More than one path is open to those who wish to major in Art and pursue careers in
museums, galleries, or arts organizations and/or pursue further study at the graduate
level. Students choose between concentrations in Art History and in Visual Arts. Those
choosing Art History will take upper-level courses in non-Western art (Asian, Pre-Columbian,
Latin American, African), Medieval/Renaissance art, and modern/contemporary art. Students
who concentrate in Art History may pursue graduate degrees or careers in museums,
galleries, or arts organizations. Others may consider occupations in such varied areas
as education, historical preservation, and consulting. Faculty members work with individual
students, assisting them in choosing areas of interest that will further their goals.
Medieval Art History Class Hosts an Exhibition
Dr. Laura Cochrane, professor in the Department of Art and Design, recently taught
her Medieval Art History class where students created artwork that replicated the art-style from 1000-1400 AC. Students' art included paintings and the use of other mediums, but mainly focused on stained-glass. The students were to then take their art and curate an
exhibit showcasing their completed work. Students were paired into teams and assigned different aspects of the curation process to assemble the
exhibit holistically. One team was in charge of curation; they selected the theme for the artists and curated
the final exhibit. Another team completed graphic design elements for the exhibit by creating flyers
and ads that fit within the theme. And finally, different groups of artists used the resources and methods that they
learned in class to create artwork for the Medieval Art Exhibit. With this hands-on approach, Dr. Cochrane made sure to include students in every process
of an exhibition while also teaching them the history and methods of creating medieval
art.
Medieval books among faculty specialty
Dr. Laura Cochrane, assistant professor, recently discussed the topic of decorative
and colorful artistry of medieval books in connection with "The Art of the Page" exhibit
at MTSU's James E. Walker Library. Cochrane's research interests include early medieval
art, especially Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian manuscripts. She teaches courses in medieval
and Renaissance art, art history methods, and Islamic arts. The exhibit, which included
a medieval-era leaf from the Catholic liturgical work Book of Hours, is an example of the access MTSU students have to faculty research and work.
Related Media
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MTSU True Blue Preview: Art History
Programs in the Department of Art and Design lead to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.),
the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), or the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees.
Two concentrations—Art History or Visual Arts—leading to either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
degree are available under an Art major.
A major in Art Education leads to the B.S. degree.
The department offers a B.F.A. with a major in Art; students may choose between two
concentrations: Studio or Graphic Design.
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS button to the right.
Minors in Art and Art History also are available.
ART 4120 - Intermediate Printmaking
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 3021 with C or better or permission of instructor. A printmaking course featuring intermediate level projects in silkscreen, relief, etching and lithography. A greater focus on creating layered, color prints and discussion of contemporary issues related to multiplicity and processed-based image making. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4130 - Advanced Printmaking
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 4120 with C or better or permission of instructor. Advanced level studies in print media with a focus on creating layered, self-directed work in printed form. A mixture of guided assignments in new techniques and independent work based on individual proposals. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4140 - Printmaking Thesis
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 4130 with C or better or permission of instructor. Intensive independent research in one or more of the areas chosen by the student and planned in consultation with the instructor resulting in work for B.F.A./B.A. exhibition. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4280 - Digital Illustration
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1610, ART 1620, ART 1630, and ART 1640 with C or better or permission of instructor. Vector software and the conceptualization, technical skills, and professional practices of digital illustration. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4290 - Beginning Illustration
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1610, ART 1620, ART 1630, and ART 1640 with C or better. Introduces basic methods, materials, and business practices of illustration, with an emphasis on development of rendering skills. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4300 - Advanced Illustration
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 4290 with C or better. Continued exploration of methods and materials with an emphasis on development of a personal style. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4310 - Portfolio II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 3330 with C or better or permission of department. Continued production of portfolio-based problems with increased emphasis on advanced design skills related to the specific needs of the workplace. Includes basic collateral problems, ad campaigns, corporate identity, signage, plus a self-promotional package. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4320 - Senior Project
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 4310 or permission of department. Following a portfolio review, each class member will devise a project that conceptually and visually addresses his or her design/illustration goals. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4330 - Internship
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Advanced students gain practical experience in a professional setting as an intern. Approximately 150 work hours required for the semester.
ART 4390 - Interactive Design II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 3930 with C or better. An intermediate interactive design class with an emphasis on interface design. Focuses on design, planning, and creation of Web sites using industry-standard Web design applications. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4400 - Interactive Design III
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 4390 with C or better or permission of instructor. An advanced interactive design class that emphasizes the design and implementation of visually engaging, immersive environments. Students work individually and as teams using industry-standard Web design applications to create stand-alone and Web projects. Six -hour studio course.
ART 4410 - Typography in Motion
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 2325 with C or better or permission of instructor. Students will gain an advanced understanding of the graphic design process in time-based media. Emphasizes formal, conceptual, and technical aspects of kinetic typography through individual projects created with industry specific software applications. Six-hour studio course
ART 4510 - Sculpture IV
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 3530 with C or better or permission of instructor. Development of concepts and techniques with primary emphasis on metal sculpture. Gas and electric welding, fabricating, grinding, finishing, and subordinate use of other sculpture materials. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4520 - Sculpture V
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 4510 with C or better or permission of instructor. Development of concepts and techniques with primary emphasis on casting activities in the foundry; covers various metal casting techniques and subordinate use of other materials. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4530 - Advanced 3D Practices
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: two of the following: ART 3010, ART 3011, ART 3012, ART 3040, ART 3041, ART 3820; or permission of instructor. Advanced course for students working to broaden artistic practices or refine their approach to 3D art making. Students work independently under the supervision of the instructor developing a cohesive portfolio of 3D-based work. Covers discussion and research concerning contemporary issues in spatial practices as well as advanced techniques that expand on introductory skill sets offered in earlier 3D courses. Six-hour studio course. May be repeated up to 9 hours.
ART 4640 - Advanced Art Problems
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Structure and content determined by the art faculty on the basis of individual need. The student should be prepared to do independent research and experimentation in the area selected. (A maximum of 6 credits may be applied to a degree.) Students may only register for ART 4640 once per semester. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4710 - Painting IV
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 3730 with C or better or permission of instructor. Projects in painting; content of the course is planned by the student under supervision of the instructor. A final paper is required. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4720 - Painting V
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 4710 with C or better or permission of instructor. Independent studies course in painting which continues the concerns of Painting IV. A final paper is required. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4730 - Painting VI
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 4720 with C or better or permission of instructor. Directed individual study; a continuation of Painting IV at a more advanced level. A final paper is required. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4770 - Topics in Letterpress
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1610, ART 1620, ART 1630, and ART 1650 with C or better or ART 2310 with C or better or permission of instructor. Focuses on specific aspects of letterpress printing, typesetting, designing, printing raised forms to create text and image, the creative process of collaboration, production, and designing for the marketplace. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4810 - Ceramics IV
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 3830 with C or better or permission of instructor. Directed individual studies of problems mutually agreed upon by the student and course instructor. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4820 - Ceramics V
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 4810 with C or better or permission of instructor. Further work as described in Ceramics IV (ART 4810). Six-hour studio course.
ART 4830 - Ceramics VI
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 4820 with C or better or permission of instructor. Further work as described in Ceramics V (ART 4820). Written paper and exhibition required. Six-hour studio course.
ART 4870 - African Art
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 1910 with C or better or permission of instructor. Survey of visual art from the African continent and an examination of selected artists of the African diaspora. Discussion of ancient through contemporary artistic production, with focus upon nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
ART 4880 - African American Art
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1920 and ART 1930 with C or better or permission of instructor. An art historical survey of African American culture and visual arts, beginning with eighteenth century expressions in painting, sculpture, and the decorative arts, but focusing on the twentieth century expressions.
ART 4890 - Design History
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ART 1920 and ART 1930 with C or better or permission of the instructor. Surveys the history of two-dimensional design in Europe and North America, focusing mainly on the role of visual culture in modern society and on the influence of fine art, architecture, advertising, and the professionalism of the field on modern and contemporary design.
ART 4900 - Nineteenth-Century Art
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1920 and ART 1930 with C or better or permission of instructor. Examines visual arts of the nineteenth century from Europe, the United States, Africa, or the Americas. Topics will vary according to areas of expertise of the professor.
ART 4905 - Survey of Women Artists: Renaissance to Modern
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1920 and ART 1930 with C or better or permission of instructor. Painting and sculpture produced by women artists from Europe and the Americas during the period from the Renaissance (1400) to the Modern era (1945).
ART 4920 - Contemporary Art
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1920 and ART 1930 with C or better or permission of instructor. Western visual art movements and issues in American painting and sculpture in the twentieth century.
ART 4940 - Special Studies in Art History
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1920 and ART 1930 with C or better or permission of instructor. Content varies. When offered, particular topics addressed are indicated by the course title in the class schedule. Depending on the nature of the material to be covered, prerequisites may be imposed by the instructor. Can be repeated for up to 9 hours.
ART 4960 - Independent Studies in Art History
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Independent investigations into art history under the guidance of a member of the art history faculty. Topic(s) of investigation must be agreed upon by both student and faculty prior to registration. May not be repeated.
ART 4965 - Museum Studies Internship
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ART 1910, ART 1920, and ART 1930; ART 3575 all with a grade of C or better. Allows art history majors and/or museum studies minors to gain professional experience through an internship in the curatorial or museum education departments at an area art museum or gallery.
ART 4970 - Senior Thesis in Art History
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. An intensive research and writing project under the direct guidance of a supervising art history faculty member.
