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Fine Arts
Fine Arts | Courses
| Arts Faculty
358 Fine Arts Center
Degrees: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Arts
Contact: Paul E. Bérubé
Director, Undergraduate
Program
Office: 357 Fine Arts Center
Phone: 545-1904
Chair of Department:
Ronald Michaud. Associate Chair: Jeanette
Cole. Professors Brub, Davies, Hendricks, Jahoda, Kearns, Lasch, Miller
Pollin, Ozereko, Patterson, Retz, Schlappi, Yarde; Associate Professors
Coblyn, Galvis Assmus, Giloth, LaPointe, Taunton; Assistant Professors
Benn, Bourret, Gatter, Kinoshita, Lugosch, Olschafskie, Richardson; Lecturer
Brenneman; Visiting Lecturers Barrett, Clark, Porter, Riccitelli;
Adjunct Faculty Dabrowski, Martin.
The Field
Artists help people to
understand the world and themselves. They develop personal expressions
which are meaningful to society. The study of fine arts is as varied as
the forms of visual communication and human expression itself and is as
old as the history of humankind. The undergraduate major in fine arts
is a general degree with a broad background in the fine arts and a concentration
in one area. Many students go on to graduate schools. The concentration
in Art Education leads to certification for teaching at the elementary
or secondary level. The major in Design leads to licensing qualification
and a professional career in design. Students with a B.F.A. emphasis in
graphic design, computer graphics, interior design, or art education may
go directly into professional positions or pursue further study at the
graduate level.
Art students may take advantage of the opportunity
to study abroad for one or two semesters or in a summer program. Internships
are available to students in a variety of disciplines such as computer
graphics, interior design, and graphic design.
The Majors
The department offers a Studio Art major leading to the
Bachelor of Fine Arts or the Bachelor of Arts, and a Design major leading
to the Bachelor of Fine Arts. Students completing the B.A. are subject
to the foreign language and other College requirements of the College
of Humanities and Fine Arts. Students completing the B.F.A. programs are
not.
There are four concentrations in the studio Art B.F.A.
program, and two in the Design major. A variety of subdisciplines are
offered within each area. For example, the Sculpture area includes welding,
bronze casting, wood carving, clay, plaster, and site-specific works.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of course offerings and faculty
beyond the boundaries of declared departmental areas. The University and
the Five College consortium members offer rich opportunity for expansive
study in the arts and sciences.
During the first year all majors take the Foundations
program. This two-semester experience evolves through a weekly seminar
which provides concepts, art history, demonstrations, guest artists, and
field trips to major museums in New York City and Boston. The program
develops proficiency in drawing, two- and three-dimensional design, and
color, and provides an introduction to a variety of media and techniques
basic to all the upper-level major disciplines. All students are required
to take a minimum of four art history courses beyond the foundations year.
Sophomores continue to take courses in drawing and may begin to take courses
in specialized areas. By the beginning of their junior year, students
usually seek admission to one of the concentrations. All B.F.A. candidates
are required to complete a B.F.A. Degree Project (written thesis and exhibition)
in their senior year.
Admission to the Majors
Admission is selective and competitive. A portfolio of
slides is required to apply to all programs. Freshman and transfer applicants
are given more specific information by the Admissions Office after applying
to the University. Students already attending the University should contact
the department.
Students may initially apply only for admission to
the Art major. Admission to this major does not guarantee acceptance into
any particular concentration. The computer arts, graphic design, photography
(CDP) concentration, for example, is very competitive, generally admitting
only eight to ten students per year. Students interested in the Design
major must already be accepted into the Art major and have completed all
Foundations courses before applying to the Design major.
Art Major
The B.A. program is based on aesthetic and historical
knowledge of the visual arts and development of creative ability in several
media. Students must meet the College requirements of the College of Humanities
and Fine Arts, including a foreign language. The B.A. program requires
about 56 credits, including Art History.
The B.F.A. program is a more comprehensive studio program.
It requires approximately 77-83 credits, including Art History. It offers
concentrations in Two-Dimensional Studies (painting, printmaking); Three-Dimensional
Studies (ceramics, sculpture); CDP (computer arts, graphic design, photography);
and Art Education.
The B.F.A. Art Education concentration provides the
student with a strong background in studio work, and courses necessary
for certification at the elementary and secondary levels in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts. Through reciprocal arrangements, teachers certified
in Massachusetts may be qualified to teach in several other states. Student
teaching is done for a full semester, usually at schools within a 45-minute
drive from campus.
Design Major
The major leading to the
B.F.A. in Design is a fully accredited (FIDER) program.
B.F.A. Degree in Design
The Design program is a
fully accredited (FIDER) program leading to qualification for the national
licensing exam (NCIDQ). Two options are provided within the Design Area:
the concentration in Interior Design, for the student who plans to enter
into the profession after graduation; and the concentration in Architectural
Studies, for the student who plans to prepare for entry into a graduate
program in architecture.
Admission is selective. Applicants must be accepted
into the Art Department (refer to Art Department entrance procedures)
and have completed all Art Foundations course work prior to consideration.
Applications are accepted in the fall and spring and require a portfolio
of slides or original work placed in a portfolio with transcript and statement
of intent for consideration. Transfer students are not automatically accepted
into the B.F.A. Design major and should plan to contact the Design Program
Director as soon as acceptance to the University and the Art Department
are certain in order to have their portfolios reviewed to avoid delay
in academic progression.
The goal of the Design program is to develop individuals
as problem-solvers capable of creative, sensitive, and viable solutions
to impact the built environment. Students are exposed to a broad range
of issues including concept development, design for special populations,
adaptive re-use, and historical context, and for a wide spectrum of design
project types, e.g., in health care, educational, instututional, retail,
corporate, residential, financial services and public organizations. The
program emphasizes the relationship between architecture and interiors
with strong relationships to the social sciences, business, hotel, restaurant
and travel administration, engineering, art and related design desciplines
(planning and landscape architecture). Models, two-dimensional drawings,
photography, verbal and writing skills are emphasized.
Interior Design: The majority of majors take this option,
which requires four intensive design studios followed by the B.F.A. Degree
Project and Workshop. In addition, students select course work as professional
electives (architectural lighting, furniture design, shelter technology,
materials and methods of construction, dynamics of human habitation, CAD,
photography, etc.), professional practice and rendering. All students
are encouraged to undertake the practicum to provide a stronger link to
the profession.
Architectural Studies: Ten percent of the students
in the Design major elect to take the option in Architectural Studies.
Design studios during the first year are taken with those in the Interior
Design option followed by two semesters of Architectural Design studio.
In addition, course work in engineering, physics, furniture design, statistics,
etc. is selected as professional electives. Applicants considering this
program should be recommended for admission to the Design program by the
Director of Architectural Studies for consideration by the Design Area
faculty.
Career Opportunities
A fine arts studio background
provides excellent opportunities in related areas such as graphic design,
illustration, textiles, publications, advertising, and gallery work. Continued
professional work in specific areas of concentration and exhibitions remain
a major career goal for many artists.
Graduates who concentrated in Art Education often teach
at levels from elementary through high school, in public and private schools,
in education departments of museums and in community art programs. They
often become art supervisors through additional training at the graduate
level. In addition, they enroll in advanced degree programs (M.A. and
Ed.D or Ph.D.) and develop and refine skills in research to further their
training in studio art or choose to specialize in fields related to art
education. While teaching, they continue in their own art production,
exhibitions, and research.
The Design major enters the profession in a variety
of capacities within the government, public and private sectors. Work
in the private sector includes entry- to mid-level positions within notable
architectural, engineering or interior design practice; government opportunities
exist at the international, federal, and state levels; positions with
organizations employing facility designers to provide in-house services
include banks, colleges, universities, corporations, and hospitality and
health care facilities. In addition, graduates find employment in design
specialties including lighting, graphic design, rendering, model-making,
textiles, furniture and exhibit design. CAD opportunities also provide
a new avenue for employment to those electing to develop this capabililty
through advanced course work.
Other art related careers: museum/gallery director
or curator, recreation director, architect, photographer, display artist,
clothing designer, stage designer, art critic, educational media director,
package designer, art editor, jeweler, art therapist, textile designer,
film animator.
The Minor
The Studio Art Minor is
intended for students who have a strong interest in art and who major
in an unrelated area. A total of 18 credits are required: 3 in Art History,
6 in Foundations, and 9 in upper level studio courses. A portfolio is
required for acceptance to a Studio Art Minor.
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