Art Programs & Majors

Graphic Design & Visual Communication

The graphic design & visual communication program is designed to provide a broad professional and cultural study for students interested in careers in the area of visual communication.

The major draws coursework from the disciplines of art, corporate communication, marketing, and media studies. In addition, the program adds concentrated training in graphic design and an internship.

It is the intention of this program to provide and allow the student individual growth while giving focus in their major. This program will challenge and instill in the student the desire to explore the area of visual communication, the larger world, and themselves both pro-actively and with a sense of enthusiasm and passion.  Resulting degree is a Bachelor of Arts. A minor in graphic design and visual communication is also available.

Art

Buena Vista University’s art program is conceived as an integral part of the university’s liberal arts curriculum and is designed both for the student artist and the student interested in art. The art curriculum includes two courses in studio foundations, four courses in art history, and courses in the studio disciplines of painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, drawing, and mixed media. Two courses in photography are offered jointly between art and media studies.

The art program provides students with an opportunity to actively participate in the shaping of their education. Courses are available in the traditional media and all involve direct experience in creative activity. The program is supported by well-equipped studio spaces with courses that are taught by faculty members who are producing artists/educators. The BVU art major presents a solid base for continuing work in graduate school and art-related fields such as teaching, arts administration, publishing, or exhibition.   Resulting degree is a Bachelor of Arts or minor in art.

Art History

The art history minor provides a comprehensive study of prehistoric to contemporary artwork, with history courses focusing specifically on European art.  The minor also encompasses the necessity to place artwork into context with world history by encouraging students to take non-European history classes.   Research topics in these classes should focus on the artwork of that particular culture.  For students who intend to pursue art history at a graduate level, the study of at least 12 credit hours of a foreign language is highly recommended.  Most graduate programs in art history include a foreign language proficiency requirement.  Spanish, German, Chinese, and Japanese are languages taught at BVU.

Arts Management

The arts management program offers students a broad education in the liberal arts, humanities, social sciences, and quantitative reasoning to enable them to function in a diverse and rapidly changing world. Students are presented with opportunities to sharpen their artistic skills and deepen their understanding of art, theatre, or music, while also developing a working understanding of business.

Emphasizing the dual importance of a strong arts background and a competent understanding of business theories and procedures, the arts management program challenges students to synthesize an understanding of their chosen art field with a comprehension of business foundations.

Courses Offered

Graphic Design & Visual Communication

GDES 223 Graphic Design Foundations
GDES 305 History of Graphic Design
GDES 349 Graphic Design
GDES 350 Typography
ART/GDES 392 Junior Seminar
GDES 440 Illustration
ART/GDES 492 Senior Seminar
ART/GDES 493 Senior Exhibition
GDES 449 Advanced Graphic Design
GDES 495 Internship (3 credit minimum)

Art

ART 201 Art Foundations I
ART 202 Art Foundations II
ART 279 Photography
ART 301 Prehistoric and Medieval Art History
ART 302 European Renaissance Art History
ART 303 Baroque to Modern Art History
ART 304 Modern Art History
ART 310 Painting
ART 320 Sculpture
ART 331 Ceramics: Introduction to Wheel Throwing or ART 332 Ceramics: Handbuilding and Sculptural Forms
ART 340 Printmaking: Intaglio or ART 341 Printmaking: Lithography
ART 410 Advanced Painting
ART 420 Advanced Sculpture
ART 430 Advanced Ceramics
ART 440 Advanced Printmaking
ART 495 Internship
ART 460 Advanced Drawing
ART 492 Senior Seminar
ART 493 Senior Exhibition

Arts Management

AMGT 425 Issues in Arts Management
AMGT 490 Portfolio
AMGT 495 Internship