DEPARTMENT OF ART

How do I become a Art Education,Art History, Art Studio or Design major?

Apply for Art Education, Art Studio or Design major by submitting a portfolio of 12-15 slides, CD or website and application form. Art History applicants must submit a minimum 500-word essay using the topic guidelines provided by the Art Department office.. Send the portfolio/paper to: Portfolio Review, Department of Art, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9068.

What are the portfolio application deadlines dates?

The primary annual review deadline for receipt of the portfolio is March 1st each year.

If my portfolio is rejected, may I reapply?

You may reapply at the next portfolio review date. Continue taking classes on a space available basis and strengthen your portfolio.

Does the Art Department offer minors?

A minor is offered in Art History. No minors are offered in Design or Studio.

Can I register for Art classes if I am not a declared major?

Art 109 Visual Dialogue and Art History 220, 221, 230, 231, 240 and 241 are open to all students and satisfy the Humanities requirement. [NOTE:If you are considering a particular area of specialization within the department, there may be specific Art History survey courses required as prerequisites. It is, therefore, recommended that you seek advisement within the specialization before registering for any of the surveys.] Students may put their name on the Art Department Waiting List at Phase II of Registration for other art classes which are restricted to majors.The SPAN (Extended Day) Program may also be utilized to enter classes on a space-available basis for those not admitted to Western by the Admissions process. Call the Extension Program at 650-3430 for information. SPAN students need to put their names on the Deptartment Waiting List before the first day of class. All students need to have any pre-requisites completed before attempting to enter classes with pre-requisite requirements.

Can a Western student, but a non-major, take an Art class?

You may try to get into the class on a space-available basis. Add your name to the Waiting List at Phase II of registration and at least two days before school starts. Attend the first day of class for any possible open spaces. All pre-requisites must be completed. Students are still added on the basis of Department of Art majors receiving priority and the total number of earned credits.

What can I do when a class is filled?

Put your name on the Art Dept. Waiting List at Phase II of registration and at the latest, two days before classes begin. Attend the first day of class. The instructor will fill any class openings from the Waiting List with priority given to Art or Design Majors with the highest number of credits. If the instructor has room in the class, an override permission slip will be signed; take this to the Art office. A space is opened in the class for the student and the student then registers through the web4u (online registration).

When do the Waiting Lists begin?

At Phase II of Registration, about four days before classes start. Waiting lists are available in the Art Office, FI116, 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri.

Who do I see for advising?

Advising is provided in the Department at Summerstart dates for Freshmen. Transfer advising [Transitions] is available from the Department prior to registration. On a continuing basis, advising is done by faculty in the major or area of concentration and by the Dept. Chair.

What is a Plan of Study?

A Plan of Study should be designed with a faculty advisor by the time a student reaches 90 University credits. The Plan of Study lists all the courses to be taken in the Art Department by Studio, Design, Art Education and Art History majors up to graduation. It may be revised with the consent of the faculty advisor but must be finalized by the time of Senior Evaluation.

Who do I go to for evaluation of transfer Art credits?

100-level courses from other institutions usually transfer to Western as equivalents [Art 110, 120, 130 or 140]. If you have had a basic drawing, design and color, and/or three-dimensional design course elsewhere, you will not need to retake them at Western. Whatcom Community College Art 109 is the only accepted equivalent to Art 109.

To determine whether courses beyond the 100-level transfer to Western and/or match courses within the department to meet prerequisite requirements, make an appointment to meet with a faculty member of the area in question. For example, if you took a beginning painting class at the community college, you should meet with the painting advisor to determine its equivalence.

It is very important that you meet with a Design advisor to determine if a transferred basic graphic design course meets the requirements of Western's DSGN270, 251 or 252.

How do I do a Senior Evaluation?

The Senior Evaluation is completed in the Art office with the Dept. Secretary two quarters prior to graduation.At this time, the Plan of Study may need updating with your departmental adviser. A Senior Evaluation form will be completed by the Department secretary. The Department will assess if courses have been completed as per the Plan of Study and the Dept. Chair will approve and sign the Senior Evaluation. The Senior Evaluation is taken to the Registrars Office OM230 for evaluation by the Credit Evaluator.

What can I teach with the P - 12 Art Specialist degree?

Earning that degree qualifies you to teach as an elementary, middle, and high school teacher. Elementary education students majoring in art will become generalists with a specialty in art.

Can I graduate with the Art Education course Plan of Study without completing the Education courses and admission to Woodring?

The Art Education course study plan was designed to be completed in conjunction with the Education course study plan in order to secure a teaching certificate, in Art Education. Students CANNOT graduate without completing the requirements of both programs.

Need Help?

If you you need have any questions, please contact the Art Department Secretaries (650-3660).