Department of Art and Design

The Department of Art and Design is a studio-oriented department incorporating a wide range of visual arts activities and subject areas. We cultivate an inclusive atmosphere of diversity, discovery, experimentation, and social engagement. We believe that the practice of art and design is an expansive process that requires creativity and critical thinking.

Our learner centered approach aims to educate socially and culturally engaged artists and designers who comprehend and challenge definitions and assumptions through a wide spectrum of creative practices.
Our graduates enter the world as problem-solving creative thinkers who impact culture. Our graduates activate the future.

The Department offers three distinct undergraduate degree programs: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications. Core studio art courses are taken in the freshman and sophomore years. After completion of the required core courses, continuation in all three degree programs is contingent upon the successful submission of an electronic portfolio of original work and a degree progress review which is usually conducted in the spring of sophomore year.

The Bachelor of Arts in Art encourages an interdisciplinary approach and a global perspective through additional language requirements with many students earning a minor or second major from departments across the university. Given the opportunity to develop a portfolio that incorporates art and design with work from other disciplines, students pursuing the BA often participate in socially engaged art practices, technology or performance based work, and create artworks premised on academic research. Many students decide to pursue minors in Integrated Design, Advertising and Game Studies. The B.A. degree requires 52 credit hours of art courses. The minimum Art GPA must be 2.66 and all grades in art courses must be C- or better.

Students whose goals indicate a high level of concentration or specialization may elect to fulfill requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, with a heavy concentration on studio work and its own areas of specialization. The BFA-FA and BFA-VC degrees require 76 credit hours minimum of art courses and 86 credit hours maximum. To advance to the BFA degree programs portfolios are carefully evaluated for depth of investigation and innovation, evidence of craft and attention to detail, and expression of point of view and cultural awareness in both the visual work and writing submitted. (The minimum Art GPA must be 2.66 and all grades in art courses must be C- or better. - OR-

The minimum Art GPA must be 3.0 AND all grades in art courses must be C or better.)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Arts degree combines creative research with hands-on experimentation to ensure students are well versed in a variety of media and able to adapt to a fast-paced and evolving career landscape. Upper-level students have access to shared studio spaces to establish a strong and independent work ethic while collaborating with peers. Fine Arts students create original works in photography, animation and video, painting, printmaking, ceramics, interactive media, and sculpture courses, which prepare them to be competitive in contemporary art, design, art education, and related fields.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications degree is an intense series of courses intended to inspire inquiry into the art of communication design and develop applicable skills in various creative processes. The degree path begins with a focus on problem-solving techniques and user-centered design fundamentals, then leads each student toward a self-motivated career in the applied arts through a variety of required and elective courses in graphic design, advertising, illustration, and interactive media. With a vibrant and dedicated alumni network and scholarship opportunities, the VC BFA degree begins a student’s journey to establishing a creative practice with “real world” applications.

The Department enjoys an excellent reputation. Our facilities include a large computer lab, digital and electronic equipment, and spacious studios, which support a variety of artistic and design practices. The proximity of the University to major cultural centers of the northeastern United States provides students with easy access to important museums, galleries, internships, field trip options, and allows for an outstanding program of visiting artists.

Programs

Major

Minor

Art Minor