Department of Art, History, and Philosophy

Return to: College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry

Art Program

Gunn Hall B-Wing •678-839-6521
http://www.westga.edu/art

Professors:

D Collins, C McGuire, C. Samples (Associate Dean), M. Schoon (Program Coordinator), K. Shunn (Chair of Art, History, and Philosophy)

Associate Professors:

J. Morris, N. Rees, J. Swift

Assistant Professors:

N. Carnes, B. Perry, A. Thakkar

Senior Lecturers:

E. Dixon, P. Kirk, R. Lamfers, S. Smith 

Instructors:

J. Horne, E. Lundin, L. Wolfe

Art at UWG’s focuses on the individual student and their personal path and growth as an upcoming professional. We are committed to excellence in education and in making UWG the most relevant place to obtain advanced studies in the making and study of Art. We strive to provide our students with high impact practices and professional opportunities throughout their studies and continuing on after graduation, to further assist our graduates to be both competitive and productive professionals. Our areas of study are engrained in tradition while also being progressive and exploratory in an effort to facilitate students as they learn, examine and explore both a depth of focus and a breath of potential within our field. We believe that this is critical as students work to develop their own individual language and professional practice.

In general, the practice of Art in it very own nature cultivates a sense of belonging and connectedness through the development of professional relationships and bonds among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and our general communities wherein diversity, equity, and inclusion are promoted and valued.  Our primary goal remains, to prepare young professionals to be outstanding individuals in their field upon graduation and to successfully enter the highly competitive world of employment, as professionals who are prepared to meet the challenges ahead of them.

BA in Art:

The BA in Art degree provides students with opportunities to explore areas within the visual arts without necessarily specializing in any one discipline. As a liberal arts degree, this option is appropriate for students who wish to explore creative processes, develop and hone both creative and critical thinking skillsets, while developing abilities applicable to any number of employment opportunities. The degree is usually identified as appropriate for students who wish to pursue a professional career or graduate studies that may or may not be within the Arts. UWG Art offers three BA in Art options: BA in Art (Art History), BA in Art (Medical Illustration), which includes a minor in Biology, and a BA in Art (Studio Art).

Art History Emphasis:

Focuses on various cultures of the past and present and challenges students to relate themselves to a larger world. Art History students are required to write about art critically and to conduct research, and their initiation into the practice takes place in these courses.

Medical Illustration:

Focus on preparing students for application into competitive graduate programs within Medical or Science Illustration with a specific minor in Biology.

Studio Emphasis:

Focuses on various arts’ studio disciplines and practices and is appropriate for individuals who wish to enhance their creative and artistic abilities. Students can individualize their own approach; by exposure to all artistic media, focusing on two or more mediums or by taking a 2D or 3D approach, or even working in a multi-disciplinary nature. This degree encourages broad-based, open-ended inquiry into the arts and is customizable to the interests of individual students.

BFA with a specific Concentration:

The BFA within a specific concentration is appropriate for students who have a strong desire to focus on a single area or medium within the visual arts and who are specifically focused on coursework, providing in-depth exploration within said specific discipline. All tracks are designed to provide students with increased opportunities for complexity and knowledge within their field as they progress. The degree is usually identified as appropriate for students who wish to pursue a professional career or graduate studies in the Arts. UWG Art offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art with concentrations in the following: Ceramics, Graphic Design, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture and Art Education.

The University is an accredited Full member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Learning Outcomes

Art Faculty objectives are for students to develop sound skills and knowledge and become young professionals by demonstrating the following:

BA in Art learning outcomes

• Develop familiarity with the works and intentions of major artists/designers and past and present movements within art for both Western and non-Western worlds.
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the technical skills, perceptual development, and understanding of the fundamental elements of art/design, sufficient to achieve basic visual communication and expression within two or more studio areas.
• Demonstrate a developed visual sensitivity and at least the rudimentary ability to discern the quality of works of art and studio projects.
• Demonstrate a broad understanding and the ability to make workable connections between concept and media/medium within various aspects of creating artworks.

BFA in Art learning outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of the elements and vocabulary of art/design and the interaction of these elements in historical, cultural, and stylistic contexts, through the critical analysis and evaluation of both Western and non- Western worlds of art.
• Demonstrate functional competencies and abilities to work with the fundamental elements of art and design Foundations.
• Demonstrate working knowledge and professional competences within an Individual’s body of work, which demonstrates at minimum, technical mastery, the capability to produce work and the ability to solve professional problems independently, while demonstrating a coherent set of artistic goals equal to entry-level professional achievements within the major area of specialization.
• Demonstrate working knowledge and professional competence through the development of an individual’s body of work(s), which communicate art/design ideas, concepts, and major requirements related to specialized professional practices which stands as evidence of the Individual’s ability to form and defend value judgments about art and design, and if applicable also demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively as appropriate to an area(s) of specialization.
• Demonstrates preparedness for a professional career in the arts.

Application to the BFA in Art and the BA in Art History Degrees

Students seeking the BFA in Art (Art Education, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture) or the BA in Art History must submit an application / portfolio for a faculty review. For most applicants this review takes place in the second semester of the sophomore year, or during the semester following the completion of ART 3301, ART 3601 or ART 3602, ART 3802, ART 3801, and ART 3901. All transfer students that have completed 45 or more credit hours must complete one semester in residence before they are eligible to submit an application to BA Art History or any BFA degree program. The BFA and the BA in Art History application / portfolio evaluations focus on an applicant’s potential for success within a particular program or professional field. Applicants are expected to show skills and knowledge applied to artistic, design or scholarly problems. Applicant’s work should demonstrate their ability, originality, and commitment, which altogether exhibit the applicant’s potential to function as a professional artist, designer or scholar. All applicants are observed by faculty during the semesters prior to the BFA/BA Art History application on their ability to conduct themselves as future professional artists/designers and scholars. It is imperative for an applicant’s application and review to meet or exceed departmental standards to be successful in the BFA/BA in Art History application process. (See Department of Art, History and Philosophy website at https://www.westga.edu/academics/art-culture-science/art-history-philosophy/ for full application description, requirements and dates).

Internships for BFA in Art

Internships are available at local businesses and industries. Internships must be educationally relevant to one’s area of study and must be approved by both the area advisor and the chair of the department.

Mid Program Review

All BA and BFA in Art candidates must enroll and successfully complete ART 4078. (See program website for specific requirements for ART 4078). Art Faculty will review juniors based on their portfolio, writings, presentation and transcript progress. Candidates will be assessed on the level of knowledge and skill base gained to date. Successful candidates will be allowed to enroll into their respective capstone courses (ART 4298 or ART 4998). Course may be repeated up to two additional times. Unsuccessful review on the third attempt may result in a candidate being placed on probation or removed from their degree program.  ART 4078 must be taken during a semester where the student is enrolled in 12 credit hours.

Capstone Sequence for BA & BFA in Art

After successfully completing ART 4078 and at the start of a candidate’s final two semesters, BA and BFA in Art candidates will need to enroll in ART 4998 - Senior Capstone Experience I and ART 4999 - Senior Capstone Experience II. (ART 4998 is the prerequisite for ART 4999 and these courses cannot be taken simultaneously).

Candidates should discuss their approach and goals for the Senior Capstone with their advisor and formulate their Capstone Committee. Candidates will need to start developing a plan to assist in making the Capstone sequence a success.

Candidates should prepare a preliminary schedule of courses they wish to take prior to meeting with their advisors.

During the advising appointment, the advisor and student should continue discussing the program requirements and review the student’s course selection. Any other individual or special concerns should also be discussed. (See Department of Art, History and Philosophy website at https://www.westga.edu/academics/art-culture-science/art-history-philosophy/ for complete information).

GPA and Grade Requirements for all Art Majors

Art students are required to maintain a 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 Art GPA. A grade of C or better will fulfill Art requirements. No Art major may receive a D or lower in an Art course and have it fulfill the course requirement in any Art degree program.

History Program

TLC 3200 • 678-839-6508
http://www.westga.edu/history

Professors:

K. Bohannon, M. de Nie (Program Coordinator), H. Goodson, C. Lipp, E. MacKinnon, K. Pacholl, T. Schroer (Chair, Department of General Education), G. Van Valen, C. Vasconcellos

Associate Professors:

S. Chalifoux, M. Janzen (Director of the Center for Public History), M. McCullers, L. Rivers

Senior Lecturer:

K. Adams (Center for Public History Manager and Assistant Director)

History majors should complete their history course core requirements before taking history courses numbered 3000 or above. They should meet each term with their major field advisors for consultation regarding their programs.

Learning Outcomes

Students who earn the Bachelor of Arts degree in History will be able:

1. Demonstrate content knowledge of history
2. Analyze primary and secondary sources for their historical content and interpretations
3. Demonstrate ability to research according to historical methods
4. Demonstrate writing skills that reflect persuasive historical arguments based on evidence and proper citation

History faculty believe that these learning outcomes will contribute to a student’s ability to think historically, which includes: understanding the people of the past; understanding the perspectives of historical actors and to view those historical actors from a critical, scholarly perspective; recognizing that people, events, ideas, and cultures have influenced later people events, ideas, and cultures; recognizing that history involves both change and continuity over time; and explaining connections between particular people, events, ideas, or texts and their historical contexts.

History also supports the following Interdisciplinary Minors:

• Classical Studies: In this interdisciplinary minor, students engage critically with such timeless topics as beauty and esthetics, the ideal relationship of the citizen and the state, the roles of men and women in society, freedom and slavery, the nature of war and peace, the purpose of literature, and the role of religion in public and private life through the study of the literature, languages, history, art, philosophy and political thought of the Greeks and Romans.

For more information, see the University College section of the catalog.

Philosophy Program

Boyd 208 • 678-839-4848

https://www.westga.edu/philosophy/

Professor:

R. Lane

Associate Professors:

J. Garner (Program Coordinator), W. Riker

The B.A. program in Philosophy offers courses that enable students to develop skills in critical thinking, reasoning, and judging; to understand the role of premises and inference in ordinary discourse as well as in philosophical argumentation; to recognize and define different world views; and to comprehend the history of Western philosophy in particular. As a cornerstone of the liberal arts education, this discipline is pertinent to virtually all other undergraduate fields of study. A minor in Philosophy is also available. The Philosophy major is designed for those students who want a solid grounding in the discipline and can serve as preparation for those who are interested in advancing into graduate studies in Philosophy or related fields. The Religion track is designed for those interested in theology and religious studies. It is suitable for those students wishing to go on to graduate school in those disciplines. The Law, Society, and Justice track is designed for students interested in law or the problems of justice. This track will prepare students for the entrance exams and performance standards of law school.

Learning Outcomes

Every graduate of the Philosophy Program should be able to:

• Discuss the views of at least three major historical figures of philosophy
• Critically analyze and explain a philosophical issue in written communications
• Incorporate and defend a philosophical position in oral communications

Programs

• Art, B.A.
• History, B.A.
• History, Secondary Education Certification, B.A.
• Philosophy, B.A.
• Philosophy, Law, Justice, and Society Track, B.A.
• Philosophy, Religion Track, B.A.

• Art, Art Education, B.F.A.
• Art, B.F.A.

• Embedded Certificate in Public History

• Certificate of Less than One Year in Ethics

• Art History Minor
• Art Minor
• History Minor
• Philosophy Minor
• Religion Minor

Return to: College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry