Art majors pursue either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. A Bachelor of Science degree may be advisable in the case of a double major. The Bachelor of Arts with a major in art is, as in other academic disciplines, designed as a broad-based liberal arts education. The B.A. in art requires an exposure to both two-dimensional and three-dimensional media as well as art history. It can lead to graduate study in art, art history, art therapy, or other academic or professional areas. The B.A. is recommended for those students who wish to pursue K-12 teaching certification. Students who wish to meet Nebraska certification regulations for the teaching of art in secondary schools must include ART 2000 Art in the Secondary School, as one of their art electives. Students should consult the Department of Education regarding additional Nebraska certification requirements.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in art is traditionally pursued by those students who plan to become either professional artists or artist/teachers. The B.F.A. stresses intensive and specialized studio practice in the creative art disciplines, and is considered the appropriate preparation for study toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. The B.F.A. is considered a professional design degree and is the preferred credential for entry-level positions in design or advertising agencies or studios, as well as for preparation toward entrance to a Master of Fine Arts program.
Each year, art majors are required to present a portfolio representative of the past year’s work to the art faculty. As well, all candidates for degrees with a major in art are required to participate in a senior exhibition as part of ART 3980 Junior Project and ART 4980 Senior Comprehensive.
All entering and first-year students who are majoring in art are considered candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Those students who wish to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must be admitted to the program based on the B.F.A. Clearance. In order to qualify for the B.F.A. Clearance, students must have completed or be currently enrolled in the required art core courses (ART 1050 Art Research, ART 1300 Introduction to Drawing, and ART 2300 Intermediate Drawing) as well as one introductory art history course, and introductory (1000-level) courses in both 2-D and 3-D media. The applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all art classes completed within the Art Department at the time of the review. The B.F.A. Clearance will be held concurrently with the annual portfolio review that is required for art majors. The art department faculty will evaluate the portfolio and inform the student of its decision in a timely fashion to allow for time to plan schedules.
Department Learning Outcomes
Majors will be able to:
- Demonstrate technical competencies specific to particular two-dimensional, three-dimensional and digital media.
- Demonstrate competency in utilizing the elements and principles of design.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between form and content.
- Provide evidence of ideation and the revision practices.
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills, specifically related to discussing the work of self and others.
- Demonstrate an understanding of their own work in its relationship to appropriate contextual frameworks which can include historical, global, and cultural references.
- Provide evidence of participatory involvement in the arts.
ART 2000 Art in the Secondary School (3 hours)
A survey of teaching visual arts education in the secondary schools (grades 7-12). Emphasis on administration, organization, curriculum, and philosophy of art in education. Required for K-12 art certification. Cannot be applied toward a major in art. Cannot be applied toward a major or minor in art.
Cross listed with EDUC 2000.
Prerequisite(s): 15 hours of art and acceptance into the Teacher Education Program or permission of the chair of Department of Education.
ART 3980 Junior Project (2 hours)
To be taken during the spring semester of the junior year. Students will begin to formulate an inclusive portfolio of their work and a thesis for presentation in the Senior Comprehensive. Students will participate in regularly scheduled portfolio critiques and will be required to address relevant questions in a comprehensive written thesis.
Meets concurrently with the Senior Comprehensive course.
Prerequisite(s): Junior status and permission of department chair.
Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Writing Instructive
ART 4980 Senior Comprehensive (2 hours)
Designed to prepare seniors in art for graduation, this course includes experiences in planning, promoting, and opening a senior gallery exhibition. Students and instructor will work together to prepare professional resumes and portfolios, which include a written artist statement. Includes a gallery talk, presentation to the public, and an exit evaluation by the art department faculty.
Prerequisite(s): ART 3980 Junior Project and art history courses.
Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Speaking Instructive
Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Experiential Learning: Intensive
ART 1050 Art Research (4 hours)
This studio art course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts and techniques for creative production + problem solving + presentation. We will aim to expand your understanding of what you can achieve and what interests you through experimentation with time, surface, and space as well as a thoughtful exploration of the elements and principles of 2D, 3D, and 4D art and design. While this course will cover some ideas of technique, materials, and process, this is primarily a course where our goal will be to develop our ideas and strategies for how to engage an artistic practice that takes place across material + dimensional boundaries based on the needs of "the work" and the concepts behind it.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of department chair.
Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Speaking Instructive
ART 1300 Introduction to Drawing (4 hours)
A studio art investigation into drawing as a tool for thinking, observing and questioning. Students will become familiar with fundamental techniques and concepts such as line, value, form and perspective. A variety of dry media and surfaces will be used. Formal and in-progress critiques will be held throughout the semester. Attending and/or participating in local art exhibitions and artist lectures is required. Various levels (1-4) of this studio art medium may meet together. The course requirements of each level are different.
Archway Curriculum: Foundational Literacies: Creative and Performing Arts
ART 2300 Intermediate Drawing (4 hours)
A class focused on the multifaceted importance of the figure in drawing. Through weekly life drawing sessions with a model and the study of the figure as a conceptual and formal foundation, students will begin to develop a drawing practice that is crucial in ideation and as a primary medium for expression. Formal and in-progress critiques will be held throughout the semester. Attending and/or participating in local art exhibitions and artist lectures is required. Various levels (1-4) of this studio art medium may meet together.? The course requirements of each level are different.
Prerequisite(s): ART 1300 Introduction to Drawing
Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Discourse Instructive