Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

School of Art, Design and Art History


Director
M. Teresa Valero

Professor
Michelle Martin

Applied Professor
M. Teresa Valero

Associate Professors
Daniel Farnum
Kirsten Olds

Applied Associate Professor
Mark Lewis

Assistant Professors
Aaron Higgins
Maria Maurer

Applied Assistant Professor
Samuel Krall

For more information about degree offerings by the faculty of the School of Art, visit the School of Art, Design and Art History webpage.

The mission of the School of Art, Design and Art History is to create a stimulating environment for the practice, understanding and advancement of the visual arts.

The mission is carried out by:

  • Providing students with a thorough understanding of artistic traditions past and present to help them find their place in contemporary artistic practices;
  • Encouraging the exploration of innovative artistic techniques and practices in an interdisciplinary environment; and
  • Helping students develop sound studio practices by encouraging active involvement in the community.

Our strategic priorities are:

  • Cultivating students, faculty, staff and administrators who promote the visual arts as central to culture;
  • Maintaining a rigorous yet flexible curriculum that stimulates critical thinking and promotes technical expertise; and
  • Investing in facilities and technology that support our mission.

The program in art offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)  and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  degrees in art with emphases in the studio areas of ceramics, sculpture, graphic design, painting, photography, digital media, and printmaking, and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  degree in the academic area of art history. The curriculum for all degrees allows students to develop critical thinking skills and technical expertise in an interdisciplinary environment.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)  in art degree enables students to enter professional careers in art and to find their place in contemporary artistic practice. It is the degree most often required for admission to graduate programs offering the Master of Fine Arts degree, which is the most accepted terminal degree in art and the degree required for college-level teaching.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  in art degree certifies that the student has completed a major study in the visual arts as an integral part of a general liberal arts degree program. Career preparation is not the primary objective of the Bachelor of Arts degree; however, it ensures that the student has a broad approach to artistic production.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  in art history offers the student general knowledge about art through the ages and the critical skills to interpret it. This degree prepares the student for entry-level careers in museums, galleries, and arts organizations, in art publishing, and for admission to graduate programs in art history, art conservation and museum studies. The degree also equips students with the critical reading and thinking, visual analysis, and writing skills to pursue a wide range of other careers.

Students seeking secondary teacher certification in art should consult their academic advisors to determine subject area courses that are appropriate and the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding alternative certification.

Admission

There is no portfolio admission for students who enter the University at the freshman level and wish to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)  and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  in art degrees. All transfer students to the studio art program must submit a portfolio of work for review by the faculty member in the area of emphasis, and acceptance is based on that portfolio review.

General Requirements

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)  or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  in art complete the four core course requirements before taking intermediary and upper division courses. In the core courses, students learn basic skills about art-making and develop sound studio practices. The courses form the foundation that will support students as they work towards designing a curriculum in their areas of emphasis.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)  in art history complete the two introductory courses before choosing from a broad range of upper division courses. Students are encouraged to study abroad and to pursue internships in their areas of study.

Learning Objectives for B.A. and B.F.A. Art Majors

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate a strong level of technical proficiency within their chosen medium.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to think conceptually within a visual medium.
  3. Develop a strong, cohesive portfolio.
  4. Develop the ability to communicate clearly in writing (artist statement).
  5. Demonstrate evidence of historical/contemporary contextual awareness.
  6. Demonstrate evidence of professionalism (through, resume development, presentations, awards, and/or portfolio presentation).

Learning Objectives for B.A. Art History Majors

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of major monuments and artists in their specific cultural-historical context and apply that knowledge to specific art historical problems (e.g., what makes a work of art meaningful or worthy of study).
  2. Demonstrate sound research, intellectual analysis of source material, critical thinking, and effective writing and speaking skills.

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs in classical studies  and medieval and early modern studies  may be of interest to art and art history majors.

Programs

    MajorMinor

    Courses

      ArtArt History