Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualities the InterArts Program looks for in participating students?
The program is designed for highly motivated, creative, and engaged students who are eager to make or practice art and to read, think about, and discuss the arts in a larger social and cultural context.
Is the InterArts Program a major?
No. The program complements the curriculum in any arts major and provides students interested in other majors with a broad understanding of the arts.
If I both major in an arts field and participate in the InterArts Program, will my schedule be too concentrated in the arts?
No. While the InterArts Program requires you to take several courses in the arts, the two arts practice courses are typically required or recommended for the various arts majors. Thus, the total number of additional courses you take in the arts is, for most students, not increased. Furthermore, we believe the InterArts seminars provide a better understanding of the way in which art is connected to other fields of knowledge. As such, they will enrich your academic experiences in all of the disciplines—the humanities and sciences, as well as the arts.
Will participation in the InterArts Program limit my choice of major?
No. The program is designed to be compatible with every major offered at Trinity, including those in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences, as well as those in the arts.
I plan to take some courses related to my major during my first year. And I want to keep the option of a double-major open. Can I still participate in InterArts?
Yes. First year students typically enroll in a total of 8 or 9 courses over two semesters. Since InterArts consists of only 4 courses—the two InterArts seminars, and the two arts practice courses, the latter being classes most of our students would choose to take anyway—participants have ample opportunity to explore other subjects as they begin their academic careers at Trinity.
I’ve heard good things about Trinity’s First-Year Seminar Program. How does InterArts fit in?
The InterArts seminar, “Art and Artists,” is part of Trinity’s excellent First-Year Seminar Program. The seminar is writing-intensive, and provides opportunities to learn research skills. A student mentor is attached to the course, and your teacher serves as your academic adviser.
Will it be possible for me to study abroad if I choose to enroll in the InterArts Program?
Absolutely. In fact, we encourage InterArts students to study abroad, as that experience will expose you to the art and culture of other nations and peoples, thereby broadening and deepening your understanding of art.
What do current InterArts students like best about the program?
InterArts students state that the program challenges them to grow intellectually and creatively: “I made great leaps in my thinking and writing as well as in my artwork,” one program graduate says. They also note that the friendships formed with other Trinity students who practice and cherish the arts is a great benefit of the program. “My InterArts buddies have continued to be my closest friends throughout my four years at Trinity,” a senior says. “Though I’m not majoring in the arts, I am glad to have friends who are—they keep me in touch with my creative self.”
