Programs of Study
The Department of Visual Arts offers three degrees:
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree places a stronger emphasis on studio courses. This degree is for the student who seeks to become a professional artist. For students wishing to further their education and acquire the Master of Fine Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts is appropriate degree. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree requires 72 hours of art courses, 48 hours of common curriculum courses, 3 hours of foreign language, and 9 hours of electives. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree are required to take at least 6 advanced elective courses in a combination of discipline areas such as painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, digital arts, photography, and art history. All BFA visual arts majors must present current examples of studio work to the full art faculty in a Junior Review during the second semester of their Junior year to gain acceptance into the Senior Show BFA coursework in their Senior year. Similar reviews are repeated as part of their Senior Show requirement at the end of each semester of the senior year. All Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates must participate in the 6 hours of Senior Show which culminates in a one-person exhibition in Loyolas Collins C. Diboll Gallery.
The Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts
The Bachelor of Arts degree prepares the individual for career employment in areas such as art galleries, art councils, museums, collections management, etc. The Bachelor of Arts degree requires 54 hours of art courses, 48 hours of common curriculum courses, 3 hours of foreign language, and 23 hours of electives. During their senior year, Bachelor of Arts students will participate in 6 hours of Internship Practicum with some aspects of practical and theoretical coursework in conjunction with the Senior Show program.
The Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design prepares students for careers in a wide range of areas utilizing print and motion media design skills. Some of these include creative departments in advertising agencies, design firms specializing in print/web/motion media, in-house design departments, and as well as free-lance design creating books, posters, illustration, etc. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design requires 54 hours of art courses, 48 hours of common curriculum courses, 3 hours of foreign language, and 23 hours of electives. Critiques with outside professionals are common. The final year requires 6 hours in project oriented courses that are considered capstone curriculum leading to a final group exhibition in the Collins C. Diboll Gallery prior to graduation.
Areas of study include:
CERAMICS
DIGITAL ARTS
DRAWING
PAINTING
PHOTOGRAPHY
PRINTMAKING
SCULPTURE
Each of these programs require basic preparation in the freshman year. This program offers fundamentals that underly all further study. This block of 18 hours is called Foundations.
