advising & degree requirements
Art students will find it necessary to work with an Art Department advisor. While working with an advisor in the Fulbright Advising Center will also be crucial for tracking core and general education course progression, Art students should work with one of the Art Department advisors when strategizing progress through the specifics of the Art curriculum. The Art Department does not assign advisors; the student is able to choose one from the list.
Art Advisors
General Advising
| Faculty | M | T | W | TH | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Newman FNAR 306 also by appt. |
9:00 - 10:30 | 9:00 - 11:30 | |||
| Mike Peven FNAR 305 |
10:30 - 12:00 | ||||
| Bethany Springer Please make an appointment FNAR 107 |
2:00 - 3:00 | 2:00 - 3:00 |
BFA (admitted) and Art Ed Advising
| Faculty | M | T | W | TH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackie Golden (BFA) FNAR 308 |
10:00 - 12:00 | |||
| Angela LaPorte (Art Ed/BFA) FNAR 335 also by appt. |
1:00 - 4:00 | 3:00 - 5:00 |
MFA Advising
| Faculty | M | T | W | TH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Hapgood FNAR 212 also by appt. |
10:00 - 12:00 | |||
| Jeannie Hulen Ceramics Studio, 326 Eastern Ave. also by appt. |
9:00 - 11:00 |
Your advisor is there to meet with you at the above times; in fact, many students rely on their advisors for consultations about a variety of issues throughout the year. Note that all faculty members have regular office hours during which you can make appointments to meet with them, or just drop in. However, you will see your advisor at least once a semester during pre-registration advising, which is done the week before formal pre-registration begins.
The week before pre-registration the department holds an advising fair with pizza and sodas. If you have a good idea of what you want to take, and no major problems to clear up, this is a good way to get advised. People with more complicated advising needs may want to make an appointment with their advisor.
If you are a transfer student, you will have received a Transfer of Credit Report, which will detail which of your courses match existing U of A courses. Other courses which do not match exactly will be assigned a course number ending in 99T. You will need to see an advisor to have these evaluated. When this is done a course substitution form will be filled out assigning a new course number for you 99T courses. You may need to bring in syllabi, course descriptions or actual work to help in this evaluation. Your Art Department advisor can only do course substitutions for your Art requirements. If you have a transfer course in another department that needs to be assigned, you’ll need to see an advisor in that department.
Before meeting with your advisor for registration advice, tentatively plot out your schedule for the academic semester. Be familiar with the catalog requirements for your degree. (Degree checksheets for each of the degrees are included in the back of this handbook so that you can track your own progress). Have alternative courses noted in case your primary courses are filled. Ask your advisor plenty of questions--he or she is here to help you.
Planning your schedule
All undergraduate studio majors start out with the Foundation sequence – Drawing I, 2-D Design, 3-D Design and Figure Drawing. Students planning on doing the BFA degree also take Drawing II and Color Studies. You do not have to complete the entire foundation sequence before taking upper level courses, as long as you meet the prerequisites for those courses.
It's a good idea to get some other things out of the way during your first year:
- Math courses. BAs need to take Finite Math, Calculus, or Mathematical Reasoning. Some students will need to take College Algebra first. BFA’s will only need to take College Algebra. Either way, your math skills may start to fade if you wait too long, so it’s best to go ahead and take the math early on. Some students who have a difficult time with math courses prefer to take it during the summer, when they can concentrate on just one course.
- Language courses. If you plan to continue with the language you studied in high school, it’s wise to start right away. As with math, if you wait too long, you are likely to forget some of what you learned. Also, once you start your language course, keep right on going; don’t skip a semester. BA students need to complete a language through the Intermediate II level, while BFA’s must complete through the Intermediate I level.
- Art History courses. Don’t put off your art history courses! They will be very helpful to you in your studio work. Get started on Art History Survey I and II by your second year.
In general, try to balance your studio courses ( if you are a studio art major) with other courses. We generally recommend that in your first few years, you take 2 studios per semester. Taking more than two studio classes at a time is difficult, and should be reserved for your junior or senior years. - It pays to plan ahead. Some courses are offered irregularly and others may fill up quickly when they are offered. Nearly all of the 1000 and 2000 level courses in the Art Department will fill up, and many of the upper level ones as well. Admission to some courses, such as Graphic Design courses and Professional Practices is by permission of the instructor only, and therefore you will need to contact that instructor.
Checksheets for each of the degrees we offer can be found in the art office, so that you can track your progress and requirements yourself.
In order to avoid any delay in your graduation, you should be thoroughly knowledgeable in the requirements for your degree and consult with your adviser and/or the Fulbright College Dean’s Office (575-4801) when you are in doubt.