College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts

Contact Information: 
Campus Location: 303 Jefferson Hall (JH) 
(312) 996-2006 
cada.uic.edu

Administration: 
Dean, Rebecca Rugg
Administration: 303 JH
Office of Student Affairs: 208 JH
Schools: Architecture, Art & Art History, Design, and Theatre & Music

On This Page

Introduction

The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts (CADA) is a unique group of schools and affiliated units dedicated to the investigation, creation, and interpretation of our physical, social, and sensory environments. With degree programs in the visual arts, design, theatre and music, architecture, and art history, the college is the only place in Chicago where one can prepare for a career in the arts and design within a major research university. The college is home to an energetic, award-winning faculty of practicing architects, artists, designers, museum professionals, art historians, musicians, directors, and theatrical performers. Through their instruction and ongoing research, the faculty introduces students to disciplinary and professional themes of contemporary importance and fosters a vibrant atmosphere of intellectual and creative inquiry.

The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts is a leader in visual and performing arts and design education and research in the city of Chicago, the nation, and the world. The college considers its location in Chicago—a renowned cultural center, and a site of complex social realities—a primary asset. It has developed partnerships with significant local museums, theaters, firms, and other cultural institutions, as well as collaborations with a wide range of programs across the university. UIC’s status as an urban public institution drives the college’s interest in engaging urban issues and providing access to excellence in the arts and design to diverse audiences.

From this setting, the college also advances a global agenda: to break ground in the arts and arts research and to generate new knowledge, informed by both historical precedent and the use of new technologies for expression and instruction. The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts extends the traditional boundaries of research and practice in order to meet the challenges of a changing economy. Faculty and students alike realize that the next generation of graduates must be equipped to operate creatively and knowledgeably in a broadening cultural arena and to think with an international perspective. To that end, the college has attracted a number of internationally recognized faculty and developed student exchange programs in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, The Netherlands, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts is composed of the School of Architecture, the School of Art & Art History, the School of Design, and the School of Theatre & Music, as well as the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, a National Historic Landmark and museum committed to social justice, Gallery 400, a dynamic, cutting edge contemporary art gallery, and the Innovation Center, which offers industry experience to students through interdisciplinary classes and labs. Curricula are offered in architecture, art, art education, art history, design, interdisciplinary education in the arts, acting, theatre, theatrical design, music, music performance, music business, music education, and jazz studies leading to the baccalaureate in those fields. The core of the architecture programs is the intensive development of design work and ideas in the studio, supported by courses in architectural theory and technology. Art and art history emphasize social and global awareness and contemporary conceptual inquiry through both visual and scholarly production. Located in the School of Art & Art History, the IDEAS (Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts) BA offers students a degree linking all the arts through practice-based learning with an emphasis on emerging technology. Design programs develop sophisticated form-making skills in order to produce designers adept at formulating and advocating ideas. The School of Theatre & Music provides innovative, rigorous, and comprehensive academic and performance programs as part of its diverse, urban context.

All work submitted by students for credit in any course in the college belongs to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois; the university reserves the right to retain, copyright, use, exhibit, reproduce, and publish any work so submitted.

For information on the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts, visit the college's website. 

Accreditation

Qualified graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program may apply for advanced standing in the school’s professional Master of Architecture degree program, or at other accredited schools of architecture. The University of Illinois Chicago’s Master of Architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Master’s degree programs may consist of a preprofessional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. Although oriented to NAAB criteria, UIC’s undergraduate preprofessional degree is not an accredited professional degree.

Degree Requirements

To earn a College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and department/school degree requirements. University and college degree requirements for all College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts students are outlined below. Students should consult their department or school section for additional degree requirements.

Semester Hour Requirement

The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts semester hour requirement varies by degree program.

Major School Degree Conferred Total Hours
Acting Theatre & Music BFA in Acting 120
Architecture Architecture BS in Architecture 122
Architectural Studies Architecture BA in Architectural Studies 120
Art Art & Art History BFA in Art 129
Art Education Art & Art History BFA in Art Education 132–133
Art History Art & Art History BA in Art History 120
Design Studies Design BA in Design Studies 120
Graphic Design Design BDes in Graphic Design 132
Industrial Design Design BDes in Industrial Design 132
Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts Art & Art History BA in Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts 120
Music Theatre & Music BA in Music 120
Music—Jazz Studies Theatre & Music BMus in Jazz Studies 120
Music—Performance Theatre & Music BMus in Performance 120
Music Business Theatre & Music BA in Music Business 120
Music Education Theatre & Music BMus in Music Education 122
Theatre and Performance Theatre & Music BA in Theatre and Performance 120
Theatre Design, Production, and Technology Theatre & Music BA in Theatre Design, Production, and Technology 120

Course Requirements

General Education Core

General Education at UIC is designed to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning. Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 semester hours in the General Education Core with at least one course from each of the following categories:

  1. Analyzing the Natural World
  2. Understanding the Individual and Society
  3. Understanding the Past
  4. Understanding the Creative Arts
  5. Exploring World Cultures
  6. Understanding U.S. Society

For a description and a list of courses for each General Education Core category, students should consult the General Education section of the catalog. Information on meeting the General Education Core requirements for each degree program is provided in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts school sections.

General Education Proficiencies—University Writing Requirement

College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts students meet the requirement by achieving a passing grade in ENGL 160 and ENGL 161.

UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar

The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts requires all new incoming freshmen in the college to complete DLG 120. DLG 120 is an 8-week, 1-semester-hour course focusing on diversity and dialogue.

Foundation Course Requirements

Each school and department in the college has a different set of foundation and major course requirements. Students must fulfill all the foundation and major course requirements outlined for their degree program.

Other Requirements

Course Level Requirement

Each school or department in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts has specific upper-level requirements for their degree programs. Students should consult the individual unit for details on required 200-, 300-, or 400-level coursework.

Coursework Limitations

Coursework that duplicates previous credit does not count toward graduation, unless the course is indicated as repeatable in the undergraduate course catalog. Students should consult with their college academic advisor regarding repeatable credit. No credit is given for a course in which a failing grade is received.

Credit earned in ENGL 060, MATH 088, and MATH 090 will not fulfill college degree requirements.

Credit earned in MATH 121 (or below) will not fulfill graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree. MATH 110 (or below) will not fulfill the graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies degree.

Students whose placement test results require taking several courses that carry no graduation credit should plan on additional terms of enrollment to complete the required curriculum. All courses are included, however, for determining a student’s full-time/part-time status; for computing cumulative grade point averages (except for 000-level courses); and in determining probation, dismissal, and Dean’s List statuses.

Elective Credit

The university, college, school, and department degree requirements may not provide all the hours required for graduation. The remaining credits are completed through elective courses, whose careful selection should serve to enrich students’ knowledge and understanding. Elective courses should always be chosen for educational ends and not for the sake of convenience.

Full-Time Enrollment

Students in the college are expected to carry a full-time load in order to make satisfactory progress toward their degree. Students should consult with their academic advisor if they enroll in a part-time schedule to determine their degree progress and projected graduation date.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement

College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts students cannot graduate with less than a 2.00/4.00 GPA in all work taken at UIC, in all work taken in the major field, and in all work accepted for transfer by the university (transfer work plus work taken at UIC).

Graduation Declaration/Filing to Graduate

Students who are within two terms of graduation should contact the Office of Student Affairs for a complete check of their progress toward the degree. A diploma cannot be ordered until a student has completed this graduation check.

Students declare their intent to graduate online using my.UIC. The deadline for submission to the Pending Degree List is the end of the third week (fall and spring) or second week (Summer Session 2) of the term in which graduation is sought. Failure to submit the request at this time may delay the awarding of the degree. A final review will be made following the close of the term. If a student has satisfactorily completed all the degree requirements, the student’s name will be placed on the official degree list.

Enrollment Residence Requirement

Either the first 90 or last 30 semester hours of degree work must be completed in continuous, uninterrupted enrollment residence at UIC. Concurrent attendance at the University of Illinois Chicago and another collegiate institution or enrollment during the summer at another institution, when approved by the student’s college, does not interrupt the UIC enrollment residence requirement for graduation. Students who transfer from an accredited community college must earn at least 60 semester hours at an approved four-year institution and must meet the enrollment residence requirement of earning the last 30 semester hours at UIC.

Transfer Credit

The UIC foundation year is required for students in Art BFA and Art Education, which may affect the length of enrollment at UIC.

No more than 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of credit may be accepted as transfer work from a community or junior college. Transfer students should consult with an advisor in the CADA Office of Student Affairs to discuss transfer credit, by emailing cadainfo@uic.edu. All final acceptance of transfer credit will be determined by the the college upon review of recommendations by the school or department.

Transfer Credit for Continuing Students

Continuing students in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts must submit a petition to the Office of Student Affairs in order to take courses at other universities for credit toward the baccalaureate degree.

College Policies

Academic Load

During the fall and spring semesters, a full-time program is from 12 to 18 hours. Above 18 semester hours is considered an overload and may only be taken if a student has a UIC Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, is in good academic standing, and is recommended by a school or department advisor and approved in the CADA Office of Student Affairs. For Summer Session 1 (Four-Week) and Summer Session 2 (Eight-Week), UIC considers a total aggregate of 6 semester hours as the minimum number necessary to constitute full-time enrollment, and a program of more than 14 hours must be approved.

Academic Notice and Dismissal Rules

Term Notice Rules

  1. A student not currently on academic notice or term notice will be placed on term notice at the end of any term in which the student earns less than a 2.00/4.00 grade point average but whose UIC grade point average is equal to or greater than a 2.00/4.00. For such a student, term notice serves as a warning.

A student on term notice who earns a UIC Term GPA of at least 2.00/4.00 will be removed from term notice.

Academic Notice Rules

  1. A student not currently on academic notice will be placed on academic notice at the end of any term in which the student earns a cumulative or UIC GPA less than a 2.00/4.00. This rule applies even for the student with a cumulative GPA of 2.00/4.00 or higher. For such a student, academic notice serves as a warning.
  2. An entering transfer student may be placed on academic notice when admitted by petition with cumulative GPA lower than 2.00/4.00.
  3. A student readmitted by petition may be placed on academic notice when admitted with a UIC GPA lower than 2.00/4.00.
  4. A student readmitted by petition may be placed on academic notice when admitted with a combined cumulative GPA from UIC and other institutions that is lower than 2.00/4.00.

A student on academic notice who earns a GPA of at least 2.00/4.00 in a given term will be removed from academic notice, provided the student’s cumulative GPA in all work taken at UIC is at least 2.00/4.00. Further, for the student with transfer credit, the combined average of the student’s transfer credit and UIC course work must also be at least a 2.00/4.00.

A student currently on academic notice will be continued on academic notice when the one of the following occurs:

  1. The student meets the GPA required by the conditions of their academic notice but does not raise the cumulative UIC GPA to at least 2.00/4.00; or
  2. The student meets the GPA required by the conditions of their academic notice but does not raise the combined average of the student’s transfer credit and UIC course work to at least 2.00/4.00.

The dean of the student’s college determines the conditions of academic notice. In addition to specifying the GPA, the dean may require the completion of specific courses, may limit the number of hours for which the student registers, and a may exclude the student from taking certain courses while on academic notice.

Dismissal Rulesa

  1. A student on academic notice may be dismissed from the university in any term in which the student fails to meet the grade point average required by the academic notice and in which the cumulative GPA in courses taken at UIC is less than 2.00/4.00.
  2. A student on academic notice may be dismissed from the university in any term in which the student fails to meet the GPA required by the academic notice and in which the combined transfer and UIC grade point average is less than 2.00/4.00.
  3. A student who fails to make progress toward a degree may be dismissed. Examples include failure to complete required courses, accumulation of an excessive number of Incomplete grades, failure to earn credit in any semester, failure to maintain a C average in the major discipline.
  4. In addition to the term notice, academic notice, and dismissal rules above, a college or a school may impose criteria for dismissing a student from a curriculum or college without prior academic standing of term notice or academic notice, may impose other terms of term notice or academic notice, and may specify a minimum lapse of time between a dismissal action and consideration of a petition for readmission. The dismissal rules may be waived when, in the judgment of the student’s college, the student’s overall record warrants such action.

Readmission to UIC and the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts is only possible if students can show new evidence of academic success. Students may make an appointment with their advisor to discuss readmission only after submission of a carefully prepared petition with justification why readmission should be granted. Petitions must be received at least two weeks prior to the start date of the semester for which students wish to be readmitted. Petitions received after that time will be considered for readmission for the following term.

a

In other university publications Dismissal Rules are sometimes referred to as Drop Rules. Term Notice and Academic Notice may be referred to as Probation.

Change of Course Schedule—Dropping Courses

Undergraduate students may drop courses using my.UIC through the end of the second week of classes for fall and spring semesters, the first Wednesday of Summer Session 1, or the first Friday of Summer Session 2. During weeks 3 through 10 of the fall and spring semesters (first Thursday through the third Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2), students may drop courses with the permission of their major college. If the drop occurs between 0 and 2 weeks in fall and spring, there will be no notation on the transcript. If the drop occurs during weeks 3 through 10 in fall and spring (first Thursday through the second Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2), a W is noted on the transcript. Undergraduate students may drop a maximum of 4 UIC individual courses that result in a W notation on their transcript during their entire undergraduate degree program. College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts students must complete a request form in the Office of Student Affairs.

Change of Degree

Students wishing to change degrees within the college should reach out to the Office of Student Affairs by emailing cadainfo@uic.edu. New students (incoming students who have not yet started coursework) should complete a petition, and continuing students (those who have completed at least one semester of coursework) should complete an intercollege application form.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all lectures, discussions, and laboratory/studio sessions. Faculty may establish minimum attendance requirements and penalties for nonattendance.

Closed Courses

No student may be admitted to a closed course in the college unless the director or chairperson has approved an increase in capacity, which is often restricted by educational policies, budget, and maximum room capacities.

Course Prerequisites

Course prerequisites are listed in both the Undergraduate Catalog and the semester Schedule of Classes. A prerequisite may be waived, if evidence is provided that the student is adequately prepared to pursue the subject area.

Credit/No Credit Option

Students may elect to take a course under the credit/no credit option according to the following provisions:

  1. The student must be in good standing. Students on probation or whose status is undetermined at the time in which they elect the option are not eligible.
  2. A maximum of 21 semester hours of credit may be earned at UIC under the credit/no credit option. If a student withdraws from a credit/no credit course before the end of the last day of instruction in the tenth week of the term, the semester hours the course carries will not count toward the total of 21 authorized.
  3. No more than one course per term may be taken under this option.
  4. This option may not be used in any course required for the major or a minor, including prerequisite and collateral courses. This includes any course specifically listed by rubric or course number as a requirement in a student’s curriculum.
  5. Under certain conditions, electives may be taken under credit/no credit; courses being used for specific graduation requirements (such as art history electives) must be taken for a letter grade. For specific credit/no credit rules for prerequisite and collateral courses, please see an advisor.
  6. This option may not be used for ENGL 160 and ENGL 161.
  7. Students may not use credit/no credit to satisfy foreign language requirements in college programs requiring one- or two-year sequences.
  8. The credit/no credit option cannot be revoked after the close of the tenth day of instruction in the term.
  9. Instructors are not informed that the option has been elected but assign a letter grade in the usual manner.
  10. For courses taken under the credit/no credit option, a grade of CR is recorded on the transcript if a letter grade of A, B, C, or D is earned. If the letter grade F is assigned, an NC is entered on the transcript. I and DF grades are replaced by CR or NC upon completion of the courses or converted to NC if the course completion deadline for an I is not met.
  11. The grades of CR and NC are not used in the computation of the grade point average. It is the responsibility of the student to determine eligibility under the credit/no credit option.
  12. Students must apply at their college office no later than the tenth day of the term (first Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or first Friday of Summer Session 2) to have a course designated for credit/no credit grading option. 
  13. Students with questions concerning their eligibility should make an appointment with a college advisor.

Declaring a Degree

While a student may begin taking courses in the degree at any time, a student must declare a degree no later than the completion of 60 semester hours. To declare a degree, the student should consult their academic advisor.

Double Major, Double Degrees, and Second Bachelor’s Degree

Double Major

This option is not available in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts.

Double Degrees

A student may receive two degrees concurrently from the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts. The student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit beyond the requirements of the first degree in courses not offered for the first degree. The student must additionally meet all the requirements for the second degree specified by the college and the major. Students seeking double degrees should contact the appropriate school or department for a curriculum evaluation and then make a declaration for double degrees in the college office.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from UIC or another institution may receive a second bachelor’s degree from the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts with the exception of degree programs in the School of Architecture. Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree must formally apply to the program. The student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit beyond the requirements of the first degree in courses not offered for the first degree. The student must additionally meet all the requirements for the second degree.

Full-Time Enrollment

Students in the college are expected to carry a full-time load in order to make satisfactory progress toward their degree. Students should consult with their academic advisor if they enroll part-time to determine the consequences to their degree program and projected graduation date.

Graduate-Level Courses for Undergraduate Credit

With school or department approval, an undergraduate student may enroll in a course in the Graduate College (500-level) for undergraduate elective credit. Students should obtain approval prior to enrollment.

Students should understand, however, that graduate courses do not automatically apply toward an undergraduate degree. Additionally, graduate-level courses taken by an undergraduate student are generally not applicable toward a graduate degree.

Petition Procedure

Any rule, regulation, or action of the college may be appealed through the use of a student petition. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all necessary approvals on the form before submitting it to the Office of Student Affairs for review. Turning in the form does not guarantee approval of the request. Students will be notified of a decision, but they should inquire about the status of their petition after ten working days. Students should contact their CADA academic advisor for more information.

Proficiency Examinations

Students interested in earning proficiency credit should contact the school or department directly for information concerning eligibility. A student who earns proficiency credit is given the amount of credit toward graduation regularly allowed in the course. Proficiency credit is not considered an interruption of enrollment residence for graduation, nor does it apply toward satisfying the minimum requirement of the degree if the last 30 semester hours must be earned in enrollment residence.

Registration Approval

Students must consult with an academic advisor for registration. An advising hold may be placed on each registration and will only be released upon verification of semester advising.

Repeat Policy for Standard Graded Courses

Students may repeat a course to increase their knowledge of the subject matter. There are circumstances under which repeating a course is advisable and to a student’s advantage. There are also circumstances where repeating a course may disadvantage a student and narrow a student’s options. Some colleges require students to discuss any plan to repeat a course with their academic advisor before they register to repeat the course.

Courses with A or B grades may not be repeated. Normally, courses with a C grade may not be repeated. Courses with D or F grades may be repeated once without written permission. In all cases, the original grade for the course and the grade for each repeat will appear on the transcript. The original grade and the grade for each repeat will be calculated into the grade point average.

Only one registration for the course counts toward the total number of credits required for graduation. A course cannot be repeated after receiving credit in a course for which the repeat course is a prerequisite.

To repeat a course more than once requires written permission from the student’s school director. Students who have been dismissed may not appeal on the grounds of intention to repeat courses. Certain courses may not be repeated; students should consult their college before repeating a course.

Undergraduate Grade Point Average Recalculation Policy

  • Colleges may elect to implement this policy as early as the end of the junior year, or as late as the final semester during degree certification.
  • The college will evaluate each student unable to graduate because of an academic grade point average deficit. The deficit may occur in the UIC GPA, the program GPA, or both.
  • The academic record is examined so as to determine if courses, deemed appropriate by each college, with grades of F or grades of D, may be excluded from the student’s grade point average.
  • A total of four courses may be excluded, with one course excluded at a time until the necessary quality points are obtained to meet the UIC GPA requirement and/or degree program minimum GPA. The semester hours associated with excluded course grades will not count towards graduation requirements.
  • Only the college can initiate course exclusions, and only in consultation with the evaluated student.
  • Students may not request exclusions.
  • Only courses taken at UIC may be converted as part of this policy.
  • This policy only applies to undergraduate degree seeking students.
  • All courses taken and all grades will remain on the official transcript.
  • The grade exclusion policy does not apply to courses failed as the result of a student conduct hearing.
  • In cases where these procedures would impact program accreditation, licensure or similar, colleges may use their discretion to allow the policy. Colleges, departments, and programs may have discretion in choosing courses that impact the student’s major.

Transferring

Intercollege Transfer Students

UIC students interested in admission to one of the degrees offered in the college must complete an intercollegiate application. All applicants must be in good standing, not on academic probation or undetermined status. Eligibility varies by department and school. Students should submit this application the semester prior to the intended start term. NOTE: Architecture and Design degree programs are only transferrable in fall semesters. For more information, students should contact cadainfo@uic.edu.

School Minimum GPA
Architecture 2.75/4.00
Art & Art History 2.75/4.00
Design 2.75/4.00
Theatre & Music 2.50/4.00

Admission to the college is selective and competitive and admissions standards are higher than the minimum grade point average requirement.

Transfer Students from Other Colleges and Universities

The minimum transfer grade point average for admission to the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts varies with each school or department. All admission decisions are final due to the demand for space in all programs. Students should refer to the requirements listed for each program.

Department/School Portfolio/Audition Minimum GPA
Architecture Portfolio required only for advanced placement in the BS in Architecture 2.75/4.00
Art & Art History N/A 2.75/4.00
Design N/A 2.75/4.00
Theatre & Music Audition required for Acting, Music, Music Business, Music Performance, Jazz Studies, and Theatre and Performance; Interview and Portfolio required for Theatre Design, Production, and Technology. In addition applicants to the BMus in Music Education will be interviewed and will perform musical selections for acoustic musicians, with submission of audio and score files for digital musicians. 2.50/4.00

School of Architecture: BS in Architecture. Students who have completed at least one full year of architectural design work at another university or college are eligible to apply for advanced placement in the School of Architecture. Applicants wishing to apply for advanced placement must submit a portfolio of design work to the academic advisor in the school. More information on the portfolio requirement is available online.

Advanced placement is a competitive process that is limited to spaces available in the level of program appropriate for the transfer student. Acceptance into the school does not guarantee advanced placement. Admission is not conditional upon an advanced placement decision. See the Office of Admissions Transfer Guide for more information about transfer admission requirements.

School of Architecture: BA in Architectural Studies. The program will admit undergraduate students having completed two years of college, either at UIC or at other institutions. In all transferrable coursework, applicants must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75/4.00 and at least 60 semester hours at time of enrollment in order to be considered for admission. See the Office of Admissions Transfer Guide for more information about transfer admission requirements.

School of Art & Art History. The School of Art & Art History will require a portfolio review upon completion of the first-year program before placing into the Art and Art Education degrees. Please contact the school or CADA Academic Advisor regarding the dates, times, and policies for this review.

Admission to the Department of Art History is selective and competitive; admissions standards are typically higher than the stated minimum grade point average. See the Office of Admissions Transfer Guide for more information about transfer admission requirements.

School of Design. Students who have taken art and design courses at a community college should be aware that these courses will be credited as electives only. The School of Design will require a portfolio review upon completion of the first-year program before entry into the Design Studies, Graphic Design and Industrial Design degrees. Portfolios will be reviewed in April, and students will be admitted into the major during the fall semester only. Please contact the school or CADA Academic Advisor for information regarding the dates, times, and policies for this review. See the Office of Admissions Transfer Guide for more information about transfer admission requirements.

School of Theatre & Music. For advanced placement in the music and theatre programs, introductory music courses require a minimum grade of C and introductory theatre courses require a minimum grade of B. Acting, music, and theatre and performance majors require an audition. Also, music transfer students will be required to take a placement test in music theory to determine the correct level in which to place them. See the Office of Admission Transfer Guide for more information about transfer admission requirements.

Transferring Out of the College

A student in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts who wants to transfer into another college must follow the new college’s application procedure and meet the new college's requirements. 

Minors

The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts offers the following minors.

Minor Department Hours
Architectural Studies Architecture 16
Art Art & Art History 16
Art History Art & Art History 17
Museum and Exhibition Studies Art & Art History 15
Music Theatre & Music 21
Theatre Theatre & Music 18

Academic Advising

Advising Policy

Students in the college are recommended to see an academic advisor to complete registration and monitor progress to degree. Advisors may be contacted through iAdvise or cadainfo@uic.edu.

Academic Honors

College Honors

College Honors will be awarded at the time of graduation to students who have earned a GPA of at least 3.40/4.00 for all work presented for the degree, and who rank among the top 15 percent of the students graduating in the college.

Dean’s List

Outstanding academic achievement in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts is recognized by inclusion on the Dean’s List. Eligibility is based on a 3.50/4.00 term GPA with a program of 12 semester hours of letter grades in a regular semester or 8 semester hours of letter grades in the summer session. If any course is taken on a credit/no credit basis, a grade of CR must be earned.