By Molly Ashline, Staff writer

Published in print Apr. 8, 2015

There may be a major shift in how certain majors look in the next few semesters. At a faculty senate meeting in March, some members of the faculty suggested that departments like art, media studies, interior architecture and creative writing move from the UNC-Greensboro’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) to the School of Music, Theatre and Dance (SMTD).

The faculty members who suggested this consolidation cited similar advising and admissions processes in those majors and majors within SMTD as a reason for a possible shift.

Indeed, many of the majors within and without of SMTD require portfolios or performances for formal admission into the desired program.

This initiative to consolidate comes relatively close on the heels of another consolidation.

SMTD itself formed in 2010 in order to bring performing arts at UNCG under a single purview.

While art, interior architecture, media studies, and creative writing do not directly involve performance, they do involve creative processes that can easily accompany and enhance performance, but that suggestion is purely speculative.

It is not speculative, however, to say that the CAS majors up for transition and majors in SMTD are taught in similar ways. Often, these class experience are focused on one-on-one teaching and small classes sizes overall.

Despite the similarities, any merger could present many logistical problems.

Still, this suggestion is in its infancy, and some faculty who would be directly affected by the initiative are hesitant to claim benefits or detriments of a merger.

“We are in the very early stages of informal discussions regarding the possibilities of bringing these programs together. At this point no decisions have been made,” said Dr. Anna Marshall-Baker who is the current chair of the interior architecture department.