UIS Graduate and Undergraduate Catalog
Academic Year 2006 - 2007

VISUAL ARTS
Bachelor of Arts, Undergraduate Minor

Faculty Patrick Cheak, Brian Gillis, Michael Miller, Jonathan Perkins
Associated Faculty J. Michael Duvall, Rosina Neginsky
Emeritus Faculty Robert Dixon, Larry Shiner

Contact: (217) 206-6240
art@uis.edu or www.uis.edu/visualarts/

The visual arts program provides opportunity for studying the arts in a context that emphasizes skills acquisition in various studio disciplines as well as the understanding of historical and philosophical concepts in art.

As an extension of classroom teaching, the visual arts program sponsors exhibitions of regional artists, students, and faculty 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 experience in viewing and exhibiting a variety of media and exposure to the work of professional artists. Student participation is encouraged both in installation and management procedures. Graduating students will present their senior exhibitions in the gallery.

The Bruce A. Magidsohn Memorial Scholarship and the Glosecki Memorial Scholarship are awarded annually to students in the visual arts program. Contact financial assistance at 206-6724 for information. 

Entrance Requirements
Since work at the upper‑division level should not be a student's first exposure to organized training in the arts, students should have the associate in arts degree in visual art (or equivalent schooling) 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 six semester hours of art history survey, three semester hours of two‑dimensional design, and three semester hours of drawing. Lack of these courses is considered a deficiency to be remedied during the first year at UIS. Other requirements for admission to the program are identical to general campus requirements. 

Advising
Students should consult a visual arts faculty member before registering for the first time. A permanent adviser should be chosen from among the program 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
Grading policy is determined by each instructor as appropriate to the individual course and is announced at the beginning of the course. 

Assessment
A student wishing to enroll at UIS with a major in visual arts must make an appointment with a member of the program faculty to ascertain the student's career goals, assess preparation and deficiencies for entering the program, 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 art work completed during the student's tenure at UIS, organized through ART 482 Professional Skills. A full faculty critique of this body of work completes requirements for the degree in visual arts. 

UIS Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of UIS requirements in the areas of liberal studies colloquia, public affairs colloquia, and applied study. These hours must include at least four hours in each of at least two of these areas.

Applied study opportunities most frequently include community work in the graphic arts, photography, and art museums. ART 482 Professional Skills fulfills four hours of applied study credit and is administered through the student's faculty adviser in accordance with approved program requirements for the course. Students fulfilling this requirement should request guidance from their advisers. 

Program Requirements
Specific requirements depend on the student's area of interest and are determined in consultation with the adviser.

Requirements for the bachelor's degree in visual arts are as follows:
Historical and analytical courses  12 Hrs.
Studio (at least four hours must be in an area outside
    concentration)  24 Hrs.
Electives (eight hours must be in a field other than ART) 12 Hrs.
UIS Requirements (of which four hours must be
    ART 482 Professional Skills) 12 Hrs.

Total  60 Hrs.

Optional. Honors project in art studies (four hours). Requires faculty recommendation.

Tutorials. Available upon student request and with permission of instructor.

Students will be expected to provide their own supplies in many courses. 

VISUAL ARTS MINOR
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.