GCC's Fine Arts degree program approved

Genesee Community College has received final approval from the New York State Education Department for its new Fine Arts degree program. The program will offer students an associate in science (A.S.) degree and is suited for students who wish to teach the arts in elementary or secondary schools, develop their own fine arts skills, or transfer to a fine arts degree program in a baccalaureate college. Students can work toward degrees in the program beginning this fall.

Currently, Genesee offers degrees in communication and media arts, theatre arts, and humanities/social sciences. The new program will be a broadly-based arts program, combining beginning and intermediate level courses with courses from a number of different academic disciplines.

Students will participate in courses in design, painting, craft fundamentals, photography, and museum practice. Students will also be able to choose from a wide variety of arts-related electives, including drawing, computer graphics, and theatrical design. The program also includes a wide variety of liberal arts courses that enable students to easily transfer to other State University of New York colleges and most private colleges as well. As part of the new Fine Arts program, each student will have the opportunity to develop a personal arts portfolio.

The new program will enable students to easily transfer to a variety of other colleges offering baccalaureate programs in the arts. Many graduates will transfer to SUNY College at Brockport, Buffalo State College, SUNY College at Oneonta, SUNY College at Oswego, SUNY College at Fredonia, SUNY College at Geneseo, Nazareth College and Roberts Wesleyan College, all of which offer bachelor's degrees in fine arts fields.

Individuals interested in enrolling in the new programs, or obtaining more information about it may contact the college's Admissions Office at 345-6800 or Marcia Morrison, director of Fine and Performing Arts, at 343-0055, extension 6439.