Department Of Art and Design Programs

Art Department Objectives

  • To provide for professional and cultural study with courses giving a concentrated experience for those interested in a professional career in art. Degrees in studio art and visual communication and design can be completed;
  • To prepare teachers of art for a professional career in education. Creative ability, professional proficiency and understanding of the psychology of art education are stressed;
  • To enable art and non-art majors to acquire an awareness and appreciation of their cultural heritage. Important resources in this process include the Walker Art Gallery, the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), and study tours. Students may develop individual abilities through studio courses or add to their cultural background through the study of art history.

In the second semester of the sophomore year, every art major must take and satisfactorily pass the Sophomore Portfolio Review. The review will be offered online, via TaskStream, so the student must also possess a TaskStream account. The submitted portfolio will contain examples of artwork as well as written works. Details are available on the art department website. Each student must pass the SPR in order to be allowed to register for junior level courses, and/or to continue in the BFA program.

Undergraduate

Studio Art - Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Studio degree is a 120 credit hour program. Students electing this major will complete 36 credit hours of required studio courses and 6 credit hours of art history. Students will take 9 credit hours of studio electives, and 6 credit hours of foreign language. The Bachelor or Arts degree strives to provide students with an appreciation of the demands of the professional marketplace, and prepare them for productive careers in fine arts.

 

Studio Art Comprehensive - Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

  • Drawing Emphasis
  • Ceramics Emphasis
  • Glass Emphasis
  • Painting Emphasis
  • Printmaking Emphasis
  • Sculpture Emphasis
  • Illustration Emphasis
  • Photography Emphasis

The Studio Art Comprehensive - Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree degree is a 120 credit hour program, which prepares students to become professional fine artists, and as such should be keenly interested in museums, galleries, professional lectures and competitive exhibitions. The studio major is expected to demonstrate a high level of ability in basic art courses and to clearly excel in his/her area of specialization. Students electing a studio major must complete a 24 to 38 credit hour concentration from one of the following: ceramics, drawing, glass, painting, printmaking, or sculpture; or students may elect to divide their specialization into 21 credit hours of a major studio area, and 12 hours of a minor studio area.

Visual Communication and Design Comprehensive - Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

Students can obtain a major or minor in the VCD Program that relates to current graphic design practice. The VCD educational experience involves a well-rounded fine art studio foundation with a design emphasis that involves the current practice, technology and theory of graphic design layout, typographic communications, identity branding systems, illustration, packaging, motion graphics and website design. View VCD student work examples.

Art K-12 Teaching Field Endorsement - Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree

The Bachelor of Arts in Education degree program is a 120 credit hour program which prepares students to teach art in Kindergarten through twelfth grades.
The program includes a wide range of studio courses to develop creative ability, methodology courses for pedagogical competence and courses for understanding the philosophy behind and psychology of art education. Courses include methods for teaching students with diverse needs and developing integrated curriculums. Field experiences in K-12 classroom settings are required for practical experience. The final semesters of the program include an exhibition of the student’s artwork and a full semester of student teaching. (The department also offers a Master of Arts in Education Degree)

Art Minor

The Art Minor is for students desiring an introductory study of and experience with art fundamentals, two and three-dimensional studio processes, and art tools and techniques. Students may choose from the following:


Art Courses



Graduate

Master of Arts in Education Degree - Classroom Education, Museum Education Emphases

The Master of Arts in Education program prepares teachers who face today’s challenges of coping with an increasingly diverse cultural population, students with a wide variety of disabilities who are mainstreamed into their classes, designing curriculum that addresses new pedagogical and learning theories, and the untapped frontier of providing arts activities to an aging population. The program offers options for studio electives, a strong art history component, and the added benefit of addressing current pedagogical issues. The program meets criteria for excellent programs set forth by the National Art Education Association. The Master of Arts in Education - Art Education program offers a research paper track or a thesis track. Both are 36 credit hours and consist of courses that are academically rigorous and research oriented. The courses included in the thesis track option prepare students for pursuing a doctoral degree.