Overview
https://www.design.iastate.edu/academics/departments/art-visual-culture/
The Department of Art and Visual Culture offers degree programs focused on fine arts and visual culture, including the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art History, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art, and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Integrated Visual Arts. Course offerings include studio arts, art history, art education, and scientific illustration and visualization.
B.F.A. in Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (formerly Integrated Studio Arts) is an enrollment-managed, four-year program for students seeking an immersive degree in studio arts with an emphasis on crossing conceptual and media boundaries. In their sophomore year, students complete rotations in our eight media areas: ceramics, textiles, jewelry and metalsmithing, furniture design and woodworking, painting, printmaking, digital media, and photography. Classes in color theory and drawing round out the year.
Junior and senior-level studios provide focused investigation in specific media areas and help prepare students for professional practice and/or graduate study toward a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree. Art history courses enhance the studio environment by providing a strong context as students develop their ideas and technical abilities.
Over their four-year course of study, students develop a portfolio and prepare for a professional practice in the visual arts. This concentration engages aesthetics, conceptual development and visual problem-solving, critical thinking, and technical-skill development, using historical and cultural theory, contemporary trends, and studio practice. The B.F.A. degree culminates in a professional exhibition in the College of Design’s Gallery 181.
Transfer students with studio credits from other colleges and universities may present a portfolio of work created in those courses to determine if these credits can be applied toward specific studio requirements. Students will present this portfolio upon admission and prior to registration for classes. Arrangements for this process should be made with the department's academic advisors.
The department offers an undergraduate minor in Illustration and participates in the undergraduate minors in Classical Studies, Critical Studies in Design, Design Studies, Digital Media, and Textile Design
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Develop traditional and innovating technical skills and artmaking practices;
- Foster conceptual development and creative problem-solving abilities through design, research, and creative processes;
- Understand and express in multiple media the relationship between objects, aesthetics, and meaning;
- Exhibit an awareness of their roles as artists and thinkers regarding the ethical, cultural, and ecological impacts of what they do;
- Express through visual verbal, and written means an awareness of global art movements and a meaningful understanding of historic and contemporary art;
- Use their understanding and practice of art to engage with local, national, and global communities where they can participate in a broad exchange of ideas;
- Prepare for careers in the visual arts through professional development seminars, internships, study abroad, and service-learning opportunities.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum in leads to a 128 credit undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art. Admission into the program requires the completion of at least 31.0 credits, including the following courses: DSNS 1020, DSNS 1100 or 1150, DSNS 1310, DSNS 1320, and DSNS 1830; 6 credits of Social Sciences/Humanities; 6 credits of Math/Science; ENGL 1500 (or test-out credit); LIB 1600. Information on admission criteria is posted each year on the College of Design website.
Total Degree Requirement: 128 cr.
Only 65 credits from a two-year institution can apply and may include up to 16 technical credits; 9 P-NP credits of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.
International Perspective: 3 credits
U.S. Cultures and Communities: 3 credits
Communication: 10 credits
(C or better grade ENGL 1500 and ENGL 2500)
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| One course from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication Studies | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Humanities: 6 credits
6 credits from College of Design General Education Approved Course list.
Social Sciences: 6 credits
6 credits from College of Design General Education Approved Course list.
Math/Physics/Biol. Sciences: 6 credits
6 credits from College of Design General Education Approved Course list.
General Education Courses: 9 credits
| 6 credits at level 3000-4000 from College of Design General Education Approved Course List | 6 | |
| 3 credits from College of Design General Education Approved Course list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
College of Design Core: 13 credits
| DSNS 1020 | Design Studio I | 4 |
| DSNS 1150 | Design Collaborative Seminar | 1 |
| or DSNS 1100 | Design Exchange Seminar I | |
| DSNS 1310 | Drawing I | 4 |
| DSNS 1320 | Digital Design Literacy | 1 |
| DSNS 1830 | Design in Context | 3 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
ART Core: 31 credits
| ART 2020 | Studio Fundamentals: Wood | 2 |
| ART 2030 | Studio Fundamentals: Jewelry/Metalsmithing | 2 |
| ART 2040 | Studio Fundamentals: Ceramics | 2 |
| ART 2060 | Studio Fundamentals: Printmaking | 2 |
| ART 2080 | Color | 2 |
| ART 2100 | Studio Fundamentals: Photo | 2 |
| ART 2120 | Studio Fundamentals: Digital Media | 3 |
| ART 2130 | Studio Fundamentals: Painting | 2 |
| ART 2140 | Studio Fundamentals: Textiles | 2 |
| ART 2300 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 3100 | Sources and Methods of Visual Art | 3 |
| ARTH 2800 | History of Art I | 3 |
| ARTH 2810 | History of Art II | 3 |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
ART Concentration: 24 credits
Eight courses from ART studio offerings. Faculty advisors will assist students in developing their studio concentration plan.
Art History: 9 credits
At least 6 credits from ARTH 3000+ course level.
Professional Practice: 3 credits
| ART 3990 | BFA Professional Practice | 2 |
| ART 4990 | BFA Exhibition | 1 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Electives: 11 credits
DSNS 3010 Rome Predeparture (Rome option only)
Art, B.F.A.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DSNS 1020 or 1310 | 4 | DSNS 1020 or 1310 | 4 |
| DSNS 1100 or 1150 | 1 | DSNS 1830 (or General Education) | 3 |
| DSNS 1320 | 1 | ENGL 1500 (or General Education) | 3 |
| DSNS 1830 (or General Education) | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| ENGL 1500 (or General Education) | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | LIB 1600 | 1 |
| General Education | 3 | ||
| 18 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTH 2800 (fall only) | 3 | ARTH 2810 (spring only) | 3 |
| ART 2120 or 2300 | 3 | ART 2300 or 2120 | 3 |
| ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 | ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 |
| ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 | ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 |
| ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 | ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 |
| ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 | ART Studio Fundamentals | 2 |
| ENGL 2500 (or General Education) | 3 | ENGL 2500 (or General Education) | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 3100 | 3 | ART Studio Option | 3 |
| ART Studio Option | 3 | ART Studio Option | 3 |
| ART Studio Option | 3 | ART Studio Option | 3 |
| ARTH 3000 level or above | 3 | ARTH 3000 level or above | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | ART 3990 | 2 |
| DSNS 3010 (Rome option only) | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART Studio Option | 3 | ART Studio Option | 3 |
| ART Studio Option | 3 | ART Studio Option | 3 |
| ARTH 3000 level or above | 3 | ART 4990 | 1 |
| General Education or Elective | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
Post-Baccalaureate Undergraduate Certificate
Iowa State’s Post-Baccalaureate Undergraduate Certificate program in Art prepares students for either graduate study or career advancements by providing a focused environment for deepening aesthetic, technical, creative, and conceptual skills. While a bachelor’s degree in visual or fine arts is not necessary, a strong portfolio of creative work and a written statement of purpose are required for admission.
Curriculum
Post-baccalaureate students will work with a faculty advisor to create a tailored 25-credit program of study including:
- 15 credits of 3000/4000-level art courses (ART);
- Six (6) credits of 3000/4000-level art history courses (ARTH);
- Three-credit elective selected from a list of options;
- ART 4910: One-credit capstone exhibition course.
For the capstone experience, you will be expected to produce an artist’s statement and a written assessment of your learning that will be reviewed, along with your art, by the faculty.
This certificate program must be completed within two years. Students interested in developing a body of work for admission to graduate school or to focus on further skill development prior to moving into professional practice will be ideal candidates.
Application Requirements
To apply for this program, please submit the following materials.
- Digital portfolio:
— Twenty (20) images of recent work with no more than four (4) of the images being details.
— Descriptions on each image need to include title, date, size and medium - One-page statement of intent.
- Current resume.
- Name and contact information of three (3) references.
Graduate Program
The department offers the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Integrated Visual Arts (IVA). The MFA curriculum in IVA requires a minimum of 60 credits. This MFA is a unique interdisciplinary program offering integrative study among a combination of media areas including ceramics, computer applications, drawing, textiles, illustration, jewelry/metalsmithing, painting, printmaking, photography, furniture/wood design and areas outside of AVC. The IVA program offers an innovative curriculum aligned with emerging art and design markets.
IVA graduates link traditional studio disciplines with interdisciplinary studies. Graduates are prepared as visual artists to enter studio practice, business, higher education, or new interdisciplinary fields. The MFA is recognized as the terminal degree. A required thesis exhibition is composed of two parts: a substantial solo exhibition; and a written thesis statement that describes the development of the work in the exhibition, its objectives, and its historical and cultural points of reference. A written thesis with no exhibition component may be an appropriate alternative, but some portion of the work should entail an element of creative problem-solving in the form of a visual product.
Upon completion of the graduate program IVA graduates are expected to:
- Have developed a fully realized creative direction which provides a platform for continued professional research and growth, and visual expression;
- Have produced a body of work which demonstrates a high level of creative investigation and accomplishment;
- Have acquired a professional level of technical proficiency in one or more media areas;
- Effectively communicate their ideas verbally and in writing;
- Understand the context, both historical and current, within which their creative pursuits exist;
- Have developed a well-formed and informed personal creative philosophy and a strong studio skill set;
- Understand current and relevant ethical, ecological, and social issues; and
- Use relevant theory in pursuing creative university-level scholarship.
Studio Courses: 39 credits
| Courses numbered ART | 27 | |
| Studio Courses outside of ART | 6 | |
| ART 6990A and ART 6990B | 6 | |
Seminar Courses: 6 credits
| Graduate Seminar ART 5710 | 3 credits each section | |
| Graduate Seminar: Professional Practice | ||
| Graduate Seminar: Critique and Creative Process | ||
| Seminar in Teaching | ||
Art History/Theory/Criticism: 12 credits
| ARTH 5010 required | 3 | |
| Art History courses | 9 | |