Art

Jean Nagy, Chair

Anfinson, Baggarly, Donovan, Dummons, Johnson, Kelker, Lorson, Phouthavong-Houghton, Recchia, Rushlow, Sickler-Voigt, Tewell

Programs in the Department of Art lead to the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, or the Bachelor of Arts degree. Persons pursuing the B.S. degree will major in Art Education; this program offers preparation for school teaching at all grade levels and for graduate-level study in the field of art education. In order to earn the B.F.A. degree, students major in Art and select one of two concentrations—Graphic Design or Studio. These programs offer preparation for work as a commercial artist/designer and/or for advanced study in a studio area of interest. The B.A. degree in Art History offers preparation for those who wish to pursue careers in museums, galleries, or arts organizations and/or further study at the graduate level.

Minors in Art and Art History also are available.

Students transferring into department programs may be required to submit a portfolio of artwork for review before transfer credits are approved.

Transfer and MTSU students in any Art major (except Graphic Design concentration students) must have completed each foundation course—ART 1610 , ART 1620 , ART 1630 , ART 1640 , ART 1910 , ART 1920 , and ART 1930 —with a grade of C (2.00) or better before progressing to their major courses.

Transfer and MTSU students in the Graphic Design concentration will continue to use candidacy program requirements listed.

Career Opportunities in Art

Students interested in career opportunities in art should consult their advisors for information regarding preparatory MTSU courses, graduate programs, certification, etc., for careers in arts administration and art therapy.

Department of Art Visual Resource Center

Located in Andrew L. Todd Hall 223, the Visual Resource Center creates digital images for the art faculty and provides a digital database of art images for use by Department of Art faculty and students. The expanding digital database comprises over 25,000 art images from prehistoric to contemporary eras. It offers images in a variety of formats for study or use in presentations. Other resources include over 50,000 analog slides available for checkout to the University population at large.

Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Contact the curator at 615-898-5532.

General Departmental Information

1. Students majoring in the department, or who are taking one or more art courses, may be required to attend various extracurricular activities including, but not limited to, exhibitions, films, and lectures during the semester.
2. The Department of Art reserves the right to retain certain selected examples of student work for teaching purposes and as a part of its permanent collection.
3. Students will be responsible for the purchase of certain materials in many courses as required by the instructor.
4. Various courses offered within the department may require of all students enrolled the effective use of communication skills, both written and verbal, which reflect university-level abilities.
5. Students majoring in Art with a Studio concentration are required to participate in a Studio Portfolio Review.
6. ART 4000  (Workshop) and ART 4640  (Advanced Art Problems) may be taken for a maximum of 9 hours each, no more than 3 hours per semester, and still count for undergraduate credit and graduation.
7. Levels I and II courses, which include book arts and ceramics, may be taken without prerequisites by non-art majors when so designated in the class schedule.
8. All courses are offered on a laboratory basis except ART 1910 , ART 1920 , ART 1930 , ART 3870 –ART 3872 , ART 3880 , ART 3910 , ART 3920 , ART 3940 , ART 3960 , ART 3990 ,  ART 4870 , ART 4880 , ART 4900 , ART 4905 , ART 4910 , ART 4920 , ART 4940 , and ART 4960 .
9. The Department of Art affirms that a theoretical and working understanding of the historical meanings and studio applications of the human image are critical in the education of visual art students. To develop such an understanding, Department of Art courses often utilize images of clothed and unclothed human figures and, in certain studio classes, live nude models.

Graduate Study

The department offers a minor at the graduate level. Requirements and a list of courses offered for graduate credit are published in the Graduate Catalog.