Art
Faculty
Mathew Kelly (chair), Brian Roberts
Statement of philosophy
The Art major prepares students for careers related to art, creativity, and visual communication. The major is structured with the flexibility to combine with another program of study such as Psychology, Business Management, Theatre, Communications, and teaching licensure, providing integrated pathways for students to turn their individual interests into meaningful careers.
The visual arts are a primary mode of inquiry and an essential component of a Liberal Arts education. The Art Program prepares students to be visually literate scholars who engage in the shaping of the modern world through hands-on experiences coupled with careful study and analysis of historical developments and concepts. At all levels, the Program emphasizes critical visual analysis, idea generation, and technical facility, while cultivating effective written and oral communication skills. Students use the knowledge gained through the close study of works and history to think critically about the relationships between art and a range of human endeavors and experiences.
Students seeking teaching certification at the elementary or secondary level must fulfill the coursework requirements for teaching licensure in the state of Iowa in addition to the Art major requirements (see the “Education – K-12 Art, Music, PE” section of the catalog).
In addition to the classroom experiences, our students are active in a variety of student organizations and co-curricular activities. All these experiences contribute to the total development of our students and help prepare them to become leaders for the 21st century.
Internships and off campus opportunities
Art students are encouraged to participate in study abroad programs or the Washington, D.C. metropolitan program. Students should consult with the department faculty and the office of Career Development and Civic Engagement for learning opportunities available through internships with such organizations as galleries and museums.
Art Major Requirements (40 credits)
- Complete all of the following: (18 credits)
ART 151 2D Problem Solving (4)
ART 161 3D Design Fundamentals (4)
ART 485 Visual Arts Capstone (4) – includes senior exhibit (minimum grade “C” required)
HIST 125 World History to 1500 (3)
MUS 312 Music History Preclassical to present (3)
- Complete two of the following:
ENGL 140 Intro to Creative Writing (4)
ENGL 212 Caribbean Literature (3)
ENGL 213 Literature, Environment and Ecology (3)
ENGL 214 Literature by Women (3)
ENGL 215 African American Literature (4)
ENGL 216 LGBTQ+ Literature and Culture (4)
ENGL 217 Literature and Film of the Middle East (4)
ENGL 240 The Personal Essay (4)
ENGL 241 Short Story Writing (4)
ENGL 243 Writing Oral Histories (4)
ENGL 280 The Humanities Lab (3)
PHIL 270 The Philosophy of Art (4)
THEA 250 Musical Theatre History (3)
- Complete 5 courses in studio electives from any course with the ART prefix, including THEA 161. One course must be at the 300-level. (16-20 credits)
ART 250 Drawing: Traditional and Digital Approaches (4)
ART 252 Painting: Traditional and Digital Approaches (4)
ART 253 Graphic Design (3)
ART 255 Printmaking (4)
ART 262 Ceramics I (4)
ART 265 Glassblowing I (3)
ART 267 Jewelry and Metal Arts I (4)
ART 270 Book Arts (4)
ART 353 Visual Narratives (4)
ART 362 Ceramics II (4)
ART 365 Glassblowing II (3)
ART 367 Jewelry and Metal Arts II (4)
THEA 161 Introduction to Theatrical Design (3)
Teaching Licensure – Art
Students seeking K-12 licensure in Iowa, must take two additional courses specifically labeled art history. These will count toward requirements in section 2. Please speak with art faculty and/ or the Registrar for details.
Art Minor Requirements (18 credits)
- Complete one of the following:
HIST 125 World History to 1500 (3)
MUS 312 Music History Preclassical to Present (3)
- Complete an additional 15 credits of ART courses including at least 3 credits of studio art electives at the 300- 400 level.