College of Humanities and Fine Arts

A student performing a declaration stands solo with his left hand raised, casting a shadow against a wooden wall.

E202 South College

Contact: Nancy Noble
Office: Humanities and Fine Arts Advising and Career Center
E202 South College
Phone: (413) 545-6152
Email: advising@hfa.umass.edu
Website: www.umass.edu/hfa

Interim Dean: Joye Bowman. Associate Dean for Graduate Education: Lisa Green; Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives: Marla Miller; Associate Dean for Research and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Jason Moralee; Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education: Nancy Noble; Associate Dean of Academic Operations and Infrastructure: Pari Riahi; Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Cara Takakjian.

The majority of departments in the college offer programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). There are also programs leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art and Dance, Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.), and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Architecture.

Students have great freedom in choosing a program of study and a major. However, a student may be admitted to the Art and Architecture majors through portfolio acceptance only, and to the Dance and Music majors by audition only. The B.F.A., B.S., and B.Mus. programs require sequences of courses which can extend over seven or eight semesters. Likewise, the language majors require pre-major preparation which may take several semesters before commencing the major. Students who do not consider this in their course selection during their first year may have to use summer sessions or extra semesters to accommodate these sequences.

All eligible Humanities and Fine Arts majors may apply to the Commonwealth Honors College curriculum. Commonwealth Honors College sets the minimum criteria for Departmental Honors, which are a 3.400 or higher final overall GPA, and earned grades of B or higher in four departmentally-focused honors courses, including the capstone experience and its manuscript properly formatted to Commonwealth Honors College standards. Actual admissions criteria and requirements for completion of Departmental Honors vary by department. For details on the honors standards for majors in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, see https://www.umass.edu/honors/book/departmental-honors-requirements.