Department of Visual Arts

DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS

Chair: Jason Guynes (251) 461-1438

Professors: Simpson, Guynes

Associate Professor: Shamback

Assistant Professors: Culler, Gibbs, Johnson, Richards, Skiadas, Wildberger, Wright

Instructors: Burns, Schneider

Department of Visual Arts website
http://www.southalabama.edu/art

The goals of the Department of Visual Arts include preparing students for graduate work or careers in the visual arts; providing suitable programs and courses for persons who want to study or practice the arts for their own personal development and cultural enrichment; and introducing students to their cultural tradition.

The Department of Visual Arts offers Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in Art History, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Glass, and Printmaking.

These degree programs are intended for students who plan to pursue careers in Art or Art History, which will typically require their having continued their studies at the graduate level.

The Department offers minors in Art and in Art History.

All first-time freshmen must successfully complete CAS 100: First Year Experience as a degree requirement. Students must enroll during their first term at USA, except for summer-entry students who must enroll in the fall semester following entry.

GRAPHIC DESIGN LAPTOP POLICY AND COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
All students enrolling in ARS 271, Introduction to Graphic Design, and all subsequent graphic design courses are required to own a personal laptop computer that conforms to the graphic design computer requirements. Students are expected to have a computer on the first day of classes. This is a one-student, one-machine requirement. Any student who does not have a laptop by the end of the first week of the semester will be administratively withdrawn from any course requiring the laptop. There are no exceptions to the policy.
This purpose of this policy is to ensure that students have adequate access to computing resources and obtain an extensive working knowledge of the Macintosh system. Possession of a laptop allows students access to printers and other available resources on campus and elsewhere. In addition, owning a laptop aids students with job searches and job preparation as well as provides necessary resources for freelance opportunities that otherwise would not be available. Computer requirements are available in the Department of Visual Arts office and in the graphic design program.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN VISUAL ART
The B.A. program requires completion of the general education requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences, requirements for a minor, and enough elective courses for credit hours to total 128. At least 32 hours of courses numbered 300 or higher must be taken at this University, including a minimum of 15 hours of upper-division art courses. Two courses must be designated writing credit (W) courses, at least one of which is in the art program. Students must also pass the Computer Proficiency Exam or complete CIS 150, Introduction to Computer Applications (3 cr). A minimum of 39 hours in art history and studio courses is required. All students must complete the core requirements and those listed under one of two concentrations, art history or art studio, as follows:

A.	Core courses for all BA concentrations in art: 15 credit hours as follows:
ARH 103, 123, 344 .............9 hrs
ARS 123, 124 ......................6 hrs

B.	Choose from one of the following concentrations:
Studio Art: 24 hours
In addition to the core requirements, 24 hours in studio art courses of which at least 12 hours are at the 300 or 400 levels.

Art History: 24 hours
In addition to the core requirements, 24 hours in art history courses including ARH 492 Seminar, ARH 493 Art History Methodologies, and at least one 300 or 400 level course in each of the following areas:
1.	Ancient Art - ARH 304, ARH 306, ARH 406
2.	Medieval Art - ARH 415
3.	Renaissance Art and Baroque Art - ARH 322, ARH 324, ARH 326, ARH 330, ARH 434
4.	Modern Art - ARH 340, ARH 345, ARH 346
Seminar and Special Topics courses may be used to satisfy area requirements.

Language Requirements in Art History:
The art history concentration requires two years (12 hours) of university level study or equivalent proficiency in French or German. French and German are the preferred languages because they are required by most M.A. and Ph.D. programs in art history.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN STUDIO ART
A minimum of 128 hours of required and elective courses. At least 32 hours in courses numbered 300 or higher must be taken at this University, including a minimum of 12 hours in the primary concentration, and 6 hours in a secondary concentration. Two courses, including one in Studio Art, must be designated “Writing Across the Curriculum” (W) courses. Students must also pass the Computer Proficiency Exam or complete CIS 150, Introduction to Computer Applications (3 cr).

General Education Requirements
Written composition: EH 101, EH 102 ......................6 hrs
Oral communication: CA 110 .....................................3 hrs

Fine Arts - Art History:
ARH 103, ARH 123, ARH 344, 6 hours in elective Art History courses..................15 hrs

Humanities:
One approved course in literature .............................3 hrs (EH 215, EH 216, EH 225, EH 226, EH 235, EH 236)

History, Social and Behavioral Sciences:
HY 101-102 or HY 135-136 .........................................6 hrs
Two approved 100/200 level courses in....................6 hrs Anthropology, Economics, Geography, International Studies, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology (AN 100, AN 101, ECO 215, ECO 216, GEO114, GEO 115, IS 100, PSC 130, PSY 120, PSY 250, SY 109, SY 112)

Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
MA 110, 112, or higher level course ..........................3 hrs
Two courses in laboratory sciences..........................8 hrs
(AN 210, BLY 101, BLY 102, CH 101, CH 103, CH 131 or CH
141, CH 132 or CH 141, GEO 101, GEO 102, GY 111, GY 112, PH 101, PH 104,
PH 114 or PH 201, PH 115 or PH 202)

Art Core Requirement

a.	Drawing: five course including ARS 121, ARS 122, one or two 200 level courses,
	and at least one 300 or higher level drawing course, or ARS 326..................15 hrs
b.	Design: ARS 123, ARS 124 .................................6 hrs
c.	Professional Practices: ARS 396 .......................3 hrs

Studio Concentration Requirements

Two options are available. See below for specific requirements for each Studio Concentration.

Option One:

A Primary Studio Concentration in Ceramics, Glass, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture; and a Secondary Studio Concentration in another studio area.

Senior Thesis or Senior Portfolio Requirements

Students with the primary concentration in Graphic Design take ARS 488 (three hours). All other option one students take ARS 498 (six hours).

Primary Studio Concentrations

Primary Studio Concentrations are offered in the areas of Ceramics, Glass, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

a.	Ceramics: 24 hours in Ceramics courses.
b.	Graphic Design: 30 hours in ARS 271, ARS 272, ARS 273, ARS 372, ARS 373,
	ARS 374, ARS 375 or ARS 376, ARS 472, ARS 473, and either ARS 479 or ARS 496. (see admissions process below).
c.	Painting: 24 hours in Painting courses, including ARS 231 and ARS 232.
d.	Photography: 24 hours in Photography courses, including ARS 281.
e.	Sculpture: 24 hours in Sculpture courses.
f.	Printmaking: 24 hours in Printmaking courses.
g.	Glass: 24 hours in Glass courses.

Secondary Studio Concentrations

Fifteen hours in studio areas. Secondary concentrations are available in Ceramics, Glass, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture and Interdisciplinary. Interdisciplinary Secondary consists of 9 credits in one area and 6 credits in any combination of the other areas.

Option Two:

A primary concentration in Art History, including ARH 492 and 24 hours in Art History, beyond the General Education Requirements, with at least one course in each of the following areas:

1.	Ancient Art - ARH 304, ARH 306, ARH 406.
2.	Medieval Art - ARH 415
3.	Renaissance Art and Baroque Art - ARH 322, ARH 324, ARH 326, ARH 330, ARH 434.
4.	Modern Art - ARH 340, ARH 345, ARH 346.
	ARH 290 and ARH 390, Special Topics, may be used to satisfy area requirements.
A Secondary Concentration in one of the Studio Art areas is also required for option two.

BFA PROGRAM IN GRAPHIC DESIGN ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Students who wish to pursue a degree in graphic design at the University of South Alabama may apply for admission to the BFA program in graphic design after completing ARS 271 Introduction to Graphic Design, ARS 272 Typography, and ARS 273 Graphic Design Applications. Acceptance into the program is determined by a review process which is coordinated each spring semester. Only those admitted to the program are allowed to enroll in upper-level graphic design courses.

Review Process

Upon completion of the aforementioned courses, each student who wishes to be considered for admission to the BFA program in graphic design will assemble a portfolio of his/her work to be presented for evaluation by the Graphic Design Review Board. The portfolio should consist of ten to fifteen pieces that best display the student's abilities in the area of graphic design. A limited number of these portfolio pieces may come from other studio art areas but the emphasis should be on works that are relevant to graphic design. Portfolio pieces should reflect the student's creative and conceptual abilities, demonstrate an ability to successfully work with typography, show a strong working knowledge of graphic design software, and display the student's understanding of the basic principles of design and how best to incorporate these principles compositionally. The student's portfolio will also be evaluated in terms of presentation and craftsmanship. Students accepted into the program will be those who exhibit strong design sensibilities and have potential to excel in the upper level courses.

Written Statement of Intent

In conjunction with the portfolio of work, each student must submit a minimum 500 word essay outlining why they feel they should be accepted into the program and what they intend to accomplish with a graphic design degree. This essay will be submitted along with the portfolio. Attention should be given to presentation and writing quality.

Acceptance into the Graphic Design Program

Students are permitted to apply for the graphic design program only twice. Upon acceptance, the chosen students will be allowed to register for upper level graphic design classes and continue their studies toward the BFA in graphic design as outlined by the University of South Alabama Bulletin. Students must register for designated graphic design classes for the fall semester following acceptance to the program. Failure to register for classes or failure to progress through the graphic design curriculum in a timely manner will result in revocation of admission status.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A DOUBLE PRIMARY CONCENTRATION

In lieu of a secondary concentration, students may complete a second primary concentration. This will require course work in excess of the 128 hours minimum required for the B.F.A. and may delay time to graduation. To complete a Double Primary Concentration, students must complete Primary Concentration requirements in two separate areas including Senior Thesis or Senior Portfolio where applicable.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN STUDIO ART

A minimum of 21 hours in Studio Art of which nine hours must be taken at this university. At least three hours must be in courses numbered 300 or higher taken at this university.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN ART HISTORY

A minimum of 21 hours in Art History of which nine hours must be taken at this university. At least six hours must be in courses numbered 300 or higher taken at this university. ARH 100 will not count toward the minor in Art History.

GRADUATE STUDIES

The University of South Alabama offers a Masters in Art Education and an Alternative Masters in Art Education which are housed in the College of Education. Course work in the visual arts is within the Department of Visual Arts. Further information regardig these degree programs is listed in the Bulletin under graduate programs in the College of Education.

Descriptions of all Art History (ARH) Courses

Descriptions of all Studio Art (ARS) Courses

College of Arts and Sciences