The mission of the School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is to offer the highest quality educational, research, and service programs in the visual arts. Students have the choice of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with options of specializing in many media areas.
Bachelor of Arts, Art History
The Bachelor of Arts, BA, with a concentration in Art History is a liberal arts degree consisting of 120 hours.
The discipline of Art History focuses on the study of visual objects. In Art History classes, the activity is not the creation of art works, but rather the analysis of art forms that have been created from prehistory to the present and produced in a variety of cultures.
Art History examines all kinds of visual production. Art History focuses upon not just painting, sculpture, and architecture, but also (among others) drawing, photography, printmaking, crafts, decorative arts, furniture, digital art, performance art--virtually any artistic expressions that have a visual component.
Art historians analyze art works in many different ways. Traditionally, Art History was associated with close visual examination of the art work--what we call “formal” analysis--and with attribution and connoisseurship, that is, the determination of which artist made a particular work. But Modern Art History examines art works from a very wide and often interdisciplinary point of view, considering questions such as:
- What iconographic meanings are communicated by the works?
- How do art works relate to their religious contexts and functions?
- How are art works shaped by their social, political, and economic environment or by the patrons who commissioned them?
- How are various ideologies communicated via art?
Students will work with an advisor from the Fulbright College to review course work.
Students will have the opportunity to choose a selection special topic courses that dive deep into more specialized issues and problems in the history of art.
The program provides opportunities for students to pursue individual research interests, including independent study courses for graduate students and for undergraduate students who elect to write an honors thesis.
Course Topics Can Include:
- Pre-Colombian Art and the Art of New Spain
- Ancient
- Medieval
- Renaissance
- Baroque Art
- Modern Art in Europe and America (18th, 19th and 20th centuries)
- African Art
- Contemporary Art
- Critical Theory
- Art Criticism
- New Media
- Museum Studies
Minor in Art History
Students must notify the school and their Fulbright College advisor of their intent to minor. This minor is especially suited to students majoring in anthropology, English, foreign languages, history, philosophy, and music.
A minimum of 18 semester hours to include:
| ARHS 2913 Art History Survey I (ACTS Equivalency = ARTA 2003) | 3 |
| ARHS 2923 Art History Survey II (ACTS Equivalency = ARTA 2103) | 3 |
| Three additional art history courses | 9 |
| One course either in art history or studio art | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 |
Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art
The Bachelor of Arts, BA, with a concentration in Studio Art is a liberal arts oriented degree consisting of 120 hours, with a major emphasis in one studio area, and a minor emphasis in a second studio area.
The course study is designed to offer students a broad cultural education and is ideal for students wishing to do a double major or to minor in another area.
The degree requires twelve credit hours of selected media area coursework for a major emphasis and six hours of selected media area coursework for a minor emphasis, as well as three-credit-hour professional development capstone course.
In addition, a faculty supervised summary critique is required of each student in their studio area their senior year. Studio areas include: ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
In addition to the University of Core requirements and the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences graduation requirements, the below course requirements must be met:
- Foundations: ARTS 1919C and ARTS 1929C
- Professional Development: ARTS 4923
- Art History: completion of a minimum of four courses, 12 credit hours, including Art History Survey I and II and ARHS plus two advanced courses, one pre-19th Century and one 20-21st Century
- Major studio concentration: four courses
- Minor studio concentration: two courses
- Academic Electives: study outside the School of Art, taken with approval from a department advisor
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art Education
The Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Art Education, BFA ARED, is a professional arts degree consisting of 120 hours, plus 12 hours of student teaching.
The BFA art education degree program offers K-12 Arkansas state teacher certification and is accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
The program prepares future K-12 art teachers to understand and apply current art education theory to practice, including contemporary concepts and applications for teaching art in an inclusive and global world.
The program content is in compliance with Arkansas State Frameworks, the National Art Education Association, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
There are many career opportunities available for those with a BFA in art education. They include teaching art and pursuing other various related educational possibilities.
Certified graduates often choose employment in elementary, middle, junior, and high schools in the state of Arkansas or other states with comparable certification requirements. Employment in the public schools requires teaching several classes a day or nine to ten months each year.
There are a variety of art teaching and service occupations in social and cultural settings outside the public school system. There are educational opportunities in art and art-related museums, community arts centers, hospitals, prisons, recreation centers, government agencies, mental health centers, and other government and privately funded programs for youth, adults, and older adults.
Art graduates with a concentration in Art Education may also enter careers besides teaching. There are professional positions available with art journals, government agencies, art material suppliers, art galleries, and art centers. Additional opportunities exist in art foundations, museum services, firms that develop art teaching materials, cultural services, and art therapy.
The Art Education program requires 41 hours of general education, a minimum of 63 hours of studio and art history/criticism, 18 hours of professional education coursework and 12 hours (one semester) of supervised student teaching for certification. Provisional art teacher certification in the state of Arkansas also requires students to pass the Praxis I or comparable testing (ACT or SAT), pass the Praxis II exams, and complete online professional development hours.
Competence in basic studio skills shall be emphasized in all Art Education degrees. In addition to the common core of studio skills and general studies, the artist/designer electing a career in teaching must develop competencies in professional education and in specific studio areas.
Admission Materials Needed to Apply to the BFA in Art Education include:
- Completion of ARTS 1919C and ARTS 1929C
- University GPA must be 2.5 or greater, School of Art GP must be 3.0 or greater
- Unofficial transcript in PDF format from UAConnect
- Complete School of Art application packet
- Provide 10-15 portfolio images
- Complete interview with art education faculty
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design
Beginning in fall 2016, the School of Art introduced this new Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA, in Graphic Design. This degree program provides coursework in print, web, and motion design, with a focus on the traditional design process as well as the latest software techniques.
The BFA graphic design degree prepares students to be proficient makers and thoughtful problem seekers and solvers.
Students will work seamlessly across a range of media, working to identify appropriate solutions for audience and contect. Students will be exposed to a rigorous curriculum covering research, theory, critical thinking, professional practices, conceptual idea-making and formal experimentation.
In addition to core requirements, students will complete:
- 30 hours of Arts Electives, including Foundations
- 15 hours of Art History, including Graphic Design History
- 39 hours of Graphic Design studios
All incoming undergraduate students apply through general admission to the BA program. After completing intensive Freshman Foundations courses their freshman year, students are encouraged to apply to the BFA program.
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA, with a concentration in Studio Art is a professional degree consisting of 120 hours with an emphasis in Studio Art and a concentration in a selected media area. The degree requires eighteen credit hours of selected media area coursework as well as a three-credit-hour professional development capstone course.
The BFA Studio Art degree program is designed to offer students a more specialized program of study. Students will experience a greater emphasis on art courses in the BA program, graduating with a more intensive studio background.
The program allows students to work closely with instructors resulting in greater attention and advancement in the student's work. Depending on availability and seniority, there is some studio space available to uppper level BFA students.
BFA students are required to participate in an individual critique of their work every semester. Each student puts up recent work for critique by faculty and other students. In addition, the BFA students are required to go on the annual trip to an urban art center. BFA trips in recent years have visited Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans, and Kansas City.
All incoming undergraduate students apply through general admission to the BA program. After completing intensive Freshman Foundations courses their freshman year, students are encouraged to apply to the BFA program.