Department of Art

Location: Art, Phone: (409) 880-8141

Chair: Donna M. Meeks, donna.meeks@lamar.edu

The mission of the Department of Art is to provide an environment designed to nurture artistic, academic and personal growth in ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ students. Through its curricula and community outreach, the department prepares the art student for a professional career with courses in practice, theory, art history, and art education. Educational, cultural, and academic opportunities are made available so that each student may reach his or her full potential by participating in those human experiences and qualities inherent in the fine arts. As the visual arts engage a rapidly changing world, the department maintains a curricular balance between those traditions found in art history and the challenges of a future being shaped by technological developments. The Art program emphasizes the development of skill building and theoretical insight by exploring the products of the human hand and the new opportunities offered by advancing technology.

The Department of Art offers two professional undergraduate instructional programs, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design is recommended for those seeking careers in the field of graphic design. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design includes course work in the following areas of study: graphic design, typography, brand identity, illustration, web design, digital imaging, motion design, and portfolio development. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art emphasizes the development of skills, concepts, and creative sensitivities essential to the professional artist. Students in this program choose from one of the following areas of concentration: Photography, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Internship opportunities are available to all ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ Bachelor of Fine Arts students.

The Department of Art offers two liberal arts undergraduate instructional programs, the Bachelor of Science in Studio Art and the Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design. The Bachelor of Science degree in Studio Art is designed for those seeking all-levels art teacher certification and requires 42 credit hours of academic foundations and 84 credit hours of professional program (including 21 hours of professional development in the College of Education and Human Development). The art education program is structured to provide students with the knowledge needed to pursue a career of excellence as an all-levels art teacher in elementary and secondary schools. The Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design is offered to those students seeking to combine a minor program of study outside of the discipline with studio art and graphic design studies. The degree is not intended to be preparation for entry into professional design practice upon graduation, and is not necessarily the preparation for an eventual career in design. As a pre-professional degree program, the primary objective of the Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design is the preparation for graduate study in art and design or other allied fields.

All students entering a degree program in art must be counseled by the chair of the art department as to study options in the department. Academic advising is mandatory for all art majors. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses. The letter grade “C” will be the minimum prerequisite grade for the successful completion of all required courses in the major and for continuing studio courses in sequence. All prerequisites must be satisfied prior to enrollment in art courses. During either the fall or spring semester prior to graduation, a candidate for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will be required to take ARTS 4399 Senior Thesis & Exhibition and prepare an exhibition as a degree completion requirement. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation for the purpose of degree audit.

A minor in art history is available to students in other programs or departments by earning 18 hours of credit as required by the Department of Art.

Art electives are available for non-majors who desire experiences in the visual arts as part of their general education. Non-majors are required to satisfy prerequisites for art elective courses.

Transfer credit of freshman and sophomore art courses is in compliance with the Transfer Curriculum for Visual Arts adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Undergraduate Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Fine Arts–Graphic Design Major- 120 hrs
Bachelor of Fine Arts–Studio Art Major- 120 hrs
Bachelor of Science–Studio Art Major, All-levels certification - 126 hrs
Bachelor of Science–Graphic Design Major - 120 hrs

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Graphic Design Major

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design requires 42 credit hours of academic foundations and 78 credit hours of professional program including studio elective courses. All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

  1. General Education Core Curriculum: 42 Hours (including ARTS 1303)
  2. Major Requirements
    1. 66 hours from the following: ARTS 1304, 2305, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 4380, Three from the following: 2356 or 3379, 3314, 3324, 3328, or 3355; 2331, 3305, 3333, 4333, 4335, 3313, 4343, 4353, 4363, 4399
    2. Studio Art Elective: nine hours
    3. Art History Electives (upper division): three hours
  3. Other requirements:
    1. All students entering a degree program in graphic design must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available.
    2. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
    3. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
    4. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for the successful completion of all required courses in the major and for continuing studio courses in sequence.
    5. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation for the purpose of degree audit.

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Studio Art Major - Painting, Drawing, Printmaking or Sculpture Concentration

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120  

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art requires 42 credit hours of academic foundations and 78 credit hours of professional program including studio elective courses. Students must select a concentration (a minimum of twelve credit hours in a discipline) in one of the following areas: Painting: 3314, 3317, 3327, 4316; Printmaking: 3355, 3365, 4355, 4365; Drawing: 3324, 3315, 3325, 4315; Sculpture: 3328, 3375, 3385, 4385. All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

  1. General Education Core Curriculum: 42 hours (including ARTS 1303)
  2. Major Requirements: 78 Hours
    1. 57 hours from the following: ARTS 1304, 2305, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 2356, or 3379, 3314, 3324, 3328, 3355, 9 additional hours in concentration, 4336, 4389, 4399
    2. Studio Art Electives (Six credits at upper division): 15 hours
    3. Art History Electives (upper division): six hours
  3. Other Requirements:
    1. All students entering a degree program in studio art must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available.
    2. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
    3. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
    4. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for the successful completion of all required courses in the major and for continuing studio courses in sequence.
    5. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation for the purpose of degree audit

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Studio Art Major - Photography Concentration

Suggested Program of Study - Total Min. Hours - 120

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art requires 42 credit hours of academic foundations and 78 credit hours of professional program including studio elective courses. Students must select a concentration (a minimum of twelve credit hours in a discipline) in the following area: Photography: ARTS 2356, 3379, 3303, 3305, 4303, 4305, 4306. All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

  1. General Education Core Curriculum: 42 hours (including ARTS 1303).
  2. Major Requirements: 78 Hours
    1. 66 hours from the following: ARTS 1304, 2305, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 2356, 3314, 3328, 3355, 3376, 3379, 3303, 3305, 4303, 4305, 4306, 4336, 4389, 4399.
    2. Studio Art Electives (Six credits at upper division): 6 hours
    3. Art History Electives (upper division): 6 hours
  3. Other Requirements:
    1. All students entering a degree program in studio art must be counseled by the art department chair to study options available.
    2. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
    3. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
    4. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for the successful completion of all required courses in the major and for continuing studio courses in sequence.
    5. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation for the purpose of degree audit.

Bachelor of Science – Studio Art Major, All-Levels Certification Concentration

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 126

The Bachelor of Science degree in Studio Art is designed for those seeking all-levels art teacher certification and requires 42 credit hours of academic foundations and 84 credit hours of professional program (including 21 hours of professional development in the College of Education and Human Development). For details concerning requirements for teacher certification and information on professional education courses, consult the College of Education and Human Development section in this catalog. All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

  1. General Education Core Curriculum: 42 hours (including ARTS 1303)
  2. Major Requirements: 60 hours
    1. 51 hours from the following: ARTS 1304, 2305, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 2356, 3305, 3314, 3328, 3355, 3376, 4331, 4371, 4381.
    2. Studio Art Elective: six hours
    3. Art History Elective (upper division): three hours
  3. Other Requirements
    1. 21 credit hours in Professional Pedagogy as specified by the College of Education and Human Development
    2. All students entering a degree program in studio art must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available.
    3. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
    4. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
    5. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for the successful completion of all required courses in the major and for continuing studio courses in sequence.
    6. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation for the purpose of degree audit.

Bachelor of Science – Graphic Design

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

The Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design is available for those students seeking to combine studio art and graphic design studies with a minor program of study. Students may choose a minor program of study from any approved minor outside of the Department of Art. All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program, see section 6.1.22 in this catalog. Developmental courses do not count in the GPA (except for determining full-time status and issues related to probation and suspension) and do not count toward graduation.

  1. General Education Core Curriculum: 42 hours (including ART 1303)
  2. Major Requirements: 54 hours
    1. 54 hours from the following: ARTS 1304, 2305, 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, 2311, 2323, 3314, 3324, 3328, 2356 or 3379, 3355, 2331, 3333,
           4333, 4380, Select 3 from the following: 3305, 3313, 4343, or 4353.
    2. Studio Art Elective: none
    3. Minor Area of Study: 24 Hours
    4. Other Requirements:
      1. All students entering a degree program in graphic design must be counseled by the art department chair as to study options available.
      2. Departmental advising is mandatory for all art majors, and each art student will be assigned a faculty advisor.
      3. Art majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses.
      4. The letter grade "C" will be the minimum prerequisite grade for the successful completion of all required courses in the major and for continuing studio courses in sequence.
      5. Art majors are required to meet formally with the art department chairperson two semesters prior to anticipated graduation for the purpose of degree audit.

Minor in Art History

An art history minor consists of ARTS 1303, ARTS 1304, and ARTS 2305 and three courses chosen from the following: ARTS 4328, ARTS 4338, ARTS 4348, ARTS 4368, ARTS 4388, and ARTS 4398. To qualify for a minor, a grade of no less than “C” must be obtained in each of the courses applied to the minor.