Program Overview

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Introduction to the Visual Arts Program

The Department of Art, Music, and Theatre at the University of Illinois Springfield offers a comprehensive program in Visual Arts, providing students with a well-rounded education in the practical application of various arts disciplines, as well as the historical, cultural, and philosophical underpinnings of each discipline.

Departmental Goals and Objectives

The Department of Art, Music, and Theatre fosters study in the practical application of various arts disciplines, as well as study in the historical, cultural, and philosophical underpinnings of each discipline. Visual Arts courses are listed in the course schedule with the prefix ART. Music courses are listed in the course schedule with the MUS prefix, and Theatre courses are listed in the course schedule with the prefix THE.

Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts

The Bachelor of Arts curriculum in Visual Arts allows students to tailor a course of study suited to their professional and personal ambitions. Students have the option to focus their studies in one media area or sample a broad range of art and design perspectives. Visual Arts offers a variety of courses in the areas of painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, graphic design, digital media, three-dimensional modeling, photography, art history, and art.

Admission Requirements

The Visual Arts bachelor's degree is open to all UIS students and transfer students who have met the entrance requirements for admission to UIS. Students interested in the Visual Arts major must make an appointment with a member of the faculty to determine the student's career goals, assess student readiness to begin course work, and review a portfolio of his or her artwork.

Advising

All Visual Arts students are assigned an academic advisor upon declaration of the Visual Arts major. It is recommended that students meet with their assigned academic advisor and submit examples of their artwork for informal critique within their first term.

Grading Policy

Students must earn a grade of C (2.00) or better in all ART courses that apply toward the major or minor (grades of C- or lower will not be accepted). A grade of C (2.00) or better must also be earned in all prerequisite courses.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for the UIS B.A. degree in Visual Arts are as follows:

• Prerequisite Courses:
  • ART 102: Two Dimensional Design (3 hours)
  • ART 112: Three Dimensional Design (3 hours)
  • ART 113: Drawing 1 (3 hours)
  • Introductory level studio course (ART203, ART211, ART215, ART236, or ART251) (3 hours)
  • ART 261: History of Art I (3 hours)
  • ART 262: History of Art II (3 hours)
• Course Requirements:
  • Upper-division Art History courses (ART 300- or 400-level) (12 hours)
  • Upper-division Studio Art courses (ART 300- or 400-level) (24 hours)
  • ART 482 and ECCE requirements: ART 482 ECCE: Professional Skills (3 hours)
• Total Hours: 64

Upper Division Art History Courses

Art Majors must select three of the following upper division art history courses:

• ART 365: ECCE: Women and Art in America (4 hours)
• ART 366: ECCE: European Cinema (4 hours)
• ART 419: Egyptology (4 hours)
• ART 431: ECCE: Symbolist Movement in Europe: 1850 - 1920 (4 hours)
• ART 432: ECCE: Expatriate Paris (4 hours)
• ART 463: Modern Art History (4 hours)
• ART 464: Contemporary Art History (4 hours)
• ART 465: Women in Art: Discovering Her Story (4 hours)
• ART 468: Visual Literacy (4 hours)
• ART 470: Special Art History Studies (4 hours)
• ART 471: Philosophy of Art (2,4 hours)

Upper Division Studio Art Courses

Art Majors must select six of the following upper division art studio courses:

• ART 306: Photography II (4 hours)
• ART 312: Painting II (4 hours)
• ART 321: Life Drawing (4 hours)
• ART 332: Etching (4 hours)
• ART 333: Screen Printing (4 hours)
• ART 337: Digital Media: Print (4 hours)
• ART 338: Digital Media: Web (4 hours)
• ART 339: Digital Media: Animation (4 hours)
• ART 341: Sculpture I (4 hours)
• ART 342: Sculpture II (4 hours)
• ART 352: Ceramics II (4 hours)
• ART 372: Visual Storytelling and Reporting (4 hours)
• ART 410: Special Studies In Ceramics (4 hours)
• ART 411: Painting III (4 hours)
• ART 412: Painting IV (4 hours)
• ART 413: Printmaking II (4 hours)
• ART 414: Printmaking III (4 hours)
• ART 420: Special Studies In Sculpture (4 hours)
• ART 422: Contemporary Drawing (4 hours)
• ART 437: Digital Media: Typography (4 hours)
• ART 441: Sculpture III (4 hours)
• ART 442: Sculpture IV - Contemporary (4 hours)
• ART 451: Ceramics III (4 hours)
• ART 452: Ceramics IV (4 hours)
• ART 455: Multi-Media Studio (4 hours)
• ART 473: Advanced Visual Field Reporting (4 hours)
• ART 474: Documentary Production (4 hours)
• ART 480: Special Studio Studies (4 hours)

Degree Plan

A suggested degree plan is provided, but students should consult with their academic advisor for specific guidance regarding completion of general education requirements.

Visual Arts Minor

To earn a minor in Visual Arts, students must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours, which includes 12 hours of studio art courses and 3-4 hours of art history. Up to 3 hours of studio or art history transfer credit may be accepted.

Minor Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses for the minor. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted. At least one ART course must be selected from either the studio or art history options.

Art History Courses

Select one of the following:

• ART 261: History of Art I (3 hours)
• ART 262: History of Art II (3 hours)
• ART 365: ECCE: Women and Art in America (4 hours)
• ART 366: ECCE: European Cinema (4 hours)
• ART 419: Egyptology (4 hours)
• ART 431: ECCE: Symbolist Movement in Europe: 1850 - 1920 (4 hours)
• ART 432: ECCE: Expatriate Paris (4 hours)
• ART 463: Modern Art History (4 hours)
• ART 464: Contemporary Art History (4 hours)
• ART 465: Women in Art: Discovering Her Story (4 hours)
• ART 468: Visual Literacy (4 hours)
• ART 470: Special Art History Studies (4 hours)
• ART 471: Philosophy of Art (2,4 hours)

Studio Art Courses

Select 12 hours from the following:

• ART 102: Two Dimensional Design (3 hours)
• ART 112: Three Dimensional Design (3 hours)
• ART 113: Drawing 1 (3 hours)
• ART 203: Introduction to Ceramics (3 hours)
• ART 211: Introduction to Painting (3 hours)
• ART 215: Photography I (3 hours)
• ART 236: Introduction to Digital Media (3 hours)
• ART 251: Digital 3D Modeling (3 hours)
• ART 306: Photography II (4 hours)
• ART 312: Painting II (4 hours)
• ART 321: Life Drawing (4 hours)
• ART 332: Etching (4 hours)
• ART 333: Screen Printing (4 hours)
• ART 337: Digital Media: Print (4 hours)
• ART 338: Digital Media: Web (4 hours)
• ART 339: Digital Media: Animation (4 hours)
• ART 341: Sculpture I (4 hours)
• ART 342: Sculpture II (4 hours)
• ART 352: Ceramics II (4 hours)
• ART 372: Visual Storytelling and Reporting (4 hours)
• ART 410: Special Studies In Ceramics (4 hours)
• ART 411: Painting III (4 hours)
• ART 412: Painting IV (4 hours)
• ART 413: Printmaking II (4 hours)
• ART 414: Printmaking III (4 hours)
• ART 420: Special Studies In Sculpture (4 hours)
• ART 422: Contemporary Drawing (4 hours)
• ART 437: Digital Media: Typography (4 hours)
• ART 441: Sculpture III (4 hours)
• ART 442: Sculpture IV - Contemporary (4 hours)
• ART 451: Ceramics III (4 hours)
• ART 452: Ceramics IV (4 hours)
• ART 455: Multi-Media Studio (4 hours)
• ART 473: Advanced Visual Field Reporting (4 hours)
• ART 474: Documentary Production (4 hours)
• ART 480: Special Studio Studies (4 hours)

Courses

A variety of courses are offered in the Visual Arts program, including:

• ART 101: Art Appreciation (3 hours)
• ART 102: Two Dimensional Design (3 hours)
• ART 112: Three Dimensional Design (3 hours)
• ART 113: Drawing 1 (3 hours)
• ART 151: Arts & Identity: Japan & U.S. (3 hours)
• ART 203: Introduction to Ceramics (3 hours)
• ART 211: Introduction to Painting (3 hours)
• ART 215: Photography I (3 hours)
• ART 236: Introduction to Digital Media (3 hours)
• ART 251: Digital 3D Modeling (3 hours)
• ART 261: History of Art I (3 hours)
• ART 262: History of Art II (3 hours)
• ART 306: Photography II (4 hours)
• ART 312: Painting II (4 hours)
• ART 321: Life Drawing (4 hours)
• ART 332: Etching (4 hours)
• ART 333: Screen Printing (4 hours)
• ART 337: Digital Media: Print (4 hours)
• ART 338: Digital Media: Web (4 hours)
• ART 339: Digital Media: Animation (4 hours)
• ART 341: Sculpture I (4 hours)
• ART 342: Sculpture II (4 hours)
• ART 352: Ceramics II (4 hours)
• ART 365: ECCE: Women and Art in America (4 hours)
• ART 366: ECCE: European Cinema (4 hours)
• ART 372: Visual Storytelling and Reporting (4 hours)
• ART 410: Special Studies In Ceramics (4 hours)
• ART 411: Painting III (4 hours)
• ART 412: Painting IV (4 hours)
• ART 413: Printmaking II (4 hours)
• ART 414: Printmaking III (4 hours)
• ART 419: Egyptology (4 hours)
• ART 420: Special Studies In Sculpture (4 hours)
• ART 422: Contemporary Drawing (4 hours)
• ART 431: ECCE: Symbolist Movement in Europe: 1850 - 1920 (4 hours)
• ART 432: ECCE: Expatriate Paris (4 hours)
• ART 437: Digital Media: Typography (4 hours)
• ART 441: Sculpture III (4 hours)
• ART 442: Sculpture IV - Contemporary (4 hours)
• ART 451: Ceramics III (4 hours)
• ART 452: Ceramics IV (4 hours)
• ART 455: Multi-Media Studio (4 hours)
• ART 463: Modern Art History (4 hours)
• ART 464: Contemporary Art History (4 hours)
• ART 465: Women in Art: Discovering Her Story (4 hours)
• ART 468: Visual Literacy (4 hours)
• ART 470: Special Art History Studies (4 hours)
• ART 471: Philosophy of Art (2,4 hours)
• ART 473: Advanced Visual Field Reporting (4 hours)
• ART 474: Documentary Production (4 hours)
• ART 480: Special Studio Studies (4 hours)
• ART 482: ECCE: Professional Skills (3 hours)
• ART 489: Honors Project In Visual Arts (4 hours)
• ART 499: Tutorial (1-12 hours)