity to study languages and cultures of Latin America through coursework in the following disciplines: History, Political Science, Spanish, French, Music, XIDS, Geography, and Psychology.

For more information, see the University College section of the catalog.

Music Program

Gunn Hall A-wing (fall 2023), Humanities Building (spring 2024) • 678-839-6516
http://www.westga.edu/music

Professors:

E Kramer, J. Byrd, C.Self (Program Coordinator)

Associate Professor:

D. Neely (Program Coordinator)

Assistant Professors:

S. Elias, K. Graffius

Senior Lecturer:

E. Hunt

The Music Program at the University of West Georgia is recognized as a model for student success in performance, music education, and composition, a center for excellence in teaching and performance, and for accomplishment in research and creative achievement. The Bachelor of Music degree is offered with concentrations in Music Education, Composition, Performance, and Performance with an Emphasis in Piano Pedagogy. The program of study in music education leads to Teacher Certification in the state of Georgia. Stand alone certificates in Jazz Studies and Musical Theatre are available to students of all majors. Students who pursue a major in another field of study may qualify to pursue a Minor in Music. All instruction is delivered by distinguished artist-teacher faculty with extensive credentials and professional experience. The University of West Georgia is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

Faculty and Facilities

Concerts, recitals, and other music-related events are presented in a variety of venues both on campus and in the Carrollton community, including the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts, which boasts a mainstage hall of 455 seats and the Richard Dangle “black-box” Theater. Gracing the mainstage of the Townsend Center are twin Bösendorfer Imperial grand pianos, making West Georgia one of only a few institutions in the nation to have two such instruments on the same stage. As a Kawai EPIC institution, UWG has Kawai pianos in all classrooms, studios, practice rooms, and rehearsal rooms. Beginning in January 2024, the newly-renovated Humanities Building will feature state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including an 18-station keyboard lab, a large percussion studio, multi-media classrooms, multiple music libraries for instrumental and choral music holdings, an instrument repair room, a recording booth, and Wenger soundproof practice rooms and faculty studios.

Opportunities in Music

Students at West Georgia, whether music majors, minors, or non-music majors, participate in a wide range of music activities for university credit. Music majors and minors follow a prescribed program of study, while non-music majors may select from a wide variety of offerings.

Many students perform in University ensembles, which include the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Opera Workshop, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Chamber Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, Basketball Band, Keyboard Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Mixed Chamber Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and various small chamber groups.

Private study is available in piano, organ, voice, and guitar, as well as in wind, brass, and percussion instruments. These private lessons are required of all music majors and minors (Principal Applied).

Students also enroll in music courses offered in the Core Curriculum, including Music Appreciation; Jazz, Rock, and Popular Music; and Survey of World Music. To determine which courses can most suitably meet your needs, contact the Music Program Coordinator.

Entrance Auditions and Placement Examinations

All incoming freshmen and transfer students planning to major in music must audition before the music faculty on their principal performing instrument or voice. A scholarship audition may serve as a student’s admission audition. Students wishing to pursue a concentration in Composition must be approved through submission of a portfolio of at least two original compositions, totaling at least five minutes in length, including digital audio recordings. Submission of scores is required.

Credit by examination for any course in the Music Theory or Keyboard Skills sequence must be validated by the course’s faculty and processed through the department office and the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer Student Admission

The music major entering the Music Program by transfer must submit an official transcript of all previous college work to the University’s Office of Admissions. The applicant should be prepared to validate achievements in the area of applied music, music theory, ear training and sight singing, keyboard proficiency, and the history and literature of music. Plans for the removal of any deficiency must be initiated during the first registration period.

Specific requirements regarding applied lessons are listed on the program website at: (http://www.westga.edu/music). For additional information about the performance standards for applied-music study, please see the Music Program Coordinator.

Music Scholarships

Music scholarship awards are available to qualified students as determined by a scholarship audition. Numerous students are served annually by these awards to music-major, music-minor, and non-music-major students. All awards are valid pending admission to and approval of funding by the University.

The Music Program’s faculty considers many criteria before recommending a candidate for a scholarship award. These criteria include the candidate’s anticipated contribution to program ensembles, the needs within the program, the financial need of the candidate, and the amount of award money available. For continuing students, additional considerations include their actual contributions to the program through solo performances and ensemble participation, improvement and growth in applied study, and academic standing.

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for each of the degree programs in Music can be found at the Website: https://www.westga.edu/academics/art-culture-science/english-film-lang-arts/music/programs.php.

Theatre Program

Martha Munro Building and Old Auditorium • 678-839-4700

Performance Space: Townsend Center for the Performing Arts
https://www.westga.edu/theatre

Professors:

A. Cuomo (Program Coordinator), R. Elman (Chair, Department of English, Film, Languages, and Performing Arts), P. Gagnon (Dean, College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry), A. Yeong-Marcello

Assistant Professor:

E. McClure-Frank

Senior Lecturer:

J. Monaghan

Statement of Purpose: The UWG Theatre Program educates, inspires, and transforms the lives of students, faculty, and audience members through storytelling, artistic expression, and collaboration, which create the live theatre experience.

Vision Statement: The UWG Theatre Program will graduate students who are engaged with the world around them and who use their skills in theatre to make that world a better place.

Goals:

Prepare students for the current theatre/film job market and/or continued study in advanced training programs.

Foster relationships with Atlanta area theatre production companies to assist students in acquiring internships and regular employment.
Present work that addresses issues important to contemporary society, including plays or musicals from theatre history, and that reflect the diversity of our student population.
Contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of the university and Carrollton communities through core curriculum courses and performances.
Offer an engaging, rigorous, and current theatre curriculum that is philosophically sound and meets the needs of our students.
Maintain accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Theatre, which improves educational practices and maintains high professional standards in theatre education for Theatre Programs throughout United States.
Instill and nurture professional standards and personal accountability in Theatre students.

Values:

The value of Achievement is evident in our commitment to the artistic growth and advancement of our students through conference presentations and internship opportunities.
The value of Caring is evident in our creation of personal relationships with theatre students and a personal investment in their success as artists.
The value of Collaboration is apparent in the very nature of our art form. We collaborate with student artists to create theatre.
The value of Inclusiveness is evident in our casting of shows with the selection of diverse material that celebrates our student population.
The value of Innovation is evident in our pursuit of new technologies, methodologies, and standards to mirror the fast-paced entertainment industry.
The value of Integrity is evident in our commitment to transitioning the work of our student artists in the classroom to the work they do on-stage.
The value of Sustainability is evident in our obligation to maintain an ecological balance by recycling materials, and using equipment that saves energy.
The value of Wisdom is evident in two very specific ways: 1) our pursuit and commitment to teaching students a broad knowledge of how art, more specifically theatre, not only fits into the world, but also how it can change it; and 2) in our commitment to help theatre practitioners-in-training to transition from University to the entertainment industry.

Interdisciplinary Certificate in Musical Theatre

The Interdisciplinary Certificate in Musical Theatre provides students of musical theatre the opportunity to take courses in the three facets of the discipline: Theatre, Music, and Dance. Students must audition to be admitted into the certificate program. This is a 17 credit hour interdisciplinary (Music, Theatre, Dance), stand-alone certificate in musical theatre.

Arts Management Certificate

The Arts Management Certificate provides students the opportunity to take courses in the “business” part of show business. This is a 15-credit hour stand-alone certificate that spans courses in the arts, humanities, and business sectors.

Programs

Bachelor of Art

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Theatre with Concentrations in Acting and Design/Technology, B.F.A.

Bachelor of Music

Embedded Certificates

Stand Alone Certificates

Minor