Bachelors (BA) in Studio Arts and Arts Administration
Overview
The studio arts and arts administration major fosters the development of collaborative, resourceful and creative makers who work in a research-based practice informed by contemporary and historical art and culture. Students work in a variety of two-, three-, and four-dimensional media, including, but not limited to sculpture, painting, drawing, photography and lens-based media, print media and utilitarian ceramics.
Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, problem solving, and risk-taking throughout the program, encouraging students to develop the confidence to experiment and self-reliance to become courageous life-long learners. Instruction in the technical competencies and skills of the studio practice partnered with conceptual strengthening projects and polished off with professional and business practice capstone work to send out emergent practitioners out equipped for a life of successful creating and earning. In addition, the Arts Administration coursework within the major provides students with a placed practicum experience, and the skills and exposure to arts organization professional practice.
Faculty
The versatile faculty is made up of artists and designers who actively produce and exhibit their creative work − artists who are leaders in their various fields of discipline. They love to teach because they love what they teach. Our faculty is equipped to motivate, inspire and nurture; they become true mentors to their students. The faculty of the Department of Art and Design believe it is necessary for students to become leaders rather than followers, to become the next generation of gifted creative artists and designers and to become art professionals in the ever-growing number of contemporary art and art-related careers.
More information about the studio arts major can be found on the art major admissions page.
Degree Outcomes
Graduates with a BA in studio arts and arts administration will:
- Demonstrate the ability to write and speak about art, design, and art history with clarity and logic, and be able to form and support critical judgements about art, design and art history
- Demonstrate the technical mastery of the relevant materials and tools, and the terminology, theories, and practices relevant to the student's field of study
- Demonstrate the ability generate, support, and utilize individual thoughts and ideas
- Demonstrate the ability to do research in art, design, and art history, and the competence and knowledge to analyze and think critically
- Demonstrate expanding knowledge of historical achievements and contemporary thinking, trends, processes, and issues in art and design, and apply that knowledge to their personal work
- Demonstrate broader and deeper understanding of contemporary arts practice, grasp of how to develop and maintain studio or design practice, and ideas communicating successful cultivation of both audience, concept and goals in visual art and design
Major Requirements
Complete the following:
An introduction to materials, techniques, and theory related to two-dimensional design. Additional course fee is required.
This course focuses on three-dimensional design. Hands-on projects are the primary learning mode. Additional course fee is required.
Art majors given preference. This course is a study of materials, methods, and techniques used for drawing with pencil, ink, charcoal, and other drawing media. Additional course fee is required.
A survey of the elements and concepts of art theory and practice as reflected in culturally and historically significant painting, sculpture, architecture, and other art forms, from 1450 to the present. Additional course fee is required.
Art and its relationship to a non-Western culture, e.g., African, Asian, Latin American. Specific topic will be dependent on the instructor's area of specialization. Additional course fee is required.
Art and its relationship to global culture of the 20th century. Additional course fee is required.
A study of the relationship between art and Christianity in the contemporary world. Designed primarily for studio art majors. Prerequisite: either ARTS 382 Twentieth Century Art or ARTS 384 Contemporary Art Forms. Additional course fee required.
Complete the following:
This seminar course will meet weekly to focus on theory, concepts and methodology of art historical study and their application by engaging students in discourse surrounding lectures of visiting professional artists. Investigations of film and writing will be a secondary approach to this course. Must be taken minimum 5 out of 8 semesters in students’ program. Satisfies: core major requirement.
Additional course fee required.
This seminar course will meet weekly to focus on theory, concepts and methodology of art historical study and their application by engaging students in discourse surrounding lectures of visiting professional artists. Investigations of film and writing will be a secondary approach to this course. Must be taken minimum 5 out of 8 semesters in students’ program. Satisfies: core major requirement.
Additional course fee required.
This seminar course will meet weekly to focus on theory, concepts and methodology of art historical study and their application by engaging students in discourse surrounding lectures of visiting professional artists. Investigations of film and writing will be a secondary approach to this course. Must be taken minimum 5 out of 8 semesters in students’ program. Satisfies: core major requirement.
Additional course fee required.
This seminar course will meet weekly to focus on theory, concepts and methodology of art historical study and their application by engaging students in discourse surrounding lectures of visiting professional artists. Investigations of film and writing will be a secondary approach to this course. Must be taken minimum 5 out of 8 semesters in students’ program. Satisfies: core major requirement.
Additional course fee required.
This seminar course will meet weekly to focus on theory, concepts and methodology of art historical study and their application by engaging students in discourse surrounding lectures of visiting professional artists. Investigations of film and writing will be a secondary approach to this course. Must be taken minimum 5 out of 8 semesters in students’ program. Satisfies: core major requirement.
Additional course fee required.
Complete the following:
Art majors given preference. This course is a study of materials, methods, and techniques used for drawing with pencil, ink, charcoal, and other drawing media. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 111 Drawing I.
A survey of the elements and concepts of art theory and practice as reflected in culturally and historically significant painting, sculpture, architecture, and other art forms, from prehistoric times to 1450. Additional course fee is required.
This course examines and participates in the forms and methods of art in the 21st Century. Emphasis is placed upon investigating post-modern art theory while looking at current artists of note. The genres of video, installation, conceptual, digital and performance art are explored. In addition, students create their own work of digital media and conceptual art in the progression of the class. Additional course fee required.
In this course, students identify, research, and begin creating a body of work and written thesis in their studio area of interest. Emphasis is placed on strong technical and formal articulation in support of a compelling, developing thesis concept. Professional practices for the emergent studio practitioner will be examined and executed. Participation in the Professional Networking visiting practitioner program through studio visits and lectures is a key component of this course. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: Art and Design major and senior status, or instructor's permission.
The Senior Thesis II course represents the culmination of four years of study. Each student is expected to create a focused and in-depth body of studio work, which is developed through research and critical feedback with instructors and visiting practitioners. In recognition of the transition from student to artist this process represents, student will be working largely in a self-directed manner, in consultation with the Thesis Faculty. This work should reflect mature and independent decisions made regarding content and means of expression. Students work in their individual studio spaces. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: art major with senior status, or by permission.
Complete the following:
This course will introduce students to the practical skills required for the successful management of arts organizations. Areas covered will include budgeting, marketing/publicity, fundraising, and issues associated with the founding of a non-profit organization.
This course brings sophomore or junior level students into an internship experience with George Fox University exhibition and collection resources. Students will complete work in the academic semester related to museum studies, exhibition design and management and collection registration and care. Prerequisite: junior status or instructor approval.
2D Option (15 credit hours)
Complete the following:
Introduces students to materials, methods, and techniques used in painting with acrylics or oils. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 111 Drawing I, or instructor's permission.
Introduction to the materials, methods, and techniques used in photography. Additional course fee is required.
An introduction to screen printmaking, and relief printmaking (woodcut, linocut, collagraph) techniques and methods. Additional course fee is required.
Complete one 300-level and one 400-level course below:
A further development of the students' knowledge and use of the materials, methods, and techniques used in painting with acrylics or oils. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 201 Beginning Painting.
Provides an opportunity for further development of skills and for the introduction of more advanced techniques. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 230 Beginning Photography.
A further development of the students' knowledge and use of printmaking (silkscreen, woodcut, linocut, collagraph) and a further introduction to intalio and etching techniques and methods. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 231 Beginning Printmaking.
Focuses on the individual artistic development of students as they combine techniques and subject matter into a personal style of visual communication. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 301 Intermediate Painting.
Focuses on the individual artistic development of students as they combine techniques and subject matter into a personal style of visual communication. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 330 Intermediate Photography.
Focuses on the individual artistic development of students as they combine techniques and subject matter into a personal style of visual communication. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 331 Intermediate Printmaking.
3D Option (15 credit hours)
Complete the following:
An introduction to investigating methods of additive, subtractive, assembled, and cast sculptural techniques. Students will use medias such as glass, plaster, clay, wood and stone, working with the traditional sculptural subject matter of the human figure, plant and animal imagery and abstraction. Additional course fee required.
An inquiry of the essentials of combining a variety of art methods and materials, this class creates opportunities for students to integrate methods of kiln worked glass, assemblage, painting, photography, printmaking, mosaic, and sculptural techniques. Conceptually the student is challenged to have their artwork develop out of ideas gleaned from literature, science, their personal narrative, and current events. Additional course fee required.
Introduction to basic hand-building techniques and surface design. Additional course fee is required.
Complete one 300-level and one 400-level course below:
This course continues exploration of sculptural techniques, including specific projects working with casting methods using glass, plaster, plastic, clay, and wax. Students are also at liberty to work in developing a deeper understanding of working in media such as metal, stone, wood and clay while cultivating a conceptual framework for their artwork. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: ARTS 221 Beginning Sculpture.
A further broadening of the student’s knowledge and ability to combine methods of painting, sculpture, fiber arts, photography and other media. Students are encouraged to learn from contemporary artist’s methods and techniques while building upon a variety of ideas and concepts. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: ARTS 240 Beginning Mixed Media
A further development of the students' knowledge and skill in throwing, hand building, and firing techniques in ceramics. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: ARTS 241 Beginning Ceramics.
This course pursues rigorous development in one’s sculptural methods. Students focus on a particular three-dimensional media while clarifying their conceptual framework with further research over the semester, creating a cohesive body of sculptural works. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: ARTS 321 Intermediate Sculpture.
This course pursues focused creation of a body of mixed media work as the culmination of this course. Working in combined media of their choice, the student is challenged to create a series of pieces applying professional levels of artistry and technique. Methodical research of artists, media, and concept is required. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: ARTS 340 Intermediate Mixed Media.
Focuses on the individual artistic development of students as they combine techniques and subject matter into a personal style of visual communication. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 341 Intermediate Ceramics.
Complete the following:
- Sophomore Review
- Junior Portfolio Review
- Senior Capstone Research Defense