Theater Articulation Agreement

I. Background

Since the adoption of a revised Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) in 2015, the two organizations have worked collaboratively to strengthen the transfer relationship and to provide greater opportunity for students. Accordingly, community college and NCICU theatre arts faculty, department chairs, and administrators have been focused on forging productive, collaborative relationships founded on the common goal of best serving students pursuing theatre arts in North Carolina’s institutions of higher education.

The Associate in Fine Arts in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement is an agreement jointly created by the NCCCS Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) in Theatre programs and the signatory NCICU Bachelor of Arts programs. The AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement is focused on facilitating transfer for students who begin theatre studies at a community college and then transfer to one of the signatory NCICU Bachelor of Arts programs focused on theatre. There are multiple Bachelor of Arts‐granting institutions within the NCICU whose focus is on theatre. While the individual names of these Bachelor of Arts degrees may vary slightly between NCICU programs, for the sake of consistency and clarity we will refer to all four‐year theatre degrees as “Bachelor of Arts” within this document. The specific title of each degree will be listed in Appendix A, under Participating Programs.

II. Purpose and Rationale

This document presents a uniform, statewide academic progression agreement that will promote educational advancement opportunities for Associate in Fine Arts in Theatre graduates moving between North Carolina community colleges and the signatory institutions of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities in order to complete Bachelor of Arts degrees. It describes a progression degree plan that includes required general education and prerequisite courses that are acceptable to all signatory Bachelor of Arts programs. AFA in Theatre graduates will meet entrance requirements at all of the signatory North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities and will meet entrance requirements for application directly to the Bachelor of Arts programs in theatre. AFA in Theatre graduates must meet the admission requirements and associated timelines as published by each Bachelor of Arts program. Acceptance into any Bachelor of Arts program is not guaranteed.

The goal of this agreement is the creation of a more seamless and rational transfer process for community college Associate in Fine Arts in Theatre students.

III. Policies

The AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement is made between the State Board of the North Carolina Community College System and signatory NCICU institutions. It applies to all North Carolina community colleges that offer the Associate in Fine Arts in Theatre program and to those signatory NCICU institutions that operate Bachelor of Arts [in Theatre] Programs. For the list of participating programs, see Appendix A. The AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement applies to all community college students who successfully complete the AFA in Theatre Degree.

A. AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Independent Transfer Committee (AFABAITC)

Authority to interpret and make changes in the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts rests with the AFA to Bachelor of Arts Independent Transfer Committee (AFABAITC). The AFABAITC is an ad‐hoc eight‐member co‐chaired committee appointed by the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of the North Carolina Community College System and the President of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. Questions concerning the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts should be directed to the appropriate system’s Chief Academic Officer with an explanation of the institutional policy that may (appear to) conflict with the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts. The CAO will forward unresolved questions to the AFABAITC for resolution. Each entity will appoint one ex‐officio non‐voting member of the AFABAITC.

B. Transfer Credit Appeal

AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts students who perceive that the terms of the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts have not been honored may follow the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Transfer Credit Appeal Process as outlined below.

IV. Regulations

A. Transfer Credits

The AFA in Visual Arts to Bachelor of Fine Arts Articulation Agreement establishes the procedures governing the transfer of credits for students who graduate from North Carolina Community College AFA in Visual Arts programs and apply to Bachelor of Fine Arts programs at signatory NCICU institutions. The AFA in Visual Arts to Bachelor of Fine Arts Articulation Agreement does not address admission to a specific institution or Bachelor of Fine Arts program within an institution, nor does it imply a specific time toward degree completion.

  1. Eligibility
    To be eligible for the transfer of credits under the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement, an applicant must earn an AFA in Theatre degree in a North Carolina Community College with a GPA of at least 2.0 and a grade of C or better in all transfer courses. An applicant must meet the receiving institutions admissions requirements. The student’s program of study must meet the criteria set forth in the AFA in Theatre curriculum standard as defined in below.
  2. Procedures governing transfer of Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts into Bachelor of Fine Arts
    1. The agreement enables students who have graduated from a NCCCS institution with an AFA in Theatre to complete a common list of courses that meet the entrance requirements at all of the BA in Theatre programs at signatory NCICU institutions. NCICU theatre program admissions are competitive, therefore no student is guaranteed admission to a theatre program. In addition to meeting entrance requirements, transfer students may also be required to submit evidence of their creative work and/or audition, depending on the requirements for each institution.
    2. A student who completes an AFA in Theatre with a GPA of at least 2.0 and a grade of C or better in the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts courses listed in Appendix E and meets the receiving institution’s admissions requirements will have fulfilled the Bachelor of Arts [theatre] program entry requirements, and all courses in the Universal General Education Transfer Component will transfer with course equivalency to fulfill general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts. This agreement does not exempt students from meeting the minimum admissions requirement.
    3. Graduates of the AFA in Theatre will receive at least 60 semester hours of academic credit for courses with a grade of C or better toward the appropriate Bachelor of Arts degree upon admission to a signatory NCICU institution.
  3. Certification of the Associate of Fine Arts in Visual Arts degree completion
    Certification of completion of the Associate of Fine Arts in Theatre degree in is the responsibility of the community college at which the courses were completed. Transcript identification of the Universal General Education Transfer Component Courses is also the responsibility of the community college at which the courses were completed.
  4. Transfer of courses not originated at North Carolina community colleges
    Transfer courses that do not originate in a North Carolina Community College or signatory NCICU institution may be used under the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement with the following stipulations:
    1. Courses must be completed at a regionally accredited (e.g., SACSCOC) institution of higher education;
    2. Courses must meet general education requirements; and
    3. Courses may total no more than 14 semester hours of general education course credit.
    4. If the courses are used to complete the AFA in Theater degree, the courses will transfer as part of the degree.
  5. Transfer of Advanced Placement (AP) course credit
    Advanced Placement (AP) course credits, awarded for a score of three or higher, are acceptable as part of a student’s successfully completed AFA in Theatre degree under the Agreement.

B. Impact of the AFA in Theater to Bachelor of Fine Arts on other articulation agreements

The AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts takes precedence over bilateral articulation agreements established between signatory NCICU institutions and the North Carolina Community College System but does not necessarily preclude such agreements.

Institution‐to‐institution articulation agreements that fall within the parameters of the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts and enhance transferability of students from community colleges to senior institutions are acceptable. Institutional agreements conflicting with the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts are not permitted.

Transfer Credit Appeal Procedure

Guiding Principle: If a student from a North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) college believes the terms of the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement have not been honored by a signatory NCICU institution to which the student has been admitted, the student may invoke the AFA in Theatre to Bachelor of Arts Articulation Agreement Transfer Credit Appeal Procedure.

Steps in Filing an Appeal

  1. No later than the last day of classes of the first semester for which admission is offered, the student must submit a Transfer Credit Appeal Form along with any supporting documentation to the Theatre Chair/Executive (or other campus designee) at the signatory NCICU campus to which the student has been admitted. Students first enrolling at the senior institution in a summer session must submit their appeal by the end of the subsequent fall semester.

    The student must specify on the appeal form the specific AFA in Theater to Bachelor of Fine Arts Articulation Agreement language that is in contention. Appeals that lack this information will not be considered.

    The Theatre Chair/Executive (or other campus designee) will review the appeal and respond in writing (email or letter) to the student within 15 business days of receiving the student’s appeal.
  2. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Theater Chair/Executive (or other campus designee), the student may appeal on the same form to the next designated administrator i.e. Dean/Vice‐Provost/Chief Academic Officer(Provost) of the specific signatory NCICU institution within 15 days of written notice of the director’s decision.

    The designated administrator will review the appeal and respond in writing (email or letter) to the student within 15 business days of receiving the student’s appeal.
  3. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the designated administrator, the student may appeal to the AFA in Theater to Bachelor of Fine Arts Independent Transfer Committee. The student must submit the appeal to the committee within15days of the receipt of the Provost’s decision. The appeal to the AFA in Theater to Bachelor of Fine Arts Independent Transfer Committee appeals subcommittee should be sent to:

    AFA in Theater to Bachelor of Fine Arts Independent Transfer Committee
    North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
    530 N. Blount Street
    Raleigh, NC 27604

    The committee will review the appeal and notify the student of the final decision within 10 business days of receiving the appeal.

Transfer Credit Appeal Form

Associate in Fine Arts degree

Associate in Fine Arts in Theater (A10800) Curriculum Standard

The Associate in Fine Arts in Theater degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester hours of college transfer courses. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and basic computer use.

UNIVERSAL GENERAL EDUCATION TRANSFER COMPONENT

(All Universal General Education Transfer Component courses will transfer for equivalency credit.)

English Composition (6 SHC)
The following two English composition courses are required.
ENG 111Writing & Inquiry(3 SHC)
ENG 112Writing/Research in the Disciplines(3 SHC)
Communications and Humanities/Fine Arts (6 SHC)
Select three courses from the following from at least two different disciplines.
ART 111Art Appreciation(3 SHC)
ART 114Art History Survey I(3 SHC)
ART 115Art History Survey II(3 SHC)
COM 231Public Speaking(3 SHC)
ENG 231American Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 232American Literature II(3 SHC)
ENG 241British Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 242British Literature II(3 SHC)
MUS 110Music Appreciation(3 SHC)
MUS 112Introduction to Jazz(3 SHC)
PHI 215Philosophical Issues(3 SHC)
PHI 240Introduction to Ethics(3 SHC)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 SHC)
Select two courses from two different disciplines.
ECO 251Principles of Microeconomics(3 SHC)
ECO 252Principles of Macroeconomics(3 SHC)
HIS 111World Civilizations I(3 SHC)
HIS 112World Civilizations II(3 SHC)
HIS 131American History I(3 SHC)
HIS 132American History II(3 SHC)
POL 120American Government(3 SHC)
PSY 150General Psychology(3 SHC)
SOC 210Introduction to Sociology(3 SHC)
Math (3-4 SHC)
Select one course from the following:
MAT 143Quantitative Literacy(3 SHC)
MAT 152Statistical Methods I(4 SHC)
MAT 171Pre-calculus Algebra(4 SHC)
MAT 271Calculus I(4 SHC)
MAT 272Calculus II(4 SHC)
Natural Sciences (4 SHC)
Select 4 SHC from the following:
AST 111Descriptive Astronomy (3 SHC) and AST 111A Descriptive Astronomy Lab (1 SHC)
AST 151General Astronomy I (3 SHC) and AST 151A General Astronomy I Lab (1 SHC)
BIO 110Principles of Biology(4 SHC)
BIO 111General Biology I(4 SHC)
CHM 151General Chemistry I(4 SHC)
GEL 111Geology(4 SHC)
PHY 110Conceptual Physics (3 SHC) and PHY 110A Conceptual Physics Lab (1 SHC)
Other Required Hours (16 SHC)
Theater (15 SHC)
DRA 211Theatre History I(3 SHC)
DRA 212Theatre History II(3 SHC)
Choose one track.
Acting Track
DRA 130Acting I(3 SHC)
DRA 135Acting for the Camera I(3 SHC)
DRA 170Play Production I(3 SHC)
Technical Track
DRA 140Stagecraft I(3 SHC)
DRA 141Stagecraft II(3 SHC)
DRA 170Play Production I(3 SHC)
Academic Transition (1 SHC)
ACA 122College Transfer Success(1 SHC)

An additional 18-20 SHC of courses should be selected from the courses classified as pre‐major, elective, general education, or UGETC within the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Students should select these courses based on their intended major and transfer university.
Total Semester Hours Credit (SHC) in Program: 60-61*

*One semester hour of credit may be included in a 61 SHC associate in arts program of study. The transfer of this hour is not guaranteed.