Visual communication is the most fundamental of human languages. Through the study of art one acquires a rich understanding of human nature, values, psychology, aesthetics and history. Creative individuals who are visually articulate play profound roles in our increasingly complex visual world, and career opportunities are numerous. Graduates of our program now work as art teachers in high school and universities, as art directors, illustrators and graphic designers in advertising agencies, as studio photographers and film makers, as museum and gallery curators, as certified art therapists, and as independent studio artists with professional gallery representation.
The faculty of the Art and Design Department believe visual literacy should be an essential accomplishment for every well-educated and productive citizen. Since the invention of photography, and increasingly in the multi-media environment fostered today by computers, everyone is inescapably subject to both the riches and hazards of visual culture. Thus, we urge every university student to consider taking at least one art course in fulfillment of the two-course core requirement in literature and the fine arts.
Prospective art and design majors are offered a range of courses that differ by area of specialization: Art Education, Art History, Graphic Design, and Studio Art. Regardless of which track is eventually selected, students are encouraged to gain a broad understanding of the history of their field, to acquire the vocabulary and facility for speaking and writing of their understanding and appreciation of art, and to develop the skills necessary to create artistic statements of their own.
Art and Design Departmental Objectives
- To assist undergraduate students to develop problem-solving abilities which bridge visual and verbal thought processes
- To develop an adequate vocabulary for speaking and writing of their understanding and appreciation of art and design
- To promote understanding of the practices, history and social context of the full gamut of diverse cultural representation in the field of art and design
- In the SXU Gallery, to sponsor provocative and inspirational exhibits by professional artists/designers working in many representative media and cultural contexts
- To develop in students the skills necessary to create visual artistic statements of their own, and the resiliency to succeed in a competitive, changing world.
- To foster a vibrant community of leaders, committed to collaboration and exchange of ideas and skills, instilled with the desire and ability to continue lifelong learning.
Opportunities
Art-related extra-curricular opportunities are numerous, including work on the award-winning university newspaper, The Xavierite, designing departmental web pages, working for the university FM station, WXAV, or co-editing the annual art and literary magazine, Opus. Assistantships are often available in the Media Center, the computer labs, the SXU Gallery, the Slide library, print shop, and Public Relations office.
Internship opportunities are encouraged and developed in collaboration with the Career and Personal Development Center. Upper division students may seek any of a wide variety of positions, both on- and off- campus. These provide valuable experience in the field and an insider's knowledge of related employment opportunities after graduation.
Scholarships administered by the Art and Design Department include the M. Paul Keefe, R.S.M. Art Scholarship, the Mildred Keene Scholarship, the Roy W. Clough Graphic Design Scholarship and the Smith Scholarships.
Through the Grace and Walter Smith Scholarship Fund, advanced majors are eligible to apply for tuition-free courses at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, for specialized courses not available Saint Xavier. These scholarships, based upon financial need, include access to Ox-Bow, the Art Institute's summer school camp in Saugatuck, Michigan.
The SXU Gallery
The SXU Gallery is an important adjunct to the university community. The work of professional artists is on display on a monthly basis. This work brings additional material for student-faculty study. Shows are normally accompanied by an opening lecture by the artist. Senior art students present their work in a yearly exhibit in the SXU Gallery as a capstone to their experience at SXU.
Faculty
C. Ruggie Saunders, Chair; A. Fraunhar, M. Gerlach, J. Hileman, N. Peck, M. Rabe, B. Wall.
Admission to Department
Formal portfolio application for admission to the major is typically made after the end of the sophomore year, or, in the case of transfer students, at the conclusion of the first semester of enrollment at Saint Xavier University. By the end of the junior year, students choosing either the studio, graphic design, or art education track will submit another portfolio showing the artistic direction in which they will concentrate for the two-semester Senior Seminar, to culminate in a professional group exhibition in the SXU Gallery. Those choosing to major in art history will devote a comparable portion of their senior year to an independent research project that may result in the production of a substantial paper. Other senior project options include curating an SXU Gallery exhibition or creating a thematically defined web site.
Programs of Study
Art and Design majors must select one of the four track options (studio, graphic design, art education or art history) and earn grades of C or above in all courses required for the major.
Art History Track
Art history majors must select a chronological survey for each of three periods: 9 s.h.
Select one course from each pairing; at least one of the three courses must be from the 200-level offerings ART 221 Ancient/ Medieval Art or
ART 121 Western Humanities: Classical & Medieval
ART 222 Art of the Renaissance through the Enlightenment or
ART 122 Western Humanities: Renaissance to Enlightenment
ART 223 Modern & Contemporary Art or
ART 123 Western Humanities: Modern & Contemporary
Four additional art history courses must be selected from 200 or 300 level departmental offerings. 12 s.h. Additional options include courses at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, through auspices of the Smith Scholarship Program.
Any three studio art courses are required, to provide an appreciation for and experience with the creative process. 9 s.h.
Art history majors must complete the two-semester Research Seminar sequence during their senior year. 6 s.h.
ART 307 Research Seminar I
ART 308 Research Seminar II Total: 36 s.h.
In consultation with an advisor, students interested in graduate school may want to take one or more years of an appropriate foreign language. There are also many other excellent cognate courses to consider as electives in anthropology, English, history, communication and religious studies.
Graphic Design and Studio Tracks
Graphic design and studio art majors both complete a common set of nine courses and elect at least six additional courses from their respective tracks for a major totaling 45 semester-hours.
| Common requirements for both design and studio tracks: | 27 s.h |
| ART 101 and ART 201 Drawing I and II (or equivalent) | 6 s.h. |
| ART 102 Design: Two-Dimensional | 3 s.h. |
| ART 202 Design: Three-Dimensional | 3 s.h. |
|
Three Art History Courses |
9 s.h. |
For these three art history course requirements, Art & Design majors in the graphic design or studio track should select at least two art history survey courses from the following pairings; at least one course must be from the 200-level offerings. ART 221 Ancient/ Medieval Art or
ART 121 Western Humanities: Classical & Medieval
ART 222 Art of the Renaissance through the Enlightenment or
ART 122 Western Humanities: Renaissance to Enlightenment
ART 223 Modern & Contemporary Art or
ART 123 Western Humanities: Modern & Contemporary
The third art history course requirement must be at the 200-level or higher and should be selected in consultation with an advisor. Art majors must have completed one 200 level art history course by the end of sophomore year. For transfer students, one 200 level art history course must be taken by the end of junior year.
| ART 305 and ART 306 Senior Seminar I and II (two semesters) | 6 s.h. (with required Senior Exhibit) |
Graphic Design Track
(In addition to the Studio/Design Art Core - 27 semester-hours)
Art and design majors specializing in graphic design are required to take the following six courses, listed in recommended sequence:
| ART 216 Computer Graphics | 3 s.h. |
| ART 219 Digital Imagery | 3 s.h. |
| ART 120 Graphic Design I & II | 6 s.h. |
| ART 211 Typography | 3 s.h. |
| ART 220 Graphic Design II | 3 s.h. |
| ART 322 Advertising in Marketing | 3 s.h. |
Additional coursework recommended (but not required) for the graphic design track include:
ART 241 Illustration: Image and Story
ART 203 Book as Art and Design
ART 112 Film: Photo I, ART 113 Digital:Photo I, ART 317 photo III: Advanced Photography
ART 315 Web Site Art and Design
Studio Track
(In addition to the Studio/Design Art Core - 27 semester-hours)
Studio majors will choose six courses from those listed below, selected in consultation with an advisor and in anticipation of a senior exhibition concentration
- ART 105 Painting I, ART 205 Painting II; ART 206 Watercolor Painting
- ART 209 Figure Drawing I, ART 309 Figure Drawing II
- ART 229 Printmaking: Relief and Intaglio; ART 210 Printmaking: Silkscreen and Lithography
- ART 207 Collage and Assemblage - Alternative Expressions
- ART 208 Ceramics: Hand Construction; ART 258 Ceramics: Wheel Throwing
- ART 215 Sculpture: Modeling and Casting; ART 310 Sculpture: Wood
- ART 112 Film : Photo I, ART 113 Digital: Photo I, ART 315 Web Site Art and Design, ART 219 Digital Imagery, ART 317 Photo III : Advanced Photography
Art Education Track (Middle & Secondary)
Art education majors are required to take the 27-hour Studio/Design Art Core, and a minimum of six other art and design courses, chosen to fulfill an interdisciplinary track recommended for artist-teachers. Art students who are seeking secondary certification must be admitted to the School of Education and complete all requirements for the major, all general education courses, and all professional education courses with a minimum of C, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. Consult the School of Education section of the catalog for the specific requirements and procedures. It is the responsibility of the student to ascertain and fulfill the requirements for the desired degree program. The major advisor will assist the student in this responsibility. State requirements for secondary art teachers suggest an appropriate distribution of courses in the following areas:
- Painting, Drawing, Printmaking
- Graphic Design and Computer Graphics
- Three-Dimensional Design, Sculpture and Ceramics
- Photography, Film Studies
- Art Education Methods
- History and Appreciation of Art and Visual Culture
Program for an Art and Design Minor
A minor in Art and Design will be awarded for the completion of any six courses (18 semester-hours) selected from the regular offerings of the department. Students should consult with a department advisor when planning their minor.
No more than 12 hours in transfer credit will be accepted towards the minor in Art & Design. Education majors planning to minor in Art and Design should take at least two art history/appreciation courses and four courses that are studio/design experiential courses.
( ) = credit-hours / / = classroom hours
Saint Xavier University 2009-2010 Catalog
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