DEGREE OPTIONS

Bachelor of Arts in Education

This major must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in secondary education.

Programs in art education lead to becoming either an elementary classroom teacher or an art specialist who teaches art only. Elementary classroom teachers, who teach all subjects, must specialize in one area by completing the 50-credit program in addition to those courses specified in the elementary education section of this catalog. Students who want to teach art at any grade level take the 71-credit program. Courses required for a state teaching endorsement must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

A formal course plan must be developed with the area coordinator by the time a student completes 12 art credits. Refer to the Art Education course plans for more detailed information. Transfer students with more than 18 credits of art should do this prior to completion of their second quarter at the University. Once developed, the course plan is placed on file in the art office. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the studio and art history requirements prior to completing the art education series.

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Major P-12 Specialist
71 credits

This major must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in secondary education and leads to an endorsement in visual arts. See the Secondary Education section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

  • 100-level Courses: (12 credits) Art 109, 110, 120, 130 or 140
  • A selection of six courses from the following: (24 credits) Art 210, 220, 230, 240, 260, 270, 290, 350
  • Studio specialization: (10 credits)
  • Art History: (18 credits) Art History 220 ,221, 230, 231, 240, and 241
  • Art Education: (7 credits) Art 381, 382
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Major Elementary Education
49 credits

This major must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in elementary education, and leads to an endorsement in visual arts. See the Elementary Education section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

  • 100-level Courses: (24 credits) Art 109, 110, 120, 130 or 140
  • 200-level Courses: Art 220, 240, plus one studio elective
  • Art History: (18 credits) Art History 220, 221, 230, 231, 240, 241, plus one art history elective
  • Art Education: (7 credits) Art 381, 382
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Bachelor of Arts in Art History
72 credits

How to Declare a Major:

After successfully completing at least three of the 200-level art history survey courses (AH 220, 221, 230, 231, 240, 241 270, and 271, or pre-approved equivalent courses), students may apply to the department as an art history major.

An application form, which includes instructions on writing an application essay that outlines the student’s interest in art history as a major, is available in the Department of Art. Check with the Department office for application deadlines.

Students accepted into the program need to complete a declaration of major form and have it signed by the Art History advisor.

Art History Advising:

Art History faculty work with the study of visual culture, and are available to assist students with the program. Listed below are faculty areas of interest. Each faculty can advise students in their course of study and help refine individual areas of interests. However, all students must have an initial meeting with the designated art history advisor.

Art History Advisor: Barbara L. Miller

Art History areas of specialty:

  • Carol Janson: Early modern Europe Visual Culture (1400-1700), museum studies and print culture.
  • Barbara L. Miller: visual culture, gender studies, modern art, and contemporary art, film and new media.
  • Julia Sapin: Pacific, Asian and Northwest Coast art and visual culture and cross-cultural studies.
  • Linda Smeins: theory, architecture, 19th C American visual culture and tourism

Plan of Study:

A formal course plan must be developed with an advisor either during the initial advising meeting or after the completion of 8 credits of upper division work. The individual student’s course plan is placed on file in the Art office and becomes a map of his or her Art History degree.

Students transferring into art history with art history credits, an AA or other degree must consult with the Art History advisor. Scheduling an appointment for evaluation of previous credits is crucial, and should be done prior to applying to the program. Course syllabi or descriptions will help determine equivalents for Western’s program in art history. Be aware that 200-level survey courses (AH 220, 221, 230, 231, 240, 241, 270, and 271) and Art History 275 are prerequisites for upper division work. Art History 275 is required of all majors as a gateway course to 300- and 400-level courses. It is offered in the fall and spring quarters.

Recommended Plan for the Completion of the Art History Major:

First Year:

--Completion of the remaining 200-level required Art History survey courses (AH 220, 221, 230, 231, 240, 241 270, and 271 or pre-approved equivalent courses). [Please note: students are required to take 18 credits of survey (3 courses as pre-requisites and 3 courses as majors, for a total of 6 courses or 18 credits).

--Completion of Art History 275, Introduction to Writing and Critical Thinking. This course is offered fall and spring quarters.

--Completion of two 100-level art courses: Art 109, 110, 120 or 130.

Second Year:

--Completion of Art History 375, Methods in Art History. This course is usually taught winter quarter, and prepares students for the 400-level Writing Proficiency courses.

--Start taking required courses listed in the three area divisions: Cultural Perspectives (AH 310, 313, 368, 411, 416, 429, 431, 438), History and Visual Dialogue (AH 301, 315, 330, 358, 360, 370, 371, 420) and Theory and Practice (AH 308, 316, 401, 415, 440, 490). Students will need to take two courses from each of the areas, for a total of 6 upper level classes. [Please Note: not all courses listed are taught every year.] For the most flexibility, complete one course in each of the three areas during the second year as a major.

--If students are considering minors in another areas, such as History, Anthropology, Women’s Studies, Asian Studies, English, they should plan ahead. Most upper division courses in other departments have prerequisites.

Third and Final Years:

--Complete Art History 475, Senior Projects/Practicum. This course is usually taught spring term every year. This course is meant as a capstone to the Art History major. However, if students are planning to go to graduate school, they should discuss the timing of their enrollment in AH475 with an advisor.

--Complete any remaining art history area requirements.

--Students must make sure that they have three art history courses at the 400-level. Be aware that independent study credits do not contribute to fulfilling the minimum requirement of the three 400-level classes.

Major Concerns

Students need to have successfully completed one writing proficiency class as a degree requirement for Western Washington University. All 400-level courses in the Art History program are designated as writing proficiency courses.

Internships

Students should consider internships at a local museum or the Western Gallery. Art History 306 Gallery Intern course may be used for Art History credit as long as it is under the direction of a designated faulty person or staff member of the host institution, in coordination with WWU Art History faculty. AH 306 is designated as an Art History major elective if taken for 4 credits. [Please note: AH 305 may not be used as Art History major or minor credits, no matter how many credits the student accrues.]

Other Opportunities

Research project funding is available for undergraduates through the Dean of the Graduate School. To apply for a grant, students should first contact a faculty person to discuss research goals. She or he will help the student develop his or her proposal. The project may be an extension of a paper written in a class and it may be continued with an independent study.

Scholarships

There are two scholarships available specifically for Art History majors: The Thomas O. Vassdal Scholarship and the Piper Arts for International Understanding. The application deadline is the beginning of spring quarter of each academic year. Watch for Department posters and bulletins or go the Art office and inquire. We encourage majors to apply in their junior year for these scholarships. Majors should accumulate a portfolio of their research papers and projects, with copies available for submission.

Graduation

Students must initiate a senior evaluation by making an appointment with their advisor. After the review the student must complete the Degree Application forms available at the Registrar’s Office. Reviews and applications must be complete two quarters prior to the student’s graduating date.

Minor Art History
24 credits
  • Art History 220 or 221, 230 or 231, 240 or 241, 270 or 271
  • Additional art history courses chosen under departmental advisement.
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Bachelor of Arts in Design
80 credits

The Design area of the Department of Art identifies design as the communication of ideas. The program utilizes a curriculum that emphasizes the process of problem solving and encourages students to make connections between culture and design, and their role as visual communicators. Students learn to combine personal expression and critical thinking as they create solutions that connect industry to an audience and themselves to the world. Students meet with an advisor after completing the 200-level courses to write a formal plan of study. A Junior Portfolio Review is held each spring; the portfolio is based on a selection of work from 300-level design classes. After successful completion of the portfolio review, students are cleared to enroll in 400-level design classes with emphasis in design production, graphic design and new media. All students enroll in Professional Practices in Design (ART 479).

  • 100-level courses (6 credits)
    • ART 110, 120
    • In the design area, students enter the department as premajors; students must meet with an advisor before taking 200-level courses
  • 200-level courses (24 credits)
    • A/HI 220 or 221, 230 or 231, 240 or 241 (9 credits)
    • DSGN 211 (3 credits)
    • DSGN 251, 252, 270 (12 credits)
    • After completing the 200-level design classes, students must meet with an advisor to write a formal plan of study and declare the Art Major: Design concentration
  • 300- or 400-level courses (50 credits)
    • DSGN 352, 371, 372
    • 8 credits selected from DSGN 354, 377, 379
    • A design student must successfully complete a portfolio review at the end of the junior year for admission to 400- level classes
    • 400-level senior sequence with emphasis in graphic design, design production, or new media (15 credits)
    • Professional Practices: DSGN 479 (3 credits)
    • 8 credits of 300- or 400-level art history, including A/HI 312

Please see the Design Advising Sheet for the recommended quarter by quarter course plan.

For additional information about the design program, the faculty and student work, visit the Design Program Web site.

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Bachelor of Arts in Art - Studio
70 credits

Art Studio includes ceramics, drawing, fiber/fabrics, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. The objectives of the major are to investigate the function of art and the relationships between art, culture, artist and audience. Art Studio classes are designed to familiarize students with the principles that shape and inform visual literacy and expression through a variety of practices in art making. Students meet with an advisor after completing 200-level courses to write a formal plan of study and select an area of Art Studio for concentration: ceramics, drawing, fibers, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Note: Some disciplines within the department require an additional portfolio review before access to 400-level classes.

  • 100-level courses (12 credits)
    • ART 109, 110, 120, 130
    • After completing the 100-level 100-level Courses, students must meet with an advisor before taking 200- level courses
  • 200-level courses (21 credits)
    • A/HI 220 or 221, 230 or 231, 240 or 241 (9 credits)
    • 12 credits of 200-level studio courses
    • After completing the 200-level classes students must meet with an advisor to write a formal plan of study and declare a concentration in one area of Art Studio
  • 300/400-level courses (37 credits)
    • 15 credits of 300- or 400-level art studio courses in area of selected concentration
    • 9 credits of 300- or 400-level art studio or design electives
    • 5 credits of ART 495
    • 8 credits of 300- or 400-level art history
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Minor in Studio and Design

The Minor will will no longer be an option starting with the 2005-2006 catalog.

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Bachelor of Fine Arts:Art - Studio
115 credits

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is the professional undergraduate art degree. It is an expanded undergraduate degree that requires each student to undertake a program of more than 180 undergraduate credits. Students are advised that a Bachelor of Arts major of normal length is available. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree requires each student to complete the following program:

Completion of the Bachelor of Arts course study

  • 10 credits of ART 494 and 495, or ART 479 and 7 credits of internship
  • 20 credits of studio practice in areas of focus
  • 8 credits of 300- or 400-level art history
  • 7 credits of electives specific to course study
  • Midterm review, to be scheduled before registration for spring quarter

Final exhibition and evaluation Application should be made to the Department of Art faculty for admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program during spring quarter of the preceding year. Students must be in the final quarter of the Bachelor of Arts study, or have completed the Bachelor of Arts to apply for the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Application consists of 20 labeled slides of work, artist statement, a letter of application indicating your goals and theme of study and a preference for faculty committee members; a grade point average of 3.00 or higher, and a transcript. The BFA is a selective and competitive program. If a student is not accepted into the BFA program, the student may reapply the following year.

All students must begin their BFA studies in the fall quarter. Applications will be reviewed at the end of the spring quarter and/ or during the week prior to the beginning of fall quarter. (Specific dates will be announced each year.) Following acceptance to the BFA program, a committee of at least three faculty members will be formed to work with the student throughout the year. A typical three-person committee will be comprised of the following: a primary advisor from the art department, and a "secondary advisor" from within or outside the art department, both of whom shall be assigned. The third committee member shall be selected by the student from within or outside the art department. The department must approve the third committee member.

During the BFA program students spend three quarters creating a self-determined body of artwork. Attention is given to the medium(s), method(s), and the content of the creative activity. The evaluation of the first part of your work will take place with the midterm review, with the participation of the student's full committee. The midterm review must be scheduled to take place sometime in January, during a designated week. At the culmination of the project each student is required to exhibit their completed work in a one- or two-person exhibition. In addition, the student is required to submit a research-driven artist's statement that supports the individuals own intellectual and creative achievement. An oral defense with full committee will be scheduled during the week of the student's exhibition. This is an opportunity for the student to discuss and defend their work. Failure to meet these requirements on schedule will result in an unsatisfactory progress mark for the BFA degree which, in turn, would result in having to repeat the course of study.

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Bachelor of Fine Arts: Design
115 credits

The Bachelor of FIne Arts in Design is an expanded degree that requires on extra year of studies in Design. Students must be in the final quarter of, or have completed the Bachelor of art in Design to be elibible to apply. A portfolio of work must be submitted to the Design Program, indicating intent. Application to the BFA in Design should be made during the spring quarter of the preceding year and will be reviewed by the Design faculty. All students must begin their BFA studies in the fall quarter.

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Master of Education in Art Education

The department is not admitting new students to the graduate program until further notice.

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