Art

Program Objectives

Students studying art at Eastern Oregon University explore a wide range of aesthetic, critical, historical, multi-cultural, and technical art experiences. The program offers a BA or BS in Art while encouraging students to explore cross-disciplinary art forms and practices within a strong conceptual framework. The art faculty challenges and aids all students in developing a personal aesthetic and conceptual foundation intended to drive and define their personal vision and artwork.

The depth and breadth of the Art program within the broader liberal arts experience prepares students for professional expertise in art education and studio art with an emphasis on portfolio development intended to make students competitive for graduate school admissions and other professional endeavors in the arts.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the requirements for a BA or a BS degree in Art will demonstrate the following outcomes:

Critical and Creative Thinking: apply critical and creative thinking strategies to problem solving allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge of personal aesthetic and conceptual intentions as well as their work’s relationship to various cultural contexts and historical and contemporary cultural perspectives.
Inquiry: foster intuition and imagination to develop intellectual curiosity and an ability to pursue self-directed problem-solving, using relevant research and expertise and appropriate materials and methodology. Recognize that a commitment to artistic endeavor can enrich and add meaning to an individual’s life.
Applied and Integrated Learning: demonstrate an applied working knowledge of the elements and principles of design with an understanding of the relationship between conceptual intentions and formal choices. Exhibit in-depth skills in a broad range of disciplinary activities, and function professionally within the field of art.
Communication: evidence of the ability to articulate the comprehensive role of the visual arts in society and evidence of the ability to effectively communicate in both written and verbal form.

Means of Assessment

Small studio classes allow for a great deal of individual attention for every art student at Eastern. The art experience is an intensive one, and the art faculty work closely with one another to maintain high levels of expectation for their students. The expectations are designed to prepare students with the practical skills necessary to function competitively within the art world.

These expectations include:

a portfolio presentation of their own artwork;
peer critiques and individual oral presentations of completed artwork; critiques and assessment of art work by instructors;
engaging with visiting artists, and other visiting scholars;
examinations, research papers, sketchbooks, journals, portfolios, and artist statements;
successful completion of senior capstone exhibition and final portfolio review.

Course of Study

The art major is developed in three stages.

Stage 1. The first two years emphasize the liberal arts General Education Core requirements as well as the development of visual literacy, providing a broad-based foundation for art students. Students in the foundation sequence of the art curriculum will focus on developing basic skills related to design techniques and materials.

Stage 2. In the third year, students apply for formal admission to the Art Program and complete ART 312, the first step in the capstone sequence.

Stage 3. The senior year allows students the flexibility of developing a direction for their senior capstone exhibition and final portfolio review through 300-level coursework and 400-level individualized sequences.

Programs

Major(s)

Art Major

Minor(s)

Art Minor

Four Year Plan(s)

Art Typical Four Year Curriculum