Programs
The Department of Art, a charter member of NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) and the oldest accredited department of art in the Southeast, provides an undergraduate program which prepare students for a career in Studio Practice and other art-related careers or advanced study. All degree offerings in the Department of Art are fully accredited programs. All majors are provided a diverse, well-rounded general education by the required University Core Curriculum which seeks to develop a student’s analytical skills and ability to communicate, and to encourage an appreciation for their culture and world. Required introductory survey and period courses in Art History provide knowledge of significant achievements of major artists and movements. The Art Department’s Lecture and Exhibition Program provides opportunities for students to obtain awareness of contemporary thought and to make qualitative judgements about art. The department also offers a minor in Art History in addition to three core classes, and a required offering for the College of Education, Art for Elementary School Teachers.
Our classes are small—none over 18 to 20 students and some with 12 to 15—with the exception of the Art History classes. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor in his or her area of study who can be consulted about what to take and when to take it.
Another asset that contributes to the energy and vitality of the our programs is the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art which serves the educational needs of the Art Department as well as the cultural expectations of the community and the state.