School of Art, Design and Art History

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 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 and allows students to have intensive study in a media area of their choice (graphic design, painting/drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and digital media/motion graphics). 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. All B.F.A. students are required to minor in art history.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in art degree ensures that the student has completed a major study in the visual arts and its histories as an integral part of a general liberal arts degree program. Students choose an area of specialization: art history or art . A double specialization in both art history and art is also possible; students should talk to their faculty advisor for more information. Students complete a minor of their choice with the B.A. degree.

General Requirements
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.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 in the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program will take introductory courses as dictated by their choice of specialization (art or art history). Internships for both B.F.A. and B.A. students are strongly encouraged but are not required.

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

Most studio classes require lab fees to cover the cost of most supplies used in class. See the Tuition and Fees section of this Bulletin for more information.

Mission

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.

The strategic priorities of the School of Art 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.

Undergraduate Academic Programs

The faculty of art offer courses leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in art with specializations in studio art and art history. The curriculum for both degrees allow students to develop critical thinking skills and technical expertise in an interdisciplinary environment.

Admission

There is no portfolio admission requirement 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 Art (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.

Program Learning Outcomes

Art, B.A., Art History Specialization. Students who complete the undergraduate program in art history will:

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).

a. Identify major works of art and architecture in specific art historical periods.

b. Analyze works of art with due consideration to their content, style, composition and facture.

c. Analyze works of art or artistic practices in light of the specific set of cultural values, socio-historical conditions, or in light of theoretical approaches (e.g., religious beliefs, issues of cultural identity, social status of artists, art consumption practices, feminist theory etc.).

d. Identify key scholars and their work and recognize various theoretical approaches to art historical studies (e.g., formal analysis, iconology, social history, feminist approaches, etc.).
Demonstrate sound research, intellectual analysis of source material, critical thinking, and effective writing and speaking skills.

a. Gather information and discriminate between significant and insignificant information found

while researching.

b. Negotiate conflicting information and interpretations.

c. Draw logical conclusions from research sources, and organize them in a coherent, properly documented manner.

d. Write well and effectively, using language appropriate to the discipline.

e. Present research in a public forum using appropriately chosen and paced visual material.

Art, B.A., Studio Art Specialization. Students who complete the undergraduate program in studio art will:

Demonstrate conceptual and technical comptency within one or more aspect of the visual arts.
Exhibit evidence of professionalism by developing a portfolio (of artwork or writing samples), resume and artist statement, locating their own work within historical and contemporary contexts.

Art, B.F.A. Students who complete the undergraduate program in fine arts will:

Demonstrate high level of conceptual and technical competency within at least one area of emphasis.

a. Students are evaluated on drawing competency, both as a stand-alone media and how these skills are applied in other media areas.

b. Students are evaluated on design knowledge and competency, both as a stand-alone media and how these skills are applies in other media areas.

c. Student projects are evaluated on the level of proficiency with the selected media and whether or not the student shows the potential for broad ranging technical refinement and sensitivity to materials.
Exhibit evidence of professionalism by developing a cohesive body of work, resume and artist statement, demonstrating the ability to apply historical and contemporary contexts to their own practice.

a. Student work is evaluated on whether or not there is evidence of conceptual development - meaning, the content of the work clearly expresses an original, creative, and thought-provoking theme, reflecting a strong personal direction in regard to the subject matter and the execution of their work. Technical proficiency/mastery in their chosen media area is evaluated in regard to how that supports the conceptual focus of the work.

b. Student work demonstrates a clear and insightful knowledge of past and present artistic influences and precedents (as reflected in the work and in the artist statement). Sometimes knowledge of historical context is reflected in targeted projects, but this attribute should become increasingly evident in the overall body of work as the students take higher level art courses (Note: all studio courses include aspects of viewing/discussing historical and contemporary artists relevant to the media area being taught).

c. Students are expected to exhibit evidence of the ability to properly document their work and develop well-written supporting professional materials (resumes, cover letters, etc.).
Successful execution of final project or exhibition, including written artist statement, which illustrates stylistic and conceptual competency of chosen art form.

a. Overall quality of the portfolio is evaluated as to whether or not the body of work reflects a high degree of consistency in quality, and in cohesiveness of theme, content and stylistic approach.

b. Professionalism is also evaluated as part of PLO 3 by looking at the quality of the images and supporting professional materials submitted.

c. Student final exhibitions and/or Senior projects are evaluated on their quality and execution.

Faculty

Director
Michelle Martin

Professor
Michelle Martin

Associate Professors
Daniel Farnum
Maria Maurer
Kirsten Olds

Applied Assistant Professor
Samuel Krall

Visiting Assistant Professor
Matt Lemmond
Brock Wynn

Visiting Instructor

Katherine Norton

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Art, B.F.A.

Non-Degree

Courses

Art

Art History

Arts, Culture and Entertainment Management

ACEM 4863 Special Topics

Common Questions

Colleges