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Statement of Purpose for Art
The five degree programs of the Discipline of Art and Design provide students with the skills needed to accomplish the tasks of their professions and to awaken them to that intellectual level of existence which will cause them to lead fuller, more rewarding lives regardless of the professional area they enter.
Study in these programs offers students the opportunity to learn to communicate ideas effectively, to develop analytical skills, to synthesize ideas, to evaluate implications of present actions against historical perspective, and to develop discriminating aesthetic judgments.
The Discipline of Art has among its quality objectives: (a) to provide an environment conducive to learning and creative production, (b) to develop an understanding and sensitivity to the visual arts of the past and present, (c) to prepare students for careers in the visual arts and design including the teaching of art and design, (d) to furnish the students with sufficient mastery of technical skills to allow for future independent development and creative production, and (e) to prepare students for advanced study in the visual arts.
In addition to the academic programs, the Exhibitions Program and Visiting Artists Series assist in broadening the learning experiences of all students. The exhibitions are shown in the Gallery of the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building and are drawn from national as well as regional sources. The Visiting Artists Series brings outstanding artists and art historians to the department where they conduct workshops, give demonstrations, hold discussions, and give slide presentations and lectures that are open to all persons in the University and regional community.
Degree Programs in Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Comprehensive Major in Art is a program emphasizing professional preparation within the studio areas. This major allows students to take over half of their total degree requirements in art and to experience various studio areas in addition to their specializations.
Specializations are to be selected from ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture or fibers and involve advanced study in both a class format and individualized work.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design provides introductory and advanced study in graphic design, drawing, painting, digital media, photography, and the opportunity to select from these areas for additional advanced work. The student may take electives outside the art program in such fields as marketing and mass media.
The Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary/Secondary Program with a Comprehensive Major in Art Education is designed to prepare students to teach art at all levels, kindergarten through grade twelve, and to supervise art in the elementary school. For this degree, students are allowed to take almost one-half of their total degree requirements in art and to have a broad experience within the studio areas. This major program exceeds the minimum Missouri teacher certification standards in art and certifies grades K-12.
The Bachelor of Arts with a Comprehensive Major in Art is a program that is distinctive for its flexibility and combines the major requirements, which constitute almost one-half of the total degree requirements, with a rich and varied selection of general studies.
The Bachelor of Science with a Comprehensive Major in Interactive Digital Media (IDM) and a concentration in Visual Imaging (VI) is a program that will allow students to possess cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills in areas that deal with visual aesthetic understanding and communication, integrated with technological knowledge. Students in the Visual Imaging concentration of the IDM major will understand the fundamental concepts of design, comprehend how visual compositions convey content and meaning, and create computer generated images and animations for digital output.
The Minor in Art (24 hours) provides students majoring in any other department with opportunities to pursue studio and/or art history courses.
The Minor in Elementary Art Education is provided for students pursuing the elementary preparation program who also desire certification for teaching art in the elementary school, junior high, or middle school. This minor is also available to students, in majors other than art, seeking the B.S.Ed. with the Elementary/Secondary Program (certifies grades K-12); this program exceeds the minimum Missouri teacher certification standards in art K-9.
The Minor in Secondary Art Education is provided for students pursuing secondary preparation programs who also desire certification for teaching art in the junior high, middle school, or high school. This minor is also available to students, in majors other than art, seeking the B.S.Ed. with the Elementary/Secondary Program (certifies grades K-12); this program meets the minimum Missouri teacher certification standards in art 7-12.
Department Policies for Art
Students should acquire a copy of the Art Student Handbook or IDM Student Handbook for a complete list of department policies and other important information.
All work produced in fulfillment of course requirements is considered the property of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts for exhibition purposes until the student’s graduation or withdrawal from the University.
Attendance at programs in the Visiting Artists Series is required of all students pursuing one of the majors in the art discipline.
Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment Transfer Credit and Credit by Examination
The Department of Fine and Performing Arts does not accept Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Dual Enrollment credit for any of its Art degree programs, majors or minors. Credit by examination through the department is not available for any course in Art. The Discipline of Art faculty decides upon credit for courses transferred from another institution on a course-by-course basis.
Advanced Standing Requirement: Art Majors
No art major may be enrolled in and pursue advanced art courses (numbered 300 and above with the exception of ART 13321 Advanced Drawing, ART 13333 Printmaking and ART 13395 Design with Fibers) until Art Advanced Standing has been granted. ART 13333 Printmaking and ART 13201 Creative Photography need to be completed no later than the first trimester after art advanced standing has been granted. Art minors must complete the appropriate art core sequence prior to being enrolled in and pursuing advanced art courses.
Students seeking a major in art are expected to demonstrate a capacity to integrate from the art core courses: principles of an acquired formal language, processes of seeing and perception of content. Through visual, written and verbal evidence; students must show understandings of conceptual purposes behind directed work in the art core courses and sufficient commitment to expand their knowledge in order to successfully pursue advanced study.
To achieve Art Advanced Standing a student (1) must have no grade lower than “C” in ART 13120 Drawing,
ART 13191 Introduction to Design, ART 13192 Three-Dimensional Design, complete ART 13161 Ceramics or ART 13150 Jewelry and Metalsmithing and have a grade point of at least 2.00 in the overall art core courses, with no more than 6-9 hours left to complete in the art core; (2) must demonstrate her/his readiness for advanced art courses by satisfactorily responding to written and/or oral questions as informed by the current art reading list; (3) BFA Studio majors must have completed ART 13109 Survey of Art I and ART 13111 Survey of Art II; (4) must present a portfolio of work from art core courses which demonstrates to the art faculty the student’s readiness to pursue advanced art courses; (5) must have attended no fewer than 70% of visiting artist lectures; and (6) must have completed (or at least be enrolled in the last required course at the time advanced standing is sought) the general education required classes listed for Art Advanced Standing with a GPA of at least 2.00.
Students beginning the second trimester of their sophomore year and/or beginning their last art core courses must apply for Art Advanced Standing. Transfer art majors seeking to enroll in advanced art courses must meet the same requirements as students who started their career at Northwest. A student not granted Art Advanced Standing may appeal the decision through a written petition to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Advanced Standing Requirement: Interactive Digital Media Majors
No interactive digital media (IDM) major with a visual imaging concentration (VI) may be enrolled in and pursue advanced program courses (numbered 300 and above, with the exception of ART 13321 Advanced Drawing, ART 13333 Printmaking, and ART 13395 Design with Fibers) until IDM Advanced Standing has been granted.
Students seeking a major in interactive digital media with a visual imaging concentration are expected to demonstrate a capacity to integrate from the IDM-VI Advanced Standing Core courses: principles of an acquired formal language, processes of seeing and perception of content. Through visual, written and verbal evidence: students must show understandings of conceptual purposes behind directed work in the IDM Visual Imaging core courses and sufficient commitment to expand knowledge in order to successfully pursue advanced study.
To achieve IDM-VI Advanced Standing a student (1) must have no grade lower than a “C” in the IDM-VI Advanced Standing Core courses; (2) must have completed the general education required classes listed for IDM-VI Advanced Standing with a GPA of at least 2.00; and (3) must have attended no fewer than 70% of visiting artist lectures.
Students who have completed the requirements outlined above must apply for IDM-VI Advanced Standing. Transfer IDM majors seeking to enroll in the advanced program courses must meet the same requirements as students who started their career at Northwest. A student who is not granted IDM-VI Advanced Standing may appeal the decision through a written petition to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Advisement of Transfer Art and Interactive Digital Media Majors
All transfer students transferring credit for an art or interactive digital media-visual imaging concentration degree at Northwest must contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts chairperson to arrange a portfolio review in the first week of the first trimester of enrollment. A review may be held prior to the first trimester of enrollment by arranging for a special appointment with the Department of Fine and Performing Arts chairperson. The purpose of this review is to provide an opportunity for advisement, appropriate to the background of the student, in meeting requirements for Advanced Standing and to determine which transfer credits will be accepted to meet Department Core Requirements and/or electives. Enrollment in advanced courses (numbered 300 and above) is not allowed until Advanced Standing has been obtained. The required portfolio review is not equivalent to an Advanced Standing review (see above for Advanced Standing requirements).
Senior Comprehensive Review
A senior comprehensive review must be successfully completed by all art majors and before a senior exhibit may be installed. Senior review requires an attendance of 70% or more of visiting artist lectures after the date advanced standing has been granted.
Senior Exhibition
All art majors are required to present an exhibition of their work that is acceptable to the art faculty. Candidates for the B.A. or B.S.Ed. degree can meet this requirement by successfully participating in a group exhibition in their senior year. Candidates for the B.F.A. degree can satisfy this requirement only through the completion of ART 13403 Senior Exhibition. Senior exhibitions are held during the fall and spring trimesters only.