Visual Studies, Bachelor of Arts (509)
Program Coordinator
Kristina E. Arnold, kristina.arnold@wku.edu, (270) 745-3944
The Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Visual Studies is a liberal arts degree intended to provide students with a wide range of art experience and knowledge. This degree has two concentrations: studio art and art education. The studio concentration includes a breadth of courses in fine art, graphic design, and animation. The art education concentration is a professional education degree, leading to KY P-12 visual arts certification. This certification is reciprocal with many states in the US.
Students interested in art education should contact Dr. Miwon Choe, miwon.choe@wku.edu, (270)-745-7052.
Concentrations
- Art Education (ARED)
- Studio (ARSO)
Program Requirements (49 hours - Studio Art Concentration, 63 hours - Art Education Concentration, plus professional education courses)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
Studio Concentration
The AB in Visual Studies-Studio concentration requires 49 semester hours of study. It allows students to pursue a wide breadth of studio interests and pair them with additional curricular experiences.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Foundation Courses: | ||
| ART 105 | History of Art to 1300 | 3 |
| ART 106 | History of Art Since 1300 | 3 |
| ART 130 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ART 131 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ART 140 | Drawing | 3 |
| Select three Beginning-Level Studio Courses: | 9 | |
| Ceramics | ||
| Graphic Design I: Typography | ||
or ART 243 | Digital Media | |
| Drawing | ||
| Introduction to Computer Animation | ||
or ANIM 220 | 3D Modeling I: Environment | |
| Printmaking | ||
| Painting | ||
| Sculpture Survey I | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Select six Upper-Level Studio Courses: | 18 | |
| Ceramics | ||
| Graphic Design II: Layout & Information Design | ||
| Visual Thinking | ||
| Drawing | ||
| Drawing | ||
| Digital Media: Time-Based | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Graphic Design III: Advanced Graphic Design | ||
| Illustration | ||
| Package Design | ||
| Digital Illustration | ||
| Advanced Media Design | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Pottery Wheel Techniques | ||
| Ceramic Glaze Composition | ||
| Ceramic Studio Equipment Design | ||
| Special Firing Techniques | ||
| Drawing | ||
| Computer Animation III | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Senior Techniques in Printmaking | ||
| Advanced Senior Techniques in Printmaking | ||
| Advanced Senior Composition in Printmaking | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Senior Painting Studio I | ||
| Senior Painting Studio II | ||
| Advanced Senior Painting Studio I | ||
| Advanced Senior Painting Studio II | ||
| Sculpture Survey II | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Welding I | ||
| Sculpture, Figurative Studies | ||
| Installation Art | ||
| Design to Prototype I | ||
| Sculpture | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Foundry I | ||
| Sculpture | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Wood | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Welding II | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Foundry II | ||
| Design to Prototype II | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Senior Fiber Techniques | ||
| Senior Fiber Composition | ||
| Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques | ||
| Advanced Senior Fiber Composition | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Special Studies | ||
| Special Topics in Studio Art | ||
| Special Topics in Animation | ||
| Special Topics in Graphic Design | ||
| Professional Work | ||
| Career Experience in Art | ||
| Computer Animation I | ||
| 3D Modeling II: Character Design and Development | ||
| Sound and Image | ||
| Computer Animation II | ||
| Select two Upper-Level Art History Courses: | 6 | |
| Ancient Greek and Roman Art | ||
| Art of the United States to 1865 | ||
| Art of the United States Since 1865 | ||
| Southern Baroque Art | ||
| Northern Baroque Art | ||
| Medieval Art & Architecture | ||
| Art and Power | ||
| Art and Landscape | ||
| Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas | ||
| Survey of Graphic Design | ||
| Contemporary Art | ||
| A Cultural History of Alcohol | ||
| Art of the Italian Renaissance | ||
| Northern Renaissance Art | ||
| Art Theory and Criticism | ||
| Islamic Art and Architecture | ||
| European Art, 1700-1848 | ||
| European Art, 1848-1900 | ||
| European Art, 1900-1945 | ||
| American Architectural History | ||
| Seminar in Art History | ||
| Required Capstone Course: | 1 | |
| Capstone Seminar | ||
| Total Hours | 49 | |
Art Education Concentration
The AB in Visual Studies, Art Education concentration equips knowledgeable and creative art teachers to meet state and national standards on elementary and secondary levels. This degree, requiring a combined total of 88 semester hours in art and professional education courses, prepares students for P-12 certification and is a common requirement for entry into a Master of Arts in Education degree program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Foundation Courses: | ||
| ART 105 | History of Art to 1300 | 3 |
| ART 106 | History of Art Since 1300 | 3 |
| ART 130 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ART 131 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ART 140 | Drawing | 3 |
| Choose four of Beginning-Level Studio Courses: | 12 | |
| Ceramics | ||
| Graphic Design I: Typography | ||
or ART 243 | Digital Media | |
| Drawing | ||
| Introduction to Computer Animation | ||
or ANIM 220 | 3D Modeling I: Environment | |
| Printmaking | ||
| Painting | ||
| Sculpture Survey I | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Choose five Upper-Level Studio Electives: | 15 | |
| Drawing | ||
| Drawing | ||
| Drawing | ||
| Computer Animation III | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Pottery Wheel Techniques | ||
| Ceramic Glaze Composition | ||
| Ceramic Studio Equipment Design | ||
| Special Firing Techniques | ||
| Graphic Design II: Layout & Information Design | ||
| Visual Thinking | ||
| Digital Media: Time-Based | ||
| Graphic Design III: Advanced Graphic Design | ||
| Illustration | ||
| Package Design | ||
| Digital Illustration | ||
| Advanced Media Design | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Senior Techniques in Printmaking | ||
| Senior Composition in Printmaking | ||
| Advanced Senior Techniques in Printmaking | ||
| Advanced Senior Composition in Printmaking | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
| Senior Painting Studio I | ||
| Senior Painting Studio II | ||
| Advanced Senior Painting Studio I | ||
| Advanced Senior Painting Studio II | ||
| Sculpture Survey II | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Welding I | ||
| Sculpture, Figurative Studies | ||
| Installation Art | ||
| Design to Prototype I | ||
| Sculpture | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Foundry I | ||
| Sculpture | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Wood | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Welding II | ||
| Sculpture Methods, Foundry II | ||
| Design to Prototype II | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Weaving | ||
| Senior Fiber Techniques | ||
| Senior Fiber Composition | ||
| Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques | ||
| Advanced Senior Fiber Composition | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Special Studies | ||
| Special Topics in Animation | ||
| Special Topics in Graphic Design | ||
| Professional Work | ||
| Career Experience in Art | ||
| Computer Animation I | ||
| 3D Modeling II: Character Design and Development | ||
| Sound and Image | ||
| Computer Animation II | ||
| Select 2 Upper-Level Art History Electives: | 6 | |
| Ancient Greek and Roman Art | ||
| Art of the United States to 1865 | ||
| Art of the United States Since 1865 | ||
| Southern Baroque Art | ||
| Northern Baroque Art | ||
| Medieval Art & Architecture | ||
| Art and Power | ||
| Art and Landscape | ||
| Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas | ||
| Survey of Graphic Design | ||
| Contemporary Art | ||
| A Cultural History of Alcohol | ||
| Art of the Italian Renaissance | ||
| Northern Renaissance Art | ||
| Art Theory and Criticism | ||
| Islamic Art and Architecture | ||
| European Art, 1700-1848 | ||
| European Art, 1848-1900 | ||
| European Art, 1900-1945 | ||
| American Architectural History | ||
| Seminar in Art History | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Required Art Education Pedagogy Courses: | ||
| ART 311 | Foundations of Art Education and Methods I | 3 |
| ART 411 | Foundations of Art Education and Methods II | 3 |
| ART 413 | Foundations of Art Education and Methods III | 3 |
| Required Capstone Courses: | ||
| ART 432 | Portfolio | 3 |
| ART 496 | Special Topics in Studio Art | 3 |
| Total Hours | 63 | |
Professional Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| An additional 25 semester hours in Professional Education courses are required for state certification purposes. | ||
| EDU 250 | Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education | 3 |
| PSY 310 | Educational Psychology: Development and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 350 | Student Diversity and Differentiation | 3 |
| EDU 360 | Behavior and Classroom Management in Education | 3 |
| EDU 489 | Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
| Choose two courses at 5 hours each: | 10 | |
| Student Teaching | ||
| Student Teaching | ||
| Student Teaching | ||
| Total Hours | 25 | |
Finish in Four Plan
On This Page
Art Education
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 105 | 3 | ART 106 | 3 |
| ART 130 | 3 | ART 131 | 3 |
| ART 140 | 3 | Basic Studio #1 (200 level) | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | MATH 109 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Basic Studio #2 (200 level) | 3 | Basic Studio #4 (200 level) | 3 |
| Basic Studio #3 (200 level) | 3 | Colonnade - Local to Global or Systems | 3 |
| Upper Level Art History (ART 317 or ART 318 recommended) | 3 | Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab | 3 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | EDU 250 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Studies | 3 | PSY 310 | 3 |
| ART 311 | 3 | ||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Upper Level Studio Elective #1 (300-400 Level) | 3 | Upper Level Studio Elective #3 (300-400 Level) | 3 |
| Upper Level Studio Elective #2 (300-400 Level) | 3 | Upper Level Studio Elective #4 (300-400 Level) | 3 |
| ART 411 | 3 | SPED 330 | 3 |
| ART 413 | 3 | LTCY 421 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Upper Level Studio Elective #5 (300-400 Level) | 3 | ART 432 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Social & Cultural | 3 | EDU 489 | 3 |
| ART 496 | 3 | Choose two: SEC 490 or ELED 490 or MGE 490 | 10 |
| Upper Level Art History (300-400 Level) | 3 | ||
| 12 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 121 | |||
Studio Art
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 105 | 3 | ART 106 | 3 |
| ART 130 | 3 | ART 131 | 3 |
| ART 140 | 3 | MATH 109 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | Basic Studio #1 (200 level) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Basic Studio #2 (200 level) | 3 | Upper Level Studio #1 (300-400 level) | 3 |
| Basic Studio #3 (200 level) | 3 | Colonnade - Local to Global or Systems | 3 |
| ART 318 or ART 317 | 3 | Colonnade - Social & Behavioral | 3 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | Upper Level Studio #2 (300-400 level) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 | Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Upper Level Studio #3 (300-400 level) | 3 | Upper Level Studio #4 (300-400 level) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 | Upper Level Studio Elective #5 (300-400 Level) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 | Upper Level Art History | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade - Social & Cultural | 3 |
| Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Upper Level Studio Elective #6 (300-400 Level) | 3 | ART 434 | 1 |
| Colonnade - Local to Global or Systems | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 |
| World Language Requirement or General Elective | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 121 | |||