Mission Statement

The Department of Art and Art History, an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, is dedicated to preparing students with the knowledge and skills necessary for pursing lives as artists, designers and art historians, who will be creative, inquisitive, and well-rounded individuals, conscious of the important role that artistic endeavor and intellectual pursuit plays within their lives and throughout our culture.

The department is an integral part of the interdisciplinary experience within the University and by virtue of its commitment to the highest standards in teaching, research and service, is committed to supporting and strengthening the mission of the College of Liberal Arts.

Departmental Goals

The department ...

provides students with an understanding of the forms, concepts and record of human visual expression. Through closely supervised scholarship, practice, analysis, and intuition, they acquire skills of hand and mind.

provides information, opportunities and guidance for students preparing to enter art-related vocations or graduate study.

strives to create an environment that encourages creativity, builds confidence, fosters self-discipline, and celebrates the spirit of individuality.

promotes a gallery program that presents the work of regionally and nationally known artists, visiting-artist lectures, as well as offering exhibition opportunities for faculty and students.

recognizes the importance of establishing and maintaining strong connections with other cultural organizations. Through its sponsorship of the North Alabama Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America, the department maintains a vital link between itself, the community, and other academic disciplines in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

Areas of Concentration

The art program offers courses in the studio arts and art history supporting a Bachelor of Arts major, a minor, or as part of a program of cognate studies in art, art history or computer-mediated communication (web development).

Students pursuing a program of study in Art may focus on either the studio discipline or the art history discipline. The studio focus allows a student to specialize at the upper division in drawing/painting, graphic design, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.

view catalog for required courses