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Mission
The mission of the Art and Design Program at Virginia State University is to produce the artists of tomorrow, one individual at a time. Our faculty is committed to the artistic development of each student as a unique individual through the process of instruction and mentorship. Our goal is to prepare students for success in whatever professional arena of art they choose by providing a solid base of artistic knowledge and technical skill, then encouraging creative exploration and stylistic development from this foundation. Through the creative work and service of our students and faculty, we hope to engender a broader appreciation for the arts to enhance the vitality of the university and surrounding community.
Goals of the Program
- Students will demonstrate an entry-level competence for a professional in their area of specialization, including technical mastery of their media, understanding and use of the concepts of design, and the ability to clearly communicate the intended message.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to develop a cohesive artistic concept (theme) evident throughout a body of work produced in their chosen media.
- Students will be able to research, form and defend value judgments about art and design in both written and oral statements. The student will effectively communicate these ideas as related to their major fields of practice to professionals and lay persons alike.
Art & Design Program Description
The Art and Design program, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, offers courses leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. All students begin with the CORE program (Communication, Organization, Realization, Expression), covering the first two years, which produces a strong understanding of the design fundamentals and applications of traditional art media. Foundation level courses, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, color theory, drawing, and computer fundamentals, are designed to prepare students to begin their advanced concentration coursework in the sophomore year.
Students in the program can decide from four primary career paths: Studio Arts, Animation, Graphic Design, or Web Design. The Studio Arts curriculum prepares students for traditional artistic careers in the disciplines of drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics. As they follow their specific media through four sequential courses, students can shape their own curricula to span across traditional artistic boundaries and learn a variety of media specially designed to meet their needs and creative desires. This artistic “cross training” permits students to expand their creative horizons through the use of new media tools, techniques, and concepts, and become the artistic leaders of the 21st century.
The Animation program teaches students the principles and skills of animating in both traditional drawing and computerized formats. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to enter into graduate programs of study in animation, and/or entry-level apprentice positions within the industry.
In the Graphic Design curriculum, students follow a structured curriculum that gives them all of the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in today’s commercial arts marketplace. The program prepares students for careers as commercial artists in such areas as illustration, print and package design.
The Web Design program places emphasis on the aesthetic aspects of creating web sites, along with the practical components of digital information transfer. The curriculum prepares students to enter the workforce as skilled designers of web sites for a wide variety of customers, from personal pages to international businesses.
Acceptance into the Art CORE Program is contingent on:
1) acceptance into the University according to its criteria for incoming freshmen or transfer students;
2) a minimum of 2.0 GPA with good standing in the University for current VSU students;
3) display of artistic knowledge and ability through either a) the successful completion of two (2) art classes at a high school, junior college, or continuing education level, or b) submission of two (2) letters of recommendation by artists and/or art educators.
Advancement to the specific concentrations (Studio, Animation, Graphic Design, Web Design) in the Sophomore year is dependent on a review of the student’s portfolio of art work, along with the successful completion of all pre-requisite courses, in proper sequence, with a minimum of a ‘C’ grade.
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