Department of Art

Location: Art, Phone: 409.880.8141

Chair: Donna M. Meeks

The Department of Art provides an environment designed to nurture artistic, academic and personal growth in our students. Through its curricula and community outreach the department prepares the student for a professional career in the discipline with courses in both practice and theory. The department curriculum balances visual arts traditions with current directions by offering courses designed to encourage skill-building along with theoretical insight. Educational, cultural, and academic opportunities are made available so that each student might reach his or her full potential and participate in those human experiences and qualities inherent in the fine arts. Building on a legacy of quality teaching, the faculty of the Department of Art are actively involved in scholarly and creative activities, serving as a model of commitment to excellence.

The Department of Art offers undergraduate instruction leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in either Graphic Design or Studio Art. Students may elect courses that further professional development in the following areas: Graphic Design, Web Design, Motion Design, Illustration, Photography, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, Video Art and Fibers. The Bachelor of Science degree is offered in studio art for students seeking all-levels art teacher certification. The Bachelor of Science degree is offered in graphic design for students seeking to combine a minor program of study with graphic design studies.

All students entering a degree program in art must be counseled by the chair of the art department as to study options in the department. Academic advising is mandatory for all art majors. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses. The letter grade “C” will be the minimum prerequisite grade for continuing studio courses in sequence. All prerequisites must be satisfied prior to enrollment in Art courses. During either the fall or spring semester prior to graduation, a candidate for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will be required to take Senior Thesis and prepare an exhibition as a degree completion requirement. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation.

A minor in art history is available to students in other programs or departments by earning 18 hours of credit as required by the Department of Art.

Art electives are available for non-majors who desire experiences in the visual arts as part of their general education. Non-majors are required to meet prerequisites for art elective courses.

Transfer credit of freshman and sophomore art courses is in compliance with the Transfer Curriculum for Visual Arts adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Undergraduate Degrees Offered

Art Degree Plans

Bachelor of Fine Arts -Graphic Design Emphasis -126 hrs
Bachelor of Fine Arts -Studio Art Emphasis -126 hrs
Bachelor of Science -Studio Art, All-levels certification -132 hrs
Bachelor of Science -Graphic Design -120 hrs

Graduate

Master of Arts in Visual Art -Studio Art Emphasis -36 hrs

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Graphic Design Emphasis

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 126

All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

1. Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum: 48 hours
   1. Major Requirements: 78 hours 69 hours from the following: ARTS 2301, 2302, 3301, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 2324, 2316 or 2326 or 3316, 2331, 2356, 3199 (three enrollments), 3305, 3313, 3333, 3343, 3355, 4343, 4353, 4363, 4399
      1. Studio Art Electives (three credit hours at upper division): three hours
      2. Art History Electives (upper division): six hours
2. Other Requirements: All students entering a degree program in art must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for continuing studio courses in sequence. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation.

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Studio Art Emphasis

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 126

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art requires 48 credit hours of academic foundations and 78 credit hours of professional program including studio elective courses. Students must select a major in one of the following areas: Painting: 2316, 3316, 3317, 3326, 3327, 4316, 4326 Printmaking: 3355, 3365, 4355 Drawing: 2323, 2324, 3315, 3325, 4315, 4325 Sculpture: 2326, 3375, 4375 Ceramics: 3376, 3386, 4376 Photography: 2379, 3303, 4303, 4305, 4306, 4353 Fibers: 3335, 4331, 4341 All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog.. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

A. Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum: 48 hours

B. Major Requirements: 78 hours

1. 54 hours from the following: ARTS 2301, 2302, 3301, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 2324, 2316m, 2326, 2356, 3199 (three enrollments), 3315, 3335 or 3376, 3355, 4399
2. Studio Art Electives (Six credits at upper division): 18 hours
3. Art History Electives (upper division): six hours

C. Other Requirements:

1. All students entering a degree program in art must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available.
2. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
3. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
4. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for continuing studio courses in sequence.
5. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation.

Bachelor of Science – Studio Art, All-Levels Certification

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 132

The Bachelor of Science degree in Studio Art is designed for those seeking all-levels art teacher certification and requires 48 credit hours of academic foundations and 84 credit hours of professional program (including 24 hours of professional development in the College of Education and Human Development). For details concerning requirements for teacher certification and information on professional education courses, consult the College of Education and Human Development section in this catalog.

All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

A. Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum: 48 hours

B. Major Requirements: 60 hours

1. 54 hours from the following: ARTS 2301, 2302, 3301, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 2316 or 3316, 2356, 3305, 3335, 3355, 3371, 3376, 4331, 4381
2. Studio Art Elective: three hours
3. Art History Elective (upper division): three hours

C. Other Requirements:

1. 24 credit hours in Professional Pedagogy as specified by the College of Education and Human Development
2. All students entering a degree program in art must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available.
3. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
4. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
5. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for continuing studio courses in sequence.
6. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation.

Bachelor of Science – Graphic Design

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

The Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design is available for those students seeking to combine graphic design studies with a minor program of study. Students may choose a minor program of study from any approved minor outside of the Department of Art. All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

A. Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum: 48 hours

B. Major Requirements: 57 hours

1. 54 hours from the following: ARTS 2302, 3301, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 2316 or 2326 or 3316, 2331, 2356, 3305, 3313, 3333, 3343, 4343, 4353, 4380
2. Studio Art Elective: none.

C. Other Requirements:

1. All students entering a degree program in art must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available.
2. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
3. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
4. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for continuing studio courses in sequence.
5. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation.

Minor in Art History

An art history minor consists of ARTS 2301, ARTS 2302, and ARTS 3301 and three courses chosen from the following: ARTS 4328, ARTS 4338, ARTS 4348, ARTS 4368, ARTS 4388, and ARTS 4398. To qualify for a minor, a grade of no less than “C” must be obtained in each of the courses applied to the minor.

Graduate Program

The Department of Art offers a Master of Arts in Visual Art* with an emphasis in Studio Art. The Studio Art emphasis offers focused study opportunities in one of seven studio areas. Graduate studios are available. This study option provides students with the opportunity to focus and develop skills and abilities in a selected area of study. Students seeking admission to the degree program must meet the general requirements for graduate admission outlined in this catalog.

Studio Art Emphasis

The Master of Arts degree in Visual Art* with a studio art emphasis requires 36 semester hours including 15 hours in an area of specialization, 9 hours of core courses, 6 hours of electives, and 6 hours of thesis. Specialization may be in Fibers, Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, or Graphic Design and Electronic Media. The core program for studio art includes 3 hours of Art History, 3 hours of Seminar in Art Criticism and Aesthetics (5318), and 3 hours of Current Issues and Trends (5301).

Applicants to the degree program in studio art must submit a slide portfolio of 15 works, three letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors, and a letter of intent stating professional objectives to the Department of Art. The slide portfolio should demonstrate competency in the medium of specialization the applicant intends to pursue for the degree. A graduate faculty committee will review applications and portfolios. Applicants will be accepted according to the quality and maturity of the submitted work. Undergraduate course work may be required if the applicant has not earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and/or the entrance portfolio does not demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities prerequisite to successful graduate study.

*Degree program phased out effective Spring 2012, contact advisor