Change of Major

Fall 2012 Deadlines:

January 15, 2012 – Deadline for change of major/minor applicants to the performing arts

April 1, 2012 – Deadline for change of major/minor applicants to visual arts and design departments

Change of major/minor applicants to visual arts and design departments that submit complete applications by the deadline will receive a decision by June 1st.

Spring 2013 Deadline:

November 1, 2012 – Deadline for change of major/minor applicants to Dance, Fashion Merchandising, Music and Theatre technical tracks (Costume Design, Lighting Design, Scene Design and Stage Management).

Craft/Material Studies, Painting & Printmaking, and Sculpture + Extended will accept Spring change of major/minor applications only from students who have completed VCU’s Art Foundation program.

Applications for all other majors in the School of the Arts are accepted for fall semesters only.

Online Application

All change of major/minor applicants to VCUarts must submit a change of major/minor application online. The university’s Change of Major / Minor form will not be accepted.

This online application asks for your personal and contact information, current and preferred curriculum, a personal statement, extra curricular activities, 1-3 recommenders’ emails, and required supplemental materials (audition, essays, portfolio).

Please click on your major/minor of interest below for additional requirements.

Start Your Application 

Continue An Application

Applicants to the following programs must submit a visual portfolio: Art Education, Art Foundation, Communication Arts, Craft/Material Studies, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Kinetic Imaging, Painting and Printmaking, Photography and Film, and Sculpture and Extended Media.

Art Foundation is the first-year program required of all visual art and design (BFA) students. The exciting first year provides an intellectually rigorous, studio-based experience in the fundamental issues of art and design. The program exposes students to a vast forum of ideas and concepts preparing them for a wide range of disciplines.

The following visual arts departments offer minors: Craft/Material Studies, Painting and Printmaking, and Sculpture and Extended Media. Please note that you may only apply for these minors after the completion of the Art Foundation Program. If your primary major is outside of VCUarts then you must first apply to the Art Foundation Program. A minor in these area will require the completion of 32 credits.

Portfolio

Submit 12 to 16 works of art that you have created within the past two years that show your promise in visual art and design. Present your strongest work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas should you be accepted into VCUarts. We prefer to see a diverse range of 2D and 3D media. Drawing from observation is recommended, while copying anime, cartoons, graffiti or tattoos is discouraged.

Images may be submitted in the following formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF

Videos may be submitted in the following formats: MPG or AVI. All videos must be less than 3 minutes. The total maximum time for all moving images cannot exceed 5 minutes.

Research Paper Required

Art History applicants are required to submit a research paper as a writing sample with their online application. Essays must be submitted in the essay section of the online application.

Majoring in Art History

Prior to applying to major in Art History, students must complete ARTH 103, 104 plus two additional ARTH courses (200 level or higher).

Minoring in Art History

The Art History minor is comprised of 12 credits distributed among the areas of Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque/18th Century, 19th/20th Century and Non-Western. An additional 6 credits are required in Survey of Western Art I & II. The Art History minor curriculum can be found at here.

Film Concept

Tell us a story you would like to tell on film: (narrative film concepts only; no documentary; be succinct and specific; maximum length 200 words).

Essay must be submitted in the “Essay Questions” section of the online application. There is a 32,000 character limit.

Personal Statement

While completing the online application be sure to complete the personal statement. In this statement, discuss your educational goals, including why you wish to study your chosen major. This essay should directly and creatively address your interest in film and any other academic interests that could evolve into a second major.

Optional Supplemental Materials:

If you have written a screenplay, we ask that you send the first 10 pages and title page as an additional writing sample. After submitting your online application, email your screenplay to arts@vcu.edu with your full name and birthdate.

Major in Dance

Dance and choreography applicants are required to audition for the Department of Dance and Choreography faculty at the VCU Dance Center. The audition includes a ballet barre, modern center and improvisation.

Minor in Dance:

To apply to minor in Dance, you must have completed at least 8 credits of dance courses and have a cumulative VCU gpa of 3.0 or greater. No audition is required.

Audition Dates

• February 24 – 10:00-4:00 pm
• March 9, 2012 – 10:00-4:00 pm

Preparing for Your Audition

• In the months prior to the audition, attending regular modern dance classes is highly recommended. You want to be in your best dancing shape. If you do not have access to modern dance, take ballet and/or jazz technique classes.
• Get plenty of rest prior to the audition.
• Eat breakfast the day of the audition and bring a snack. Low blood sugar can hold you back from your best performance.
• Drink water so you are hydrated during the audition.

About the Audition

The VCU Dance audition consists of a ballet barre, a modern center and an improvisation. Students come to VCU Dance auditions with a wide range of experience in dance improvisation. If you have little experience in this area, do not let it deter you. Come with an open mind, listen and be ready to take risks while playing with movement ideas.

• You do not need to present a prepared solo.
• Please wear appropriate attire: Women wear leotard and tights, unitard or dancewear that allows us to see your body. Men wear tights and tee-shirt or dance wear that allows us to see your body.
• Bring ballet shoes to wear during the ballet barre. The modern center is barefoot.
• Approach the audition with a positive, open attitude. Avoid letting mistakes throw you. We are not looking for perfection. We want to see how you deal with the challenges we present to you. We want to see how you move!
• Breathe…and, whatever happens, keep going, stay with the moment and enjoy dancing.

Audition schedule

• 10:00 am – Sign-in and welcome in the Dance Center Lobby
• 10:30 am – Auditionees and family members may watch class, studio 203
• 11:30 am – Auditionees warm-up on their own, studio 105
• 12:00 pm – Audition, studio 203
• 2:30 pm – Departmental Presentation with refreshments
• 3:30 pm – Campus tour
• 8:00 pm – Evening Performance (no performance on March 9, 2012)

Fashion Merchandising applicants have no required supplemental materials.

Audition/Interview

Music applicants are required to audition for the Department of Music faculty. Applicants should prepare two compositions or movements in contrasting styles from the standard repertoire for their instrument. The combined pieces should total no more than 10 minutes in length. Applicants must bring original sheet music to their audition. Sight reading, a short music theory test, a keyboard skills assessment and an interview will also be part of the audition.

After completing an online application, complete an audition request form.

Audition Tips by Instrument

Music Audition Dates

• Jan. 28, 2012, 8 am (Audition registration deadline January 20)
• Feb. 18, 2012, 8 am (Audition registration deadline February 10)
• Feb. 20, 2012, 8 am (Audition registration deadline February 10)

Vocal Auditions

Vocal auditions: Excerpts from choral selections, rock, jazz and popular songs as well as a cappella auditions are not acceptable. If you would like VCU to provide an accompanist, send a copy of your music at least two weeks before the audition date to the VCU Department of Music, P.O. Box 842004, Richmond, VA 23284-2004. Prerecorded accompaniment is not permitted.

Jazz Studies Auditions

Audition pieces may be played solo or with accompaniment provided by a VCU faculty member or play along CD. For jazz drum set auditions, students are required to bring their own cymbals, hi-hat clutch, sticks and brushes, and will be asked to perform various jazz grooves (swing, bossa nova, Afro-Cuban, etc.) rather than perform any prepared pieces.

Music Theory Placement

Each prospective music student must take a written diagnostic exam to determine his or her placement within the music theory course offerings. Students must also complete a short aural and rhythmic skill evaluation that determines the student’s overall musicianship. This evaluative process takes about 30 minutes to complete and is usually scheduled around the student’s audition time. Click here for more information.

The music minor is comprised of 18 credits distributed among the areas of music history and theory, ensemble performance, private lessons and music electives. All students must provide their own instruments (with exception of piano). All students must be able to read music.

Minor in Vocal

Applicants are required to audition. You must play a short passage – at sight – on the piano and sing the same passage a capella. After completion of the online application students interested in minoring in voice should schedule an audition with Cynthia Donnell (csdonnel@vcu.edu). Voice auditions are usually held a few days before the beginning of each semester and at the end of each semester.

Minor in Strings

(Cello, Classical Double Bass, Viola, and Violin)

Applicants are required to audition. Prepare one composition or movement from the standard repertoire for their instrument no more than 10 minutes in length. Applicants must bring original sheet music and their own instrument to their audition. You will also be required to perform scales. After completion of the online application, contact Susanna Klein at (sbklein@vcu.edu) to schedule an audition.

Minor in other instruments

You will be asked a few questions about you musical experience and abilities during this on-line application. The Assistant chair, John Patykula counsels every student about the selection of appropriate courses based on the student’s competence and interest. After completion of the online application, students interested in minoring in music (instrumental) should contact the assistant chair, John Patykula via email (jtpatyku@vcu.edu).

Performance Auditions:

Prepare two contrasting (one comedic and one dramatic) one-minute monologues from published play scripts. Choose something in an appropriate age range that does not contain a dialect. Secure assistance in the preparation of audition materials.

Be sure to bring a resume and headshot to the audition. Introduce the audition pieces by only the play’s author, title and the character’s name (background on the scene or plot is not necessary). Maintain a positive attitude, dress professionally yet comfortably and, most importantly – have fun!

We find that the following playwrights are generally overdone or are more difficult for high school seniors to deliver successfully: Mamet, O’Neill, Pinter, Shakespeare, Shepard and Williams.

Audition/Interview Dates:

• December 2, 2011 (12-6 pm)
• February 3, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 10, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 17, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 24, 2012 (12-6 pm)

Interview

All Theatre VCU applicants, including Performance, Design/Technology, Stage Management, will be interviewed by one or more faculty members. The purpose of the interview is to allow faculty members to get to know more about the applicant’s interests, commitment and communication skills. This interview is an important part of the application process. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their recent theatre activities, career goals, as well as personal goals and experiences.

Interview Dates

• December 2, 2011 (12-6 pm)
• February 3, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 10, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 17, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 24, 2012 (12-6 pm)

Portfolio requirements for Stage Management

Stage management applicants are required to submit a production prompt book. If an applicant does not have a prompt book or desires to send additional information, then the applicant should submit a portfolio online. The portfolio should consist of (12-16 images) of theatrical work (paperwork, show designs, etc).

Interview

All Theatre VCU applicants, including Performance, Design/Technology, Stage Management, will be interviewed by one or more faculty members. The purpose of the interview is to allow faculty members to get to know more about the applicant’s interests, commitment and communication skills. This interview is an important part of the application process. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their recent theatre activities, career goals, as well as personal goals and experiences.

Interview Dates

• December 2, 2011 (12-6 pm)
• February 3, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 10, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 17, 2012 (12-6 pm)
• February 24, 2012 (12-6 pm)

Portfolio Requirements

Submit 12 to 16 works of art that you have created within the past two years that show your promise in visual art and design. Present your strongest work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas. We prefer to see a diverse range of 2D and 3D media. Drawing from observation is recommended, while copying anime, cartoons, graffiti or tattoos is discouraged.

Images maybe submitted in the following formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF

Videos maybe submitted in the following formats: MPG or AVI. All videos must be less than 3 minutes. The total maximum time for all moving images cannot exceed 5 minutes.