Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Art (B.A.)


Program: B.A.
Department of Art and Design  
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Visual Arts Building 117 ~ 260-481-6709


The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in Art is appropriate for students interested in a general degree that focuses on a broad array of art and design areas without a concentration in any specific area.  The degree also provides the foundational courses required for entry into other degree offerings in the department–the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a broad selection of art and design concentrations, or the B.A. in Art Education.   Students will develop fundamental technical skills and a conceptual foundation in 2-D and 3-D art media in order to successfully express ideas visually, and to develop an artistic awareness through visual expression.  Alongside the focus in art, B.A. degree students commonly explore a variety of liberal arts electives related to their interests that may lead to successful entry a broad range of graduate programs including, but not limited to, art history, arts administration, or art therapy.


Student Learning Outcomes - Upon completion of their degrees, all B.A. students will be able to:

  • Utilize perceptual and conceptual skills to solve programs creatively in art/design media.
  • Implement 2D and 3D design principles to create compelling and effective works of art and design in a variety of traditional and digital media.
  • Demonstrate an understanding and competency of technical skills in traditional and digital art/design media to effectively communicate and express ideas.
  • Effectively analyze and critique works of art/design in verbal and written forms, using visual vocabulary and familiarity with the works and intentions of major artists/designers and movements of the past and present.
  • Demonstrate effective visual, verbal, and written communication skills and an aptitude to apply those skills.
  • Apply functional knowledge of basic art and design practical experiences and opportunities, as well as professional ethics.
  • Exhibit artistic ability in portfolio review submissions and senior gallery exhibitions.

Program Description

Take the next step in your development as an artist. Join the ranks of graduates who have successfully carved out lives and careers that incorporate creativity and artistic expression.  Art and Design B.A. students have the option of choosing multiple studio courses, beginning with a solid and diverse foundational curriculum for the first two years. You’ll be free to take 21 General Liberal Arts courses in other areas that interest you or concentrate those electives to complete a minor in an area that supports your unique interests and career goals.   You will receive personal attention and experience from our expert faculty in small studio classes.

After completing the first-year foundation studio classes, you are eligible to apply for the Art Education Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program. After completion of the second-year foundation studio courses you may apply for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree program in order to concentrate in a specific area of art and design that interests you.

Accreditation: 

  • Purdue University Fort Wayne is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design..

Program Delivery:

  • Department of Art and Design courses are offered on campus, with some distance and hybrid course offerings.

Admission to B.A. Program with a Major in Art

To earn the B.A. degree, you must fulfill the requirements of Purdue University Fort Wayne (Regulations) and the College of Visual and Performing Arts (Colleges). Students completing the Art major must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA within the Content Field (see below). Students who wish to pursue the B.A. degree in the Art and Design department can declare this major during the admissions process or inquire within the Department of Art and Design if they wish to declare or change to this major after admission.  All students are admitted to the program as B.A. degree candidates and must successfully submit a first, second, and third-year portfolio for faculty review.  Students who wish to pursue the B.A. degree in Art Education will apply as part of the first-year portfolio review process.  Students who wish to pursue the B.F.A. degree with a chosen concentration will apply as part of the second-year portfolio review process.

The Bachelor of Arts degree is divided into three parts; 33 credit hours of General Studies, 66 credit hours of Content Field (First Year Foundation Studio (18 CR), Second Year Foundation Studio (18 CR), Advanced Art and Design Studio (18 CR), and Art History (12 CR), also 21 credit hours of General Liberal Arts classes. A total of 120 credit hours of study is required for graduation. Students in the Department of Art and Design B.A. program must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Components Credits
I. General Education       33
II. Content Field       66
III. General Liberal Arts       21
    Total   120

Program Requirements:


A student may elect the Pass/Not-Pass grading option for non-degree elective courses only. The Pass/Not-Pass grading option is not available for General Education or any electives required for the minor.

Art (B.A.) 4-Year Plan  

Art (B.A.) Articulation with Ivy Tech, Requirements & 2-Yr Plan   

 

General Education Requirements: Credits 33


General Education Requirements  

A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne general education requirements.

B.F.A. students may not take any Art and Design courses for General Education credits; this includes AD 11100, AD 11201, AD 10101, AD 10801, AD 13300, AD 16500,  AD 19600, AD 23900

Future Art Education B.A. students - Please note that AD 11100 - History Of Art I, AD 11201 - History of Art II, and EDU 34001- Education and American Culture will count as both General Education credits and also towards Art History and Education credit requirements.

Careful advising in the General Education area is required in Category B6 (fulfilled by AD 11100), and in the additional A or B Course areas (fulfilled by AD 11201 and EDU 34001).

College of Visual and Performing Arts Requirements


Content Field: Credits 66


Students must complete four (4) classes in Art History (12 cr.) plus 54 credit hours of studio work to fulfill the Content Field.

Art History Requirements: Credits 12


Art and Design B.A. students are required to take 12 credit hours of Art History courses, including AD 11100 History of Art I and AD 11201 History of Art II. This is followed by two additional advanced Art History electives, or 6 credits. AD 11100 and AD 11201 are pre-requisites for advanced Art History courses.

First Year Foundation Portfolio Review Checkpoint


Once a student is enrolled in or has completed their first-year foundations courses, usually in the spring semester, they are required to submit a portfolio of first-year level foundations studio work to be reviewed by Department of Art and Design faculty. Work from outside of Art and Design foundation classes will not be accepted for consideration; therefore, careful documentation and storage of one’s work is essential for success. The review is a checkpoint to assure that students have met the competency level in the first-year foundations program. For candidates for the B.A in Art Education, this will also be an application for formal acceptance into the program. This review is a mandatory evaluative review for all students and is meant to provide feedback to students regarding their status in meeting learning outcomes set for these foundational courses.  Upon a satisfactory portfolio review, students will continue in the second-year foundation courses. The Department of Art and Design will send out detailed information regarding the portfolio review process.

Second Year Foundation Studio Requirements: Credits 18


Second Year Foundation Portfolio Review Checkpoint


Once a student is enrolled in or has completed their second-year foundations courses, usually in the spring semester, they are required to submit a portfolio of second-year level foundations studio work to be reviewed by Department of Art and Design faculty. Work from outside of second-year Art and Design foundation classes will not be accepted for consideration; therefore, careful documentation and storage of one’s work is essential for success. The review is a checkpoint to assure that students have met the competency level in the second-year foundations program. For students who desire entry to the B.F.A. degree program, this will also serve as an application for formal acceptance into a particular concentration. This review is a mandatory evaluative review for all students and is meant to provide feedback to students regarding their status in meeting learning outcomes set for these foundational courses.  Upon a satisfactory portfolio review, students may continue in their courses toward completing the degree. The Department of Art and Design will send out detailed information regarding the portfolio review process.

Advanced Studio Courses: Credits 18


Studio Electives                                                                    

Six studio classes can be taken at the Advanced Studio level. Advanced Studio classes have pre-requisites, therefore students should work with their advisors on course progression.

Art And Design BA Exhibition Requirement


Art and Design Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) students must submit work during their final year of course work for the Art and Design B.A./B.A. Art Education Exhibition. The exhibition is curated by the Department Chair and consists of artwork produced by B.A. students in Art and Design junior and senior year studio classes, or at the discretion of the chair of the department.

Liberal Arts Electives Courses: Credits 21


Twenty-one (21) credits of liberal arts courses in addition to General Education requirements are needed to fulfill the B.A. requirements.  Liberal Arts classes are defined as any Purdue Fort Wayne class counted towards a degree (does not include remedial courses).  An option of pursuing a minor in an outside field is encouraged within these credits. 

First Year GPA Requirements


Students must maintain good academic standing. Successful students will progress with the second-year courses.

GPA Requirements For The Remainder Of Degree


Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and maintain this minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA until graduation. Students must also earn a grade of C- or better for all Art and Design and Art History classes after the first year, and for the remainder of the degree.

Minimum Grade Requirements


Students must have a minimum grade of C- or better on all AD classes, including Art History, for credit towards their degree.  Classes below a C- grade may be retaken for a qualifying grade as needed.

Credit By Self-Acquired Competency


Credit by Self-Acquired Competency is at the discretion of the department and evaluated on an individual basis.

Repeat Limits


Some advanced level studio courses may be repeated up to a maximum of 18 credits, however, financial aid may not cover the cost of a class beyond two enrollments.

No Graphic Design or Imaging /Photography courses may be repeated.

Self-Paced Courses:

Independent study classes are sometimes available and at the discretion of both the course instructor and chair of the department.

Recommendations, Requirements, Transfers, and Policies


Recommendations

Students should schedule classes within the B.A. program under the guidance of the official departmental advisor.

Residence Requirements

 For a bachelor’s degree, registration in and completion of at least 33 credits of resident course credit at the Second Year Studio Foundation level or above, including at least 15 credits at the Junior level or above, in courses applicable to the major.

Transfer and Returning Student Credit 

All studio and art history courses transferred from another institution or former Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne art programs must be evaluated by appropriate faculty in the Department of Art and Design program before they may be applied to a student’s degree requirements. See Transfer and Returning Student Credit Review.

Transfer and Returning Student Credit Review 

Courses in studio art that have been transferred to Purdue Fort Wayne from another institution or former Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne art programs are not counted as part of the Art and Design major unless they have been reviewed by the Art and Design faculty. For a review of transferred studio credit, the student should provide the viewer with a portfolio consisting of representative work in each area (e.g. painting, sculpture, etc.) for which the transfer credit is desired. The portfolio should include both studies and finished work and be as encompassing as possible.       

Academic Probation/Dismissal Policies

If a student does not meet the university’s GPA standard, they will be notified that they have been placed on academic probation and will be asked to make progress towards meeting campus standards. Department of Art and Design programs have their own academic standards as stated above. If a student is not meeting these standards, they will be notified and placed on departmental academic probation. If a student does not make positive progress towards meeting the academic standards of the department within twelve (12) credit hours of study, they will be subject to dismissal from the Department of Art and Design program.

Total Credits: 120


Student Responsibility


You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program.  Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career.  If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.