Undergraduate Program
Degrees
To graduate with a B.A. in Art & Design, all students must receive a 3.0 GPA or higher in all courses in the major, and a 2.8 GPA or higher for overall university coursework.
An exit level Senior Portfolio assessment is required prior to graduation. The portfolio consists of work from the student's concentration area. Students are evaluated on their knowledge and successful demonstration of professional portfolio preparation of art work; art history and cultures; and verbal and written critical analysis.
Emphasis and Concentration Areas
Art Emphasis
The art emphasis is a liberal arts program designed to give students broad exposure to the studio arts and art history. It prepares the artist and crafts person. It is an ideal preparatory program for students planning to do advanced or graduate study in art.
Art History Emphasis
The art history emphasis is a program preparing the student for an academic career in Art History, and provides the student with the basic skills needed for graduate level coursework. This emphasis requires the student to be competent in the visual arts, including an understanding of artistic techniques, styles, historical context and various research methodologies. The student will also demonstrate competency of an appropriate foreign language for continual research and scholarly development
Visual Communication Design Emphasis
The visual communication design emphasis prepares students for careers in the commercial fields of art, such as computer graphics, graphic design, illustration, advertising, photography, publications, and other areas of visual communications. Students work toward the completion of a required professional quality placement portfolio.
Graphic Design Concentration.
This program prepares students to work as visual thinkers and communicators using a variety of traditional print and emerging electronic media. Students are prepared to work professionally as designers, art directors, creative directors, and illustrators for design firms, corporate design groups, advertising agencies, publishers, television stations, or nonprofit organizations.
Photographic Imaging Concentration.
Courses in photographic imaging have been designed to increase an understanding of the most universal language in the world today - that of photographic images. Courses are designed to provide experiences in the fundamentals of photographic imaging which will lead to the achievement of objectives. Traditional photographic techniques, as well as experimental, non-traditional, and digital imaging techniques, are included in the curriculum.
Art K-12 Teaching Emphasis
The art education emphasis is a K-12 teacher education program preparing students to teach visual arts in elementary, middle, and secondary schools. The art education program requires competency in visual art technique and processes, analysis of the place of the arts in our historical heritage and current community, and the ability to apply the arts to human growth and learning. Satisfactory completion of requirements leads to K-12 art education licensure.