Art and Design

Department Chair: Thomas Lucas

Email: tlucas22@csu.edu

Location: BHS 600

Phone: (773) 995-2283

Department Overview

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 web page 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.

Mission

The Art & Design program prepares a diverse student population to succeed in visual arts, art education, and design. Our courses are an inherent part of a university liberal arts education, teaching students to be highly proficient in art & design skills, critical thinking, synthesis, creativity, respect, and ethics. Faculty and students are engaged in exhibitions, programs, and public projects connecting the university to the community - showcasing art and design as integral parts of culture.

Student-Centered Education

CSU prepares graduates for the future. Many attributes for successful careers are cultivated through study of visual arts and design. The Department of Art & Design offers a Bachelors of Arts with Options in Studio Art (2D or 3D concentration), Design (Graphic Design concentration), PreK-12 Art Education, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching MAT Visual Arts (preK-12). All degrees options have a flexible curriculum, encouraging students to follow their own passion and learn skills to succeed.

Accreditation

CSU Art & Design, the perfect place to study creative arts, design, or art education. Our degree programs prepare you with skills for a career or graduate study. The Art & Design program (including the Master of Arts in Teaching Visual Art) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Join us to learn and create with professional faculty in excellent classroom studios.

Department Requirements

Transfer credit of D will not be accepted for courses in the major.
A maximum of one required art history course with a grade of D earned at Chicago State University will be accepted.
A grade of C or better is required in all other major courses.
Following NASAD Accreditation standards, Art and Design degrees are offered partially online. Please see individual course descriptions in dynamic course schedule for indication whether a course is offered online, hybrid, or in-person.
The ART 1101 requirement can be waived for students entering Art & Design with at least 25 credit hours, by completing FRSE 1500 , or by passing a competency course equivalency exam administered by the department.

Honors in Art & Design

The Honors in the Major Program (HMP) is a unique opportunity for a motivated and gifted art major to create a body of artwork, research papers, and/or written thesis, beyond basic requirements, toward an advanced individualized portfolio. Using visual language appropriate to a specific thematic concentration or media, the resulting portfolio is preparation for graduate or career pursuits. To receive honors credit, at the end of each course, the student must present his or her work to the Honors review committee selected to oversee the progress of the thesis/project. Upon successful completion of the required 12 credits, the student is recognized as an honors student on his or her transcript.

Application Guidelines

Status: Students should apply during the second semester of their sophomore year or after completing 45 credits. Students must have junior level status when they begin the program and are required to have passed the First Assessment Portfolio Review.
GPA: Students can obtain a copy of their current transcript from CSU Express. Enter the GPA on the application form, and attach a copy of your unofficial transcript. Minimum requirements are 3.25 GPA in the major and 3.0 overall GPA.
Faculty Mentor: Prospective honors students must invite an Art and Design faculty member teaching in their area of interest to serve as mentor and instructor of record. This faculty member will assist the student in determining the honors thesis/project. The faculty mentor will monitor progress in the honors program and will assist the student towards completion of the honors thesis/ project requirements.
Honors Thesis/Project Proposal: The application requires a description of the area of intended focus for the honors work.Every course with a 3000-4000 designation may be taken for honors once admitted to the Honors in the Major Program and with permission of the faculty mentor and chairperson. ART 4950 Portfolio Preparation with honors designation is required. To complete HMP, twelve honors credits with a minimum grade of B are required in any approved concentration in the options of art, design, or K-12 art education.
Application Portfolio: Students must present a portfolio of artwork and research papers created in Art and Design courses or independently. Work must be presented in a slideshow in PDF file or other digital means.
Presentation and Acceptance: The faculty mentor will present the application to the HMC. Faculty mentors and the program coordinator and department chairperson’s signature are required.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minor