College of Liberal Arts
and Social Sciences

Who's Who in the Department of Art

Chair:
W. Jackson Rushing III

Professors:
Suzanne Bloom, David Hickman, Ed Hill, David Jacobs, Luis Jiminez, W. Jackson Rushing III, Al Souza, Gael Stack

Associate Professors:
Cheryl A. Beckett, Huey P. Beckham, John Hanna, Rachel Hecker, Richard C. Hutchens, Valentine J. Link, H. Rodney Nevitt, Jr., James M. McDermott, Fiona McGettigan, Angela Patton

Assistant Professors:
Caroline Goeser, Paul Kittleson, Aaron Parazette, Judith Steinhoff, William R. Thomas

Affiliate Artists:
David Brauer, Cathy S. Hunt, Robert Sennhauser

Department Overview

The Department of Art offers:

1. Bachelor of Arts in Art History
   
   
2. Bachelor of Arts - All-Level Teacher Certification
   
   
3. Bachelor of Fine Arts with studio concentrations in:
   Graphic Communications
   Interior Design
   Painting
   Photography
   Sculpture
   
   
4. Master of Fine Arts with studio concentrations in:
   Graphic Communications
   Interior Design
   Painting
   Photography
   Sculpture

For information on admission to the graduate program, degree requirements, and course listing, contact the director of graduate studies in the Department of Art and refer to the Graduate and Professional Studies catalog.

Degrees and Concentrations

Although priority is given to art majors, students majoring in other departments at the university may enroll in any 1000 level studio course offered by the department, depending upon availability. Upon completion of any four 1000 level studio courses students may enroll in any 3000 related arts level studio courses for which they have completed the fundamentals courses. Art history courses at the 1000-level are open to all students who have completed ENGL 1303.

Transfer students who plan to major in art or who are interested in taking a studio art course should, upon learning of their admission to the University of Houston, confer with the department.

Bachelor of Arts

The department offers the Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in art history and the Bachelor of Arts in art with All-Level Teacher Certification. In addition to the requirements for these specific majors, students should also refer to the sections on the college and the university-wide degree requirements.

Departmental requirements for a concentration in art history are:

1. Thirty-six semester hours in art history including: ARTH 1380:1381, ARTH 4388 An additional 27 semester hours in art history of which at least 15 must be advanced (3000 or 4000 level).
   
   
2. HIST 2351 and 2353
   
   
3. ANTH 2302

Bachelor of Arts in Art with Teacher Certification

Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in art with All-Level Teacher Certification should refer to the following sections of this catalog for requirements related to this degree: Education - Art Education; CLASS - Option-All-Level Certification Programs, and Admission to Teacher Certification. Art Department requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in art with All-Level Teacher Certification are:

1. Twelve semester hours of any 1000 level foundation program studio courses
   
   
2. Twenty-one semester hours in approved related arts courses
   
   
3. Twelve semester hours in art history including ARTH 1380 and 1381 and six semester hours of art history at the 2000 level or above
   
   
4. Nine semester hours in a single 3000 level major concentration: graphic com-munications, interior design, painting, photography, or sculpture

Students pursuing this degree parallel the recommended course of study for the five Bachelor of Fine Arts majors but take fewer hours at the related arts level and do not continue to the senior major courses after completion of the junior major concentration. Admittance to a junior level major concentration is not guaranteed. This process involves a competitive portfolio review and a vote by the faculty of the major area.

For additional information regarding the foundation program, related arts, and major concentration, students should refer to the section on the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which follows.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Students seeking the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must fulfill the 42 hour university core curriculum and complete 81 semester hours in studio art and art history courses as follows:

1. Twelve semester hours of any 1000 level foundation program studio courses
   
   
2. Thirty semester hours in approved related arts courses
   
   
3. Twelve semester hours in art history including ARTH 1380 and 1381 and six semester hours of art history at the 2000 level or above
   
   
4. Twenty-seven semester hours in a single 3000 or 4000 level major concentration: graphic com-munications, interior design, painting, photography, or sculpture
   
   
5. A minimum of 42 semester hours must be earned in 3000 or 4000 level studio courses.

Students should refer to the recommended courses of study for each of the five specific studio majors. This information is available in the Art Office.

Foundation Program

Any four 1000 level studio courses and the History of Art I and II (ARTH 1380:1381) constitute an acceptable Foundation Program (FP) for any major concentration. Students may check in the department office for information on which studio fundamentals courses are specifically recommended for each major.

Related Arts

A basic prerequisite for any related arts studio course is completion of 12 semester hours of foundation program studio courses. A minimum of 30 semester hours in related arts courses is required for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Students may check in the department office for information on which related arts courses are specifically recommended for each studio major.

The term "related arts" is meant to include all intermediate-level courses offered by the department beyond the foundation program and outside the major concentration. Students must have completed the fundamental course in a discipline before they take an intermediate level course in that discipline, or have specific consent of the instructor.

Specifically, any art history course at the 2000 or higher level, any course approved by a major program's faculty that is offered by another department, and any 3000 - 4000 level art or design studio course may be applied to this requirement.

Exception: Students wishing to begin work in any studio discipline field not previously taken in their foundation program should take the fundamental 1000 level course, which will be approved for related arts credit.

Normally, students are expected to complete a minimum of 18 semester hours of related arts courses, including at least one 3000 level premajor studio course in the same discipline as the intended major, before applying for admission to the junior major program (also referred to as the major concentration, or "block").

Admittance to a junior major program is not guaranteed. This process involves a competitive portfolio review and a vote by the faculty of the major area.

Major Concentration

Prerequisites for the major concentration include satisfactory completion of the 18-semester-hour foundation program, satisfactory completion of the mandated premajor related arts course, competitive portfolio review, and formal individual approval by the major faculty. Every major concen-tration includes three nine-credit per semester groups of courses that must be completed within a four-semester period. The two final 4000 level senior major course groups must be taken consecutively.

On completion of the junior major course group, a review of the student's progress by the major faculty is mandatory. No student is allowed to continue in the major concentration until formal approval has been granted by the major faculty. Students must have an approved degree plan on file in the Art Office before they begin their senior major program. Any substitutes for junior or senior major concentration courses must be approved by the faculty of the major area.

A senior thesis is required in all Bachelor of Fine Arts major programs. The thesis should constitute a sustained body of interrelated works which explores a major theme.

All Bachelor of Fine Arts degree candidates must maintain a 2.50 minimum grade point average in their advanced studio classes to qualify for graduation.

At a minimum, transfer students must take the final 30 semester hours of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, including one three-credit premajor studio course and a full 27 semester hours major concentration, in the department. Students may not apply any major concentration courses completed more than seven years prior to the graduation semester in fulfillment of degree requirements.

Minor in Art History for Studio Arts Majors

Studio Arts majors seeking a B.F.A. in art may obtain the minor in Art History by completing 18 hours in Art History, including:

1. ARTH 1380 and 1381;
   
   
2. Twelve additional semester hours of ARTH, of which nine must be at the 3000 or 4000 level;
   
   
3. At least nine semester hours in residence, of which six must be 3000 or 4000 level;
   
   
4. A 2.00 grade point average in all minor courses attempted at the University of Houston.

Minor in Art History for Other Majors

Students who are not seeking a B.F.A. in a studio arts major and who wish to take a minor in art history are required to complete 15 semester hours in art history including:

1. ARTH 1380 and 1381
   
   
2. Nine semester hours at 3000 or 4000 level
   
   
3. At least nine semester hours in residence, of which six must be 3000 or 4000 level
   
   
4. A 2.00 minimum grade point average on all minor courses attempted at the University of Houston.

Minor in Studio Arts

Students who wish to take a minor in studio arts are required to complete:

1. Twenty-one semester hours including:
   
   1. Twelve hours in Foundation Program studio courses (1000 level)
      
      
   2. Nine semester hours in advanced Related Arts studio courses (3000 and 4000 level) in studio areas in which the 1000 level courses were taken (For example, a student may take ART 3350: Intermediate Ceramics, provided that ART 1350: Fundamentals of Ceramics was successfully completed.)
      
      
2. At least 12 semester hours in residence, of which six must be 3000 or 4000 level
   
   
3. A minimum 2.00 grade point average on all minor courses attempted at this campus