Art Program Course Requirements

Concentrations
      Animation
      Graphic Design
      Photography
      Sculpture
Student Organizations

ART PROGRAM COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Read the Art Program Learning Goals

Major requirements in art can be completed only through daytime attendance. 

Course offerings within the art program are designed to give students a thorough understanding of the visual arts. They explore the processes of creativity in both traditional and electronic forms, and the broad scope of historical tradition.

Students who are candidates for the B.A. degree in the art program must satisfactorily complete an area of specialization in either electronic arts, studio art, or art history or must complete the requirements for the art major with teacher certification in cooperation with the teacher preparation program.

Credit toward completion of the major is given for all art courses in which the student receives a grade of C or better. Majors in the art program may not double-count courses to fulfill both major requirements, and the general education requirement in Fine Arts.

Major Requirements for Art Areas 

The four-year program leading to a B.A. with a area of specialization in Art offers students a variety of concentrations, including animation, graphic design, painting, sculpture, and photography. As part of the Teacher Preparation Program, one also can complete the required coursework to obtain teacher certification in art.

Students also may design their own interdisciplinary majors to prepare for careers in art therapy, medical illustration, advertising, and other fields. Students majoring in studio art or electronic arts are exposed to a variety of media, with particular emphasis on drawing, composition, and color theory. In addition, students in electronic arts are provided with the background to work creatively and professionally in electronic media.

After rigorous training, degree candidates are required to participate in a senior thesis exhibition or other public presentation of their work prior to graduation. The studio art concentration is designed for students who seek careers in the visual arts and for those who are interested in personal enrichment and specific studio training.

Credit toward an art major or minor (including studio emphasis areas, art history, and museum studies) is given for all Fine Arts Department courses in which the student receives a grade of C or better. Studio art students may not use art history credits to satisfy category number eight of the general college requirements. Art history students may not use studio art credits for the same purpose.

Core Curriculum (27 credits) 

Required for all Art Program concentrations

  • 50:080:102 Visual Fundamentals (3)
  • 50:080:103 Sculpture Foundations (3)
  • 50:080:331 Graphic Design I (3)
  • 50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
  • 50:080:351 Painting I (3)
  • 50:080:279 Computer Animation (3)
  • 50:080:264 Digital Photography (3)
  • 50:082:102 Introduction to Art History II (3)
  • 50:082:354 Contemporary Art (3)

Animation Concentration (21 credits) 

Required:

  • 50:080:280 Classical Animation (3)
  • 50:080:386 Storyboard and Character Design (3)
  • 50:080:387 Computer Animation II (3)
  • 50:080:448 Character Animation (3)
  • 50:080:449 Effects and Production (3)
  • 50:080:482 Singularity Art (3)
  • 50:080:483 Animation Capstone I (3)

Elective Courses:

  • 50:080:388 3D Modeling & Printing (3)
  • 50:080:447 Character Rigging (online) (3)
  • 50:192:301 Video Game Design (3) (co-operated with Digital Studies Center)
  • 50:080:392 Independent Study (3)
  • 50:082:380 History of Animation (3)
  • 50:080:494 Special Topics In Animation (3) (Strongly Recommended)
  • 50:080:491 Animation Internship (3) (Strongly Recommended)

Art Therapy (39 credits) 

Art Therapy Concentration (21 credits)

  • 50:080:211 Ceramics I (3)
  • 50:080:222 Drawing II (3)
  • 50:080:352 Painting II (3)
  • 50:080:XXX Special Topics in Art (3) or Advanced Studio Art Course (3)
  • 50:080:3XX Introduction to Art Therapy (3)
  • 50:080:4XX Art Therapy Practicum/Internship (3)
  • 50:080:4XX Senior Capstone in Art Therapy (3)

Psychology Courses for Art Therapy Concentration (18 credits)

  • 50:830:101 Intro to Psychology (3)
  • 50:830:340 Abnormal Psychology (3)

Choose four additional courses from the following:

  • 50:830:222 Human Development (3)
  • 50:830:231 Psychology of Personality (3)
  • 50:830:301 Educational Psychology (3)
  • 50:830:326 Psychology of Adolescence (3)
  • 50:830:345 Intro to Clinical Psychology (3)
  • 50:830:440 Developmental Psychopathology (3)
  • 50:830:493 Applied Experience (3)
  • 50:830:255 Method and Theory (3)
  • 50:830:256 Research Methods (3)

Graphic Design Concentration (21 credits) 

Required:

  • 50:080:332 Graphic Design Studio II (3)
  • 50:080:437 Graphic Design Studio III (3)
  • 50:080:438 Graphic Design Studio IV (3)
  • 50:080:333 Typography (3)
  • 50:080:439 Special Topics in GD or Other GD Elective
  • 50:080:XXX Advance Studio Course (3)
  • 50:080:440 Senior Capstone in GD (3)

Recommended:

  • 50:080:281 Introduction to Video and Film (3)
  • 50:080:345 Computer Multimedia (3)
  • 50:080:395 Artist in Society (3)
  • 50:080:491 Electronic Arts Internship
  • 50:082:101 Introduction to Art History I (3)

Intermedia & Electronic Arts (21 credits) 

Required:

  • 50:080:214 Interactive Art (3)
  • 50:080:224 New Media Art (3) or 50:080:482 Singularity Art(3)
  • 50:080:226 Conceptual Art (3)
  • 50:080:XXX Senior Capstone in Media and Electronic Arts (3)
Select three classes from the following suggested list of courses (this list of courses could be expanded based on students’ research interests in consultation with faculty advisor).
Suggested courses include:
  • 50:080:213 Intro to Computer Graphics (3)
  • 50:965:125 Introduction to Video and Film (3)
  • 50:700:301 Sound Thinking (3)
  • 50:700:302 Sound and Image (3)
  • 50:700:391 Music and Computers (3)
  • 50:700:449 Audio Postproduction (3)
  • 50:209:302 Special Topics in Digital Studies (3)
  • 50:080:XXX Independent Study in Intermedia and Electronic Arts (3)

Students in the Intermedia and Electronic Arts (IEA) Concentration are required to be mentored by two faculty members from two different disciplines through their Capstone Project.

 

Painting Concentration (21 credits) 

Required:

  • 50:080:222 Drawing II (3)
  • 50:080:352 Painting II (3)
  • 50:080:353 Painting III (3)
  • 50:080:451 Advanced Painting (3)
  • 50:080:489 Special Topics in Painting (3)
  • 50:080:XXX Advance Electronic Course (3)
  • 50:080:452 Senior Capstone in Painting (3)

Photography Concentration (21 credits) 

Required:

  • 50:080:201 Photography in Social Media (3)
  • 50:080:265 Digital Photography II (3)
  • 50:080:348 Artist Residency: Art in the Landscape (3)
  • 50:082:383 History of Photography (3)
  • 50:082:460 Experimental Photography (3)
  • 50:080:XXX Advance Electronic Course (3)
  • 50:080:461 Senior Capstone/Studio and Commercial Photography (3)
  • 50:080:484 Special Studio Project: Undergraduate Research Project (3) (Strongly Recommended)
  • 50:080:492 Photography Internship (3) (Strongly Recommended)
  • 50:080:497 Honors Project in Photography (3) (Strongly Recommended)

Sculpture Concentration (21 credits) 

Required:

  • 50:080:211 Ceramics I (3)
  • 50:080:226 Introduction to Conceptual Art Making (3)
  • 50:080:382 Sculpture II (3)
  • 50:080:481 Advanced Sculpture (3)
  • 50:080:490 Special Topics in Sculpture (3)
  • 50:080:478 Senior Capstone in Sculpture (3)

Chose One Depending on Student’s Emphasis:

  • 50:080:212 Ceramics II (3)
  • 50:080:224 New Media Art (3)
  • 50:080:283 Sculpture Workshop (3)
  • 50:080:391 Independent Study in Professional Practice (3)

Interdisciplinary Studio Emphasis 

Students who wish to combine emphases for particular career or professional goals may apply for departmental approval.

ART MAJOR WITH TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Students seeking teacher certification in art must complete the requirements of the Teacher Preparation Program and the following art education curriculum:

Art Major with Teacher Certification Requirements (42 credits)

  • 50:080:102 Visual Fundamentals (3)
  • 50:080:103 Three-Dimensional Foundations (3)
  • 50:080:213 Introduction to Computer Graphics (3)
  • 50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
  • 50:080:351 Painting I (3)
  • 50:082:101,102 Introduction to Art History I , II (3,3)
  • 50:964:354 Materials and Methods in Art (3)
  • 50:080:355 Elementary Art Methods (3)
  • 50:080:356 Secondary Art Methods (3)
  • Additional art history course in non-Western art (3)
  • 50:080:261 Photography I (3) or 50:080:263 Digital Photography (3)
  • 50:080:381 Sculpture I or 50:080:211 Ceramics I (3)
  • One additional 300- to 400-level studio course (3) — recommended: 50:080:395 Artist in Society (3)

In addition, students must contact the Teacher Preparation Program to satisfy state requirements for certification. Students may apply to the chairperson of the Department of Fine Arts to modify the above program in order to meet specific teaching goals.

Declaring a Major in Art 

Students wishing to declare a major in studio art may not do so until they have completed 50:080:102, 50:080:103, and 50:080:221 with grades of C+ or better. Graduating seniors are required to present an approved thesis exhibition of their work.

Because of the introduction of new technologies in art and the ever-changing demands placed on today’s artists and designers, students are strongly urged to develop a minor program in a second department or an interdisciplinary major. Introductory business courses are strongly recommended for those students choosing the graphic design option. Art majors may also take courses in gallery operations and museum studies.

STUDENT-PROPOSED MAJORS

Students have the option of planning their own program that combines courses from two different major programs. Approval of such a program by the departments concerned and the Courses of Study Committee is mandatory. This option has been used by students to prepare for a variety of careers, such as art therapy, medical illustration, theater design, and arts administration, and in preparation for continued education, including law school. The following are some possible student-designed major programs and their corresponding goal orientations:

  • Biology & Art: medical illustrator,
  • Business & Art: art consultant, corporate art director, free-lance graphic designer, arts grant specialist, advertising, marketing
  • Computer Science & Art: video artist, computer graphics designer, chart display artist
  • English & Art: book illustrator, advertising, marketing, photojournalist
  • Psychology & Art: art therapist
  • Theater Arts & Art: set and costume design (credits of which must be at the 300 level or higher)

MINOR REQUIREMENTS 

Students who wish to minor within the Art Program in studio art, electronic arts, graphic design, animation, art history or museum studies should consult with the chairperson of the department. A minor within the art program consists of a minimum of 18 credits of course work in the department, of which at least six credits must be above the 100 level and at least six credits at the 300 to 400 level.

DIGITAL? ARTS MINOR (18 CREDITS)

  • 50:080:102 Visual Fundamentals (3)
  • 50:080:264 Digital Photography I (3)
  • 50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
  • 50:080:279 Computer Animation (3)
  • 50:080:331 Graphic Design I (3)
  • 50:080:386 Storyboard and Character Design (3)

ANIMATION MINOR (18 CREDITS)

  • 50:080:103 Three Dimensional Foundations (3)
  • 50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
  • 50:080:279 Computer Animation (3)
  • 50:080:280 Classical Animation (3)
  • 50:080:386 Storyboard and Character Design (3)
  • 50:080:387 Computer Animation II (3)

GRAPHIC DESIGN MINOR (18 CREDITS)

  • 50:080:102 Visual Fundamentals (3)
  • 50:080:264 Digital Photography I (3)
  • 50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
  • 50:080:331 Graphic Design I (3)
  • 50:080: 332 Graphic Design II (3)
  • 50:080:437 Communication Design I (3)

INTERMEDIA & ELECTRONIC ARTS MINOR (18 CREDITS)

  • 50:080:102 Visual Fundamentals (3)
  • 50:080:214 Interactive Art (3) or 50:080:224 New Media Art (3)
  • 50:080:226 Conceptual Art (3) or 50:080:482 Singularity Art(3)
  • 50:082:354 Contemporary Art (3)
  • 50:080:XXX Independent Study in Intermedia and Electronic Arts (3)

Select one class from the following list:

  • 50:080:213 Intro to Computer Graphics (3)
  • 50:965:125 Introduction to Video and Film (3)
  • 50:700:301 Sound Thinking (3)
  • 50:700:302 Sound and Image (3)
  • 50:700:391 Music and Computers (3)
  • 50:700:449 Audio Postproduction (3)
  • 50:209:302 Special Topics in Digital Studies (3)

STUDIO ART MINOR (18 CREDITS)

  • 50:080:101 Introduction to Studio Art (3) or?50:080:102 Visual Fundamentals (3)
  • 50:080:103 Sculpture Foundations (3)
  • 50:080:221 Drawing I (3)
  • 50:082:101 or 102 Introduction to Art History I or II (3)
  • Six credits in studio art courses at the 300 level or higher

Departmental Honors Program in Art 

Students who desire honors in art or art history should make arrangements with a faculty sponsor during their junior year and should submit a two-page proposal to the department faculty. Upon approval, students may enroll in honors courses during their senior year. In recognition of satisfactory completion of the departmental honors program, the registrar will note on the student’s permanent record “Honors in Art.”

To quality for honors in studio art or electronic arts, students must fulfill all departmental requirements plus the following:

  1. Maintain a 3.5 grade-point average in the courses required for the art major and a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average in the entire undergraduate program.
  2. Complete a six-credit honors program (usually in the senior year) during which they must complete a senior project. Studio art and electronic arts students must enroll in two sequential 3-credit courses, Honors in Art, and complete a senior project approved by a faculty adviser.