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The art department pursues the goals of sound philosophical, historical and applied practices. Students may choose fields of concentration leading to careers in the fine arts, teaching and/or preparation for further study. The philosophy of the department is integrated and involved with the total pursuits of the liberal education.

The art department program offers introductory courses in Drawing, Design, Pottery, and Introduction to the Visual Arts; courses in Art History from Prehistory to Modern and Post-Modern; Art Education methods courses for elementary and secondary art education; and, advanced courses in theory and studio for the art major and minor.

The studio experience is based on a sequence of six courses, during which the student progresses from an elemental stage of artistic thinking and forming to one in which they are able to comprehend the current aesthetic issues in the visual arts and produce and defend their own innovative forms.

The studio sequence begins with initial ideas, models and studies, progressing to finished work with facility in media and techniques, all of which is guided by appropriate levels of direction and criticism. This process supports the development and needs of the individual student as he/she pursues a creative and artistic direction. The media selected is determined by the needs of the form; the student has the freedom at all levels of the studio experience to employ methods and materials that are relevant to their concepts and ideas. The studio experience begins in the sophomore year and culminates in the senior year with advanced studio work and the senior thesis project.

Beginning with ART 250 Studio I and continuing through the remaining studio experiences, the student is free to select various media and produce in multiple formats, e.g. painting, drawing, sculpture, as the evolution of their artistic ideas dictate.