Department of Art

Judy Bullington, Katie Mitchell*, Michelle Corvette, John Donovan*, Dan Johnson, Megahan Brady Nelson, James Pierce (Department Chair), Christine Rogers

*Lecturer

Vision:

The Department of Art seeks to provide students with an intensive education in the visual arts in an effort to cultivate their professional, aesthetic, intellectual, and personal development.

Purpose:

To guide students in the development of their artistic skills, creative abilities, and critical faculties by providing them with a knowledge of art history and a solid foundation in a variety of studio and design experiences.

Goals:

To develop in students technical knowledge and skills in art as well as creative, conceptual, and critical abilities.
To prepare students for graduate study and entry-level positions in a variety of art and design fields.
To help students gain a fundamental appreciation of the role of art in society.

The Department of Art offers a B.F.A. degree in Studio Art, Design Communications, and Art Education with a minimum of an 86-hour major. Minors in Art require 18 credit hours with options in Studio, Design Communications, Photography, Painting, and Art History. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is designed to prepare students for professional careers in a variety of art-related fields or for graduate school. Foundation courses include 2D (B/W and Color), 3D, Drawing I, Painting I, and Digital Imaging. The basic requirements for the major and minor in art are presented with their respective course descriptions as follows. Depending on the program of study, students take courses in 2-D and 3-D design, art history, ceramics, color theory, design communications, design history and philosophy, digital imaging, drawing, figure drawing, internships, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, typography, and web page design. The internship in art and design are designed to provide practical experience for students in supervised work settings. All internships are offered on a Pass/Fail basis.

Admission Requirements:

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the university, students desiring to obtain the BFA degree in Studio, Design, or Art Education or BA in Studio Art are required to submit a portfolio of 20 examples of work that best illustrates their abilities. Submit jpeg images on a CD rather than original works of art. may be submitted in the form of 20 slides or 20 images on a CD, along with an inventory for identification. Additional information about application to the department can be found on the art department’s home page at http://www.belmont.edu/art/how_to_apply/index.html. A portfolio may include painting, drawing, digital media, mixed media, photography, printmaking, and/or sculpture. All portfolios must be accompanied by a corresponding inventory, which lists title, date completed, size, and media of each. Applicants may also include an appropriate self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of their portfolios. Personal interviews and other supporting documents are recommended and in some cases may be required. Applicants to the BFA and BA programs are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The Department of Art bases its decisions on 1) the quality of the portfolio; 2) personal supplement essays that communicate the student’s desire to pursue an art degree and that articulate a personal vision; 3) the quality of prior academic background. Students must be accepted into the Department of Art before they may be advised for registration as art majors.

Scholarships and Awards:

Frank and Margaret Leu Visual Arts Scholarships are awarded to entering students who exemplify high personal character, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to excellence; and who show great potential to become professional designers, teachers or artists. These scholarships are competitive and limited, and require a personal interview along with a portfolio of original works. Students who have been accepted to Belmont University by the Admissions Office and as Art or Design majors by the Art Department may inquire about these scholarships during the Fall semester prior to their intended year of enrollment.

Annual Awards:

F.A.B. (Friends of the Arts Board) Art History Award
Margaret A. Van Hatten Rising Junior Award
Frank Russell Leu III Rising Senior Art Award
Cyril V. Evans Outstanding Art Student Award\

Accreditation

The Art Department of Belmont University is an Accredited Institutional Member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).