The department of art offers courses that introduce students to the visual arts as both observers and participants. Entry level courses are open to students with minimal or no previous art experience. Three degree paths are available for the art major: two in studio, B.F.A. and B.A.; and one in art history, B.A. The Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) degree requires the completion of 17 units in art studio and art history, as well as the public exhibition of work in the spring BFA gallery exhibitions. The Bachelor of Art (BA) degree requires the completion of 13 units in art studio and art history. Both studio degrees allow concentration in the following disciplines: painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The Bachelor of Art (BA) in art history requires the completion of 13 units in art history and art studio. Tutorial or contract courses cannot substitute for required art courses.

With the approval of his or her advisor, an art major may elect one teaching experience in the area of concentration. This is done in either the sophomore, junior, or senior year by enrolling in AR 298, 398, or 498.

Students with a studio concentration must be able to demonstrate that they are sufficiently competent to undertake college-level work in the visual arts.

Major Requirements

B.F.A. in Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture (17 units):

AR 111 and 112
AR 150, 250, and 350
AR 216 and 416
AR 471 and 472
two additional units in art history
three units in the area of concentration (painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture) and one unit in two of the three other areas
AR 499

B.A. in Studio Art (13 units):

AR 111 and 112
AR 150, 250, and 350
AR 216 and 416
two additional units in art history
three units in the area of concentration (painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture)
AR 499

B.A. in Art History (13 units):

AR 101, 103, or 104
AR 102
AR 215
AR 216
six additional units in art history
two additional units at the 200 level or above, outside of art history, in related field/s of interest (such as studio art, literature, history, or language courses)
AR 499

Minor Requirements

Studio Art (5 units):

AR 101 or 103
AR 102
AR 104
AR 215 or 216
one unit in AR studio experience at the 300 level or above

Art History (5 units):

AR 215
AR 216
one unit from AR 101, 102, 103, 104
two units from AR 315, 316, 415, 416

Courses in Art

AR 101 Basic Painting (1)

A studio course for the non major or art minor, dealing with the fundamental principles of oil painting, accompanied by supplemental exercises aimed at developing elementary drawing skills. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 102 Basic Design (1)

A studio course for the non major or art minor, dealing with two and three dimensional problems in organization, proportional relationship, and use of materials. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 103 Basic Photography (1)

A studio course for the non-major or art minor with no prior darkroom experience and limited or no 35mm camera experience. Emphasis is on the development of basic technical and aesthetic facility in 35mm photography. A 35mm camera is required. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 104 Basic Drawing (1)

A studio experience for the non major or art minor dealing with the basic principles of composition, proportions, linear perspective, and form in space within the context of representational drawing. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 111 Design Methods I (1)

A studio course for the art major, emphasizing structural and proportional organization through problems in line, tonal contrast, and color relationship, employing a variety of materials. Prerequisite: Art major. Fall.

 

AR 112 Design Methods II (1)

A studio course for the art major, emphasizing composition and construction techniques through a series of three-dimensional projects. Prerequisite: AR 111. Spring.

 

AR 114 Introduction to Art Issues (1)

An introductory discussion course designed for beginning studio art and art history majors. Students are introduced to the language and methods of verbal and written visual analysis, and to political and social issues surrounding the production and consumption of art today. Fall.

 

AR 150 Drawing I (1)

A studio course for the art major, dealing with basic principles of drawing. This course emphasizes drawing skills and perception. Prerequisite: Art major. Spring.

 

AR 215 History of Western Art I: Ancient to Medieval (1)

A slide lecture course that provides the general student as well as the art major with an introduction to the language and methodology of art history. Focus is placed on stylistic development and its relation to cultural and historical contexts. Objects studied include prehistoric cave paintings, Egyptian pyramids, ancient Greek sculpture, and the cathedrals of medieval Europe. Fall.

 

AR 216 History of Western Art II: Renaissance to the Present (1)

A slide lecture course that provides the general student as well as the art major with an introduction to the language and methodology of art history. Focus is placed on stylistic development and its relation to cultural and historical contexts. Artists studied include Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso, Dali, and O'Keeffe. Spring.

 

AR 220 Survey of Film as Art I (1)

An overview of the stylistic and creative development of the art film from the silent era in Europe through the French New Wave. Two two-and-one-half hour meetings weekly. Fall.

 

AR 221 Survey of Film as Art II (1)

An overview of the stylistic and creative development of the art film from the 2nd Italian Renaissance to the present. Two two-and-one-half-hour meetings weekly. Spring.

 

AR 250 Drawing II (1)

A studio experience for the art major dealing with compositional drawing in a variety of basic media. Prerequisite: AR 150. Fall.

 

AR 301 Printmaking I (1)

A studio experience in collagraph, linocut, etching, and engraving as an introduction to relief and intaglio printmaking. Prerequisites: AR 111 and consent. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 302 Printmaking II (1)

A studio experience in advanced level of techniques presented in AR 301. Prerequisite: AR 301. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 303 Printmaking III (1)

Introduction to lithography, experimental intaglio, and color intaglio, for the printmaking major. Prerequisite: AR 302. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 306 Painting I (1)

A studio experience in the fundamentals of oil painting, exploring traditional subjects and concepts. Prerequisites: AR 150 and consent. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 307 Painting II (1)

Application of techniques presented in AR 306, with an investigative approach to materials and style and an emphasis on aesthetics. Prerequisite: AR 306. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 308 Painting III (1)

A continuation of AR 307. Specifically for the painting major, this course emphasizes creativity and development of works in series. Prerequisite: AR 307. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 311 Sculpture I (1)

A studio experience in several traditional sculptural concepts and media, including modeling, casting, and carving. Prerequisites: AR 112 and consent. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 312 Sculpture II (1)

Advanced sculptural problems, their concepts and media. Prerequisite: AR 311. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 313 Sculpture III (1)

A continuation of AR 312, specifically for the sculpture major. Prerequisite: AR 312. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 315 Renaissance and Baroque Art (1)

A study of Renaissance and Baroque movements in southern and northern art. Prerequisite: AR 215. Spring.

 

AR 316 American Art (1)

A study of the visual arts of the United States and their social-historical contexts from the Colonial period to 1945. Prerequisite: AR 216 or consent. Fall.

 

AR 321 Photography I (1)

A studio experience for art majors in the fundamentals of 35mm photography beyond basic technical skills. Introduces the use of various films, papers, and darkroom techniques. Prerequisite: AR 111 and consent. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 322 Photography II (1)

Application of techniques presented in AR 321 with an investigative approach to photographic image making. Prerequisite: AR 321 and consent. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 323 Photography III (1)

An advanced application of the technical and conceptual themes covered in AR 322, specifically for the photography major. Prerequisite: AR 322 and consent. Fall, Spring.

 

AR 350 Drawing III (1)

A studio experience for the art major dealing with experimentation in drawing media and techniques. This course emphasizes concepts and development of a personal approach. Prerequisite: AR 250. Spring.

 

AR 415 Nineteenth Century Art (1)

A study of the major European art movements from about 1760 to 1900, with a brief inclusion of their correlation in America. Focus is given to viewing artworks in their social historical contexts. Prerequisite: AR 216 or consent. Fall.

 

AR 416 Twentieth Century Art (1)

A study of the major European and American art movements from 1900 to the present. Focus is given to viewing artworks in their social historical contexts. Prerequisite: AR 216 or consent. Spring.

 

AR 470 Art History Seminar (1)

Problems in art history, taught by the seminar method. This course may be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: Consent. Spring.

 

AR 471 Senior Studio I (1)

A course for the B.F.A. studio art major leading to the production of a series of related works in the student's area of specialization. This series should constitute an original or unique visual statement. Prerequisites: AR 303, 308, or 313 and consent. Fall.

 

AR 472 Senior Studio II (1)

A continuation of work initiated in AR 471 culminating in the student's participation in the senior exhibition to be reviewed by the art faculty. Prerequisite: AR 471. Spring.

 

AR 499 Senior Project in Art (1)

A capstone experience in art subject to approval by the major professor. The B.F.A. candidate either continues project work from AR 471 or takes on a course of study supportive of the senior studio experience. The B.A. candidate in studio art pursues a personalized experience in visual art that enhances his or her chosen course of study over the previous four years; it may be project or research oriented, documented travel, or an internship. The B.A. candidate in art history either produces a documented research paper or completes an internship with the Birmingham Museum of Art. Prerequisite: Senior standing. Interim