Mission
The Fine Arts program’s mission is to offer students an opportunity to comprehensively develop their artistic talents and creative scholarship in the areas of Studio Art, Music, and Music Technology. With rigorous curricular and co-curricular exposure to the interdisciplinary nature of the arts, including theatre, the program is designed to enrich critical thinking, technology literacy, and an appreciation for diverse aesthetics, as well as facilitate the growth of self-sustaining artists.
Program Goals
- To prepare artists well grounded in the histories, aesthetic standards, and ethical values of art as an aspect of human culture.
- To develop artists and scholars of the arts who stay abreast of their discipline/craft.
- To provide students with experiences that will enhance their understanding of cultural and environmental surroundings.
- To graduate artists and scholars of the arts immediately prepared for career entry, self-career development, and/or graduate studies.
STUDIO ART CONCENTRATION
Expected Student Learning Outcomes and Competencies
- To analyze the elements and principles of art/design in studio arts (painting, drawing/illustration, design, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media),
- To evaluate the skills and creativity of studio art works,
- To demonstrate successfully artistic abilities that would qualify for various opportunities and careers in the visual arts and industry
- To communicate comprehensively diverse art histories, criticisms and theories, especially those relative to people of African descent,
- To present themselves as conscious artistic designers & producers who can examine and suggest resolutions to cultural and environmental concerns within the global community,
- To network with professionals in the art, visual communication, museum/gallery and related industries,
- To demonstrate preparation for entrance into chosen graduate programs,
- To conduct research and participate in various collaborative and interdisciplinary projects including public art and/or commissioned art projects,
- To use state-of-the art studio equipment and technology in various types of projects.
Career Opportunities
The field of studio arts is a challenging and expanding industry that intersects with many other areas such as design. Students will be exposed to a liberal arts program that provides access to technology, research and training to enter this vast career with success. There are various opportunities in the studio arts, production and related arts industries. The Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area is a major center for the arts, government, entertainment and business, both nationally and internationally. This rapidly expanding area will allow graduates to find creative employment and research opportunities in related fields.
Additionally, Art faculty actively assists students with obtaining internships and/or apprenticeships, and at times employment opportunities in the field, both locally and nationally. The vast employment opportunities available for art graduates include:
- practicing studio artist
- educational institutions
- museums and galleries
- arts organizations
- textile industries
- design and animation studios
- book, magazines and newspapers
- packaging firms
- publishing houses
- production design
- advertising agencies
- corporate design departments
- government and non-profit organizations
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
A student must officially declare Fine Arts as their major, and Art as a concentration, by entering it on his/her initial application for admission or by submitting the Declaration of Major/Program Form. All students applying for admission to Art programs are expected to demonstrate their skills via a portfolio that highlights 10 (or more) examples of professional quality artwork; design, illustration, ceramics, drawing, sculpture, digital art/graphics, photography and painting. This should be submitted via a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM; or through slides. Work should be labeled with title, brief description, medium, and dimensions.
Students must also take the necessary prerequisites (carefully read course descriptions) and meet with their academic advisor BEFORE registering for any class. The DFPA Academic Advisor must approve all courses before registration. Students are accepted into the program and then proceed after successfully completing required foundation, core and university courses, and faculty portfolio reviews; they will continue onto an area of concentration as candidates/majors.
ADVISEMENT
All studio art and VCDMA majors must work closely with a faculty advisor within their concentration. Failure to do so could prolong matriculation through this program.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
COURSES
Students pursuing the BA in Studio Art must take 12 semester hours of a foreign language, and 12 semester hours of art/design (related) history, theory and/or criticism, including an additional (and mandatory) ART 405 African American Art History, for a total of 15 credits in art history. Art students must maintain an average of 2.5 or better in all major courses. Those students showing evidence of a fundamental weakness in an area of study will be required to take additional study work in the deficit area, and/or repeat courses. Students who fail to correct any deficiency, maintain an average of 2.5 or better in all major courses will not be allowed to graduate from this program.
Students must also pass the University’s English Proficiency Exam. It is recommended that the exam is taken after successful completion of English 101 & 102 and before the end of the junior year.
PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended that students who plan to apply for graduate school or work as practicing studio artists directly after the completion of their bachelor’s degree take additional hours of advanced studio courses in at least one studio concentration area. Art students should try to focus in the area of emphasis: 3D, 2D, or Integrated Media to allow students to specialize in one or two media.
It is also highly recommended (not required) that students take additional advanced courses in English, Business/Marketing and/or Communication as necessary. These courses will further assist students in developing and mastering technical and research skills, as well as skills in effective written and verbal communication.
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Another requirement for graduation is the development and maintenance of a comprehensive portfolio, which must be reviewed with and evaluated by faculty on a regular schedule. The portfolio is a collection of the student’s best course work and independent art projects selected by the student artist. The collection begins in the freshman year and MUST be maintained up to and until graduation. Art students are required to participate in a minimum of two (2) scheduled faculty reviews in order to:
- Advance to 300/400 level art courses
- Meet requirements for graduation, and submit work for senior thesis course and final exhibition
Upon completion of foundation courses and no later than the end of the sophomore year, students are to submit the portfolio and participate in their first mandatory faculty portfolio review and evaluation. At the end of their junior year, students will participate in their second mandatory faculty review and evaluation. Students who fail to correct any deficiency or pass portfolio reviews will not be allowed to graduate from this program.
ART EXHIBITIONS
All art students are required to submit quality artwork to the juried student art exhibitions each semester. It is suggested that art students should also submit artwork to various local and national art/design and/or media competitions or exhibitions. Successfully passing ART 498 Gallery Seminar is a requirement for graduation.
SENIOR THESIS EXHIBITION
Students are also to meet regularly with faculty and advisor and submit work for their senior art exhibition, this coincides with passing the course, ART 498 Senior Thesis Exhibition. Students must submit a portfolio that consists of 20 or more professional quality works to be proposed for ART 498 and their senior exhibition. All work for ART 498 and final senior exhibition must be submitted early, or no later than the midterm of the previous semester prior to taking ART 498. All artwork for senior show and final portfolio must be approved by Art/VCDMA advisor, and by all Art/VCDMA faculty.
DFPA, Art & VCDMA Activities
Students are expected to participate in DFPA, ART and/or VCDMA (campus) related activities including theatrical/musical/dance performances, lectures, film screenings, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, recitals, etc. as well as off campus events such as field trips, conferences, studio/museums/gallery visits and more, that further enrich the academic and artistic experience.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students must submit a portfolio with their application and send to the ART coordinator/advisor for review. Students who transfer in with 12 credit hours or more are not required to take Freshman Seminar.
ART CONCENTRATION MINOR
Students may minor IN ART by consulting with the advisor and the VCDMA advisor/coordinator.
A minor in ART/VCDMA consists of 21 CREDIT hours; six (6 studio and 1 art history course). Classes normally consist of foundation and introductory courses and one or more advanced course.
VISUAL CULTURE & MUSEUM STUDIES
The Baltimore/DC area is surrounded by countless opportunities related to fine arts, preservation and research in the visual arts. The minor was created to support students who have an interest in careers and research areas related to art history, theory, criticism, as well as pop culture and museum-related studies. The minor will also empower and prepare students for working in the local and national museum, galleries and arts organizations.
Students are also required to assist with ART 498 Senior Thesis & Gallery Seminar and/or ART 491 Internship & Apprenticeship in Art/Visual Communications to assist with art research, preservation, exhibition preparation and removal in both the BSU Gallery of Art in the Department of Fine & Performing Arts, and online galleries via the DFPA or ART/VCDMA website, for a minimum of one semester. Students must successfully pass a minimum of 24 credits hours in art history, studio and/or related courses. Students should speak to an advisor for approved courses.
FACILITIES
The Art concentration in the Department of Fine & Performing Arts, is always working on providing students with access to the latest in technology, equipment, art preparation materials and innovation. The Fine and Performing Arts Center houses five (5) art studios; Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, and Photography, in which courses are held. In addition, there are one (1) darkroom and one (1) state-of-the-art Apple digital media lab. Students also have access to the latest technology and equipment in digital video production, visual effects, lighting and digital photography, green screen and backdrops. Art students may also have access (with permission from VCDMA faculty and requests from Art faculty) for research, printing, scanning and limited Internet access in the VCDMA digital arts lab, usually 6 to 7 days of the week, as scheduled.
LIBRARY AND RESEARCH
Students in Art (Studio) has access for research from a variety of sources such as art and design periodicals, journals, resources and more, that cover various software training and tutorials, including subscriptions to Communication Arts, Computer Arts, and other professional art/design, history, theory & criticism; media arts, books, DVDs, films, magazines and online resources.
BOWIEHAUS
BOWIEHAUS is a student based art/design and marketing incubator and research project. Its goal is to teach Art & VCDMA students how to design products and/or services; and to provide opportunities for students to gain experience in marketing those products through sound business practices. Art, design and technology are combined with business entrepreneurship to prepare students to become successful before and after graduation.
NETWORKING, STUDENT & PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THE ARTIST GUILD
The Artist Guild is a creative arts organization for students studying Art and Visual Communication and Digital Media Arts, but is open to all other students who are interested in promoting the visual arts. One of the guild’s purposes is to raise and maintain a high standard of quality of visual art, design, and visual communication, networking with art and design professionals, and to produce awareness in visual arts on campus, with other institutions and HBCUs, and throughout the community. Membership in the Artist Guild is mandatory for all Art/VCDMA students.
Students are also encouraged to join and participate in regular workshops, meetings, salons, presentations (on and off campus) sponsored by arts/design or media related organizations such as: the American Graphics Arts Association (AIGA-DC Chapter), The One Club, The Art Director’s Club of DC, Black Artists of DC, Animator’s Association (ASIFA), The National Conference of Artists (NCA), College Arts Association (CCA), The Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers (AIVF), The Washington Project for the Arts, The National Alliance of Artists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (NAAHBCU), SIGGRAPH and many more. Many local designers, digital and traditional artists, animators and filmmakers regularly come to the Art/VCDMA program and the DFPA to give participate in career days, exhibitions, guest lectures, conduct workshops and portfolio reviews.
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