Courses
UIS and the Visual Arts Department offer a BA and a minor in Visual Arts. Students define an area of concentration within the program.
Department Requirements:
Requirements for the bachelor's degree in visual arts are as follows:
Prerequisites:
Art History I and II 6 Hrs.
Art Foundations (2-D and 3-D design) 6 Hrs.
Drawing I 3 Hrs.
Introductory level studio course (ex. Painting 1, Ceramics 1, etc) 3 Hrs.
Requirements:
Upper-division Art History courses 12 Hrs.
Studio courses (at least four hours must be in an area outside concentration) 24 Hrs.
ART 482 Professional Skills (counted as an upper level general elective) 3 Hrs.
Electives (eight hours must be in a field other than ART) 12 Hrs.
Students should consult with advisers in the major for specific guidance regarding completion of general education requirements. 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 1, and History of Art 1, History of Art 2. Three hours of the engagement elective requirement is fulfilled by ART 482 Professional Skills. ART 482 is administered through the student's faculty adviser in accordance with approved program 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.
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 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.
Grading Policy:
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all 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.
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.
Entrance Requirements:
Students who wish to declare a major in the visual arts should complete all visual arts program 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 1 and 2, Two-Dimensional Design and Three-Dimensional Design, Drawing 1, and one introductory level art course in a specific discipline (for example: Painting 1, Ceramics 1, or Graphic Design 1). 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: History of Art 1 and 2, Two-Dimensional Design and Three-Dimensional Design, Drawing 1, and one introductory level art course in a specific discipline (for example: Painting 1, Ceramics 1, or Graphic Design 1). Lack of these courses is considered a deficiency to be remedied during the first year at UIS.
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. Studio 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.