Art and Design

Department Chairperson: Lillian Kay Dawson

Art and Design offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art, with options in art, design, and art education (PK-12). Students following the liberal arts curriculum in the art and design options may study in the areas of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, fiber arts, and jewelry/metalsmithing, as well as graphic design.

Completion of the art education option qualifies students for an Illinois Professional Educator License with a PK-12 endorsement in visual arts. Licensure requires the successful completion of the Illinois Licensure Visual Arts Subject Matter Test and edTPA.

The art, design, and art education options are designed to encourage students to develop their expressive capabilities and individual artistic voices. The art curriculum has flexibility allowing students to pursue in depth their personal interest in the visual arts and design.

Art and Design majors are required to participate in a portfolio review process three times during their matriculation for a degree: sophomore, junior, and graduating senior portfolio reviews. Each portfolio review is a method of evaluating students’ commitment to their education and their potential to pursue a career in the visual arts or design. Information concerning the details of these portfolio reviews can be obtained via the Art and Design webpage or from the program assessment coordinator. Art and Design reserves the right to retain student work for exhibition purposes for a period of time not to exceed one academic year from the time the work was completed.

In studio classes, students are required to do assignments that extend beyond class time; at least a minimum of one hour of work per week is expected of students for every credit hour enrolled. Faculty members will determine the time and place for work to be completed. In some instances, studios and required equipment will be made available. Students must follow health and safety regulations as outlined for all studios, labs, and courses.