The ancients espoused “the Golden Mean” - a
concept that aptly describes the philosophy of the faculty and
administration in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. The
Golden Mean is often equated with “nothing in excess” or “the
ideal balance.” Unlike many universities across the
nation, we have sought a balance between theory and practice – between
graduate and undergraduate emphases – between teaching
and research – and between the curricular and the co-curricular.
Specifically, we have recruited top researchers in Mass Communication
and Communication Studies and allowed them to expand our “theory” curriculum
without abandoning our support and encouragement for those
who want to see a continuation of our extraordinary successes
in student media, debate, oral interpretation, or the American
Advertising Federation’s annual student campaign competition.
We have tripled our resources earmarked for music theory,
music education, and music history without abandoning our
long-standing commitment to “studio” instruction – a
costly, but highly effective, pedagogical method featuring
one-on-one private lesson instruction.
We have added the M.F.A. degree in Communication Design while
fully supporting our undergraduate students as they prepare
for the corporate world and as they engage in student competitions
in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and our own Creative Summit
held annually here in San Marcos.
We have continued to expand our B.F.A. pre-professional emphasis
in Theatre/Dance without diminishing in any way our commitment
to continue our tradition of providing outstanding teachers
for the public schools of Texas.
As you peruse the remaining pages within our College website,
I believe that you will find additional evidence to support
the notion that Texas State University’s College of
Fine Arts & Communication is indeed committed to “the
ideal balance!”
