Oakland students are required to take an arts class. Some students are thrilled to take one, while others are intimidated and question the necessity of the class.

“The arts are part of the human experience,” said Michael Mitchell, Associate Professor of Music and OU’s Music Program Director. “Education without an arts component leaves out a huge portion of what it is to be a thinking and feeling human being.”

Kerro Knox, Theatre Program Director and Associate Professor of Theatre, agreed with Mitchell.

Every civilization is unique because of its arts, Knox said. Studying the arts allows students to see a slice of a culture.

History can also be recorded through the arts, said Gregory Patterson, Director of OU’s Dance Program and Associate Professor of Dance. In arts courses, students learn that people use the arts to show and record their experiences.

“I’m taking dance history and appreciation class. Our teacher’s really fun. Being a national champion dancer, the class made me appreciate music even more,” freshman Maggie Suchomel said. “I think the requirement helps people exercise a different way of thinking.”

Elizabeth Kattner, an assistant professor of dance, teaches Dance in American Culture, which meets the arts general education requirement.

The course combines history lessons and dancer’s experiences to teach students about Latin dance, Middle Eastern dance and African dance. 

Because students get to dance as well as listen and read, the papers that students turn in “show a higher level of critical thinking, of addressing the topic from multiple perspectives,” Kattner said. “Combining kinesthetic with academics makes the material more impacting.”

Students develop critical thinking skills through the arts because they learn that there is more than one way to solve a problem, Kattner said. Because of this, employers hire people who have taken arts classes.

Kattner also said that having a basic knowledge of the arts is helpful when doing business with a foreign company. In many countries, the arts are a part of everyday life. Being able to talk about the arts can help break the ice and impress foreign business partners, she said.

Knox said that theatre classes also help students outside of the classroom. Performing in front of classmates helps students get comfortable in front of an audience, which is helpful in many jobs.

Many Oakland professors try to make their classes as friendly as possible for those hesitant to take an arts class.

Knox said he changes his course material to interest the students in his class. One semester, he had a lot of biology majors, so he talked about the effects of plagues on theatres.

Kattner said that students who haven’t danced before are proud of themselves taking a dance class.

Patterson said that the arts allow students to express their thoughts and feelings.

“It allows the student to explore their creativity,” he said. “You do it to satisfy yourself.”

Mitchell, Patterson, Knox and Kattner said that Oakland’s goal is to create a whole, educated person. Understanding humanity through the arts helps to round out OU’s students.

For a list of classes that fulfill the arts general education requirement, click here.

Student Reactions

“My online music class is terrible. It’s hard to learn something online that I have no background in. I think it should not be required it has not expanded my knowledge at all.” -Anonymous, freshmen, undecided.

“I find the classes useful since I’m an art major. I’m taking foundations of design. It teaches me the basics of design which is what I’m going into.” -Alexandria Velfling, junior, graphic design major.

“I took Theater 101. It was an easy class and provided a nice cushion for my GPA because I got a 4.0 in that class.” -Austin Morgan, sophomore, Biology major.

“I took many of the required art classes. I loved the classes and the teachers were great. Very useful to my major.” -Meghan Moore, junior, studio art major.

“I think the required classes are good because it’s good to expose people to the subjects.” -Andrew Reiff, sophomore, Engineering major.