School of Fine Arts
Department of Arts and Design
OBJECTIVES
The mission of the Department of Art and Design has four complementary purposes for undergraduate students: to develop their ability to create art skillfully and intelligently, to instill in them a knowledge of the history of art, to educate them in various art and design professions and to offer quality elective course work for all students at Drake University and interested citizens within the surrounding community.
The Department of Art and Design in the School of Fine Arts is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
FACILITIES
The Department of Art and Design has studios and classrooms in the Harmon Fine Arts Center as well as studios in the Studio Arts Hall and the Design Center in Carnegie Hall.
The Anderson Gallery is located within the Harmon Fine Arts Center. The Anderson Gallery promotes innovations in art and design and aims to enrich the cultural life of Drake University and the Des Moines community. The gallery is committed to excellence and exhibits contemporary and historical art as well as the work produced by the faculty and students of Drake’s Department of Art and Design.
The Des Moines Art Center is an important resource three miles from the Drake University campus. The permanent collection, changing exhibitions, visiting artists, studios and staff are frequently utilized by Drake University students and instructors. The center's library is open to students and faculty by appointment.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Visiting artists and scholars of national and international reputation are invited to campus each year to present lectures and workshops.
Exhibitions
The Department of Art and Design holds exhibitions of work by students, faculty and invited artists during the school year. Among the regularly scheduled exhibitions are the Annual Juried Student Exhibition and the Faculty Show. Exhibition space is available in the Anderson Gallery and in the Carl and Edith Weeks Gallery.
Field Trips
Field trips are organized to take advantage of major collections and exhibitions that occur during the year in such cities as Chicago and Kansas City. Individual classes make regular use of the exhibition program offered by the Des Moines Art Center.
Degrees and Areas of Emphasis
To meet the challenges of the many fields of the visual arts, the Department of Art and Design offers two undergraduate degree programs.
A minimum of 124 credit hours is required for all undergraduate art and design degrees. Each degree program with its areas of emphasis is summarized below.
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (Graphic Design, Studio Art). This professional degree is for students who wish to enter an intensive studio art or design program. Professional skills and a personal aesthetic philosophy are achieved while concentrating in graphic design or studio art. Students must possess an exceptionally strong commitment to their work.
BACHELOR OF ARTS (Art History, Graphic Design, Studio Art). This program provides students with training in art history, graphic design or studio art combined with a significant academic component based on the Drake Curriculum and allowing for concentrated course work or a second major in another academic field.
First-year Program
The first-year program is designed to give students fundamental instruction in art and includes course in art history, drawing, and two- and three-dimensional design. Students are challenged to develop essential artistic skills and to become aware of the various career opportunities in the visual arts. Exceptions include art history majors who are required to take either Art 13 or Art 14, but not both, and graphic design majors who must take Art 21 their second semester.
| First Semester ART 13 or 14 - 2D or 3D Design ART 15 - Drawing ART 75 - Survey of Western Art History I First Year Seminar Drake Curriculum TOTAL Second Semester ART 13 or 14 - 2D or 3D Design ART 16 - Drawing ART 76 - Survey of Western Art History II Drake Curriculum Drake Curriculum TOTAL *Graphic Design majors would take Art 21 | Credit Hours |
Degree Requirements for Majors in Art and Design
Art History
The art history program consists of 28 credit hours of art history supplemented by basic experience in the studio arts. Familiarity with a foreign language, preferably French or German, is recommended. The capstone experience is a major independent research paper on a subject of the student's choosing.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
| ART FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM - ART 13 or 14, 15, 16 Basic Studio - Painting, Printmaking or Sculpture ART HISTORY FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM - Art 75 and 76 Modern or Contemporary Art - Art 109 or 110 Art History Electives Senior Project - Art 197 and 198 TOTAL ART AND ART HISTORY HOURS ACADEMIC Drake Curriculum and electives (may be art) TOTAL ACADEMIC HOURS | Credit Hours |
Graphic Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
The B.F.A. in Graphic Design is a specialized four-year undergraduate program, which prepares students specifically in the common body of knowledge and skills required for a career as a graphic designer. It is a professional degree with the majority of credits dedicated to design or design-related course work. Faculty advising directs students to general studies that support their study in design such as mass communication, writing, psychology, sociology, anthropology and business. Beginning with the junior year, the students take part in the B.F.A. reviews that are held at the end of each semester. The senior capstone experience is a senior exhibition or a portfolio presentation.
| ART FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM - ART 13, 14, 15, 16, 75, 76 BASIC STUDIO - Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture GRAPHIC DESIGN - ART 21, 51, 52, 115, 116, 155, 156 GRAPHIC DESIGN ELECTIVES STUDIO MINOR (three courses above basic studio courses) MODERN OR CONTEMPORARY ART - Art 109 or 110 ART ELECTIVES (may include art history) ART HISTORY ELECTIVE TOTAL ART HOURS ACADEMIC Drake Curriculum and electives (may be art history) Academic concentrations can be achieved with careful planning. TOTAL ACADEMIC HOURS | Credit Hours |
Graphic Design
Bachelor of Arts Degree
The Bachelor of Arts degree program allows student to major in graphic design within the context of a liberal arts curriculum. It also allows the student considerable flexibility in developing a course of study. The capstone experience is the presentation of a graphic design portfolio.
| ART FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM - Art 13, 14, 15, 16, 75, 76 BASIC STUDIO - Painting, Printmaking or Sculpture GRAPHIC DESIGN — Art 21, 51, 52, 114, 115, 116 GRAPHIC DESIGN ELECTIVE ART HISTORY ELECTIVE TOTAL ART HOURS ACADEMIC Drake Curriculum and electives (may include art or art history) TOTAL ACADEMIC HOURS | Credit Hours |
Studio Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
(with emphasis in drawing, painting, printmaking or sculpture)
This professional degree is for students who wish to enter an intensive studio art program. The B.F.A. degree program is recommended for those students who plan to continue their education at the graduate level. Professional skills and a personal aesthetic philosophy are achieved with an emphasis in drawing, painting, printmaking or sculpture. Beginning with the junior year, students take part in the B.F.A. reviews that are held at the end of each semester. The capstone experience is a senior exhibition.
| ART FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM - Art 13, 14, 15, 16, 75, 76 BASIC STUDIO - Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture STUDIO MINOR (three courses above basic studio) STUDIO EMPHASIS (beyond basic studio requirement) SENIOR STUDIO PROBLEMS - Art 175 - 176 SENIOR STUDIO PROBLEMS - Art 183 - 184 MODERN OR CONTEMPORARY ART - Art 109 or 110 ART HISTORY ELECTIVES ART ELECTIVES (may include art history) TOTAL ART HOURS ACADEMIC Drake Curriculum and electives (may include art history) Academic concentration can be achieved with careful planning. TOTAL ACADEMIC HOURS | Credit Hours |
Studio Arts
Bachelor of Arts Degree
The Bachelor of Arts degree program allows the student to major in art within the context of a liberal arts curriculum. It also allows the student considerable flexibility in developing a course of study. The capstone experience is a project that includes both written and visual components.
| ART FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM - Art 13, 14, 15, 16, 75, 76 BASIC STUDIO - Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture STUDIO AREA OF EMPHASIS (beyond Basic Studio requirements) ART HISTORY ELECTIVE TOTAL ART HOURS ACADEMIC Drake Curriculum and electives (may include art or art history) TOTAL ACADEMIC HOURS | Credit Hours |
Academic Minor in Art
The minor in art is designed for those students outside the Department of Art and Design who want basic training in art history graphic design or studio art. The minor of 21 credit hours generally consists of the following courses and chosen in consultation with an art and design faculty adviser.
| FOUNDATION ART 13 or ART 14 - Design ART 15 - Drawing ART 75 - 76 - Survey of Art History AREAS OF CONCENTRATION Art History, Graphic Design and Studio Art (Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture) Select sequence of three courses from one of the above areas TOTAL | Credit Hours |