Dec 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

School of Art, Design and 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 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 mentor 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 faculty mentors to determine subject 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.

Teacher Education Program

Students seeking secondary teacher certification in art must declare education as a second major. This double major leads to teacher certification in Oklahoma (and preparation for certification in other states). In order to qualify, students must complete all the tasks listed on the Department of Education page in this Bulletin, including acceptance into the Teacher Education Program and to the Student Teaching Semester.

In addition, art education majors must include the following courses as part of their art major:

Art education majors are assigned two faculty mentors, one in the School of Art, Design and Art History, and one in the Department of Education.

Programs

    Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Fine ArtsNon-Degree

    Courses

      ArtArt History