Art, B.A.

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At-a-Glance

Minimum hours required for major: 48

Minimum hours required for minor: 24

Special tracks: Art history, studio art, art education

Advising: Professor in each major track area. Department office phone: 216-687-2040

Student organizations: Student Organization for Fine Arts (SOFA; Student Chapter of American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA).

Additional information: Honors program. Scholarships based on merits awarded each year up to full tuition.

The creation of art and the study of its history are complementary activities that deepen a student’s understanding of the aspirations of humankind. To develop both artistic skills and critical appreciation of art, the Art Department offers a broad range of courses in studio art, art history, and art education for both non-majors and majors. The Art Department also offers a minor. Art Department courses can be taken for personal enrichment, to fulfill university and college graduation requirements, and to prepare for advanced graduate-level study.

The course offerings are wide-ranging. For example, in studio art a student can select foundation courses in basic design and drawing, then more specialized studies of drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, ceramics, and graphic design. In art history, there is an introductory course in art appreciation and surveys of world art, including Western, Asian, and African art. More specialized studies include courses in ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and modern art; Indian, American and African-American art; Western architecture, cities and planning; and Cleveland’s urban environment. Art education offers a course that examines assessment models, and another course that studies art instruction and philosophy in different socio-vocational contexts. By selecting from these offerings, students can pursue a program of study for their general knowledge, professional career, or graduate work.

With the counsel of a faculty adviser in the Art Department, students wishing to major in art may elect a program from one of three curricular options: studio art, art history, and art education. For the Bachelor of Arts degree, all art majors are required to take a core curriculum of subjects for general preparation and additional hours of upper-level courses for diversification.

Requirements for Transfer Students

Transfer and non-degree students should submit a portfolio to the Art Department in order for a placement level to be determined. Students are encouraged to do this during the semester before their anticipated enrollment.

Major-Field Requirements

Art majors in Studio Art and Art History are required to take 24 credit hours of core curriculum courses. The core consists of 12 credit hours in Studio Art and 12 credit hours in Art History. In addition, they must elect a curricular option.

Art Major (Studio Art)

Core Curriculum:

ART 102 - Introduction to Two-Dimensional Art and Design
ART 103 - Introduction to Three-Dimensional Art and Design
ART 211 - Drawing I
ART 252 - Introduction to Early Western Art Or
ART 253 - Introduction to Western Art Since 1400
ART 281 - History of Far Eastern Art Or
ART 286 - Introduction to African Art
ART 300/400 Art History Elective (4 credits)

Curricular Options:

The option in Studio Art requires satisfactory completion of 24 credit hours beyond the core curriculum. Students take a sequence of 200-, 300-, and 400-level courses in one of the following areas: ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or graphic design. Additional studio electives are required in all studio sequences except graphic design. The cumulative total of the core and studio sequence must be 48 credit hours minimum. Studio Art majors concentrating in Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture must take ART 451 - Art Studio Capstone after completion of upper division courses in their respective studio sequence (may be taken concurrent with final 400 level course in concentration). Studio Art majors concentrating in Graphic Design must take ART 450 - Design Studio Capstone after completion of upper division courses in Graphic Design (may be taken concurrent with final 400 level course in concentration).

Art Major (Art History):

Core Curriculum:

Curricular Options:

The option in Art History requires satisfactory completion of 28 credit hours beyond the core curriculum. These should consist of 16 credit hours in art history at the 300 or 400 level, 4 of which must be non-Western, and 8 credit hours in Art Seminars (ART 495 ). Additionally, Art History students must complete ART 485 - Art History: Theory & Methods (4 credits). The cumulative total of the core and art history sequence must be 48 credit hours minimum. Art majors in Art History must also complete 4 semesters in German, French, an approved alternate language or two-year equivalency.

Art Major (Art Education: Multi-Age Licensure)

The option in Art Education requires satisfactory completion of 36 hours in art studio courses, including a three-course sequence (200, 300, 400 levels) in one studio area and ART 226 OR ART 246 , ART 221 , ART 231 , and ART 242 OR ART 244 , 16 hours in art history courses (including ART 252 and ART 253 , and ART 281 OR ART 286 ) and 8 hours in art education courses (ART 341 and ART 441 ). ART 441 will be the capstone course for Art Education majors. The cumulative total must be 60 hours. Also required for licensure are 39 credit hours in professional education and art education courses taught in the College of Education and Human Services.