Department of Art and Art History
Merrie Wright, Chair
Objectives
The Department of Art and Art History offers programs of study for those students wanting to pursue careers as professional artists as well as those seeking professions in the field of art. The curriculum and mode of operation within the Department of Art and Art History resemble a professional art school, with a broad-based liberal arts education. Students may select an emphasis in studio art, general art or art history.
The prospective major in art should be aware of marked differences in degree programs.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (B.F.A.) degree program is a studio intensive degree, with a curriculum designed to prepare students to become successful studio artists, and includes the capstone course, ART 4192: Senior Exhibition. This degree is the preferred degree for students wanting to pursue a career in studio art, or who intend to pursue graduate studies in a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) or Master of Arts in Studio Art (M.A.) studio art program.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A,) in Art is designed to provide the student with a broad foundation in studio art and art history. This degree requires students to select a minor of their choice and is the preferred degree for students wanting to pursue a career in the fields of community art education, K-12 art education, art therapy or gallery assistant.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art with a concentration in art history is an art history intensive degree, with a curriculum designed to provide the student with a broad liberal arts education as well as an expansive knowledge of the history of art. This degree has a 12-hour foreign language requirement and requires students to select a minor of their choice. This program includes a capstone course, ART 4193: Art History Senior Thesis. This is the preferred degree for students wanting to pursue a career in the art fields of curatorial, museum, gallery or collection management, or who intend to pursue graduate studies in a Master of Arts (M.A.) art history program.
Students are encouraged to participate in the many activities organized by the Department of Art and Art History including: The Studio Art & History of Art Association (SAHAA) student organization, Visiting Artists & Scholars Program, Exhibitions Program, Museum Internship Program, Travel Study, and the annual Professional Practices Symposium.
Students should consult an art advisor in their first semester at UT Tyler to plan a course of study in art. A degree plan must be completed in consultation with an art advisor during the students first semester at UT Tyler. The Department of Art and Art History should be consulted to find out which advisor has been assigned to the student.
Options:
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (B.F.A.) with emphasis in the following areas: two-dimensional studio art or three-dimensional studio art or
- Bachelor of Arts in Art (B.A.)
- Minor in: Art, Studio Art, Art History, or Curatorial Studies
- Teacher Certification: see the Grades EC-12 Certification with Education Minor, which can be selected to fulfill the minor requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Art (B.A.) degree.