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Windgate Center of Art + Design, AD 202 | (501) 916-3182, (501) 683-7022 (fax) | ualr.edu/art

The Department of Art and Design, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, offers undergraduate instruction leading to a baccalaureate degree in art (BA in Art) with tracks in art history, studio art, and art education. 

The studio art track offers the breadth of a liberal arts degree while also providing students with foundational art-making skills and development in a range of studio disciplines. The art history and studio art tracks in the BA in Art require a minor. The art education track prepares students for licensure to teach art at the kindergarten through secondary school level. The art education track requires a minor in Education.

A baccalaureate degree in fine art (BFA in Art) is available to students who are admitted to the program through a review process that includes portfolio and transcript review, a letter of purpose, and an interview. For the current academic year requirements for the review process, see information posted on the art department website at ualr.edu/art.

The BFA in Art has two tracks: fine art (studio art) and applied design. The fine art track offers specialization or emphasis areas in drawing, painting, graphic design, illustration, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The applied design track offers emphasis areas in furniture design, metals, and ceramics.

General Information

The department makes available numerous courses in art education, art history, and studio art for students not majoring in art who are interested in art electives. Minors are available in art history, studio art, applied design, photography, and digital graphics. Courses in ceramics, furniture and woodworking, metals and jewelry are also offered. Certificate programs are offered in applied design, graphic design and photography.

To enrich the instructional program, the department offers continuous exhibits in three galleries in the Windgate Center of Art + Design facility, the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery in the Fine Arts Building and enjoys a cooperative relationship with the Arkansas Arts Center.

Departmental Expectations and Policies

• The undraped human figure is a significant subject within all degrees in the art curriculum.
• Due to the nature of visual art courses, some courses may have technical requirements specifying the physical capabilities of students. Contact the professor of the course if you have concerns regarding these requirements.
• The department adheres to a strict Safety Policy for which all students are held responsible. If you have concerns regarding the policy contact the department chair.
• Regular attendance is a requirement of all art courses and is enforced by the instructor of record. Refer to course syllabi for specifics.
• No grade less than C will be accepted in any art course required within any art major or minor.
• The Department of Art and Design, with student approval, occasionally selects outstanding student work to add to its teaching collection.

Academic Advising

Students majoring in or interested in majoring in Art are advised in the Trojan Academic Advising and Support Center until they earn approximately 45 credit hours.

After reaching approximately 45 hours, art majors will be advised by a department advisor in the Department of Art and Design. Advisors serve for both undergraduate and graduate students in the following capacities:

• New Art Majors and Transfer Students: Contact department chair, Professor Thomas Clifton at tgclifton@ualr.edu for an initial overview of programs.
• Current art majors may contact Professor Clifton for information regarding their advising.

Note: All prospective or current students may also call the department at (501) 916-3182 for more information.

Transfer Students

Students transferring to UA Little Rock who intend to major in art should contact the department before enrolling to arrange for advising. Students may be required to take additional hours in areas where deficiencies are noted.

Transfer students must complete at least nine hours of their studio concentration at UA Little Rock. For example, a student who has 15 hours accepted in transfer credit for painting must complete an additional nine hours of painting at UA Little Rock if painting is the studio concentration.

Senior Show for BA in Art/Art Track

During their senior year, BA in Art: Studio Art Track students are required to register for ARST 4397  Capstone in the Visual Arts. As part of course requirements, students will prepare a group exhibition of their work. The senior show will be scheduled by the gallery curator and must be approved by the student’s capstone instructor.

Senior Show for BFA in Art/Fine Art or Applied Design

BFA students are required to prepare and participate in a group exhibition of their work. The senior show will be scheduled by the gallery curator and must be approved by the student’s emphasis advisor and BFA coordinator. Each student must also give an oral presentation in the form of a PowerPoint presentation before the faculty. The oral presentation will be scheduled and approved by the BFA coordinator, ARST 4395  faculty of record and emphasis advisor, and, if appropriate, also by the gallery curator.

Studio Art Work

Students retain copyright to all two-dimensional, three-dimensional, time-based, and electronic artwork created in the Department of Art and Design; they grant a non-exclusive license to exhibit, display, reproduce, perform, or adapt these works at the discretion of the faculty. Works left in departmental facilities at the end of any semester or summer session may be removed or discarded at the discretion of the faculty.

Senior Portfolio for BFA Majors

As part of a BFA student’s capstone requirements, studio majors will prepare a portfolio of no more than 20 images documenting their senior thesis project and other work, along with a written artist’s statement (minimum one page). Portfolio images are presented in digital format and delivered to the gallery curator. This portfolio must be approved by the ARST 4395  faculty of record, the emphasis advisor, and BFA coordinator. The portfolio will be due one week before the last class day and will become the property of the Department of Art and Design.

Senior Paper for BA in Art/Art History Majors

Art history majors in the last semester of their senior year are required to register for ARHA 4397 - Capstone in Art History . As part of the capstone requirements, students will write a senior paper, which will also be given orally. The paper must be approved by the student’s major advisor,  ARHA 4397  faculty of record, academic advisor, and the art history coordinator. The oral presentation may be in the form of a public lecture, presentation to a class, or a paper at a scholarly meeting.

Senior Portfolio for Art History Majors

Art history majors enrolled in ARHA 4397  are required to prepare a portfolio of their senior paper and three other papers written for classes while at UA Little Rock. This portfolio must be approved by the major advisor, ARHA faculty of record, and the art history coordinator. The portfolio will be due one week before the last class day, and will become the property of the Department of Art and Design.

Teacher Licensure

Contact Professor Thomas Clifton in the Department of Art and Design about the curriculum.

Programs

• Art, Art Education Track, B.A.
• Art, Art History Track, B.A.
• Art, Studio Art Track, B.A.

• Art, Fine Art Track or Applied Design Track, B.F.A

• Applied Design Minor
• Art History Major/Studio Art Minor
• Art History Minor
• Digital Arts Minor
• Photography Minor
• Studio Art Minor

• Graphic Design Technical Certificate

• Applied Design Certificate of Proficiency
• Photography Certificate of Proficiency

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