Classification: Major
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
The major in Visual Arts is designed to engage students in an exploration of studio arts and visual studies within the context of a liberal arts education. Through coursework across a variety of artistic disciplines, art historical and theoretical frameworks, internships, and study abroad opportunities, students focus on developing individual, sustainable, research-based practices and marketable skills for a wide range of careers in the arts. Students majoring in the visual arts will benefit from the experience of study abroad and should consult the study abroad programs in this catalog. Because of the thesis requirements in the senior year, visual arts majors who wish to study abroad must do so before their senior year.
Students majoring in Visual Arts may select from three concentrations: Art History, Book Arts, and Studio Arts. All Visual Arts majors will take a holistic blend of coursework from the three concentrations. The total number of courses required for the major is 15-16 (48-53 semester hours). At least six courses taken for the major must be at the 300-level or above.
Required Courses
One of the following (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 119 Visual Organization (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 121 Drawing From Life (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 260 Analog Photography: Experiments with Iron, Silver, and Light (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 261 Digital Photography: Screen, Print, Book (3 sem. hrs.)
One of the following (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 118 Introduction to Sculpture (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 241 Introduction to Ceramic Sculpture (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 242 Introduction to Wheel-Thrown Pottery (3 sem. hrs.)
One of the following (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 115 Introduction to the Artist’s Book and Hand Bookbinding (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 120 Letterpress Printing (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 121 Papermaking + Form (3 sem. hrs.)
All of the following (15 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 101 Western Art from Prehistory to the Renaissance (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 102 Western Art from the Renaissance to Present (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 235 Contemporary Art (3 sem. hrs.)
- VART 315 Professional Practices in the Visual Arts (3 sem. hrs.)
- VART 300 Theoretical Frameworks in the Visual Arts (3 sem. hrs.)
One of the following (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 105 A History of Non-Western Art (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 202: Becoming American: the Immigrant Journey in Art and Culture (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 251: A Cultural History of Photography (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 270 Modern Art (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 225 The Book: From Clay Tablets to Now (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 301: The Museum in Theory and Practice (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 302: Art and Catastrophe: Visual Approaches to Trauma (3 sem. hrs.)
At least one additional course in art history, book arts or studio art (3 sem. hrs.)
Concentrations
A student must choose a concentration in art history, book arts, or studio art.
Art History (11-13 sem. hrs.)
The following
- ARTH 390 Internship in Art History (2-4 sem. hrs.)
Two additional art history courses (6 sem. hrs.)
One additional course in book arts or studio art (3 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 401 Senior Seminar in Art History (2 sem. hrs.)
- ARTH 402 Senior Paper in Art History (2 sem. hrs.)
Book Arts (17-21 sem. hrs.)
The following (11-15 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 115 Introduction to the Artist’s Book and Hand Bookbinding (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 120 Letterpress Printing (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 121 Papermaking + Form (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 290/390 Internship in Book Arts (2-4 sem. hrs.)
- VART 401 Senior Seminar in Visual Arts (4 sem. hrs.)
- VART 402 Senior Project in Visual Art (3 sem. hrs.)
- VART 403 Senior Written Thesis in Visual Arts (1 sem. hr.)
Two or more of the following, in addition to BKRT courses satisfying above requirements (for a total of at least 6 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 105 Introduction to Calligraphy (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 215 Intermediate Artists’ Books and Hand Bookbinding (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 263 Photobooks: Design and Print (3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 285/385 Special Topics in Book Arts (2-4 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 399 Independent Study in Book Arts (1-3 sem. hrs.)
- BKRT 325 Advanced Book Studio (3 sem. hrs.)
Studio Art (14-16 sem. hrs.)
The following
- ART 385 Special Topics in Studio Art (3 sem. hrs.)
- ART 290/390 Internship in Studio Art (2-4 sem. hrs.)
- VART 401 Senior Seminar in Visual Arts (4 sem. hrs.)
- VART 402 Senior Project & Exhibition in Visual Art (3 sem. hrs.)
- VART 403 Senior Written Thesis in Visual Arts (1 sem. hr.)
Two additional studio art courses (3 sem. hrs.)