Department of Language, Literature and Arts

The interdisciplinary Creative Arts and Performance Studies (CAPS) program encompasses visual art, music, theatre, and creative writing. It prepares students to participate in arts fields, both as working artists, musicians, writers, and performers, and in nonprofit, public, and private sectors. Our emphasis on public art and arts administration will prepare students to work as arts educators, curators, content creators, and administrators. The CAPS program will also provide opportunities for the community to attend arts events on campus including concerts, exhibits, and performance, thus reinforcing the relationship between the university and the community. We are firmly rooted in San Antonio’s flourishing arts community, offering particular emphasis on Hispanic and Indigenous artistic traditions, and promoting diverse, multilingual approaches and performances. Broadly, this program increases access and exposure to a range of art forms. Starting in Fall 2022, we plan to offer a new course with a specific CAPS designation as well as courses from other disciplines to satisfy the following minor requirements.

Check out the recent Mesquite Article featuring our minor.

Students will take 18 credit hours, at least 12 of which will be at the upper division. They may choose from the following list of courses.  

• ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation   
• ARTS 1302 - Latinx Art Appreciation  
• ARTS 1311 - Principles and Elements of Design 
• ARTS 2316 - Painting  
• ARTS 2323 - Drawing
• ARTS 2356 - Photography  
• ARTS 3301 - Intermediate Studio Art  
• ARTS 4301 - Advanced Studio Art  
• CAPS 4301 -Special Topics in Creative Arts and Performance Studies  
• ENGL 2307 - Introduction to Creative Writing  
• ENGL 2345 - Intro to Drama 
• ENGL 2346 - Intro to Poetry 
• ENGL 2388 - Intro to Visual Studies 
• ENGL 3304 - Genres in Creative Writing
• ENGL 3331 - Intersectional Shakespeare 
• ENGL 3315 - Critical Theory 
• ENGL 4330 - Topics in Creative Writing
• ENGL 4395 - Visual Studies
• MUSI 1101 - Mariachi Ensemble
• MUSI 1303 - Fundamentals of Music 
• MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation
• MUSI 2301 - Women in Music
• MUSI 3301 - University Voices
• MUSI 3311 -Voice Class
• MUSI 3315 -Music Theory
• MUSI 4301 - Topics in Music Studies
• SPAN 3331 - Latin American Film History 

In addition to student performances, we plan to bring in local, regional, and national artists and open these events to the community. For example, we currently have a relationship with the San Antonio Chamber Wind Ensemble, which uses our space to rehearse and perform. In addition, last year, we partnered with well-known artist Margarita Cabrera, who conducted workshops with students to make embroidery pieces about the experiences of migrants in the region. The finished artwork is currently displayed on campus, outside the university library. Cabrera also gave a public talk about this work and her recent exhibition at the McNay Art Museum. Additionally, our relationship with the Macondo Writers Workshop will be reinforced by our CAPS programming. Building an event for this program scheduled to take place in the fall will allow our students and surrounding community to better engage with the renowned writers who attend and facilitate the workshop. This program will also allow us to develop summer arts camps and workshops that will serve our local community, particularly elementary and high school students. With a more fully developed CAPS program, we plan to extend such work, further impacting the community and region.

Christin Barron, Lecturer of English - CBarr011@tamusa.edu

Robert Cavazos, Lecturer of English - robert.cavazos@tamusa.edu

Elena Foulis, Assistant Professor of Spanish - elena.foulis@tamusa.edu 

Katherine Gillen, Professor of English, Chair of LLA -Katherine.Gillen@tamusa.edu

Laurie Ann Guerrero, Associate Professor of English, Writer in Residence - LGuerrero@tamusa.edu

Brittany Ham, Lecturer of Art -bham@tamusa.edu

Justin Korver, Senior Lecturer of Arts -Justin.Korver@tamusa.edu

Alexandra Rodriguez-Sabogal, Lecturer of Spanish - alexandra.rodriguezsabogal@tamusa.edu

Adrianna M. Santos, Associate Professor of English -Adrianna.Santos@tamusa.edu

Martha Saywell, Senior Lecturer of Music -Martha.Saywell@tamusa.edu