Brian Gillis, Michael Miller, Jonathan Perkins, Elizabeth Thomas
Associated Faculty J. Michael Duvall, Rosina Neginsky
Emeritus Faculty Robert Dixon, Larry Shiner
The Visual Arts Department provides opportunity for studying the arts in a context that emphasizes the acquisition of skills in various studio disciplines, as well as the understanding of historical and philosophical concepts in art. Visual Arts faculty teach classes in a broad range of areas, including painting, drawing, graphic design, ceramics, printmaking, photography, and art history.
As an extension of classroom teaching, the Visual Arts Department sponsors exhibitions of both regionally recognized and nationally known artists in the gallery located on the second floor of the Health and Sciences Building. Students are expected to attend openings and concurrent workshops to gain exposure to the work and access to the technical expertise of professional artists. Student participation is encouraged both in installation and management of the art gallery. Visual arts majors culminate their study at UIS with the presentation of their own work at the Senior Exhibition, held every spring at the gallery.
The Charlotte M. Weiss Scholarship, the Daniel Lesh Memorial Scholarship, and the Glosecki Memorial Scholarship are awarded annually to students in the Visual Arts Department. Contact financial assistance at 206-6724 for information.
Entrance Requirements
Students who wish to declare a major in the visual arts should complete all Visual Arts Department prerequisites and submit a portfolio of acceptable studio work to the faculty review committee by the end of their second year. The prerequisite courses include: History of Art I and II, Two-Dimensional Design and Three-Dimensional Design, Drawing I, and one introductory level art course in a specific discipline (for example: Painting I, Ceramics I, or Introduction to Digital Media). The portfolio review typically takes place at the end of the second year of study and includes work completed in the prerequisite courses.
Transfer students should have the associate in arts degree in visual art (or equivalent) and are expected to demonstrate basic competence in art through completion of a studio course during the first semester at UIS. Preliminary training should include the following courses: two semesters of a History of Art Survey, Two-Dimensional Design and Three-Dimensional Design, Drawing I, and one introductory level art course in a specific discipline (for example: Painting I, Ceramics I, or Introduction to Digital Media). Lack of these courses is considered a deficiency to be remedied during the first year at UIS.
Advising
Students should consult a visual arts faculty member before registering for the first time. A permanent adviser should be chosen from among the department faculty before the end of the first semester of study. Students are urged to consult their faculty advisers before registering each semester and particularly before registering for the last semester of classes.
Grading Policy
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all ART courses that apply toward the degree. Courses taken on a credit/ no credit basis will not count toward the degree. The course grading policy is determined by each instructor as appropriate to the individual course and is announced at the beginning of the term.
Assessment
A student wishing to enroll at UIS with a major in visual arts must make an appointment with a member of the department faculty to ascertain the student's career goals, assess preparation and deficiencies for entering the department, make a plan of study, and review a portfolio of his or her artwork (actual pieces or slides).
Midway through the course of study, the student and adviser will make an additional assessment of the student's progress toward the degree.
The final proof of learning is the presentation of an exhibit of artwork completed during the student's tenure at UIS, organized through ART 482, Professional Skills. An oral defense of the body of work by the student completes requirements for the degree in visual arts.
Major Requirements
Requirements for the bachelor of arts degree in visual arts are as follows:
Prerequisites:
History of Art I and II 6 Hrs.
ART 102 Two-Dimensional Design
and ART 103 Three-Dimensional Design 6 Hrs.
ART 113 Drawing I 3 Hrs.
Introductory level studio course (ex. Painting I, Ceramics I,
or Introduction to Digital Media) 3 Hrs.
Requirements:
Team-taught Foundations course 4 Hrs.
Upper-division Art History courses 8 Hrs.
Upper-division Studio courses 24 Hrs.
ART 482 Professional Skills (fulfills 3 hours of upper-division general elective) 3 Hrs.
Upper-division General Electives (in addition to Art 482) 10 Hrs.
Students should consult with advisers in the major for specific guidance regarding completion of general education requirements. An Advanced Placement (AP) score of 3 or higher in the drawing, 2-D design, and 3-D design examinations can be used to fulfill the prerequisite courses ART 113 Drawing I, ART 102 Two-Dimensional Design, and ART 103 Three-Dimensional Design. Three hours of the lower-division humanities requirement is satisfied by one of the following visual arts prerequisite courses: Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, Drawing I, History of Art I, and History of Art II. Three hours of the upper-division general elective requirement is fulfilled by ART 482 Professional Skills. ART 482 is administered through the student's faculty adviser in accordance with approved department requirements for the course. Students must be enrolled in at least one studio course during the preceding term to qualify for enrollment in ART 482.
To earn a minor in visual arts, students must complete a minimum of 16 semester hours, at least eight hours of which must be upper-division course work taken at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Up to eight hours of transfer credit may be accepted.
One course in art history is required. Elective courses in visual arts must total 12 semester hours. This should include two courses in the visual arts studio area(s) that most closely fit the student's interests. Students should consult with a visual arts faculty adviser to ensure that they are meeting requirements as well as their individual needs.