Meeting of the Board of Regents | September 2010

To:                                           The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

From:                                      Joseph P. Frey

Subject:                                    School of Visual Arts: Regents Authorization to authorize School of Visual Arts to award the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree

Date:                                       August 31, 2010

Authorizations:                      

SUMMARY

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

Should the Board of Regents authorize the School of Visual Arts to award the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree? There is no corresponding master plan amendment needed, as the School already offers other master’s-level degree programs in the discipline area of Fine Arts.

Reason for Consideration

Required by State Regulation.

           

Proposed Handling

The question will come before the full Board at its September 2010 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken. 

Background Information

The School of Visual Arts submitted a proposal for a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program in Critical Theory and the Arts in June 2010. The Department has determined that the program, if approved, would meet registration standards.

           

SVA, a proprietary college located in midtown Manhattan, was founded in 1947. Its mission is to educate students who aspire to become professional artists or to work in many arts' related fields. It currently offers B.F.A., M.P.S. and M.F.A degree programs in the Fine Arts and in the Social Sciences; and an M.A.T. degree program in Art Education. Regents authorization of the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is required because SVA is currently not authorized to award that degree title. Master plan amendment is not needed because the School already offers several master’s-level degree programs in the discipline area of the Fine Arts.

            The proposed M.A. degree program in Critical Theory and the Arts is a research degree that is intended to serve the needs of inquiring studio artists and students from the humanities who seek to understand the situation of the arts today. The 36-credit program includes courses in Art Theory and Aesthetics, Social Theory and Criticism, and the Arts and Social History as well as a year-long seminar on the Arts; its culminating experience is a comprehensive thesis project.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board of Regents authorize the School of Visual Arts to confer the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree on students successfully completing registered programs at the School.