Mar 29, 2024  
2010-2011 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2010-2011 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Department of Fine Arts


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Faculty and Fields of Interest

Kurt Wisneski (Acting Chairperson) printmaking

Richard J Creighton sculpture

Alma Davenport photography, printmaking

Anthony Fisher painting

Laurie Kaplowitz painting

Eric Lintala sculpture

Bryan McFarlane painting

Anthony J Miraglia painting

Marc St Pierre  printmaking, photography

Stacy Latt Savage sculpture


Adjunct Faculty

C Donald Beal drawing, painting

Pamela Hoss drawing

Jamie Murphy Hlynsky drawing

Andrew Nixon drawing, painting

Ellen Watson drawing, sculpture

 

The mission of the Department of Fine Arts is to maintain an environment where faculty are committed to the pursuit of teaching, professional research and creative work. As a faculty of professional and passionate artists, we provide a high-quality studio-based educational experience that fosters subjective creativity. This pedagogy extends from the freshman foundation level to the senior year as a preparatory experience for a professional career as a studio artist or for application to a graduate program of study.

Fine Arts goals are:

  • to prepare students to become professional practitioners to serve in art-related careers in the disciplines of drawing, painting, printmaking or sculpture by offering high quality education and training in the visual arts
  • to give students a thorough understanding, appreciation of, and competence in drawing from life through a rigorous four-year drawing requirement which emphasizes and underscores the importance of drawing skills as universal to all visual arts disciplines
  • to encourage students to pursue their personal directions in art grounded in the fundamentals of their field
  • to provide students who wish to continue their education at the graduate level with qualifications for entry and values which will contribute to their success

The faculty recognizes the highly competitive nature of the field students will be entering.  In addition to providing students with beneficial skills to become successful practitioners, we seek to instill respect for life-long learning, genuine appreciation for a solid work ethic and the ability to think critically and solve problems creatively.  We provide an educational experience that empowers students to become artists who are committed to their professional work whether it is exhibiting artwork, teaching, or any of the many related fields they may choose to enter.  We support our graduates to contribute to human culture with confidence and dedication.

Specific Requirements for the Different Majors

All fine arts majors are required to satisfy a 124 credit requirement for a BFA degree. A minimum of 51 credits are required in studio classes in the sophomore, junior, and senior years. For studio supports, Painting/2D studies majors are required to take one 200-level sculpture course and one 200-level printmaking course. Sculpture/3D studies majors are required to take one 200-level painting course and one 200-level printmaking course. Painting/2D studies majors who chose printmaking as the option/major are required to take one 200-level painting course and one 200-level sculpture course. Painting/2D studies majors who chose drawing as the option/major are required to take one 200-level painting course, one 200-level printmaking course, and one 200-level sculpture course. Figure drawing from the model is required for seven semesters.

All fine arts majors are required to take one ARH 300-level Art History elective course as well as ARH 125, ARH 150, and ARH 200 (pre-requisites). Majors are required to take four art history courses.  Students may elect to minor in art history.

Studio Electives
Studio elective credits are fulfilled by taking studio-based courses in Art Education, Artisanry, Fine Arts, and Visual Design.

Free elective
Any course at the University can satisfy this requirement. Additionally, transfer credits may be applied to fulfill free elective requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to function creatively and intelligently in the studio setting. We are obligated to uphold the safe practice of their discipline, this is essential. Students must demonstrate the ability to understand how to depict visual 2D or 3D form so it conveys the intended concept, fully developing the intended content to the viewer. Students need develop the skills required to solve problems creatively, as well as expressing their ideas proficiently in written and oral form. Graduating majors will have a basic competence in all courses undertaken and will be notably skilled in their chosen major as well as in drawing. They will be able to discern the major achievements in art history, be aware of contemporary art issues, and be able to assess the quality of the visual art’s form and content. The liberal arts general and advanced education courses offered by the University provides them with a broad-based liberal arts education. Upon graduation, they will be informed of the tools and procedures necessary to undertake graduate study and begin a professional career in the arts, and be conscious of the importance the creative process plays in their lives.

Students are required to submit their work to faculty for periodic reviews in the sophomore, junior, and senior years. A committee made up of faculty from various disciplines assess the art major’s progress towards fulfilling an objective. In the senior year, students are required to engage in the Senior BFA Exhibition and complete a service-learning component to include a paper about their work and experience.

Additional Programs

The Fine Arts Department offers a 36 credit certificate program for individuals who want to expound upon their artistic skills. This program is targeted towards obtaining a media specific certificate in the field of art, that of painting, drawing, printmaking, or sculpture.

The department also offers a post-baccalaureate degree program that provides a year-long nine credit educational experience for those who want to gain further experience in the fine art field. This program is a component of our Graduate MFA program and offers students the time and guidance required to expand their professional portfolio, possibly for graduate application. Some theoretical courses such as the graduate seminar may be required.
 

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