MCLA Announces New Performing Arts Programs
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts announces the addition of five new programs to its Department of Fine and Performing Arts, as two concentrations, in design and studio art, and three minors in dance, design, and music production, recently were added.
"The design concentration prepares students for traditional graphic design careers, web design, animation, concept, as well as character development for films, graphic novels or video games. It’s also great for illustrators and public relations professionals, and for self-promotion," said Melanie Mowinski, associate professor of visual art. "We imagine that students who are choosing the studio art concentration are more likely to be interested in drawing and painting, and students in the design concentration to be more interested in typography, book arts, letterpress, digital design and traditional graphic design kinds of things."
Also in FPA, students may access minors in dance and music production. Already, a number of students who focus on theater and arts management have added the dance minor, according to Laura Standley, associate professor of theater.
"We have a large group of students on campus that are interested in performance in general. In addition to producing a growing number of musicals, many others expressed interest in music theater," Standley said.
Tom Truss III, who joined the faculty last fall, is helping to coordinate the new dance minor. He brings to campus a wide range of skills that not only shape the classes he teaches, but also the dance minor, including experiences at the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in Washington, D.C., the New Zealand Conservatory of Dance, and Jacob's Pillow in Great Barrington. In addition, he is certified in the Alexander Technique, which he obtained in San Francisco.
For the music production minor, several classes were revised, while others were added. New courses include "Home Studio Recording," "Advanced Recording/Live Sound" and "Music Production for Film."
Other new programs at MCLA include the computer science major's concentration in electrical engineering, and a new entrepreneurship minor in the business program. In addition, last summer, MCLA and the Department of Biology announced the addition of two new bachelor of science degrees – in Health Sciences and in Community Health Education – as well as a new pre-medical professions concentration and a new pre-veterinary concentration.
The Health Sciences major is available as a general major or with four different concentrations; pre-physician assistant, pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, or medical technology. It prepares students to pursue advanced study in a variety of health fields. The new Community Health Education major addresses a growing demand for health care educators, both locally and nationwide. For more information, go online.
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