Art and Design

Website: www.iup.edu/art
Tony DiMauro, Chair

The Department of Art and Design provides a sequence of foundation and advanced-level courses directed toward the development of the student’s creative and expressive abilities. Degree programs offered are the bachelor of fine arts degree program in studio, bachelor of arts degree program in art/studio, bachelor of arts degree program in art/history, and bachelor of science in education degree program in art education. Minors in the department include art studio and art/history.

Students pursuing studio or art education degrees are initially admitted into the department through the Entrance Portfolio Review. Art history majors are not required to submit a portfolio.

The bachelor of fine arts degree program in studio prepares students for careers as professional visual artists, graphic designers, and creative practitioners and is a platform from which to go on to study for the master of arts and the master of fine arts degrees. The BFA degree program offers two tracks: Graphic Design and Art Studio. Students pursuing the Graphic Design Track will study a broad range of topics including web design, publication design, interactive design, animation, and corporate identity. Faculty mentors assist Graphic Design Track students with the development of a professional portfolio. Students pursuing the Art Studio Track will elect a concentration in one of the department’s studio areas including drawing, painting, ceramics, fibers, jewelry and metals, sculpture, and wood. The BFA degree enables students to pursue substantial instruction in their area of concentration. The BFA major must successfully complete the BFA Sophomore Review where studio faculty members assess student progress within the program. During the final semester of their studies, BFA students publicly present their art in a culminating bachelor of fine arts exhibition. The bachelor of arts degree program in art studio offers students a broad range of advanced studio options. This degree option should be chosen by the student who seeks a generalized art studio program and provides opportunities for achieving double majors and minors in and outside the Department of Art and Design. The BA major must successfully complete the Sophomore Review where studio faculty members assess student progress within the program.

The mission of the bachelor of arts degree program in art/history is to provide majors with a solid foundation in the history of art, from ancient through modern times. The degree prepares students for graduate study leading to careers in museums, galleries, fine art libraries, visual resources, teaching, and research. Specific goals, objectives, and competencies related to this degree include the acquisition and demonstration of critical thinking, research, and writing skills; knowledge of terminology, methodology, and competency with various approaches to art historical inquiry; and the ability to conduct art history research through independent investigations.

The bachelor of science in education degree program in art education is a professional degree program leading to certification to teach K-12 art in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The program reflects contemporary theory and practice in art studio, art history, criticism, aesthetics, visual culture, and pedagogy. The program complies with all Pennsylvania standards needed for certification to teach art in the commonwealth.

All art majors are obligated to fulfill the university requirement for Liberal Studies course work. Art education majors must achieve and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts—Studio program must achieve a 2.5 cumulative GPA and earn a grade of “C” or better in all ART and ARHI courses to graduate.

The Art Studio minor is available to majors within the department whose major area of study is art education or art history; this provides further exploration in the various studio disciplines. Additionally, the Art Studio minor provides majors from other disciplines the opportunity to experience the visual arts in greater depth.

The mission of the Art History minor is to provide students with the necessary skills to critically assess the origins and changing dynamics of the visual arts. By its very nature, art history is multidisciplinary and not only develops visual literacy and tools for critical thinking, but also introduces students to the sociocultural contexts in which artworks are produced, providing students with the opportunities for understanding cultural diversity and lifelong learning.

The College of Fine Arts and the Department of Art and Design have established an exchange program with the National Art Academies of Slovenia and Croatia. Qualified and highly skilled juniors and seniors may participate in the exchange by application to the Department of Art and Design exchange coordinator and with approval of their major studio professor, the Department of Art and Design chair, and the College of Fine Arts exchange coordinator.

For detailed information regarding application to one of the degree programs and scheduling a portfolio review, please contact the department office at 724-357-2530 or by e-mail through the website www.iup.edu/art.