Art and Art History

Division V Chair: L. Kriner

Department Chair: A. Elston

Faculty: A. Elston, B. Anderson, M. Doherty, D. Feinberg, K. Gardner, L. Kriner, E. McKiernan Gonzaléz, and P. Wiggs

Website: http://www.berea.edu/art/

Courses: ARH CoursesART Courses

Course Sequencing Tables: Art HistoryArt

Entrance to the Major Information: Progression for Studio Art; Progression for Art History

Major/Minor Requirements:Art: Studio B.A.Art: Art History B.A.Art History MinorArt Studio Minor

The Art Department offers an integrated program of courses in studio art and art history. Courses are grouped to provide a firm foundation in visual fundamentals, a broad base of art involvement, flexibility of program planning, and some degree of concentration in a specific area. Course work meeting General Education requirements and the needs of non-art majors is also provided.

The Department does not prescribe the same courses for all those majoring in Art. The student’s ability, preference, and purpose are considered, and a program is worked out in consultation with the Academic Advisor. Two concentrations are currently offered—Studio Art, and Art History. Four foundation/core courses are common to both concentrations—ART 110 and ARH 121, ARH 124, and ARH 255. Students pursuing the Studio concentration must also complete ART 115. 

Each studio medium, with the exception of Design and Drawing, may be taken from the first through fourth level, developing the student’s skills and concepts. In the curricula listed below, media are defined as ceramics, fibers, painting, printmaking, and sculpture.

Images and final papers from the capstone requirement must be submitted in electronic form for the permanent collection of the Art Department.

Guidelines and Policies for Transfer Students in Art

All transfer students, or high-school students with Advanced Placement Art course work, who are planning to major in Art must present a portfolio of previous course work, additional visual materials, or written papers for review by the Art faculty prior to entry before any transfer credit will be given. This portfolio also will serve to guide the Art faculty in advising the student during registration. The Admissions Office will provide details for applicants.

On the basis of the portfolio and other documents, the Art faculty will indicate which required course is needed (if any) and at what level the student may enter studio or art history courses. A minimum standard of achievement, as determined by the Art faculty, will be required for admission to all Art majors.

All courses in art transferred from accredited programs will count toward the Art major. Students must take a minimum of six courses in Art at Berea College to earn the B.A. degree in either of the two Art major concentrations.

In addition to supporting students' achievement of the Aims of General Education, the Art Department seeks to assist students in meeting the following learning goals and associated learning outcomes:

Art History Student Learning Goals & Outcomes

Learning Goal 1: Understanding of Art History

Develop an understanding of art history through material, historical, critical, and theoretical approaches.

Learning Outcome 1.1: Knowledge of Visual and Material Culture

Demonstrate knowledge of visual and material culture from a diverse range of periods and places.

Learning Outcome 1.2: Interaction Between Art and Context

Articulate an understanding of the interaction between art and its contexts.

Learning Goal 2: Possess a high degree of visual and art historical literacy.

Learning Outcome 2.1: Analyze Visual and Textual Sources

Analyze visual and textual sources clearly and convincingly both in writing and orally in order to demonstrate increasingly sophisticated visual literacy.

Learning Outcome 2.2: Conduct Research

Conduct research grounded in relevant, high-quality sources.

Studio Art Student Learning Goals & Outcomes

Learning Goal 1: Introduce art foundational language, intellectual engagement, and technical skills with artistic practice.

Learning Outcome 1.1: Application of Art Language, Materials, & Techniques

Understand and appropriately use art language, materials, and techniques, and apply them to the analysis of art creation.

Learning Goal 2: Integrate formal and conceptual understandings into creative practice.

Learning Outcome 2.1: Intentionality

Demonstrate intention in consideration of results in regard to formal, technical, and theoretical concepts.

Learning Goal 3: Transition from instructor-guided projects to independent student directed work in their chosen artistic concentration.

Learning Outcome 3.1: Demonstrate Intentionality

Demonstrate intention and the ability to assess intention in at least one artistic concentration.

Learning Goal 4: Guide students in their creation of a cohesive body of art, unified by form and concept.

Learning Outcome 4.1: Professional Presentation

Create a cohesive body of art present professionally in an exhibition supported by oral and written statements.