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About the Interdisciplinary Arts Program
Precis
Nova Southeastern University, under the auspices of the Fischler School of Education and Human Services (FSEHS) is offering a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Education with a specialization in Interdisciplinary Arts (hereafter referred to as “IAP,” and/or “I.A. Program”). The M.S. degree is obtainable within an 18-month schedule of courses, internships, and various field studies. Flexible scheduling plans are also available for students who are not able to schedule full time coursework (see “Logistical Components”). The Program is open to qualifying students who have attained a B.S., B.A., or B.F.A. degree from an accredited institution in any area of the Arts or Art-related field, including but not limited to Musical Theatre, Dance/Choreography, Acting, Technical Design, Stage Management, Film/Video, Composition, Songwriting, Music Production, English/Creative Writing, Communications, and/or Arts Education. The M.S. degree will be conferred upon students after
satisfactory completion of all program requirements, while maintaining a cumulative average of “B” or higher.
The program is offered through the infrastructure of the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP). However, while all course prefixes will be “EIA” (Education and Interdisciplinary Arts), it is important to note that the program is equally geared toward non-educators, i.e., students who do not aspire to teach will focus on one or more of the other arts professions, including professional performance and writing.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate, nurture, and facilitate visionary and conceptual artists by offering a nurturing learning environment, resources and tools to expand their knowledge, skills, experience and entrepreneurship in the Arts. As a component of NSU and an extension of its overall mission, this is a dynamic Master’s Program dedicated to providing high-quality educational experiences in an interdisciplinary setting. Students will be exposed to a broad array of academic and experiential programs. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for lifelong learning and leadership roles in various arts professions. They will be qualified to join the staff of literally any professional arts organization, company, or institution and/or to initiate innovative arts programs, events and original works of intellectual property. The I.A. Program will foster inquiry, research, and creative professional development by uniting faculty and students in acquiring and applying knowledge in professional, educational, community, corporate, cultural and other interdisciplinary settings.
Program Vision
The vision of the Interdisciplinary Arts Program is to achieve national and international prominence for its unique Masters of Science Degree in Education with a specialization Interdisciplinary Arts education, training, and production, focused on entrepreneurial, conceptual and creative thinking. The IAP will offer a course of study for those artists who desire to become a vital part of our modern culture – who wish to step out of the stereotypical role of “the struggling artist” into new roles of leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurism. The I.A. Program will provide students with the training, education, and practical experience necessary for the successful pursuit of professional careers in all of the creative areas of the arts, entertainment, and education fields. Those without education degrees may opt to add the requirements of the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) to their studies, qualifying them to teach at the elementary, middle, secondary, and/or higher education levels of learning. The IAP specializes in the cultivation and pragmatic integration of writers, directors, choreographers, producers, video/filmmakers, composers, songwriters, performers, multi-media designers, and technicians, while focusing on the creation of original works for public consumption. The premise of such integration is that interdisciplinary artists will be qualified not only in the field of their specific discipline, but also equipped to direct, manage or initiate arts organizations, projects and activities that work across as well as within the boundaries of traditional arts disciplines. This will inevitably allow new art forms to emerge.
The sensibilities of contemporary audiences now demand innovative approaches. Examples of Interdisciplinary Arts events already abound: interactive movies, theatrically produced concerts, musical theatre, modern opera & operettas, narrative ballet, corporate and industrial trade shows and a wide array of public ceremonies and community celebrations, e.g., sporting events (half-time ceremonies), fairs, circuses, holiday celebrations, etc. Current well known interdisciplinary works that expand the boundaries of traditional arts disciplines include BLAST, STOMP!, Blue Man Group, and Cirque du Soleil, among others. All of these events are examples of the combination and collaboration of various art forms into structured, stage-worthy productions. However, there is currently very little training available in those areas. The IAP will fill the need for these and many more interdisciplinary arts programs.
Why an Interdisciplinary Arts degree?
The philosophy of beginning with an M.S. degree, and not a B.A. degree, is multi-faceted. First and foremost, the major “niche” that the IAP will fill revolves around the fact that the current market is focused on M.A., M.F.A. and M.S. programs within the various arts’ disciplines. Unless they become a “star” in their own field, the degree specialists often find that they have limited marketability and little in the way of practical experience. By blending the various disciplines into a focused field of study, the IAP will produce students who will benefit in two primary ways:
- They will enhance the skills within their own discipline while learning how to integrate those skills with those of experts in the other disciplines of the arts. The IAP will encourage and facilitate collaboration between the various disciplines.
- Qualifying oneself as an interdisciplinary artist is becoming more and more attractive to arts organizations. Rather than having to hire three or four separate specialists, these organizations are looking to find people who are qualified to develop and direct programs within all the areas of the arts – in other words, arts multi-tasking. Indeed, the interdisciplinary artist is a virtual “jack of all trades” with trained-in flexibility and resourcefulness.
Flexible Course Offerings
The Interdisciplinary Arts program is offered through several flexible scheduling plans, including evening classes that meet once or twice per week and Saturday morning and afternoon half-day classes. It is possible for students to complete the program within 18 months, though students have the option to take courses over a longer period of time. The degree must be completed within five years of initial enrollment. Individualized schedules may be designed for those students who have specific scheduling needs. The I.A. Program Administrator/Artistic Director must approve all such individualized schedules.
Arts educators may take courses in a non-degree program in order to fulfill their recertification requirements. These courses may be applied to an eventual M.S. Degree if the student enrolls in the I.A. program within three years of taking the course(s).
Accreditation
Nova Southeastern University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone number: 404-679-4501) to award bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Nova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, nondisqualifying disability, religion or creed, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and does not discriminate in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.