Art + Design, School of

College of Fine Arts
Seigfred Hall 528
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4290
Fax: 740.593.0457
http://www.finearts.ohio.edu/art/

David LaPalombara, Director
lapalomb@ohio.edu

Overview

The School of Art + Design at Ohio University is committed to developing professional artists, designers, and scholars who are dedicated to public discourse. Practice and production are both emphasized and informed by aesthetic, intellectual, political, historical, cultural, and critical awareness. We see the visual arts at Ohio University as transformative for communities, society, and ourselves. Our students come from diverse geographic, ethnic, cultural, and aesthetic backgrounds. This diversity is reflected both in the School of Art + Design and the College of Fine Arts, which also includes the Schools of Dance, Film, and Theater, the School of Music, and the School of Interdisciplinary Arts. Students are encouraged to become involved in various art forms, to experiment in interdisciplinary approaches, and to find the innate relationship within and across these expressive disciplines. Within the School of Art + Design, you will find a distinguished and dedicated faculty. These individuals work hard to maintain a healthy balance between teaching expertise, professional creative work, scholarly research, and community service. We maintain a strong commitment to our undergraduate and graduate programs. Our facilities are well equipped for each discipline area. To attract the best quality students, we offer numerous undergraduate scholarships. Four exhibition spaces showcase the works of students, faculty, and nationally renowned visiting artists, providing arts experiences for the University and Athens communities. These services bring a global perspective to our rich local culture.Whether you are a prospective student, alumnus, or other interested visitor, please visit our website to learn even more about our excellent School’s programs, faculty, and staff.

The Program

Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in Studio Art or Art History; a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a major in Studio Art and a concentration in ceramics, painting + drawing, photography + integrated media, printmaking, or sculpture + expanded practice; a B.F.A with a major in Graphic Design; or a B.F.A with a major in Interior Architecture. Our facilities include an extensive range of ceramic kilns; a sculpture building with metal working equipment, a modern foundry, a comprehensive wood shop; painting and drawing studios; printmaking facilities with photo-silkscreen, lithography, etching, typesetting presses, and digital equipment for producing large-scale prints; graphic design digital labs; and a photography area with extensive darkrooms, studios, and computers for digital imagery. All art majors have 24-hour access to most studio spaces. All students have access to the major collections in the Fine Arts Library, located at Ohio University’s Alden Library, which serves as a federal research repository and is particularly strong in Renaissance art, 19th-century art, Oceanic art, modern art, contemporary art, and the history of photography. The Fine Arts Library also contains more than 200,000 images in slide form and digital files, plus numerous CDs and videotapes. On-campus study collections include the Kennedy Collection of Native American Art, the Kennedy Collection of African Art, and the Trisolini Contemporary Print Collection, as well as exhibitions curated at the Kennedy Museum of Art. Our Visiting Artists program regularly brings to campus internationally known artists and scholars.

The Process

All students enter the School of Art + Design as Bachelor of Art students, with majors in Studio Art or Art History. Students in the B.A. in Art History enter directly into the major. Students in the B.A. in Studio Art have shared experiences during their first year in the foundations program. This program provides students with a basis for critical and creative thinking by giving them a broad range of experiences in the studio and classroom. The first year also gives students the opportunity to integrate their general education studies with their development as growing artists and scholars.

Many students choose to stay in the B.A. with a major in Studio Art degree track. The B.A. offers students the opportunity to pursue double majors in other disciplines. Dual B.A. degrees are common in the School of Art + Design. For more information concerning possible dual degrees, please see the Ohio University catalog for a comprehensive list of all available degrees.

Students in the B.A. major in Studio Art also have the option of applying into one of the Bachelor of Fine Arts programs offered through the School of Art + Design. The School of Art + Design offers B.F.A. degrees with majors in Studio Art (with concentrations in ceramics, painting + drawing, photography + integrated media, printmaking, and sculpture + expanded practice) and B.F.A. degrees with majors in Graphic Design or Interior Architecture. Students interested in the Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Interior Architecture may apply to that major program by portfolio review at the end of their freshman year. Students interested in the Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Graphic Design or the Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Studio Art may apply to these major programs by portfolio review at the end of their sophomore year. All B.F.A. studio areas require an exhibition of each student’s artwork as the culminating event in achieving the degree.

Both the B.A. and B.F.A. degrees require an accumulative 2.75 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the major.

Advising

The School of Art + Design makes academic advising an integral part of the educational experience. Students are encouraged to consult regularly with advisors concerning the selection of courses and progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. Advisors also can help students determine which scholarships are available. Other resources for advising and consulting include access to the Assistant Director of Student Services, the chair of the foundations program, and the area chair in your major.

Opportunities

Of the many opportunities for Ohio University students there are two organizations in the School of Art + Design integral to our community which provide special opportunities for student artists. The Undergraduate Art League (UAL) sponsors visiting artists, organizes annual juried exhibitions, and coordinates trips to major museums. Students within the Interior Architecture program are eligible to hold membership in the Student Design Group, which is affiliated with the American Society of Interior Design (ASID) and International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Scholarships

Renewable talent scholarships are available to incoming, first-year students. Submit portfolios online to Slide Room, by the February 20th deadline. Detailed information on portfolio requirements can be obtained from the School of Art + Design website.

Incoming students are also considered for the OHIO Signature Awards. These scholarships are awarded through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and require certain criteria in order to be renewed each year. Once enrolled, recognition is given to art majors as they pursue their programs through the annual awarding of scholarships and prizes, including the College of Fine Arts Upperclass Dean’s Awards and numerous endowed funds. These funds are awarded for outstanding accomplishments at the sophomore through senior levels, and they are based primarily on talent. Included in the School of Art + Design endowed scholarships are: Kenneth Clifford Memorial, John Steven Cordray Scholarship Fund, Rose Marie Darst Memorial, L.C. Mitchell Memorial, the Foster Award, Francis Paulson Family Memorial, Terry Shuchat Photography Scholarship, Walter and Sally Greene Scholarship, and the Edna Way Scholarship. Application for these scholarships must be made online by mid March at http://www-sfa.chubb.ohiou.edu/.

Work Experience

Program to Aid in Career Exploration (PACE) positions are designed to offer preprofessional experiences to undergraduates in all areas throughout the University. The School of Art + Design faculty and administrators employ PACE students, who learn as apprentices in many areas of the School. Some of these include: graphic designer, studio assistant, public relations assistant, studio art printer, graphic design lab manager, gallery assistant, Web master, and newsletter editor. Students interested in this program must apply for PACE eligibility at the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Work-study positions are available in the School of Art + Design. Motivated art students frequently find internships in the Kennedy Museum of Art or in local galleries. Upperclass art students may apply to become Art Ambassadors for the school.

Admission Requirements

If you are planning to pursue an art major, you will enter the School of Art + Design as a B.A. major with either the BA5050 major code (studio art) or BA5149 major code (art history). You need to meet the Ohio University admissions requirements. A portfolio is required only if you are interested in applying for a talent scholarship or if you are a transfer student.

School of Art + Design Grade Point Average Policy

Students in the School of Art + Design on the Athens campus are required to maintain a 2.75 accumulative grade point average and a 3.0 grade point average in major courses.

Any freshman directly admitted to the School of Art + Design on the Athens campus who has earned less than a 2.75 accumulative GPA and a 3.0 major course GPA after his/her first two academic semesters of full-time enrollment (12 credit hours minimum per semester) will be required to attend specialized advising sessions. Failure to attend a required session will result in an academic hold placed on the student’s record, which will make the student unable to register for future classes.

If after spring semester of sophomore year a student’s accumulative GPA is less than a 2.75 and their major course GPA is less than a 3.0, he/she may be dismissed from the School of Art + Design.

Following each semester of full-time enrollment students’ grades will be reviewed to make certain that they have met the 2.75 accumulative and 3.0 major course minimum GPA.

Each semester a student’s GPA falls below the required 2.75/3.0 minimum GPA he/she will be subject to the School of Art + Design probation policy.

School of Art + Design Probation Policy

The School of Art + Design probation policy requires that each semester a student’s GPA falls below the accumulative 2.75/3.0 major minimum he/she must earn a 2.75/3.0 GPA for the next semester in order to continue in the School of Art + Design.

After two consecutive full-time academic semesters on School of Art + Design probation without GPA progress, a student will be referred to the SoA+D Academic Review Committee. The Academic Review Committee may recommend further advising session attendance, continuation of probation, or dismissal from the SoA+D.

Dismissal from the SoA+D may be appealed to the SoA+D Academic Review Committee. The appeal process requires:

two letters of support from tenured/tenure track faculty within the SoA+D
one support letter from the student’s academic advisor
a personal statement addressing strategies for success

Note:

Following fall and spring semesters, School of Art + Design first-year students who, at the time of review, have a GPA between 2.0 and 2.749 will be required to complete a specialized advising sessions. These are mandatory and are intended to help students improve their academic performance and return to good academic standing in the School of Art + Design as quickly as possible. Failure to attend will result in a registration hold, which will not be lifted until the sessions are complete. Information about the sessions will be sent to students’ permanent addresses, local addresses, and/or university email accounts.

Major Areas and Requirements

Students may elect the B.A. with a major in Studio Art or Art History, or seek admission into one of the B.F.A studio majors. The School of Art + Design requires a minimum accumulative GPA of 2.75 and an in-major GPA of 3.0. Students interested in gaining admission into one of the studio B.F.A. major programs must meet these prerequisites and should consult with the chair of the intended major area before submitting their required portfolio application. To graduate, students must satisfy the degree requirements of Ohio University, the College of Fine Arts, and the School of Art + Design. The following courses, may not be used to fulfill specific degree requirements in the School of Art + Design, including studio electives: ART 1100 , 1111 , 1121 , 1131 , 1141 , 1151 , 1161 , 1171 , 1181 , and 1191 . School of Art + Design students may use these courses as free electives only.

Transfer Requirements

While the School of Art + Design welcomes students transferring from other programs, not all students can be accepted, due to limits in space and resources. Admission is selective, not guaranteed.

Transfer guidelines for students currently enrolled at Ohio University include the following:

Minimum requirement of a 2.75 GPA
Minimum grade of B for credit in major courses
Must enroll as a B.A. with a major in Studio Art or Art History and complete a required program of foundations and studio courses
May not enroll as a senior
Applications for transfer can be obtained from the College of Fine Arts Dean’s Office
Must contact the Assistant Director of student Services at the School of Art + Design for advising during the first semester of study

Transfer guidelines for students attending another institution of higher learning:

Must enroll as a B.A. in Studio Art or Art History and complete a required program of foundations and studio courses

Returning Students

Students wishing to return to complete a program after 10 years must reapply for acceptance. Credits earned prior to readmittance are subject to review by the school for credit toward current major requirements.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Other Programs