Lynn Franken, dean of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts at Coastal Carolina University, has announced that the Department of Theater and the Department of Music have been joined to form the Department of Performing Arts. Philip Powell, associate professor of music, will serve as department chair. The change is effective with the 2002 spring semester.

According to Franken, the Department of Performing Arts will house three majors: dramatic arts, musical theater and music. The primary goal of this change is to serve the needs of all students of the performing arts at Coastal, in core curriculum courses as well as in the majors.

"We see opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary programming, both curricular and co-curricular, that will bring new students to the university, build on the considerable strengths of all performing arts faculty, and enhance our community presence," said Franken.