Homewood Arts

Calendar of Homewood Performing Arts Events Student Arts Groups Administrative Info for Student Arts Groups Arts Certificate Info  Mattin Center Facilities Policies Staff Info Photo gallery JHU & Baltimore Arts Links Social Event Registration Form

Greek Life

Multicultural Student Affairs

Student Involvement

Levering Union & Mattin Center

General Info

The Homewood Arts Programs Certificate is awarded to graduating seniors who have made a significant contribution to the non-academic arts at Johns Hopkins University. The Certificate acknowledges and rewards long-term and dedicated participation in one of five areas.

The Certificate is appropriate for students who are active members of arts groups and who in some way lead, influence, or strongly affect the group. It is understood that some degree of individual work can also be appropriate in all areas. The Certificate will not appear on your academic transcript. You are encouraged to put it on your professional resume and keep any relevant materials as part of your portfolio for post-graduate interviews.

The Certificate is awarded in one of the following areas:

Dance
Digital Media
Fine/Visual Arts
Music
Theatre

In order to receive an Arts Certificate, you must complete the following requirements:

• Submit all application materials by 5pm on March 1st of your Junior Spring (in 2008, deadline is Feb 29)
• For Dance, Music & Theatre: participate in the equivalent of 6 semester long co-curricular activities before you graduate
• For Digital Media & Fine/Visual Arts: participate in the equivalent of 4 semester long co-curricular activities before you graduate
• Submit a description of an original final project and any additional co-curricular documentation by Oct 15th of your Senior Fall
• Complete your final project before the end of Senior spring

 
Application  

To apply, please get materials from the Office of the Director of Homewood Arts Programs (HAP), in Mattin Center, 154, or download below.

To download the application, click here.  For a verification form, click here.

You must apply for the Arts Certificate by March 1st of your Junior Spring semester (in 2008, deadline is Feb 29). Applications should be delivered to the Director of Homewood Arts Programs in Mattin 210 (mailbox) or 154 (office). The Arts Certificate Committee will review the application and respond by April 1st at the latest. If any consultation is needed, a meeting will be held with appropriate members of the Committee.

To apply, you must submit the following information:

• Your name, major and contact information
• Your area of concentration
• Any specific focus within that area
• A list of any previous co-curricular activities, including dates, that could count towards the Certificate
• A list of co-curricular activities you plan on doing in the future for the Certificate
• A list of any courses you have taken which have supported your work in this area
• A list of any courses you plan on taking in the future which will further your work in this area
• A paragraph describing your specific ideas about the final project

You must also include a 3-5 page type written paper addressing the following questions:

• Why are you interested in this art form?
• How has your involvement in this art form at Hopkins affected who you are as a student and a person?
• How have any academic courses you have taken at Hopkins or at other colleges enhanced and supported your artistic activities?

The Committee reserves the right to use some amount of subjectivity in evaluating applicants, depending on the quality of the work and the application. Applications with insufficient time commitments or lack of unique contribution to the group’s activities may also be denied.

Co-curricular Activities

Dance, Music & Theatre require 6 semesters worth of commitment to co-curricular activities.

Digital Media & Fine/Visual Arts require 4 semesters worth of commitment.

The requirements are set according to the availability of co-curricular groups and activities in each area. It is encouraged that your activities take place on-campus, but you may also include activities off-campus, such as non-credit courses at other universities, professional workshops and internships, or participation with a local arts group.

Each co-curricular commitment must be the rough equivalent of a dedicated, 1-3 times per week, semester-long practice of an art form or technical or administrative support of that art. Experiences that last less than a full semester, but require more intense commitment, such as a role in a play or the creation of a CD or several paintings, will also be considered as the equivalent of one semester’s extra-curricular commitment.

A combination of shorter experiences (such as one-time workshops) can be added together to count for one semester’s worth of activities. Also if you go far above and beyond the requirements in an academic course, it is possible to count some of that activity toward the co-curricular requirement.

If you have any questions about how much a specific co-curricular activity will count towards a semester commitment, please contact the Director of HAP or the appropriate staff person on the Committee.

For all co-curricular activities, please provide as much documentation as possible. This can include written descriptions, personal diary entries, calendars, photos, texts, production programs, meeting notes, finished drawings or media projects, etc.

All co-curricular activities and time commitment must be verified by a faculty, staff, or professional’s signature. A fellow student may also provide verification if s/he served as the primary source of supervision on the project. The initial documentation and verification must be given to the Committee along with your application. If the person in charge of an activity is no longer at Hopkins, and you are unable to contact them, then a current staff person in the area should verify your activity.

Academic Courses

While no academic courses are required for the Certificate, you are encouraged to take some courses, either at Hopkins or at other local colleges, which influence your development as an artist in your chosen area.

Final Project

The Final Project is meant to be an example of how you can use your talent and technique to produce a quality work of art. Your effort towards the project should go above and beyond what you would normally do in your artistic activities. The project can take many forms, and you are encouraged to think creatively as you envision how you would like to express yourself. You must share the project with the JHU community upon completion.

The Final Project will take place during your Senior year, normally in the spring semester. It must be completed and presented to the public by the end of the Spring Semester.

If appropriate, it can be part of an Independent Study for which you receive academic credit. If it is not part of an Independent Study, the project should be a significant undertaking, which involves planning and preparation over a period of at least several months. Solo performances should be at least 10-15 minutes.

During your Junior Spring, you are strongly encouraged to see, listen to, read, or experience the final projects of the Senior class.

During your Senior Fall, you must submit a 1-2 page description of your final project no later than Oct 15th. This must include:

• A detailed description of the project
• A proposed time frame and venue for sharing the project with the public before the end of Spring Semester

Several meetings of all the students involved with Final Projects will take place during the fall and early spring of Senior year. This will allow students to meet one another, discuss their projects with the other Certificate students, and arrange possible collaborations.

Students who are pursuing the Certificate are encouraged to collaborate on Final Projects, especially if the project involves a production. Students who will collaborate may submit a Final Project description together.

Senior Fall Review

In late October, the Committee will review the Final Project description and any additional co-curricular documentation and verification. The Committee reserves the right to disqualify a student from the program if these materials are incomplete or insufficient.

Staff and/or Faculty Sponsor

For your final project you are encouraged to arrange a staff or faculty sponsor, who will be your informal advisor.

Arts Certificate Committee

The Arts Certificate Committee, which oversees the program and awards, is currently comprised of the following staff and students:

Eric Beatty: Director, Homewood Arts Programs (Theatre / Music)
Joan Freedman: Director, Digital Media Center (Digital Media)
Craig Hankin: Director, Homewood Art Workshops (Fine/Visual Arts)
Ann Irwin: Lifetime Sports Coordinator, Dept. of Athletics and Recreation (Dance)
Bill Roche: Tech Director, Homewood Arts Programs (Theatre Tech)

5 Students: The Performing Arts Liaison to the Student Activities Commission
                 4 At-large students from Arts Groups

These policies and guidelines are subject to revision. 

Return to Top

Requirements: 

6 semester long co-curricular activities
Application Essay
Final Project

A co-curricular activity is defined as roughly a semester-long involvement with a campus arts group or other arts-related activity.

Possible co-curricular activities at JHU:

Ballroom Dancing
Eclectics Dance
Egyptian Sun: Belly Dancing
Gospel Choir Dance Ministries
Indian Cultural Dance Club
JOSH
Ladybirds Dance Team
Masti
Modern Dance Society
OLÉ Dance group
S.L.A.M.

Also can include course taken for no credit, local workshop, administrative, intern, or professional experience

Academic Courses:

Courses that could support your work in Dance are offered by the following 
JHU Departments: Peabody Prep

Off-campus courses are offered at: Goucher, Morgan, Towson, UMBC

Final Project ideas:

Perform a solo dance
Choreograph an original recital
Choreograph or perform for a collaborative final project
Create a handbook or manual for your dance group

*It is permissible to seek Independent Study credit for your final project

These requirements and listings are subject to revision.

Return to Top

DIGITAL MEDIA

Requirements: 

4 semester long co-curricular activities
Application Essay
Final Project

A co-curricular activity is defined as roughly a semester-long involvement with a campus arts group or other arts-related activity.

Possible co-curricular Activities at JHU:

Workshops with Digital Media Center (visit Digital Media website for up-to-date listings)
Computer work on campus publications (News-Letter, Gazette, Zeniada, Black & Blue Jay, J.Magazine, etc.)
Website work for groups on campus

Also can include courses taken for no credit, local workshop, administrative, intern, or professional experience

Academic Courses:

Courses that could support your work in Digital Media are offered by the following
JHU Departments:

Art Workshops
Computer Science
Film & Media Studies

Off-campus courses are offered at: MICA (Digital Media courses available); Goucher, Morgan, Towson, UMBC (general Visual/Fine Arts)

Final Project ideas:

Create a video or printed project
Organize an exhibition of your Digital photography
Create an Installation
Create an Audio recording
Create original Web design
Be part of collaborative final project

*It is permissible to seek Independent Study credit for your final project

These requirements and listings are subject to revision.

Return to Top

FINE/VISUAL ARTS

Requirements: 

4 semester long co-curricular activities
Application Essay
Final Project

A co-curricular project is defined as roughly a semester-long involvement with a campus arts group or other arts-related activity.

Possible co-curricular Activities at JHU:

Organizing an exhibition
Participation in an Art club
Visual work for a campus literary publication
Photography or illustration for the yearbook or News-Letter
Set design for a play or musical
Poster design for a performance
Projects undertaken on own outside of academic classes

Also can include courses taken for no credit, local workshop, administrative, intern, or professional experience

Academic Courses:

Courses that could support your work in Fine/Visual Arts are offered by the following JHU Departments:

Art Workshops (Drawing, Painting, Photography, 3D Design, Cartooning, Art in Architecture, Visual Reality)
Classics
History of Art
Humanities Center
Near Eastern Studies

Off campus courses are offered at: Goucher, Loyola, MICA, Morgan, Towson, UMBC

Final Project ideas:

Create a portfolio of original photographs
Paint, draw, or sculpt several new pieces
Organize an exhibition of your new and old pieces
Be part of collaborative art project

*It is permissible to seek Independent Study credit for your final project

These requirements and listings are subject to revision.

Return to Top

Requirements:

6 semester long co-curricular activities
Application Essay
Final Project

A co-curricular project is defined as roughly a semester-long involvement with a campus arts group or other arts-related activity.

Possible co-curricular Activities at JHU:

JHU Bands - Concert, Pep, Jazz
Hopkins Symphony Orchestra
Role in a musical
A Cappella groups (Adoremus, Allnighters, Choral Society, ECCO, Gospel Choir, Ketzev, Mental Notes, Octopodes, Sirens, Vocal Chords)
Performance at Coffee Grounds

Also can include course taken for no credit, local workshop, administrative, intern, or professional experience

Academic Courses:

Courses that could support your work in Music are offered by the following
JHU Departments:

Music (classes offered both at Homewood & Peabody)

Off campus courses are offered at: Goucher, Morgan, Peabody, Towson, UMBC

Final Project ideas:

Present a solo recital
Compose a piece of music
Conduct an ensemble
Be part of a collaborative musical presentation
Create a CD

*It is permissible to seek Independent Study credit for your final project

These requirements and listings are subject to revision.

Return to Top

THEATRE

Requirements: 

6 semester long co-curricular activities
Application Essay
Final Project

A co-curricular project is defined as roughly a semester-long involvement with a campus arts group or other arts-related activity.

Possible co-curricular Activities at JHU:

Barnstormers
Witness Theater
Dunbar Baldwin Hughes Theater
Buttered Niblets
Throat Culture
Entertainers Club

Also can include course taken for no credit, local workshop, administrative, intern, or professional experience

Academic Courses:

Courses that could support your work in Theatre are offered by the following
JHU Departments:

Theatre Arts & Studies Program (Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Technical)
English
The Humanities Center
Romance Languages and Literatures

Off campus courses are offered at: Goucher, Loyola, Morgan, Towson, UMBC

Final Project ideas:

Create a theatrical handbook or manual
Perform a solo show
Direct a solo show
Be part of collaborative production

*It is permissible to seek Independent Study credit for your final project

These requirements and listings are subject to revision.

Return to Top

JHU Arts Certificate

Partial List of
Co-curricular Options

Return to Top