Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

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.

Required Foundation Courses:
ART 105History of Art to 13003
ART 106History of Art Since 13003
ART 130Two-Dimensional Design3
ART 131Three-Dimensional Design3
ART 140Drawing3
Select three basic studio courses:9
Ceramics
Graphic Design I: Typography
Drawing
Digital Media
Computer Animation I
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
Computer Animation II
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
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Foundry I
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Wood
Sculpture Methods, Welding II
Sculpture Methods, Foundry II
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Senior Fiber Techniques
Senior Fiber Composition
Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques
Advanced Senior Fiber Composition
Special Topics in Studio Art
Special Problems
Special Studies
Professional Work
Career Experience in Art
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
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
ART 434Capstone Seminar1
Total Hours49

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. 

Required Foundation Courses:
ART 105History of Art to 13003
ART 106History of Art Since 13003
ART 130Two-Dimensional Design3
ART 131Three-Dimensional Design3
ART 140Drawing3
Choose four of basic studio courses:12
Ceramics
Graphic Design I: Typography
Drawing
Digital Media
Computer Animation I
Printmaking
Painting
Sculpture Survey I
Weaving
Choose five Upper Level Studio Electives:15
Drawing
Drawing
Computer Animation II
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
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Foundry I
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Wood
Sculpture Methods, Welding II
Sculpture Methods, Foundry II
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Senior Fiber Techniques
Senior Fiber Composition
Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques
Advanced Senior Fiber Composition
Special Problems
Special Studies
Professional Work
Career Experience in Art
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
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 311Foundations of Art Education and Methods I3
ART 411Foundations of Art Education and Methods II3
ART 413Foundations of Art Education and Methods III3
Required Capstone Courses:
ART 432Portfolio3
ART 496Special Topics in Studio Art3
Total Hours63

Professional Education Requirements

An additional 25 semester hours in Professional Education courses are required for state certification purposes.
EDU 250Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education3
PSY 310Educational Psychology: Development and Learning3
EDU 350Student Diversity and Differentiation3
EDU 360Behavior and Classroom Management in Education3
EDU 489Student Teaching Seminar3
Choose two courses at 5 hours each:10
Student Teaching
Student Teaching
Student Teaching
Total Hours25

Finish in Four Plan


Art Education

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 1053ART 1063
ART 1303ART 1313
ART 1403Basic Studio #1 (200 level)3
ENG 1003MATH 1093
HIST 101 or HIST 1023COMM 1453
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Basic Studio #2 (200 level)3Basic Studio #4 (200 level)3
Basic Studio #3 (200 level)3Colonnade - Local to Global or Systems3
Upper Level Art History (ART 317 or ART 318 recommended)3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3
ENG 2003EDU 2503
Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Studies3PSY 3103
ART 3113 
 18 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper Level Studio Elective #1 (300-400 Level)3Upper Level Studio Elective #3 (300-400 Level)3
Upper Level Studio Elective #2 (300-400 Level)3Upper Level Studio Elective #4 (300-400 Level)3
ART 4113SPED 3303
ART 4133LTCY 4213
ENG 3003Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper Level Studio Elective #5 (300-400 Level)3ART 4323
Colonnade - Social & Cultural3EDU 4893
ART 4963Choose two: SEC 490 or ELED 490 or MGE 49010
Upper Level Art History (300-400 Level)3 
 12 16
Total Hours 121

Studio Art  

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 1053ART 1063
ART 1303ART 1313
ART 1403MATH 1093
ENG 1003COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Basic Studio #1 (200 level)3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Basic Studio #2 (200 level)3Upper Level Studio #1 (300-400 level)3
Basic Studio #3 (200 level)3Colonnade - Local to Global or Systems3
ART 318 or ART 3173Colonnade - Social & Behavioral3
ENG 2003Upper Level Studio #2 (300-400 level)3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3
 
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper Level Studio #3 (300-400 level)3Upper Level Studio #4 (300-400 level)3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective3Upper Level Studio Elective #5 (300-400 Level)3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective3Upper Level Art History3
ENG 3003Colonnade - Social & Cultural3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab32nd Major/Minor/Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper Level Studio Elective #6 (300-400 Level)3ART 4341
Colonnade - Local to Global or Systems32nd Major/Minor/Elective3
World Language Requirement or General Elective32nd Major/Minor/Elective3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective32nd Major/Minor/Elective3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective32nd Major/Minor/Elective3
 2nd Major/Minor/Elective3
 15 16
Total Hours 121