Art + Design, School of

College of Fine Arts
School of Art + Design
Seigfred Hall 528
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4290
Fax: 740.593.0457
www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/art

Julie Dummermuth, Director
dummermu@ohio.edu

Overview

The School of Art + Design at Ohio University is committed to developing professional artists, designers, and scholars who are dedicated to public discourse. Practice and production are both emphasized and informed by aesthetic, intellectual, political, historical, cultural, and critical awareness. We see the visual arts at Ohio University as transformative for communities, society, and ourselves. Our students come from diverse geographic, ethnic, cultural, and aesthetic backgrounds. This diversity is reflected both in the School of Art + Design and the College of Fine Arts, which also includes the Schools of Dance, Film, Interdisciplinary Arts, Music and Theater. Students are encouraged to become involved in various art forms, to experiment in interdisciplinary approaches, and to find the innate relationship within and across these expressive disciplines. Within the School of Art + Design, you will find a distinguished and dedicated faculty. These individuals work hard to maintain a healthy balance between teaching expertise, professional creative work, scholarly research, and community service. We maintain a strong commitment to our undergraduate and graduate programs. Our facilities are well equipped for each discipline area. To attract the best quality students, we offer numerous undergraduate scholarships. Four exhibition spaces showcase the works of students, faculty, and nationally renowned visiting artists, providing arts experiences for the University and Athens communities. These services bring a global perspective to our rich local culture. Whether you are a prospective student, alumnus, or other interested visitor, please visit our website to learn even more about our excellent School’s programs, faculty, and staff.

The Program

Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in Studio Art or Art History; a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a major in Studio Art and a concentration in art therapy, ceramics, painting + drawing, photography + integrated media, printmaking, digital art + technology, or sculpture + expanded practice; a B.F.A with a major in Graphic Design; or a B.F.A with a major in Interior Architecture, offered in person and online via OHIO Online™. Our facilities include an extensive range of ceramic kilns; a sculpture building with metal working equipment, a modern foundry, a comprehensive wood shop; painting and drawing studios; printmaking facilities with photo-silkscreen, lithography, etching, typesetting presses, and digital equipment for producing large-scale prints; graphic design digital labs; and a photography area with extensive darkrooms, studios, and computers for digital imagery. All art majors have 24-hour access to most studio spaces. All students have access to the major collections in the Fine Arts Library, located at Ohio University’s Alden Library, which serves as a federal research repository and is particularly strong in Renaissance art, 19th-century art, Oceanic art, modern art, contemporary art, and the history of photography. The Fine Arts Library also contains more than 200,000 images in slide form and digital files, plus numerous CDs and videotapes. On-campus study collections include the Kennedy Collection of Native American Art, the Kennedy Collection of African Art, and the Trisolini Contemporary Print Collection, as well as exhibitions curated at the Kennedy Museum of Art. Our Visiting Artists program regularly brings to campus internationally known artists and scholars.

The Process

All new students enter the School of Art + Design by applying to their intended School of Art +Design degree program through the OHIO admission process. The School of Art + Design offers B.F.A. degrees with majors in Studio Art (with concentrations in Art Therapy, Ceramics, Painting + Drawing, Photography + Integrated Media, Printmaking, and Sculpture + Expanded Practice) and B.F.A. degrees with majors in Graphic Design or Interior Architecture. All B.F.A. studio areas require a portfolio submission at the time of application and will also result in a culminating capstone event in achieving the degree.

The School of Art + Design also offers B.A degrees, with majors in Studio Art or Art History. No portfolio submission is required to enter the B.A. degrees. The B.A. offers students the opportunity to pursue second major in another discipline. Dual B.A. degrees are common in the School of Art + Design. For more information concerning possible dual degrees, please see the Ohio University catalog for a comprehensive list of all available degrees.

Students in the School have shared experiences during their first year in the foundations program. This program provides students with a basis for critical and creative thinking by giving them a broad range of experiences in the studio and classroom. The first year also gives students the opportunity to integrate their general education studies with their development as growing artists and scholars.

Advising

The School of Art + Design makes academic advising an integral part of the educational experience. Students are encouraged to consult regularly with advisors concerning the selection of courses and progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. Advisors also can help students prepare for annual scholarship applications. Other resources for advising and consulting include access to the Assistant Director of Student Services, the chair of the Foundations program, and the area chair in your major. Beginning in Fall Semester 2021, students who entered Ohio University in 2021 or later should consult with their OHIO Guarantee+ advisor and with their assigned School of Art + Design mentor.

Opportunities

Student organizations in the School of Art + Design are integral to our community and provide special opportunities outside of the classroom. The Undergraduate Art League (UAL) sponsors visiting artists, organizes annual juried exhibitions, and operates the student-run gallery, Cube4. The Art Club fosters hands-on artmaking sessions and collaborative projects. Students within the Interior Architecture program are eligible to hold membership in the Student Design Group, which is afﬁliated with the American Society of Interior Design (ASID) and International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Graphic Design students can also be part of the regional chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Field trips to conferences, museums and art events are common.

Scholarships

Detailed information on portfolio requirements can be obtained from the School of Art + Design website.

Incoming students are also considered for the OHIO Excellence Awards. These scholarships are awarded through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and require certain criteria in order to be renewed each year. Once enrolled, recognition is given to art majors as they pursue their programs through the annual awarding of scholarships and prizes, including the College of Fine Arts Upperclass Dean’s Awards.

Work Experience

Program to Aid in Career Exploration (PACE) positions are designed to offer pre-professional experiences to undergraduates in all areas throughout the University. The School of Art + Design faculty and administrators employ PACE students, who learn as apprentices in many areas of the School. Some of these positions include: graphic designer, studio assistant, public relations assistant, studio art printer, graphic design lab manager, gallery assistant, webmaster, and newsletter editor. Students interested in this program must apply for PACE eligibility at the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Work-study positions are also available in the School of Art + Design. Motivated art students frequently find internships at the Kennedy Museum of Art or in regional galleries. Upperclass art students may apply to become Art Ambassadors for the school.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet general University admission guidelines to enroll in any School of Art + Design program. Additionally, a portfolio review is required for admission consideration for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Studio Art, Graphic Design, and Interior Architecture, as well as for talent-based scholarship consideration and transfer admission.

Students who entered with a B.A. in studio art, entered with a general B.F.A. without selecting a concentration, or desire to transfer into the School of Art + Design for a B.F.A. program may do so during the Spring semester. Students will be required to submit an application that states their desired B.F.A. concentration or major and a portfolio during week 7 of the semester (a week before Spring break). Students will be notified of the decision no later than week 10 of the semester, prior to registration. Upon notification, students should meet with their currently assigned advisor for help with scheduling classes. Students will receive notification of their new advisor prior to the beginning of Fall semester the following academic year.

Major Areas and Requirements

Students may elect the B.A. with a major in Studio Art or Art History, or seek admission into one of the B.F.A studio majors, either at the time of submitting the application or during the Spring semester (see admission requirements above). The School of Art + Design requires a minimum accumulative GPA of 2.0 and an in-major GPA of 2.75. To graduate, students must satisfy the degree requirements of Ohio University, the College of Fine Arts, and the School of Art + Design. The following courses, may not be used to fulfill specific degree requirements in the School of Art + Design, including studio electives: ART 1100 , 1111 , 1121 , 1131 , 1141 , 1151 , 1161 , 1171 , 1181 , and 1191 . School of Art + Design students may use these courses as free electives only.

Transfer Requirements

The School of Art + Design welcomes applications from students who wish to transfer into our programs. Please see Admission Requirements above for instructions to transfer into the SoA+D BFA program. Students who transfer into a BA program need to submit a change of major/program request through the College of Fine Arts.

Returning Students

Students wishing to return to complete a program after 10 years must reapply for acceptance. Credits earned prior to re-admittance are subject to review by the school for credit toward current major requirements.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Other Programs