Chair and Associate Professor: Dr. Young, 450-3113
Professors: Mr. Bowman, Dr. Burchett, Mr. Massey, Dr. Seymour
Associate Professors: Dr. Kuster, Dr. Morales, Mr. Ogar, Ms. Pinckley, Ms. Smith
Assistant Professors: Ms. Laws, Ms. Luckett, Ms. Rospert, Ms. Zeng
Gallery Director/Lecturer: Ms. McConnell
Studio Technician: Mr. Burton
Visual Resource Librarian: Ms. Bennett
Department Secretary: Ms. Clark
[1] Mission
The Department of Art views educational achievement as both an individual and collective responsibility. Offering a variety of undergraduate programs in art, the department directs the educational progress of students toward quality research, creative practice, and public service.
Art uniquely transforms those who create and those who respond. The department uses the transformative value of art to connect members of the community, enhancing and enriching lives, and making us more conscious of ourselves and others in the world.
To accomplish its mission, the Department of Art has established the following goals:
- To challenge students with an intensive curriculum characterized by individualized instruction.
- To reward faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching, scholarly and creative endeavors, and community service.
- To maintain facilities and resources that foster opportunities to experience the creation, exhibition, and study of the visual arts.
- To provide opportunities for community involvement in the visual arts and to broaden public awareness to the visual arts.
[2] Departmental Advancement Requirements
Advancement to an art degree program in studio art, fine art, or art education is contingent upon the recommendation of the art faculty on completion of the Sophomore Major Advancement Interview (SMAI), after which a program of study is designed with an art faculty advisor. A copy of the SMAI guidelines is available in the Art Office or on the departmental web site under Downloads. Students pursuing the BA in Art with an art history emphasis should see section 3.3 below.
For transfer students, a minimum of 15 semester hours in art must be taken at the university, including 12 hours of 3000/4000 level courses. The department accepts courses taken at other accredited institutions; however, courses transferred do not necessarily satisfy the specific requirements of the department. In order to receive transfer course credit, transfer students must present a portfolio for faculty review.
Students pursuing the BFA in Studio Art or the BA in Art with emphasis in fine art or art education are required to participate in a comprehensive review and an exhibit during the senior year.
[3] Baccalaureate Degrees
Two degrees are offered: (1) the BA in Art with an emphasis in fine art, art history, or art education; and (2) the BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in ceramics, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.
[3.1] Art Core Curriculum
Students pursuing the BFA in Studio Art or the BA in Art with emphases in fine art or art education must complete the following 35 hours:
[3.1.1] Art Core (18 hours)
ART 1310 Design I
ART 1321 Drawing I
ART 2312 Design II
ART 2322 Drawing II6 hours from:
ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
ART 2335 Art History, Prehistoric to Medieval [ ACTS: ARTA2003 ]
ART 2336 Art History, Renaissance to Modern [ ACTS: ARTA2103 ]
Note: Students pursuing the BFA degree are required to take ART 2335 and ART 2336.
[3.1.2] Area Studies (17 hours)
ART 3324 Advanced Life Drawing; 3 hours 3000-level art history; 3 hours from Category A; 3 hours from Category B; 3 hours from category A or B or ART 3304 Introduction to Art Education; and ART 2140 Portfolio I and 3140 Portfolio II. BFA students and BA art education emphasis students must complete Sculpture I or Ceramics I in category A.
Category A:
ART 3361 Sculpture I
ART 3379 Ceramics I
ART 3350 Fibers
ART 3315 Contemporary Media in 3-DCategory B:
ART 3318 Photography I
ART 3330 Illustration I
ART 3332 Painting I
ART 3334 Watercolor I
ART 3353 Graphic Design I
ART 3343 Printmaking I
[3.2] Bachelor of Fine Arts
The degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts requires successful completion of 127 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete lower-division UCA Core requirements – excluding the general education fine arts requirement – and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements (foreign language); and (3) 80 hours of art in an approved degree plan. A minor is not required. This degree may require more than the normal eight semesters to complete.
[3.2.1] BFA Major in Studio Art (80 hours)
Admission to the BFA in Studio Art requires application as described below. Students must complete the 35 hours of core and area studies curriculum (see section 3.1 above), and add three additional hours of upper-division art history elective for a total of 12 art history hours, 21 hours in an approved studio emphasis (see below), and 21 hours in BFA required courses (see below) to complete 80 hours.
[3.2.2] Pre-BFA Track
Students intending to apply for the BFA in Studio Art degree are strongly encouraged to enter the pre-BFA Studio Art track. Pre-BFA Studio Art students are required to attend a BFA orientation meeting in the fall or spring semester. No emphasis is declared in the pre-BFA track. Upon successful completion of the Sophomore Major Advancement Interview (SMAI), students with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 major GPA on a minimum of 24 hours of art may apply for entrance to the program. Transfer students, students changing majors, or students changing degree programs may not be required to start the program in the pre-BFA track, but must meet the requirements outlined in the previous paragraph.
[3.2.3] Acceptance to the BFA Program
Acceptance to the BFA degree program requires approval by the studio faculty of the BFA application which includes the application form declaring emphasis being pursued, a typewritten statement, slides or digital images of at least 12 works, and a copy of a current UCA transcript. Normally, application is made in the spring of the sophomore year. Applications may be submitted each fall and spring semester. A minimum of 23 hours in art is required after acceptance to the BFA program, including ART 4300, ART 4301, ART 4675, ART 4150, ART 4160, ART 4372, and six hours of art in a specified degree plan.
Students accepted into the BFA program must submit documentation of post-SMAI finished work and works-in-progress for review by a studio faculty committee one year after acceptance into the program (normally the spring semester of the junior year).
[3.2.4] BFA Required Courses (21 hours required of all BFA emphases)
ART 3150 BFA Folio
ART 4150 BFA Professional Orientation
ART 4300 BFA Studio Practicum
ART 4301 BFA Studio Practicum
ART 4325 Drawing IV (fall only)
ART 4372 Senior Seminar (fall only)
ART 4160 BFA Exhibit
ART 4675 BFA Internship
[3.2.4.1] Ceramics Emphasis (21 hours)
Note: If one or more of the courses below have been taken as part of the Area Studies coursework under Category A, select additional courses from the studio emphasis electives section.
ART 3379 Ceramics I
ART 3380 Slip Casting & Glaze Formulation
ART 3390 Ceramics II
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Ceramics
ART 3361 Sculpture I
ART 3362 Sculpture II
Select one of the following electives:
ART 3325 Color
ART 3343 Printmaking I
ART 3350 Fibers
ART 3353 Graphic Design I
ART 3315 Contemporary Media in 3-D
ART 4371 Directed Studio Problem
[3.2.4.2] Graphic Design Emphasis (21 hours)
Note: If one or more of the courses below have been taken as part of the Area Studies coursework under Category B, select additional courses from the studio emphasis electives section.
ART 3353 Graphic Design I
ART 3354 Graphic Design II
ART 4328 Graphic Design III
ART 4335 Graphic Design IV
Select two of the following electives:
ART 3330 Illustration I
ART 3343 Printmaking I
ART 3325 Color
ART 3318 Photography I
Select one of the following electives.
ART 3331 Illustration II
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Graphic Design
[3.2.4.3] Painting Emphasis (21 hours)
Note: Painting I may not be used to fulfill Category B in Area Studies.
Select seven of the following:
ART 3332 Painting I
ART 3333 Painting II
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Painting
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Painting
ART 3334 Watercolor I/or other upper level 2-D elective
ART 3339 Watercolor II/or other upper level 2-D elective
ART 3325 Color
ART 4371 Directed Studio
[3.2.4.4] Photography Emphasis (21 hours)
Note: If one or more of the courses below have been taken as part of the Area Studies coursework under Category A or B, select additional courses from the studio emphasis electives section.
ART 3318 Photography I
ART 3320 Photography II
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Photography
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Photography
Select two of the following:
ART 3343 Printmaking I
ART 3332 Painting I
ART 3353 Graphic Design I
ART 3361 Sculpture I
ART 3379 Ceramics I
ART 3315 Contemporary Media in 3-D
Select one of the following:
ART 3344 Printmaking II
ART 3333 Painting II
ART 3354 Graphic Design II
ART 3362 Sculpture II
ART 3390 Ceramics II
[3.2.4.5] Printmaking Emphasis (21 hours)
Note: If one or more of the courses below have been taken as part of the Area Studies coursework under Category A or B, select additional courses from the studio emphasis electives section.
ART 3343 Printmaking I
ART 3344 Printmaking II
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Printmaking
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Printmaking
ART 4371 Directed Studio Problem
Select one of the following:
ART 3330 Illustration I
ART 3332 Painting I
ART 3315 Contemporary Media in 3-D
Select one of the following:
ART 3331 Illustration II
ART 3333 Painting II
ART 3362 Sculpture II or Art 3390 Ceramics II
[3.2.4.6] Sculpture Emphasis (21 hours)
Note: If one or more of the courses below have been taken as part of the Area Studies coursework under Category A, select additional courses from the studio emphasis electives section.
ART 3361 Sculpture I
ART 3362 Sculpture II
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Sculpture
ART 4388 Advanced Studio: Sculpture
ART 3379 Ceramics I
ART 3390 Ceramics II
Select one of the following electives:
ART 4371 Directed Studio Problem
ART 3315 Contemporary Media in 3-D
[3.3] Bachelor of Arts
The degree of Bachelor of Arts, with a major in art, requires successful completion of 120 hours for the art history and fine arts emphases and 125-127 hours for the art education emphasis, including (1) the UCA Core: complete lower-division UCA Core requirements – excluding the general education fine arts requirement – and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements (foreign language); (3) an approved degree program in art; and (4) a minor approved by the student’s minor advisor. A minor is not required for Bachelor of Arts students who complete requirements for teacher licensure.
[3.3.1] Fine Arts Emphasis (48 hours)
Students must complete the 35 hours of core and area studies (see section 3.1 above) and add 9 hours of studio electives (six of which must be studio level II), ART 4388, and ART 4140.
[3.3.2] Art Education Emphasis (45 hours)
Students must complete the 35 hours of core and area studies curriculum (see section 3.1 above). Art education students must complete ART 3361 or ART 3379 in Category A; add 3 additional hours 3000-level art history for a minimum of 12 art history hours; 3 hours studio at level II; ART 4388; and ART 4140. A total of 45 hours of art is required, 21 hours of art education courses (see below), and 12-14 hours of professional education (see below). Students seeking teacher licensure must complete current UCA College of Education and state requirements. This emphasis and licensure requirements may require more than the normal eight semesters to complete. A minor is not required.
Art Education Courses:
ART 3304 Introduction to Art Education
ART 4350 Art Education Practicum
ART 4361 Internship I
ART 4690 Internship II
ART 4691 Internship II
Professional Education Courses:
EDUC 1300 Education as a Profession
EDUC 1220 Education Technology (or competency test)
EDUC 3309 Cultural Perspectives
EDUC 3321 Introductory Strategies for Students with Diverse Learning Needs: Mid/Sec
MSIT 3310 Learning and Development
[3.3.3] Art History Emphasis (45 hours)
Students must complete 39 hours of art history courses (see below) and 6 hours of studio to total 45 hours in art history and art.
Select one of the following:
ART 1310 Design I
ART 2312 Design II
Select one of the following:
ART 1321 Drawing I
ART 2322 Drawing II
Select 13 from the following electives:
ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
ART 2335 Art History, Prehistoric to Medieval [ ACTS: ARTA2003 ]
ART 2336 Art History, Renaissance to Modern [ ACTS: ARTA2103 ]
ART 3301 Modern Art
ART 3302 History of American Art
ART 3303 Nineteenth Century Art History
ART 3307 Arts of Africa
ART 3311 Ancient South American Art
ART 3329 Mesoamerican Art
ART 3335 Art Museum Studies
ART 3365 Women in Art
ART 3385 Art of India
ART 3395 Art of Japan
ART 4302 Directed Study
ART 4372 Senior Seminar
[4] Minors in Art
[4.1] Minor in Art (24 hours)
Students must complete 24 hours of art, including ART 1310 or 2312, 1321, 2322, 3 hours art history, and 12 hours studio elective (nine of which must be upper-division).
Programs of study for art minors are subject to approval by the art department.
[4.2] Minor in Art History (24 hours)
Students must complete 24 hours of art, 9 of which must be upper-division courses: ART 2325, 2335 [ ACTS: ARTA2003 ], 2336 [ ACTS: ARTA2103 ]; 3 hours studio art; 12 hours selected from ART 3301, 3302, 3303, 3307, 3311, 3329, 3335, 3365, 4302, and 4372. ART 2325, 2335 [ ACTS: ARTA2003 ], and 2336 [ ACTS: ARTA2103 ] must be completed prior to enrolling in upper-division art history courses.
Programs of study for art minors are subject to approval by the art department.
[5] Departmental Honors Program
Art faculty may invite students into the departmental honors program who have completed at least 72 hours (24 of which are in art) and have a major grade point average of at least 3.4 and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25. After the invitation, students wishing to participate select a faculty advisor and develop a proposal which must be submitted to and accepted by the Departmental Honors Committee in the semester prior to enrolling in ART 4390 Special Studies.
Students work with their faculty advisor on the proposed research or creative work and submit the completed work to the Departmental Honors Committee for review. Students present final work to the Honors Committee and the faculty advisor for the final evaluation. Honors standing is granted only to those students receiving a grade of “A” in ART 4390. Credit will be granted for students who receive a grade of “B” or “C.” Students earning honors standing are so noted in the university’s commencement proceedings and the designation of “Undergraduate Scholar” is printed on both their transcript and their diploma upon graduation.
[6] Accreditation
The University of Central Arkansas is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, Virginia 20190. Telephone: (703) 437-0700.
[7] Course Links
[7.1] Courses in Studio Art (ART)
Follow this link for ART – Studio Art course descriptions: course link.
[7.2] Courses in Art Education (ART)
Follow this link for ART – Art Education course descriptions: course link.
[7.3] Art History
Follow this link for ART – Humanities and Art History course descriptions: course link.